The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama's most popular not-for-profit attraction, drawing more than 450,000 visitors annually. Approximately 750 animals of 250 species call the Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, cheetahs and endangered species from six continents.

In 1999, the Birmingham Zoo became an independent not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. In the short time following this privatization, the Birmingham Zoo has hosted traveling exhibits of bats, Koalas and Black-Footed Penguins, added permanent exhibits of a Komodo Dragon and interactive lorikeet aviary and regained accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Most notably, the Zoo completed the Junior League of Birmingham - Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo, a $15 million anchor exhibit dedicated to children and devoted to urban, rural and wild animals and environs of Alabama, in April 2005 to coincide with the Zoo’s 50 th birthday celebration.

The Birmingham Zoo is located at 2630 Cahaba Road just south of US 280/31.

From South of Birmingham
Take Highway I-65 North to I-59/20; Take I-59/20 to the Highway 31 South/280 East Exit. Continue on Highway 31 South until 280 East bears off to the right. Take 280 East for one mile to the Zoo/Gardens Mountain Brook exit on the right. Exit there and go to the traffic light and take a left onto Cahaba Road. The Zoo entrance will be on your left after about half a mile.

From North of Birmingham
Take Highway I-65 South to I-59/20; Take I-59/20 to the Highway 31 South/ 280 East Exit. Continue on Highway 31 South until 280 East bears off to the right. Take 280 East for one mile to the Zoo/Gardens Mountain Brook exit on the right. Exit, go to the traffic light and take a left on to Cahaba Road. The Zoo entrance will be on your left in about half a mile.

From East of Birmingham
Take I-59/20 West to the Highway 31 South/280 East Exit. Continue on 31 South until 280 East bears off to the right. Take 280 East for one mile to the Zoo/Gardens Mountain Brook exit on the right. Exit there, go to the traffic light and take a left on to Cahaba Road. The Zoo entrance will be on your left in about half a mile.

From West of Birmingham
Take Highway I-59/20 East to the Highway 31 South/280 East Exit (right in the center of Birmingham). Continue on Highway 31 South until 280 East bears off to the right. Take 280 East for one mile to the Zoo/Gardens Mountain Brook exit on the right. Exit there, go to the traffic light and take a left on to Cahaba Road. The Zoo entrance will be on your left in about half a mile.

From I-459/ US-280
Take I-459 to Exit #19, the Mountain Brook Exit. Exit and turn left onto Highway 280 West. Go 5 miles until you see Wendy’s and the Hampton Inn on your right, then take the 2nd Exit (marked Zoo and Gardens). At the traffic light take a left onto Cahaba Road. The Zoo entrance will be on your left in about half a mile.

From US-31 North
Take Highway 31 North to the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Oxmoor Road at the Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store. Take a right onto Hollywood Blvd that goes between the Chevron Gas Station and Shades Cahaba Elementary School. Go through 2 stop signs, to the stop light in the middle of Mountain Brook Village. Take a left at the light onto Cahaba Road. Follow Cahaba Road and the Zoo will be on you left in about half a mile

View a Map of The Zoo