Paducah, Kentucky, provides a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere, as well as warm-weather temperatures ranging between 65 and 80 degrees F, for about nine months out of the year. For families who enjoy learning about animals and their habitat, there are several zoos near Paducah that can be reached by car in about two hours or less.

Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden

Evansville, Indiana, is about 85 miles from Paducah and features the Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden ( Open in its current location since 1930, this 50-acre park is home to more than 700 animals. Exhibit habitats are grouped by geographical location and include animals from Australia, Africa, Asia and North and South America. The zoo offers a variety of events throughout the year, including educational programs, giraffe feedings, children's contests and summer camp opportunities. Rarer animals found at Mesker Park Zoo include the giraffe, cheetah, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and wallaby.

Tennessee Safari Park

Tennessee Safari Park ( in Alamo is a wildlife park that is less than 100 miles from Paducah. Preserving animals since 1967, it features a walking tour and driving tour to view its more than 400 animals. On the two-and-a-half-mile driving tour, visitors may pet, photograph and feed any of the park's 80 different wildlife species. However, only the specialty feed provided by the park may be fed to animals. The park also has a petting area for children that includes adult and baby giraffes, as well as farm animals such as pigs, donkeys, rabbits and sheep.

Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo ( is less than 130 miles from Paducah and is one of the newest zoos in the state of Tennessee. The Nashville Zoo opened initially in 1990 in Joelton, but in 1996 moved to its current location at Grassmere. It features about 300 animals from various global habitats, including elephants, red pandas, Bengal tigers, clouded leopards, anteaters, snowy owls, flamingos, and several species of reptile and amphibian. In addition to its wildlife exhibits, the zoo has a 66,000-square-foot playground, known as the Jungle Gym, where children can slide, swing, crawl, climb and explore.

St. Louis Zoo

About 140 miles north of Paducah, travelers can visit Missouri's St. Louis Zoo ( Initiated in 1910, the St. Louis Zoo is 77-acre park that offers free admission to all visitors, but does charge nominal fees per person for some zoo exhibits. It is home to more than 700 wildlife species, and almost 18,000 animals in all. Many of the St. Louis Zoo's current animal residents were born here, while others were received from other zoos, or were rescued animals from the wild. In addition to regular zoo tours, visitors may embark on private, behind-the-scenes tours of the zoo, and wildlife feeding encounters with mammals like sea lions.

World Aquarium

Located in St. Louis' City Museum, the World Aquarium ( first opened in 1971, and is the closest of its kind to the city of Paducah. In fall and winter, the aquarium is open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday, and in spring and summer, it is open daily. The aquarium is home to more than 10,000 animals including turtles and tortoises, dolphins, sharks, rays, octopus and numerous fish species. It also houses numerous exotic animals such as two-headed reptiles, large snakes, crocodiles, iguanas, monitor lizards, tree frogs, river otters, ferrets, sloths and kinkajous.

Photo Credits

  • Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images

Slider images:

  1. Attribution: Westkentuckygenealogy; License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
Suggest an Article Correction