We’ve lived in Springfield for a year and have never gone to the zoo, which is literally five minutes from our house. FIVE minutes! AND I have never met a zoo I didn’t like. I love all of the animals.
One of my favorite things about Dickerson Park is the access to the animals. With peacocks roaming around the grounds and the unfettered access when feeding the giraffes, it is a wonderful experience.
I honestly didn’t have high expectations for the zoo. My assumption was that the zoo would be small, dated and potentially a waste of time and money. I am thrilled to report that I was very wrong!
There is somewhat limited parking, so I would recommend planning to arrive in the morning. It gets dreadfully hot here during the summer months, so visiting the zoo early in the day would save you from a major sweat-fest. BUT, there is plenty of shade around the zoo, which is very nice! Admission to the zoo is very reasonable in comparison to others that I have visited, $12 for adults and $8 for children.
There are well over one hundred exhibits at the zoo, so plan to spend at least two hours roaming about during your visit. My absolute favorite exhibit would be the giraffes, and of course, feeding them. I’ve fed giraffes at zoos before, but never like this. At Dickerson you buy crackers and can linger about feeding them as long as you would like. They are breathtakingly beautiful animals, and feeding them with Jaxon is a memory I won’t soon forget.
If you find yourself visiting Springfield, MO whether you are traveling the Mother Road, visiting family, or just passing through, I recommend a trip to Dickerson Park Zoo. I’m already looking forward to Jaxon’s trip next summer for another visit!
Betting on the Betlyons 