Milwaukee County Zoo is switching to a new parking system April 21 as part of a series of changes designed to improve traffic flow.
This traffic plan also includes construction of an intersection with traffic signals and a pedestrian crosswalk at West Bluemound Road and North 99th Street. The Milwaukee County 2026 budget includes $13.6 million for the front-entry reconfiguration project.
Prior to this change, visitors to the zoo paid parking and admission fees to attendants in entrance booths on the drive into the zoo. At peak times, cars with people waiting to pay could be backed up onto Bluemound Road. Zoo Director Amos Morris told a County Board finance committee meeting in 2024 that the zoo was probably losing revenue from people deciding not to wait in line.
How the zoo’s new parking system will work
Under the new system, visitors will drive directly into the zoo parking lots. The new parking system is license plate based, the zoo said in a statement announcing the changes. After parking their vehicles, visitors will use their smartphones to scan QR codes through the lots, purchasing parking through credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Zoo Pass members and prepaid pass holders will also scan QR codes to activate parking for the day.
Zoo parking ambassadors in the lots will be available to help people with the new system.
For more details and to view images of what you will see on your smartphone, visit the Parking at the Zoo page on the zoo’s website, milwaukeezoo.org. General parking is $15 plus tax and fees. Parking for oversize vehicles, buses and RVs is $20 plus tax and fees.
The zoo plans to offer prepaid parking in late 2026.
A new online ticketing system
The zoo will also launch a new online ticketing system on April 21. All previously purchased tickets are still valid for zoo admission.
People arriving at the zoo who need to purchase tickets will be able to buy them at a booth just in front of the U.S. Bank Gathering Place entrance. Admission tickets will be scanned at the entrance. People will be able to purchase admission tickets with cash if they like, the zoo confirmed.
While the zoo is encouraging all visitors to pay for parking via the new online system, it will accept cash for parking on as-needed basis, the zoo confirmed.
During the estimated construction period from now through July 2027, Bluemound Road may be reduced to one lane both eastbound and westbound, the zoo states on its website.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Zoo switches to online parking system
Reporting by Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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