How much does a Zoo Boo weekend cost a Kendall family of four? At the gate it's $112 for two adults and two children between 3 and 12. The costume contest and trick-or-treating are included in that price.
The answer changes if you think past this one weekend. Zoo Miami has put a Halloween event, a race, a holiday light show and a membership promotion into the same six weeks. The deadline that ties them together is Sunday, November 15. That's the last day to use the MOREMONTHS offer, and it falls the day after ZooRun and twelve days before Zoo Lights opens.
What a Visit Costs at the Gate, Set Against the Membership
Day admission is $30 for ages 13 and up and $26 for ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under get in free. Parking is free, and the prices already include the 7% local sales tax. These are the 2027 membership tiers from the Zoo Miami membership store, as listed in October 2026:
| Membership tier | Price | Day-ticket cost for one visit | Visits before the membership costs less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $79 | $30 for one adult | 3 |
| Dual | $99 | $60 for two adults | 2 |
| Family | $199 | $112 for two adults and two kids 3 to 12 | 2 |
| Senior Individual | $74 | $30 at the standard adult rate | 3 |
| Senior Dual | $94 | $60 at the standard adult rate | 2 |
The store also sells two-year versions of the Family, Dual and Individual tiers at double the one-year price. Before you buy, check who each tier covers so it matches your household.
For a family of four, two visits at day rates cost $224, which is $25 more than the Family membership. Zoo Boo can be the first visit and Zoo Lights can be the second.
Why the Purchase Date Matters More Than the Price
The MOREMONTHS offer applies to 2027 memberships bought online or at the zoo between October 5 and November 15, 2026. Benefits start on the day you buy and run through December 31, 2027. The promotion includes Zoo Boo and gives member savings on Zoo Lights. If you buy on Thursday, October 22, the membership lasts a little over fourteen months for the price of a calendar year.
The cutoff falls before the holiday season starts. Zoo Lights opens November 27, so a family that waits to decide until the lights go up will have missed the window. The offer can't be combined with other discounts or applied to earlier purchases, and the Zoo Miami Foundation says it can change or end the offer at any time.
The Six Weeks, in Order
Here's the season by date, with the deadline in its place:
- Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zoo Boo has trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under, a costume contest with prizes, inflatables, magic shows, a DJ and game master, yard games, the Elite Hoops basketball trailer, and sponsor booths. Animals also get their own Halloween treats. It's included with admission.
- Through Saturday, October 31. Bugtopia, the zoo's exhibit of giant insects, closes at the end of the month. After Zoo Boo, the only weekend left to see it is Halloween weekend.
- Saturday, November 14. The 14th annual ZooRun adds a half marathon this year.
- Sunday, November 15. Last day to buy a 2027 membership with the MOREMONTHS code.
- Friday, November 27. Zoo Lights opens, and the tree lighting is at 7 p.m.
ZooRun Has a New Distance
The new half marathon is 13.1 miles. It covers the full 5K and 10K routes, then adds about 7 more miles through Zoo Miami's pine rocklands and around the outer edge of the grounds, on a mix of paved and natural surfaces. Proceeds go to the Zoo Miami Foundation. Start times are staggered:
- Half marathon at 6:30 a.m.
- 5K and 10K at 7:30 a.m.
- KidsDash at about 8:30 a.m.
Registration prices go up as race day gets closer. The general rate runs from October 1 through November 13: $140 for the half marathon, $70 for the 10K, $65 for the 5K and $35 for the KidsDash. On race day the same entries cost $150, $75, $70 and $40. Virtual 5K and 10K entries are $55 the whole time. Processing fees are extra.
The race and the membership deadline are on back-to-back days. A family registering a runner can buy the membership the same week. If they wait until after the race, they have one day left.
Zoo Lights: Member Savings, Separate Tickets
Zoo Lights runs 17 nights, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.: November 27 and 28, then December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 through 23, and 26 through 30. The zoo describes more than a million lights and a 26-foot LED holiday tree. There will also be Santa through December 23, character meet-and-greets, an animal presentation at the Sami Family Amphitheater, and Yuletide Carolers on opening night. A new train ride costs extra, and so does shopping at the gift shop.
Ticket prices haven't been posted yet; the event page still says "Tickets coming soon." So members know they'll get savings on Zoo Lights, but not yet how much. They can still count Zoo Lights as a second visit before the year ends.
A Reason for the Visits After That
A membership that runs through 2027 pays off on ordinary weekday and weekend visits, not just events. In August 2026, Local10 reported Zoo Miami's first successful birth of a southern hairy-nosed wombat. It was the only birth of that species in the United States in 2026. The female joey was estimated to have been born January 19 and had started coming out of her mother's pouch.
The zoo says some animals may be off exhibit for health care or habitat work. Its advice is to call 305-251-0400 before a visit planned around one animal. Members who live nearby can easily come back another day, which is why the membership works better for them than a single ticket does.
Discounts That Change the Math
For some households, a membership isn't the cheapest option. Zoo Miami's ticket page lists these standing discounts:
- Miami-Dade residents 62 and older get in free on Tuesdays through the Golden Ticket program. Bring a completed Golden Ticket, photo ID and proof of Miami-Dade residency to the ticketing building.
- Seniors 65 and older get 25% off regular admission. Buy at the ticketing building with photo ID.
- Miami-Dade County employees get $4 off adult or child admission for up to six people, bought through the county employee portal.
- Active or former U.S. military get 50% off adult admission, plus 25% off for up to six guests, bought on site.
- Police officers and firefighters get $3 off admission for themselves and up to five guests.
- Members of reciprocal institutions get 50% off general admission for up to two adults and two children.
A retiree who only visits on Tuesdays may never need a membership. A county employee's family of four pays $96 a visit, not $112, so two visits come to $192 and the Family tier only costs less by the third visit. Anyone stacking discounts should note that the MOREMONTHS offer can't be combined with other promotions.
Zoo Boo, ZooRun and Zoo Lights are all a short drive from Kendall. If you're weighing whether staying close to Zoo Miami, the parks and the rest of South Dade fits your next move, Maria Penalver is happy to talk it through. Let's Connect.
