Branson · Shepherd of the Hills Expressway · Walk-through and drive-through zoo
Branson’s Promised Land Zoo
Drive a 2-mile safari loop past camels, zebras and giraffes, walk a petting trail, feed parakeets, and come back after dark for the Let There Be Lights drive-through.
Opens the zoo’s pricing page. General admission covers the drive-through safari, the foot safari, the indoor building and Parakeet Paradise.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Zoo & drive-through safari
Family owned, with walk and drive areas
Admission
$24.95 adults
Ages 2–12 $16.95; encounters cost extra
Hours
9 am–5 pm daily
Last admission 4 pm; weekends only Jan to Feb 10
Time needed
2 to 3 hours
Tripadvisor estimate
Parking
On-site lot
Safari is driven in your own vehicle; no posted RV rules
Animals
600+
About 95 species on 74 acres
What you’ll see
Walk it, then drive it
The zoo sits on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and mixes a walking trail and an indoor animal building with a drive-through safari you take in your own vehicle.
Video still: TreseysWorld on YouTube
Start here
The drive-through safari
A 2-mile loop takes you past antelope, deer, camels, zebras, giraffes and more, and animal feed is available. You drive it in your own vehicle at your own pace, so it works well for anyone who’d rather not walk far.
RV tip: the safari route is driven in your own vehicle, so take the tow vehicle or car, not the motorhome.
More to see
- Foot SafariA 5-acre walking trail where many of the animals can be fed and petted.
- Parakeet ParadiseA free-flight aviary; a seed stick for feeding the parakeets comes with admission.
- Animal Adventure buildingAn indoor, climate-controlled building with exhibits and touch tanks.
- Animal encountersVIP experiences from $54.95, and VIP Gold encounters from $79.95 that take you inside an enclosure with an animal such as a sloth (ages 8+).
Why go
A hands-on zoo with a holiday light show
Jeff and Diane Sanders and their family started breeding rare animals on a farm in Eagle Rock, Missouri, and opened Promised Land Zoo there in 1997. The Branson zoo followed in 2012 and grew with a big expansion in 2017.
For RVers it’s an easy few hours. The zoo is about 7 minutes from Branson View RV Park and America’s Best Campground, and the drive-through safari is easy on tired legs after a day of walking.
From November 1 to January 4, the zoo lists Let There Be Lights, a 2-mile drive-through holiday light display from 5 to 11 pm, at $30 per carload of up to six people, with free photos with Santa.
Video still: GmaGpaAdventures on YouTube
Why it made our list
- 600+ animals of about 95 species
- A 2-mile drive-through safari
- Parakeet feeding included
- Let There Be Lights in the holiday season
- 7 minutes from two RV parks we’ve written up
For RVers
Taking the rig to the zoo
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Drive the safari in the toad
The 2-mile safari is driven in your own vehicle, and the zoo doesn’t publish RV size limits. Use the tow vehicle, or call (417) 544-0427 before bringing a big rig.
No coaches at the light show
The zoo says coaches aren’t permitted at Let There Be Lights, so plan to drive the light display in a car or pickup.
Pets stay in a carrier
Outside animals aren’t allowed on the property, and pets must stay in carriers inside your vehicle the whole time. On a warm day, leave them at camp.
Ask about local rates
Residents of Barry, Carroll, Taney, Stone and Boone counties get half-price admission Monday to Thursday with ID.
What visitors say about Branson’s Promised Land Zoo
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 28, 2026.
Home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals from around the world
Branson’s Promised Land Zoo · plzoo.com
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
SlothsAnimal encountersParakeets
Google’s review topics point to the sloths (302 reviews), the animal encounters (256) and the parakeets (162). Checked October 28, 2026.
What a visit costs
Prices from the zoo’s pricing and Let There Be Lights pages, checked October 28, 2026. VIP prices are starting prices.
Good to know
Adult (13+)$24.95 general admission
Child (2–12)$16.95 general admission
Let There Be Lights$30 per carload up to 6
Season passportsAdult $80Child $70
Prices from the zoo’s website, checked October 28, 2026. Carloads of seven or more are $45 at Let There Be Lights. The zoo lists no senior price.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Branson’s Promised Land Zoo
- Address2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expy., Branson, MO 65616
- Hours9 am–5 pm daily
Last admission 4 pm; weekends only Jan to Feb 10 - Phone(417) 544-0427
- TicketsAdults $24.95, ages 2–12 $16.95. Prices and encounters
- Getting thereThe zoo is on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, which runs parallel to the 76 Strip. Don’t confuse it with the sister zoo in Eagle Rock, about 45 minutes southwest.
- ParkingOn-site parking. The safari is driven in your own vehicle, and the zoo publishes no RV rules.
The zoo is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4 pm. From January to February 10 it opens on weekends only.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Branson’s Promised Land Zoo
Branson View and America’s Best are the closest parks we’ve written up; Branson KOA is a minute farther.
Branson View RV Park
50 full-hookup sites with hilltop views on MO-265; fewer sites for rigs over about 35 ft.
America’s Best Campground
155 full-hookup sites with pull-thrus to 94 ft and a pool, on Branson’s north side.
Branson KOA Holiday
140 sites with 50-amp pull-thrus to 75 ft, Patio sites and a pool near the 76 Strip.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily 9 am–5 pm · last admission 4 pm
Ready for a safari?
Bring the tow vehicle for the drive-through loop, grab a parakeet stick, and come back after dark for the lights.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Video stills: TreseysWorld on YouTube (on the safari drive) and GmaGpaAdventures on YouTube (Let There Be Lights). Video: Explore With Ngepu on YouTube (Let’s explore Branson’s Promised Land Zoo). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Branson’s Promised Land Zoo unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including Branson’s Promised Land Zoo’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the zoo and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Branson’s Promised Land Zoo at plzoo.com or (417) 544-0427. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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