🦓 Zoo + rides + beach in one stop · best ages 2–10 · rides cost extra · 🚗 ~1 hr 15 min from Boston
A zoo-and-amusement-park combo steps from Short Sands Beach — lions, zebras and a butterfly kingdom on the zoo side, family rides and mini-golf on the park side. Ideal for mixed-age crews. Note: rides aren’t included with zoo admission — buy ride tokens on arrival.
Zoo + rides + beach in one stop · best ages 2–10 · rides cost extra. A zoo-and-amusement-park combo steps from Short Sands Beach — lions, zebras and a butterfly kingdom on the zoo side, family rides and mini-golf on the park side.
About 1 hr 15 min by car from downtown Boston without traffic (1 Animal Park Rd, York Beach, ME 03910). Add buffer on summer weekends.
York’s Wild Kingdom is seasonal, roughly May–September. Hours shift year to year — always confirm on yorkswildkingdom.com before you go.
Weekday mornings at opening — animals are most active and the beach parking is still easy. September weekends are calm; July Saturdays are the busiest.
Compare all 16 parks — with a map and drive times — in our New England amusement parks guide, or browse family activities near Boston.