Open Year-Round
(Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day)
January 2 - March 31, 2026: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 1 - August 31, 2026: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sip, stroll and s'more at this adult summer camp-themed event.
Welcome to Camp
Remember camp? Bug juice, s'mores, dancing under string lights, sneaking out past curfew, swearing you'd never forget your bunkmates. Summer Sips, presented by KeyBank, is that. Just 21+, with craft beer instead of bug juice and the Zoo as your campground.
Lawn games, live music, unlimited carousel rides, after-hours access to the brand-new Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails and more — all included with your ticket. No counselors. No curfew. Just you, your group chat and the kind of summer night that used to feel endless.
The Cabin Roster
Learn what you can expect during your visit
- 100+ beverages including craft beer, cocktails, seltzers, wine and zero-proof options
- 10-14 3 oz. tastings depending on ticket type
- A complimentary welcome drink from Griffin Claw Brewing Company to kick off camp
- After-hours access to Erb Discovery Trails
- Access to Frankel Stingray Cove until 8 p.m.
- Access to Dinosauria, presented by Michigan First Credit Union
- Live music from Phoenix Theory(goes to new website) and DJ Big Ben(goes to new website)
- Camp activities for the 21+ crowd
- S'mores kits available for purchase
- Oversized lawn games and themed photo ops
- Interactive Connection Station
- Zookeeper chats
- Free carousel rides until 9 p.m.
- Food available for purchase
The Camp Schedule
Plan your evening
So you can plan your night:
- 6 p.m. — Event open to VIPs
- 6:30 p.m. — General admission opens, camp begins
- 8 p.m. — Animal habitats and the back of the Zoo close.
- 6 - 8 p.m. — One-way train rides from main admissions to Africa
- 9 p.m. — Last carousel ride
- 9:30 p.m. — Last call
- 10 p.m. — Lights out
A note on the animals: Most habitats close at 8 p.m. for the well-being of the animals. We recommend visiting the animals first when you arrive and working your way back toward the music as the night goes on.
The Detroit Zoo practices dynamic pricing, so date of visit, time of entry, ticket availability, and date of actual ticket purchase are all determining factors in the pricing. Typically, the further in advance you purchase your tickets the better the pricing will be.
Discount admission to the Zoo ranges from $14 -$21 for General admission / $12 -$18 for Youth/Senior admission.
Parking not included. Prices and operating schedule are subject to change without notice.
Let's work together. Please be respectful, help each other and help protect the endangered animals.
Offer not valid for special or evening events and cannot be combined with other promotions. Tickets are non-refundable. Limit 6 tickets per order.