A petting zoo is a good time whether you’re nine or 99 years old. Luckily, Denver is close to numerous great petting zoos, from traditional spots where you can feed goats and mini horses to an immersive tropical pavilion with thousands of butterflies.
Here’s a list of some of the best petting zoos in and around Denver. Regardless of where you go, be sure to take some cute photos and be grateful for the amazing animals in Colorado and beyond.
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Top Petting Zoo Denver Experiences
The Bee Hugger Farm
12590 Ute Hwy., Longmont, Colorado, 80504
- Distance from Denver: 45 minutes
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
- Fees: Visiting is free, with the option to pay for add-on experiences.
This unassuming spot in Longmont happens to be one of the best petting zoos in Denver. This farm is home to 44 animals, including horses, foals, peacocks, goats, chickens, donkeys, and more. You can buy food for kids to feed the animals for just $1. While you’re there, be sure to check out the other experiences on the farm (the opportunity to climb on the tractors is a highlight), and be sure to buy some local honey to support the people who make this amazing, family-friendly spot near Denver possible.
Denver Cat Company
3929 Tennyson St., Denver, Colorado, 80212
- Distance from Denver: 15 minutes from downtown
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Fees: Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children.
If you don’t have a cat at home but still want to get your snuggles in, this is the perfect spot for you. Denver Cat Company is home to numerous adoptable cats who lounge around this quaint cafe and are available for snuggles from visitors. Bring the kids and let them pet all varieties of cats (Note: Inside voices and gentle behavior are encouraged.). Plus, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, play a board game, and listen to all types of music while you’re there. Will you end up bringing an adoptable cat home? That’s up to you to decide, but no matter what you choose, you’re sure to get a cat fix at this unique Denver mainstay.
Englewood Farm & Train at Belleview Park
5001 S. Inca Dr., Englewood, Colorado, 80110
Distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Hours: Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day
Fees: $3 per person
The Englewood Farm & Train has been a summer tradition in Denver for more than 30 years — and it also happens to be a top petting zoo in Denver CO. That’s thanks to its adorable collection of farm animals ranging from bunnies to chickens to pot belly pigs, all of whom are ready for attention from the park’s young visitors. In addition to getting in their animal fix, kids will also be all about the train that winds through the park.
Lil’ Buckaroo’s Farm
4738 Co Rd 5, Erie, Colorado, 80516
- Distance from Denver: About 40 minutes
- Hours: One-hour tours available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The farm is closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays.
- Fees: Self-guided tours are $20 for adults, $12 for young children from 1-3, $16 for children four to 17, and free for infants.
There’s a reason why Lil’ Buckaroo’s Farm is often considered one of the best petting zoos in Denver. The facility was first started by a couple who decided they wanted to open a petting zoo in Denver CO during the pandemic. Once they found this prime spot just north of the city, they went about finding some of the sweetest animals they could. Now, visitors have the opportunity to pet everything from Nigerian goats to miniature donkeys and cows to pot-bellied pigs and so much more. Along the way, kids get to learn about conservation and sustainable farming practices.
Smooth Alpaca Experience
18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison, Colorado, 80465
- Distance from Denver: 30 minutes.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
- Fees: The Smooth Alpaca Palooza experience starts at $43 per person and is free for kids aged 3 and under.
If you’ve ever wanted unlimited snuggles with an alpaca, then this is your moment. This Denver petting zoo is focused on these furry, delightfully funny South American mammals. During the Smooth Alpaca Palooza experience, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy nature in Colorado’s foothills while a trained guide teaches you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about alpacas. If you need a little bit of joy in your life (and some awesome new Instagram photos), we highly recommend this unique petting zoo in Denver.
The Urban Farm
10200 Smith Rd., Denver, Colorado, 80239
- Distance from Denver: 20 minutes
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday during the months of March through October, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from November to February
- Fees: $5 for everyone 3 and up
This unique spot in Denver combines cuteness with ag education. This nonprofit community farm and education center helps expose urban audiences to agriculture and allows kids to interact with animals like cattle, horses, goats, sheep, mini horses, and poultry. While the Urban Farm is not a Denver petting zoo in the traditional sense, it’s still a good spot to bring the entire family, see animals, and learn more about where our food comes from.
Denver Zoos With Interactive Animal Experiences
Butterfly Pavilion
6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, Colorado, 80020
- Distance from Denver: 25 minutes
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- Fees: $17.45 for adults, $15.45 for seniors, $12.45 for children 2-12, and free for kids under 2
This Denver Colorado zoo is focused on different types of animal friends than other similar establishments in the city. That’s because it focuses on all sorts of invertebrates, including 1,600 free-flying tropical butterflies and unique sea creatures in the Water’s Edge exhibit. Kids will love (or hate) the opportunity to hold and pet Rosie the Tarantula, and there are plenty of other interactive and educational experiences along the way. The Butterfly Pavilion’s team of interpretative specialists can help talk visitors through all of the planets and animals they see inside — and once you leave, you and the kids will have a newfound appreciation for the pollinators and invertebrates who make Colorado’s unique ecosystem possible.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd., Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80906
- Distance from Denver: Roughly 1.5 hours
- Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fees: Tickets start at $10.75 for children on value days and $14.75 for adults. See the full fee calendar here.
This zoo might be a little bit of a drive from Denver, but trust us — it’s worth the trip. In addition to getting to feed goats, chickens, and budgies, visitors also have the opportunity to interact with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s famous giraffe herd. If the chance to feed and pet a giraffe isn’t enough, visitors can also see everything from apes to lions and everything in between with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. If this has your kid interested in being a zookeeper, be sure to stop by the loft, where they can learn more about what it takes to care for the animals and even try their hands at some chores.
Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St., Denver, Colorado, 80205
- Distance from Denver: 10 minutes from downtown
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- Fees: Ticket prices vary by season, with youth tickets starting at $10.50 from Nov. 1 to March 12 and adult tickets starting at $15.75 during that same off-peak season.
It’s not like the Denver Zoo is really a secret, but in addition to seeing majestic animals from a distance, this family favorite also has a few opportunities to actually get up close and personal with some of its residents. For $3, you can buy a cup of food to hand-feed the Lorikeets, which are small, brightly-colored parrots from Australia and the South Pacific. If that’s not a cool enough experience at this Denver Colorado zoo, for another $3, kids and adults alike can pet some of the most fascinating sea creatures around at Stingray Cove.
Downtown Aquarium
700 Water St., Denver, Colorado, 80211
- Distance from Denver: 10 minutes from downtown
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- Fees: Tickets start at $26.99 for adults 12-64, $25.99 for seniors over 65, $25.99 for children 3-11, and free for kids 2 and under
If the traditional petting zoo experience isn’t quite enough, may we recommend the Downtown Aquarium? Here, visitors have the opportunity to gently touch stingrays and even feed these fascinating ocean creatures — if you dare. Outside of the stingrays, you can see everything from sharks to jellyfish to fish of all colors, shapes, and sizes.
