Missouri has one big commercial drive-thru safari in the Ozarks near Springfield, and a free drive-through elk and bison park on the edge of St. Louis.
- Wild Animal Safari (Strafford / Springfield)
- Lone Elk Park (St. Louis County)
WILD ANIMAL SAFARI – STRAFFORD
Type: Self-drive safari plus the Walkabout Adventure Zoo. It opened in 1951 (originally as Exotic Animal Paradise) and is a sister park to Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
Location: 124 Jungle Rd, Strafford, MO 65757 (off I-44, about 10 minutes east of Springfield and 1 hour north of Branson)
Phone: (417) 859-5300
Website: wildanimalsafari.com
Social Media: Tripadvisor
Size: About 350 acres, with a 5-mile drive-thru safari road. Allow 2–3 hours for both sections.
Animals: 65+ species, including elk, water buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, camels, and other hoofstock along the drive. The Walkabout Zoo has Bengal tigers, hyenas, lemurs, monkeys, peacocks, and exotic birds.
General Admission (includes the drive-thru and Walkabout Zoo):
- Adults (13–64): about $23.99
- Juniors (3–12): about $18.99
- Under 3: Free
- Tickets are cheaper online than at the gate.
- These prices come from recent ticket resellers, so check the official site for today’s rates.
Ways to Ride:
- Your own vehicle
- Safari vehicle rental: About $20 for up to 6 people. It’s worth it if you don’t want horns and slobber on your own car.
- Guided safari bus: Free with admission on a seasonal schedule. It has a tour guide and lets you pet and feed animals.
Hours:
- Generally open daily, year-round, 10 AM – 5 PM. Some listings show a 6 PM close in summer.
- The last ticket is sold 1 hour before closing.
- Arrive at least 2 hours before closing to see the whole park.
- Call to confirm current fall hours.
Feed: Sold at the ticket counter. Only park-sold feed is allowed. Feeding rules for private cars have changed under different management (at times, feeding was allowed only from the bus or rental vehicles), so ask at the gate.
Tips:
- Animals will stick their heads into your car and block the road. Expect scratches if you bring your own vehicle.
- Feed adds up fast with kids, so budget for several bags.
LONE ELK PARK
Type: Free St. Louis County drive-through wildlife park with free-roaming elk and bison
Location: 1 Lone Elk Park Rd, Valley Park (St. Louis), MO 63088 (off I-44 & Hwy 141, about 35–45 minutes from downtown St. Louis)
Website: St. Louis County Parks · Explore St. Louis listing
Social Media: Tripadvisor
Size: 546 acres. A mostly one-lane, one-way loop takes about 30 minutes.
Animals: Elk (the herd descends from Yellowstone elk brought in in the 1960s), American bison, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and waterfowl
Admission: FREE. Donations are welcome at the box by the entrance.
Hours:
- Daily, about 8 AM until 30 minutes after sunset
- Gates open around 7 AM in summer.
Rules:
- Bison section: You must stay in your car.
- In the elk, deer, and lake section you may get out, but keep your distance, since bull elk can charge. October is the elk rut.
- No pets, even inside your vehicle.
- No motorcycles.
Tips:
- Go early in the morning or in the last hour or two before sunset, when animals are most active.
- Animals often walk right down the road, so drive slowly.
- The 3.2-mile White Bison Trail loops through the elk section.
- The World Bird Sanctuary is right next door.
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