A family of four could pay nearly $90 for one day at the Tulsa Zoo or $100 at the Oklahoma Aquarium.
As the summer season begins, you may be weighing the options for an afternoon away from home. But costs for family-friendly fun add up, and more places are pushing you toward their memberships instead.
For example: This month, the Tulsa Zoo began charging $6 for parking to cover “essential improvements, maintenance and ongoing upkeep.” But it remains free for members.
How many visits does it take before buying a membership becomes worth it? Here’s a cost breakdown at some of Tulsa’s most popular entertainment destinations, including the Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma Aquarium, Discovery Lab, Tulsa Botanic Garden and Paradise Beach Water Park.
Tulsa Zoo
6421 E. 36th St. N., Tulsa
The Tulsa Zoo has six exhibits, from penguins to chimpanzees, as well as attractions and dining options. There are also special events throughout the year. Members pay less for certain attractions like the safari train and gem dig, as well as for food. There’s also a whole list of other zoos and aquariums around the world this membership gets you access to.
Families with young children
You’d spend $80 on just your tickets and parking for two adults and two children. Tickets cost $3 more when purchased at the gate instead of online. Children younger than 2 years old get in for free.
A “family” membership covers two adults and four children younger than 18 years old for $179 per year. After crunching the numbers, that means an average family of four would need to go to the zoo three times before this membership pays off.
That number jumps to four visits if your children are younger than 2 years old. And, it’s five visits for two seniors older than 65 taking children younger than 2.
A “friends” membership costs $219 for two adults and two guests. If your children are between 3 and 11 years old, you’d need to go to the zoo three times for this membership to be worth it. If both of the children are younger than 2, that’d be five visits for two adults and six visits for two seniors.
Being a single parent usually means you’d have to go to the zoo more often before a membership pays off. With a “friends” membership, one adult and two kids younger than 2 years old would need to visit nine times. It goes up to 10 visits if you are older than 65.
Adults or seniors only
An “associate” membership costs $119 a year for one adult and a guest per visit. If you’re a group of two adults or seniors, you’d need to visit three times for the membership to be worth it.
That number of visits is the same for a family of four adults under a “family” membership, which means you’re all older than 12. The moment you have to pay for five adults, though, you’d only need to go to the zoo twice before the “family” membership becomes worth it.
Oklahoma Aquarium
300 Aquarium Dr., Jenks
The Oklahoma Aquarium has several exhibits for their animals, including sea turtles, sharks and all kinds of fish. They also have a hurricane simulator and virtual reality ride, which both cost extra, and yearly events. Members get discounts for special events and the gift shop.
Families with young children
You’d spend $90 on just your tickets for two adults and two children. Children younger than 2 years old get in for free.
A “family” membership covers two adults and four children younger than 18 years old for $165 per year. That means an average family of four would need to go to the aquarium three times before this membership pays off.
Just like at the zoo, that number jumps to four visits if your children are younger than 2 years old. And, it’s five visits for two seniors older than 65 taking children younger than 2.
Being a single parent also costs you more time at the aquarium before that membership pays off. With a “family” membership, one adult and two children younger than 2 would need to visit seven times. It goes up to nine visits if you are older than 62.
Adults or seniors only
An “individual” membership costs $85 a year for one adult and guest per visit. If your group has two adults, which means everyone is older than 12 years old, you’d need to visit twice in a year for the membership to be worth it.
That becomes four visits if your children are younger than 2, and five visits if you’re a senior with a child who’s younger than 2 years old.
Discovery Lab
3123 Riverside Drive, Tulsa
The Discovery Lab offers hands-on learning opportunities catered toward science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). They also have yearly events. Members get access to special exhibits and priority registration for summer camps. Teachers, including home school, get special discounts on a membership when they show current school identification.
Families with kids younger than 2
Children younger than 2 years old get in for free, but everyone else has to pay $14 for admission.
The “just for two” membership covers a single adult with one child for $85 a year. You can add another adult or child for $45. If your child is younger than 2, you’d need to go to the Discovery Lab six times before this pays off.
If you want to pay for two adults, the “family membership” covers that and two children younger than 18 years old for $170 per year. This requires you to visit the Discovery Lab seven times.
Families with kids older than 2
You don’t need to visit as many times with a “just for two” membership when your kids are older than 2. It’s only four visits. That’s the same number of visits for an average family for four with a “family” membership.
There’s also a “family plus” membership for two adults and four children, which costs $255 a year. You’d need to go four times for this as well, except if you’re a single adult with three children — then it’s five visits.
Tulsa Botanic Garden
3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive, Tulsa
The Tulsa Botanic Garden has around 60 acres of developed space. They also host various events throughout the year, like the Garden of Lights. SNAP and WIC recipients can get in for free if they show a valid EBT and photo ID at the door. Members get discounts at the gift shop.
Families with young children
You’d spend $30 on your tickets for two adults and two children between 3 and 15 years old. Children younger than 2 years old get in for free.
A “family” membership gets two adults and four children under 18 into the garden for $99 a year. That means an average family of four would need to go four times before this pays off.
An “individual” membership for you and one added guest costs $85 a year. You can add a “plus one” for $25. So, you’d need to go to the garden six times if your child is between 3 and 11 and nine times if they’re younger than 2. That number jumps to five visits if all your children are younger than 2 years old.
You’d have to go to the garden more often before the membership pays off as a single parent. With a “family” membership, an adult and two children between 3 and 15 years old would need to visit five times. It goes up to 10 visits if your children are younger than 2.
Adults only
You’d need to go to the botanic garden five times in a year under the “individual” membership with an added guest for the membership to pay off. If you’re a family of four adults, you’d need to go three times.
Paradise Beach Water Park
4707 E. 21st St., Tulsa
With its water slides, lazy river, wave pool and more, Paradise Beach Water Park might be your go-to water hangout for the summer. They also rent out cabanas and host groups if you’ve got a summer birthday on the horizon.
Families with young children
You’d spend $124 on your tickets for two adults and two children. Children younger than 2 years old get in for free.
A “paradise pass” costs $89.99 per person taller than 4 feet. That means your average family of four would need to go three times this summer before a pass pays off. This is also true if your children are shorter than 4 feet tall with a “junior pass,” which costs $79.99.
Even if you’re a single adult, you’d still need to go to Paradise Beach three times before a regular “paradise pass” or “junior pass” becomes worth it for you and your children.
Free and affordable things to do
There are also several free things you can do this summer. Tulsa is home to dozens of nature trails like Turkey Mountain, and the Gathering Place has several play parks and a few water areas for children.
You might also take advantage of your local pool through the City of Tulsa’s parks and recreation department. They open May 30, and a complete list with times can be found here. It’ll cost $3 per person per day to get in and is free for children younger than 4 years old. A 10-visit pool pass can be purchased for $15.
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