If you're looking for a place for your family to visit animals in and around Binghamton, you've come to the right place! We've compiled a list of parks, farms, and zoos where you can pet, feed, and learn about our friends with feathers, fur, horns, and more! If you're just trying to entertain an infant or toddler, don't under estimate the value of pet stores, dog parks, and therapy dog days at local libraries.
Here are ten places (ordered alphabetically) to find animals within an hour drive of Binghamton:
Animal Adventure Park and The Preserve
85 Martin Hill Rd, Harpursville, NY 13787
Since its opening in 2012, Animal Adventure Park has grown to house over 100 species of animals including many friendly animals that you can feed like giraffes, camels, and donkeys. The Preserve, a drive-through safari park, opened in 2022 and became home to many large animals including Tank, a rhinoceros. Both facilities are open every day from mid-April thru October. From late November thru early January, the walk-thru park is transformed into a fun holiday experience called Jungle Bells. The walking paths connect back to back exhibits (you can see an animal from almost anywhere you stand in the park), but they don't offer much shade, so don't forget the sunblock in the summer months!
Admission rates and more information can be found on Animal Adventure Park's website.
Edward's Petting Farm
2948 Webb Rd, Binghamton, NY 13903
Edwards Petting Farm offers private tours, birthday parties, and a few special public events that feature a hands-on farm experience. Farmer Jen is your guide as you pet, hug, brush, and hold your favorite animals from bunnies, goats, and alpacas to pigs, cows, and horses. When you're done visiting the animals, kids can enjoy the fenced-in playground right outside of the barn. In the summer, Edwards Petting Farm hosts weekly musical playdates with Johnny Only.
For more information and to make an appointment, visit Edward's Petting Farm's website.
Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den
300 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton, PA 18503 (located in The Marketplace at Steamtown)
In its 20,000+ square foot facility, Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den houses an octopus, fish, sharks, stingrays, tortoises, lizards, crocodilians, and more. You'll want to check their website before you visit for times when you can experience the touch tank and watch animal feedings. They also offer regular educational sessions where you meet some the animals up close.
For more information, visit Electric City Aquarium's website.
Farmland Animal Park
940 Wyncoop Creek Rd, Chemung, NY 14825
Farmland Animal Park is home to a variety of farm animals including pigs, goats, llamas, cows, and horses. You'll notice some cats, ducks, chickens, and other small animals wander the ground and might tag along with you for a bit. Beyond feeding and visiting the animals, you can also ride a pony or horse, use a zip line, go for a wagon rides, and ride paddle boats. It is a cash only facility, so plan accordingly!
For more information, visit Farmland Animal Park's website.
Frog Pond Farm
2001 NY-7, Bainbridge, NY 13733
While we haven't seen any frogs or a pond there, we have found delicious fruits and vegetables and cute farm animals. From April thru November, you can shop their market and the kids can see the animals at no cost. From chicks, ducklings, and bunnies to pigs, sheep, and cows, you'll find them all there on the farm.
For updates about their hours and products, you can follow Frog Pond Farm's Facebook page.
Ithaca Sciencenter
601 1st St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Ithaca Sciencenter has a number of fun interactive exhibits including a seasonal outdoor playground and mini-golf course, but is also home to amphibians, reptiles and fish. You can experience a tropical rainforest with some green tree pythons and check out the invasive red lionfish suspended within a North Carolina shipwreck. The Sciencenter also has a saltwater Tidepool Touch Tank (check website for hours) that features marine invertebrates like sea stars, long clawed hermit crabs, and horseshoe crabs.
For hours, admission, and more information, visit Ithaca Sciencenter's website.
Little Ray's Nature Center
1 Destiny USA Dr, Syracuse, NY 13204
Located in Destiny USA, Little Ray's Nature Center is home to a variety of exotic animals that have been rescued and would not survive in the wild. You'll find everything from furry bush babies, sloths, and coatis to scaly lizards, snakes, and gators. In addition to general admission, Little Ray's offers guided tours, private animal encounters, and birthday parties.
Hours, admission, and more information can be found at Little Ray's Nature Center's website.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
1 Conservation Pl, Syracuse, NY 13204
Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Rosamond Gifford Zoo spans 43 acres where you'll find elephants, snow leopards, red pandas, an Amur leopard, Amur tigers, Bactrian camels, an Andean bear, alpacas, gray wolves, red wolves, waterfowl and more. The zoo is open year round and more than half of the exhibits are indoors.
Find hours and admission prices on Rosamond Gifford Zoo's website.
Ross Park Zoo
60 Morgan Rd, Binghamton, NY 13903
Opened in 1875 and the 5th oldest zoo in the nation, Ross Park Zoo is home to a variety of animals including endangered species like the African penguin, Amur leopard, black and white ruffed lemur, golden-headed lion tamarin, red panda, red wolf, and snow leopard. The exhibits are spaced along a loop on Binghamton’s South Mountain with a snack shop and playground in the middle. Much of the path is shaded which can provide much needed relief on hot summer days.
Admission rates and more information can be found on Ross Park Zoo's website.
The Wild Animal Park & The Wild Drive Thru
7621 Lakeport Rd, Chittenango, NY 13037
Licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The Wild Animal Park is located on 14 acres where you'll see some very unique animals like a pygmy hippos, reticulated giraffe, jaguar, cheetah, Bengal tiger, leopard, kangaroo, and more. The Wild Drive Thru provides visitors with the opportunity to see animals from the comfort of their own vehicle or on a guided tour in THE BEAST.
Admission rates and more information can be found on the Wild Animal Park's website.
Is Something Missing? Do you know of a place we should include on this list? Let us know!
Did you find this helpful? Show some love! Macaroni KID Binghamton sends a free newsletter every Thursday focused on fun events and information for local families. Join over 6,000 of your neighbors and subscribe to the newsletter to receive the weekly scoop! You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Macaroni KID Binghamton is published by a local mom who lives, works, and raises her children in the community. If you would like to join our network of family-friendly businesses and connect with local parents in Binghamton, Johnson City, Vestal, Apalachin, Owego, and beyond, please reach out and learn how you can share your services with our readers!
