Membership

Free parking is available for Premier level members and higher. The number of passes per year are based on the membership level. See more information about member benefits.

Free parking is not available to Standard level members.

• Parking Passes must be reserved ahead of your visit. Parking spaces at the Zoo are limited and “sell” out quickly.
• Membership parking benefits do not apply to employees, vendors or contractors doing business with or operating near the Zoo.

Learn more about reserving a pass.

The number of Parking Passes included annually with your membership is based on your membership level.

• Standard: 0 Parking Passes
• Premier: 3 Parking Passes
• Premiere Plus: 3 Parking Passes
• Patron Circle: 4 Parking Passes
• Sponsor Circle: 4 Parking Passes
• Benefactor Circle: Unlimited Parking Passes

Please only reserve a pass if you are sure you plan to visit. Parking spaces are limited, so Zoo membership staff can't guarantee parking will be available on your new preferred date. 

We recommend you reserve as far in advance as possible to guarantee parking will be available on the date you plan to visit. To reserve a parking pass, click here.

• After you reserve your parking pass, you will receive a confirmation email and a separate email containing your pass. 
• You can also view your parking pass online. Log into your membership account and click the ‘Access Your Passes’ tab in the top right corner of the page. 

Note: You can reserve your free Parking Passes as soon as you become a member. Just complete your membership purchase and then log in to reserve and use your parking passes. 

To return or exchange a parking pass, please contact a representative at  ZooMembership@si.edu or call 202-633-2922 at least 24 hours before the date of your original reservation. Calls and emails are answered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Please note: due to short supply, parking pass exchanges are not always available on certain dates. To guarantee parking for your visit, try to book as far in advance as possible.

Yes, your membership is active as soon as your payment is processed. To redeem your online benefits, please log out and log back in after completing your membership order for your membership status to take effect.

You will receive an email confirmation containing your membership ID (sometimes called your customer ID). This can be used as proof of membership until you receive your membership card via email.

Please note, as part of our commitment to sustainability, we no longer send printed membership cards by mail.  

Your membership card will arrive to the email address on file within 24 hours of your purchase or renewal. To redeem your onsite benefits, simply present your ID along with your membership card on your phone or provide a copy printed from home. 

To support our ongoing conservation efforts, we’ve transitioned away from mailing printed membership cards. We appreciate your support in our global efforts to save species.

If you need additional support, please email ZooMembership@si.edu with "Membership Card" in the subject line.  

Anyone over the age of 18 can be listed as a cardholder. 

Please note: Including guest, nanny, or other titles instead of an individual’s name will prevent them from being able to use the membership. A membership card may not be loaned to an individual that is not one of the named individuals on your account.

You can update your membership information by logging in to your account here.

Members can walk through the Zoo’s pedestrian entrances without reserving a walk-in entry pass. Simply present your ID along with your membership card on your phone or provide a copy printed from home. 

In line with our dedication to conservation, we no longer offer printed membership cards—thank you for being part of this eco-friendly change. 

Please note:

• Your membership allows up to six people (including named cardholders and regardless of age) to enter without reserving a pass.
• You must provide a valid ID that matches the name of the cardholder to access membership benefits.
• Entry is based on park capacity, so you may need to wait for entry on busy days.
• Certain blackout dates may apply and will be communicated to members in advance.

Your membership allows for up to six people (including named cardholders and regardless of age) to enter without reserving a pass. With a larger group, Zoo staff recommend you reserve entry passes for the entire group ahead of your visit.

Gift membership certificates can be redeemed for up to five years from the date of purchase. After that time, certificates not redeemed will be converted to donations.

No, certificates can only be used to purchase Zoo memberships and are not valid for other online or in-park purchases.

You can renew your membership any time online by logging in to your account here.

Please note: When you renew your membership early, your new membership begins the day after your current membership expires. There is no overlap between the two memberships, and no time is lost!

Send an email to ZooMembership@si.edu or call 202-633-2922 to connect with a representative who will assist you. Phones and email are monitored Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

It may be due to technical difficulties. Email ZooMembership@si.edu or call 202-633-2922 and a Zoo representative will assist you. Phones and email are monitored Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Yes! Check the AZA reciprocity list for participating zoos and aquariums.

Be sure to call the zoo or aquarium that you are visiting ahead of time to confirm whether they are offering reciprocal membership benefits. Maryland Zoo, for example, does not offer discounted admissions to members of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute due to close geographic proximity. Visit AZA.org for the most up-to-date information.

Standard Membership gifts are fully tax deductible.

For all other levels, the amount of your membership contribution minus the fair market value of your benefits is tax-deductible:

Membership payments are donations to the Zoo. Therefore, they are nonrefundable. 

Yes! Contributions made through a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can be accepted as membership contributions.

However, contributions made through charitable distributions, like a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), cannot be accepted as membership contributions. Charitable distributions, like a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), can be accepted as unrestricted donations to the Zoo.

No, contributions made through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) cannot be accepted as membership contributions. However, contributions made through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) can be accepted as unrestricted donations to the Zoo.