Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Will the Zoo get very crowded on Thanksgiving?

Hi,
Plan to visit friend in DC this Thanksgiving. Not sure what to do on 24th since neither of us likes shopping. Thinking about going to the National Zoo but not sure if it will get very crowded? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Until reading your post I would have thought Zoos here in the US are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Now I think I will take my son to visit the LA Zoo on the 24th (it is also open)!

Hopefully a current DC person with experience can give a more authoritative response. It is probably a good day to go - most folks will be elsewhere with their families. Or if they have an interest in the Zoo, will wait to the following day or that weekend when the Christmas lights are up. Did find this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmydV-4wlBk) of someone's experience last year that has a few shots of the crowd -- seems pretty reasonable.

if the weather is nice, count on lots of crowds at the zoo.

if the weather is nice, count on lots of crowds at the zoo.

+1. But, the zoo is quite large - and crowds in one area can avoided by moving to a less popular part. Note that parking at the zoo is pretty expensive ("Parking at the Zoo costs $16 for the first three hours, and $22 for more than three hours."). Street parking is unrestricted and free on the holiday though.

if the weather is nice, count on lots of crowds at the zoo.

Agreed. My suggestion is to use Metro if possible. Far cheaper than parking at the zoo.

Thank you, everyone! I think I'll take the metro.

Hopefully a current DC person with experience can give a more authoritative response. It is probably a good day to go - most folks will be elsewhere with their families. Or if they have an interest in the Zoo, will wait to the following day or that weekend when the Christmas lights are up. Did find this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmydV-4wlBk) of someone's experience last year that has a few shots of the crowd -- seems pretty reasonable.

The Smithsonian (including the National Zoo) is open on Thanksgiving. I find it's a good way for my relatives to entertain themselves while I am home doing the cooking! I would anticipate crowds at any of the more popular venues, including the zoo (unless there is bad weather).

If you take the metro, use the Cleveland Park station when you are going to the zoo, and walk downhill to the zoo. Once you are done, keep walking down the hill and leave from the Woodley Park-National Zoo station.

I live by the zoo; it's usually not too busy on Thanksgiving, especially if you go early.

Thanks again for the suggestion!

The Smithsonian (including the National Zoo) is open on Thanksgiving.

This is beyond the Smithsonian and its affiliates too. On a quick look across many of them you have: the Zoo, Smithsonian, the Renwick, the American Art/National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, Natural History, Freer and Sackler, Hirshhorn, African Art, American History, the Botanic Garden...

The only day where most everything is closed is 12/25. It is a mix on 1/1. Beyond that, many of the museums ignore all the other holidays.