Where to see animals near Wilmington with kids
Few things win with little kids like animals. These are the spots near Wilmington to get close to them — a right-sized first zoo, working farms with barn animals, and a nature center, plus the big day-trip upgrade when the small zoo isn't enough. Facts come from each place's page.
1. Brandywine Zoo
Wilmington
Small, walkable, and finishable before naptime — the right-scale first zoo for little kids, right inside Brandywine Park.
2. Coverdale Farm Preserve
Greenville
A Delaware Nature Society working farm in Greenville — barn animals up close, fields, and trails, free to roam.
3. Ramsey's Farm
Wilmington
A working family farm in north Wilmington with farm animals, hayrides, and a corn maze — most alive in the fall.
4. Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin
Delaware Nature Society trails plus a Butterfly Habitat in Hockessin — wildlife up close, and free.
5. Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia
America's first zoo, about 45 minutes up I-95 — a full day and the big-animal upgrade when the little zoo isn't enough.
Questions parents ask
What's the best zoo near Wilmington for toddlers?
The Brandywine Zoo — it's small enough to finish before a nap and sits right inside Brandywine Park. For a bigger day, the Philadelphia Zoo is about 45 minutes up I-95.
Where can kids see farm animals near Wilmington?
Coverdale Farm Preserve (free, in Greenville) and Ramsey's Farm (north Wilmington) both have barn animals; Ramsey's runs fall hayrides and a corn maze, and Coverdale's hayrides are private bookings.
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More guides
Checked against each place’s current info.
Admission and hours come straight from each place’s guide. Last reviewed July 20, 2026. Confirm anything dated on the source before you go.