Essex County Turtle Back Zoo - West Orange, NJ
If you’re searching for a unique family outing and pet-friendly attractions in West Orange, New Jersey, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is a standout destination. Although not a traditional dog park, the zoo provides a fun, interactive experience for families, kids, and animal lovers with amenities like a petting zoo, gift shop, café, birthday party options, playgrounds, and ample free parking. The site is wheelchair accessible and there are plenty of engaging activities, making it easy to plan a comfortable and exciting day trip.
While the Turtle Back Zoo focuses on wildlife and educational exhibits rather than being a dedicated off-leash dog park, its accessibility, free parking, and close proximity to suburban trails and parks make it a popular hub for pet owners in Essex County. The zoo is well maintained, features knowledgeable staff, and offers special events throughout the year. For those looking for more pet-friendly opportunities, nearby trails and outdoor spaces offer dog-friendly walks and hikes in West Orange, New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, Turtle Back Zoo has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking lot.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, there is a playground and numerous activities designed for kids, including birthday parties and a petting zoo.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? Yes, entry requires ticket purchase, and there is an option for yearly memberships.
- Where is the best place to park? The zoo offers onsite, free parking in both a parking garage and lot.
- Are there pet-friendly cafes or stores close to the park? There is a café and gift shop located within the zoo.
Reviews
I have the luxury of homeschooling my daughter and so we invested in the yearly membership for the zoo so we can come every single week. We love the train, feeding the stingrays and watching keepers doing animal feedings. The staff is always knowledgeable and friendly. They genuinely seem excited talking about what they do and it feels great knowing the people taking care of the animals love what they do. The new vet building is totally amazing if you’re able to catch it while they are caring for animals. We were able to watch check ups being performed on baby emus, it was so cool!
Great zoo for a day trip with the family. There are interactive experiences with the animals such as feeding them. The kids had a great time.
What an amazing experience.. the staff is A1. The animals look healthy and well kept. I highly recommend going early in the morning. Wear comfy sneakers and dress in layers… food is expensive so bring your own.. the kids will love the food.. tailored for children… walk in and take the trolly right away.. getting out of the way and enjoy the rest of the adventure .
It was a great experience I had fun but the maps could have been more detailed in pining your location on the map. I noticed they didn’t have too much staff walking around monitoring what was going on kids are claiming on the fence parents not saying anything and one kid look like he could have been 12yo was punching the glass. But it was nice otherwise
I found so many cute animals here.
Unfortunately I don’t understand why so many species are alone and not with a female or male companion. I feels sad to me. Probably is maintenance 🧑🔧 or who knows .
I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the touch tank. The close early Sundays 😔. It was a lovely place full os family and so much joy. So many kids with happy faces. So you really enjoy the experience in some areas. I like the food print on the ground . I love the big “bench” snake.