Directions & Parking
Location
Inside Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA
- 40 miles from Seattle/Bellevue; 1 hour drive
- 30 miles from SeaTac airport; 40 minute drive
- 30 miles from Olympia; 40 minute drive
- 148 miles from Portland; 2½ hour drive
Parking is FREE!
Driving Directions
PEARL ST ENTRANCE:
From I-5, take exit 132 to follow SR 16 West. Take the Pearl St/Ruston exit and go north on Pearl Street. At the roundabout entrance to Point Defiance Park, follow signs through the park to the zoo.
MILDRED ST ENTRANCE:
Follow Pearl Street northbound as directed above. Turn left on North 51st Street and drive to Mildred Street. Go around the curve, down and up the hill and turn right into the park. Make another right turn and follow signs to the Zoo parking lots on the left.
ALTERNATIVE WATERFRONT ROUTE:
From I-5, take exit 133 for I-705 and follow signs to Schuster Parkway, then Ruston Way. Follow Ruston Way for 2.8 miles along the waterfront, and at the second traffic circle take the second exit onto North 51st Street. Continue to North Pearl Street, then continue straight ahead for the Mildred Street Entrance or turn right for the Pearl St entrance.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE:
Please wait in your car until five minutes before your ticket time, then proceed to the gate to avoid congestion.
Bus or Bike
Ride your bike or catch the bus to the Zoo. Find our bike racks on the south side of the Zoo entrance.
Bus routes 10 and 11 stop near the Zoo. Get off near the entrance to Point Defiance Park and take the road to the left.
