Admission to Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park is timed-entry; adults pay $14 and parking is free.
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The surprise at Ashland’s drive-through safari is that the price is low, but the arrival window matters. Plan around wildlife safari park tickets as timed-entry admission: non-members choose a 15-minute arrival slot before the four-mile drive through North American animal habitats.
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park is in Ashland, Nebraska, west of Omaha. The ticket decision is simple for most visitors: buy general admission online, arrive inside the selected window, and allow enough time for the drive-through route plus walking stops.
After you have picked a date and visitor count, compare current ticket availability here:
Wildlife Safari Park Prices And Timed Entry Rules
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park sells general admission by timed arrival window for non-members, not as an open-ended any-time ticket. Members can arrive during operating hours without reserving a timed slot.
The park’s current published general admission rates are $14 for adults ages 12 and older, $13 for seniors ages 65 and older, $12 for children ages 3 to 11, and free for children 2 and under. Military admission cuts the adult ticket to $13 and the child ticket to $11.
The useful planning detail is the 15-minute arrival window. The ticket gets you into the park during that window, but it does not mean the whole visit lasts 15 minutes; most visitors should budget a relaxed half-day if they want the drive, pulloffs, and walking areas without rushing.
How Much Does Admission Cost?
Admission is inexpensive for a drive-through wildlife park: $14 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $12 for children ages 3 to 11. Parking is free for Wildlife Safari Park guests, so a family’s main fixed cost is admission.
The table below shows the ticket types most visitors need to compare before buying.
| Ticket Type | What It Covers | Price Or Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Adult General Admission | Ages 12 and older, timed arrival ticket | $14 |
| Child General Admission | Ages 3 to 11, timed arrival ticket | $12 |
| Senior General Admission | Ages 65 and older, timed arrival ticket | $13 |
| Child 2 And Under | Young children in the same visiting party | Free |
| Military Adult Admission | Military adult admission, ages 12 and older | $13 |
| Military Child Admission | Military child admission, ages 3 to 11 | $11 |
| Active Member Entry | Admission during operating hours without a timed arrival reservation | Included with membership |
| Group Admission | Parties of 50 or more paying visitors with advance notice | Discount by inquiry |
The official Wildlife Safari Park Hours and Admission page lists the current ticket rates, timed arrival policy, parking rule, road rules, and refund terms.
What Your Ticket Includes
General admission covers the four-mile drive-through route, marked pulloffs, walking areas, and open exhibits on your visit date. The core experience is built around seeing North American wildlife from your own vehicle, then adding short stops where the park allows guests to get out.
Wildlife Safari Park is not a typical walk-only zoo. The main route is a slow drive through habitats such as bison, elk, deer, waterfowl, wolves, cranes, prairie dogs, and other native or conservation-focused animals.
A good visit usually has three parts:
- The drive-through route: Move slowly, follow the 7 mph speed limit, and let animals cross first.
- Designated pulloffs: Stop only where the park allows, since traffic flow matters on the route.
- Walking areas: Use open trails, viewing areas, and exhibit paths after the drive if time and weather allow.
Trip fit: Wildlife Safari Park works especially well for families, animal-focused road trips, and travelers who want a low-cost half-day stop between Omaha and Lincoln.
Can You Buy Tickets At The Gate?
Same-day gate tickets may be available, but online timed-entry tickets are the safer choice because arrival slots can sell out. The park says same-day availability is limited and not guaranteed.
Non-members should choose a 15-minute arrival window while purchasing tickets. Arriving early is not useful because entrance waiting space is limited; arriving late may be accommodated in the next available slot, but entry is subject to capacity.
Tickets are non-refundable. If plans change, the park says it can help reschedule based on availability, so treat the date and time like a real reservation rather than a casual gate ticket.
For groups, the rule changes. Parties of 50 or more paying guests can ask about group rates with two weeks’ notice, while smaller groups pay regular admission.
Rules That Affect Your Visit
Wildlife Safari Park is a drive-through experience, so the road rules matter as much as the ticket price. Visitors stay in their vehicles except at designated pulloffs, and animals always have the right-of-way.
The rules most likely to affect a first visit are simple:
- Drive no faster than 7 mph.
- Do not feed the animals.
- Stop only in signed pulloffs.
- Keep passengers and pets out of pickup beds.
- Do not enter with motorcycles, semis, or bikes.
- Use the designated pet area near Baright Visitor Center if traveling with a pet.
Weather also affects the feel of the visit. A sunny mild day makes the pulloffs and walking trails easier, while a hot afternoon can make the car-based portion more comfortable than the trail portion.
Where To Stay Near Wildlife Safari Park
Omaha is the most practical overnight base for Wildlife Safari Park because it has far more hotels than small Ashland and keeps the drive manageable. Ashland can work for a quieter stay, but Omaha gives most travelers better dining, airport access, and family-hotel choice.
Use Omaha as the hotel search point if Wildlife Safari Park is part of a Nebraska weekend, a family road trip, or a longer Omaha zoo visit:
Ashland also sits between Omaha and Lincoln, so either city can work if the park is one stop on a broader Nebraska route. Omaha is better for flying in, Henry Doorly Zoo plans, and more hotel inventory; Lincoln is better if the next leg of the trip points west or south.
Pick The Right Ticket For Your Visit
The right ticket is usually the standard timed-entry admission unless you qualify for a child, senior, military, or membership rate. Buy ahead if the date matters, because gate tickets are limited and not guaranteed.
Use this visitor-by-visitor choice:
- Most adults: Adult general admission at $14 is the default pick.
- Families with young kids: Children ages 3 to 11 need child tickets; children 2 and under enter free.
- Seniors: Senior admission saves $1 compared with adult admission.
- Military families: Use the military adult and child rates if eligible.
- Repeat local visitors: Membership can make sense because members do not need a timed arrival reservation.
- Large groups: Ask about group admission only if the party has 50 or more paying guests and can plan two weeks ahead.
The cleanest plan is to buy online, arrive during the selected 15-minute window, drive slowly, and leave room after the vehicle route for the pulloffs and walking areas. Wildlife Safari Park is not expensive, but the timed-entry rule is the detail that can make or break the day.
References & Sources
- Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park.“Hours and Admission.”Lists current admission prices, timed arrival rules, free parking, road rules, and ticket policies for Wildlife Safari Park.