What the event is and what to expect
The 2026 edition is themed around plants, pollinators and nature past and present: larger-than-life birds, butterflies, insects, flowers, marine creatures and Ice Age giants in sculptural light, from the Holiday Tree and the Butterfly Garden to Ocean Passage, the Cactus Corridor and the Ice Age Adventure. Returning favourites include the interactive elements, a synthetic ice-skating rink (separate ticket, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.), seasonal treats such as make-your-own s'mores, churros and hot cocoa, the Conservation Carousel open until 9:30 p.m., photo-ops including a giant snow globe, and Santa on select nights for an additional fee.
The Zoo says most guests take 60 to 90 minutes. Only about half the Zoo is open, the animals are off-exhibit in their night quarters, the Safari Shuttle does not run during the event, and there is no re-entry once you leave, except on the Sensory-Inclusive night, December 8. The event runs rain or shine; some interactive areas may close in severe weather.
Tickets and the closed nights
Tickets are timed, with two entry times offered to manage the parking lot and the paths, and are valid only for the date you choose. The Zoo's published prices from October 16: value weekdays (November 23–25, December 2, 3 and 8–10) non-member adults $29 and children 2–12 $19; value weekends (November 20–22, December 4–6, January 2, 3 and 8–10) $32 and $22; holiday peak (November 27–29, December 11–13, 17–23 and 26–30, January 1) $35 and $25. Members pay $5 less per ticket. Children under two are free; the service fee is included; no refunds, though tickets can be exchanged for a $5 per-ticket fee plus any price difference, subject to availability. Daytime Zoo admission does not cover Zoo Lights.
The event is closed on November 26 and 30; December 1, 7, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 31; and January 4, 5, 6 and 7. Buy on the official site ↗ before you book a car, and match the pickup to your entry time. The box office at the Membership Booth is open 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. on event nights. Lux4Rides is not affiliated with the Los Angeles Zoo and sells transportation only.
Families: children, strollers and bags
Zoo Lights is for all ages, and the Zoo suggests carriers or strollers for younger children because it is a walking event. Strollers and wheelchairs are allowed; rentals near the front entrance are first-come, first-served, $15 for a single stroller and $20 for a double. Outside food and drink, large bags, backpacks and balloons are prohibited, and there are no lockers, so pack light: a small bag, layers and the tickets on your phone.
Tell us each child's age and weight when you book. A rear-facing seat, a convertible seat or a booster is $25 each per ride, up to three of each, installed before the chauffeur leaves for your pickup. A Luxury SUV carries 7 passengers and 6 bags, an Escalade Elite 6 and 5, a Comfort Sedan 3 and 3; two families fit a Mercedes Sprinter, up to 14 when booked online.
Getting there: free parking, timed entry and pickup at the Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo is at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027, in the northeast corner of Griffith Park across from the Autry Museum, at the junction of the 5 and the 134. Parking is free in the visitor lot, for the daytime Zoo and for Zoo Lights, and the Zoo uses timed entry partly to manage that lot. Accessible spaces need a valid DP placard. The Zoo does not publish a separate rideshare or private-car curb; your chauffeur drops you at the front of the visitor lot by the entrance plaza and, on an hourly booking, stages nearby where waiting is permitted rather than holding a space. For the return, you message as you pass the gift shop and meet at the same spot.
Because parking is free, a chauffeur is not a parking saving. It is a way to arrive with the seats already fitted, avoid the walk back through a dark lot with a sleeping child, and go on to dinner without moving the car twice.
- From Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Burbank or Glendale: 10 to 20 minutes; a 4-hour hourly block covers the ride, the walk and dinner.
- From downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, the Westside or Calabasas: the 5 or the 134; allow 40 to 70 minutes on a December evening. Our car service Los Angeles page covers local pickups.
- From Pasadena: the 134 west to Zoo Drive, about 15 to 25 minutes; our Pasadena black car page covers that side.
- From Irvine, Newport Beach or Long Beach: a long drive up the 5, where two scheduled transfers beat paying for freeway hours.
Timing the arrival and the exit
Arrive at the start of your entry window; the lot and the gate are busiest just before the later entry time. Plan for 60 to 90 minutes on the route, longer with the rink or Santa. The food stands close in stages from 8 p.m. and the carousel at 9:30 p.m., so on a peak night most families leave between 8:30 and 9:30, when the one road out of the lot is the slow part; a chauffeur staged nearby meets you at the agreed point within minutes of your text. With young children, choose the earlier entry time and a value weekday if your dates allow.
From Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and the Valley, an hourly booking covers the whole evening in one block. From Orange County or Long Beach, two transfers are usually cheaper; the booking form shows both with your addresses.