It’s South Carolina
HalloweenHalloween in South Carolina: haunted trails, trunk-or-treats and fall festivals, dated and priced →Halloween Events in South Carolina →
It's South Carolina

Events and things to do in South Carolina, with prices, dates and drive times checked at the source.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a zoo and botanical garden in Columbia, Richland County, in South Carolina's Midlands. Adult admission is $27.95. Hours: Regular hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (subject to change); Open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Facts read from the official site on October 25, 2026.

  • Hours9 a.m.–5 p.m.official hours below
  • Admission$27.95 adults
  • WhereColumbiaRichland County, Midlands
  • DogsNot allowed
Good to know (read October 25, 2026): Outside food, drinks and coolers not allowed (refillable water bottles OK). Smoke-free.

About Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Riverbanks is a combined zoo and botanical garden on a 170-acre site along the river in Columbia. One admission covers both the zoo and the garden.

  • More than 3,000 animals
  • 170-acre site with river views and valley overlooks
  • Botanical garden with Asian, bog, dry, shade and walled gardens
  • Waterfall Junction children's garden area
  • Dinosaurs Around the World, free experience in the Botanical Garden (current)

Plan It In Three Lines

  1. Getting In

    Admission: $27.95 adults. Parking: $3 per vehicle online, $6 per vehicle at the ticket window.

    9 a.m.–5 p.m.

  2. Bring The Dog?

    Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted in the park. Trained service dogs or ponies are permitted; service animal access is restricted in some

    Full rule below

  3. Make It A Day

    Three Rivers Greenway is about 1 miles away (straight line).

    6 places within 30 miles

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Hours

Hours At A Glance

Hours in a day

  • Regular hoursEvery day9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Bars that fade start at sunrise or end at sunset or dark, which move with the season. The full hours, word for word, are in the list below.

  • Regular hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (subject to change)
  • Open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas days

Hours source: official site, read October 25, 2026.

Admission And Parking

Admission, Side By Side
  • Adults (ages 13-61)$27.95
  • Senior citizens (62 and up)$25.95
  • Military$25.95
  • Children (ages 2-12)$24.95
  • Children younger than 2Free

The first price on each official line (where online and gate prices differ, the line below says which). Read October 25, 2026.

  • Adults (ages 13-61) $27.95 online / $30.95 ticket window
  • Children (ages 2-12) $24.95 online / $27.95 ticket window
  • Children younger than 2 FREE
  • Senior citizens (62 and up) $25.95 online / $28.95 ticket window (photo ID)
  • Military $25.95 online / $28.95 ticket window (military ID)
  • Admission includes entry to the Zoo and Botanical Garden; after-hours Signature Events ticketed separately

Parking: $3 per vehicle online, $6 per vehicle at the ticket window

Directions And Contact

Dogs And Accessibility

  • Dogs: Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted in the park. Trained service dogs or ponies are permitted; service animal access is restricted in some areas.
  • Accessibility: All exhibits, restrooms, trams, restaurants and gift shops are wheelchair accessible; the upper portion of the Woodlands Walk nature trail is not. Non-motorized wheelchair rental $10 plus tax.

Near Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Around Riverbanks Zoo and Garden within 30 miles
10 mi20 mi30 miNSEW123456
  1. 1Three Rivers GreenwayRiverfront Greenwayunder 1 mi
  2. 2South Carolina State MuseumHistory, Science And Art Museumabout 2 mi
  3. 3EdVenture Children's MuseumChildren'S Museumabout 2 mi
  4. 4Columbia Museum of ArtArt Museumabout 2 mi
  5. 5Sesquicentennial State ParkState Parkabout 11 mi
  6. 6Pine Island State ParkState Parkabout 11 mi

Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.

Coming Up Near Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

67 more on the full events calendar.

Events within 40 miles, measured in a straight line to the centre of the event's town. Dates come from our checked events list; confirm with the organizer.

FAQ

How much does Riverbanks Zoo and Garden cost?

$27.95 adults. Adults (ages 13-61) $27.95 online / $30.95 ticket window; Children (ages 2-12) $24.95 online / $27.95 ticket window; Children younger than 2 FREE

What are the hours at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden?

Regular hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (subject to change); Open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

Can I bring a dog to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden?

Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted in the park. Trained service dogs or ponies are permitted; service animal access is restricted in some areas.

What We Could Not Verify

  • County: the zoo campus spans the river; county set to Richland from the Columbia street address, not stated on the site
  • Hours and prices change; check the official site the day you go.

Sources

  1. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: hours (read 2026-10-25)
  2. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: official site (read 2026-10-25)
  3. OpenStreetMap (map point)

Last checked October 25, 2026 by the It’s South Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Riverbanks Zoo and Garden”, itssouthcarolina.com/places-to-go-in-south-carolina/riverbanks-zoo-and-garden/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.