We are staying at the Raddison on Lexington Ave and would like to go to the Bronx Zoo, what is the best and easiest way to get there?

Thank you for your assistance.

You can either drive or take the subway.
I usually drive there coming from Brooklyn, but from Manhattan, its not a bad subway ride. Take the #2 or the #5 to Pelham Parkway in the Bronx. From there, the Zoo entrance is on Fordham road about 3 block away.
If you prefer to drive, its also relatively easy. Just take the FDR expressway to the triboro bridge, take the branch torwards the Bronx and bear right after the toll plaza onto the Bruckner expressway East. Stay on Bruckner for about 10 minutes, then exit right at the sign for Bronx River Parkway. Follow the B.R.Pkwy to exit 6, Fordham road west, and follow sign to the prarking lot.
JK

Metro North will also get you there...there's a station at Fordham Road and Webster Avenue...from there it's about a 4 block walk...you'll be passing Fordham University's Rose Hill campus...it's a very busy area during the day and you'll be fine...I suggest a side trip to Arthur Avenue (the Bronx's Little Italy) for lunch or dinner...it's only a couple of blocks away from the zoo.

The walk to the entrance from the Fordham Road station is close to 1/2 mile maybe a little longer
You can get to the Zoo by taking an Express bus, cost $3 each way. The service is offered by NY Bus Service. The bus, going, stops on Madison Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets. Returning it stops on 5th Ave and 51st.. You would get off at Pelham Bay - same place where the subway leaves you. For schedules go to www.nybus.com/pelhambay. Trip takes about 50 minutes.

It's not a 10 block walk from the Metro North station to the Bronx Zoo...it's about 4...the Pelham Bay Station exits at White Plains Road, which is about 4 or 5 blocks away from the zoo...the only problem with that walk is the heavy flow of traffic that occurs 2 blocks down by the Bronx River Parkway accesses.

From Webster Ave. to So. Blvd is 9 blocks according to my Bronx map. The entrance at So. Blvd and Fordham has been closed for years. You have to walk to around 187th ST. on So. Blvd or continue on Fordham the equivalent of a few blocks to the other nearby entrance. Actually the Metro North station opposite the entrance to the Botanical Garden may be closer to the zoo entrance.

Angie
rqf is right.
1-800-METRO-INFO
You need the Botanical Gardens station on Metro north. Right across from the Gardens a few minutes from Zoo. Have fun!

Unless you have the time to spend the better part of a day at the Zoo you might consider putting off a visit at this time

We are members of the Zoo, and are there on a regular basis. Since you have gotten so much advice here that is a bit difficult to understand, my suggestion is to take the #5 train to the Bronx and get off at Tremont. The Zoo entrance is about a block away.

Another option is to go to the Zoo in Central Park, which is also part of the Wildlife Foundation, and the Aquarium at Coney Island.

Have fun the Bronx Zoo is certainly well worth a trip.

tweedy

Thank you all for your help.

If you take Metro North you will be across the street from Fordham Plaza and Roosevelt High School. Just make a left turn on Fordham Road and you'll walk past Lorillard Place, Arthur Avenue, Hughes Avenue and Belmont Avenue. When you get to the busy intersection where Fordham meets Southern Blvd. cross the street and make a right turn. The entrance will be on your left a short distance from the corner. The walk from White Plains Road (if you take the train) is a tricky one because there's alot of traffic there. I think another poster mentioned this though.

The Metro North Station for the Zoo is NOT the one mentioned aboved. It is the one after it.
The #5 train is definitely a good option if the subway is the way you want to go.

If you decide on the subway take the #2 if on the west side, the #5 if on the east side. Closest station to the zoo is Tremont Ave. as mentioned in another note. You can take Metro North to the Fordham Rd. stop or the Botanical Garden stop. It is a shorter walk from the Botanical Garden stop. You could take the B12 bus from the Fordham stop to the zoo..

Hello All, I've never seen such muddled and contraditory advice given on a subject! Here is the info. direct from the Bronx Zoo's website:
BY SUBWAY
IRT #2 Express to Pelham Pkwy. or IRT #5 Express to East 180 St. and transfer to the #2 Express. Walk west to the Bronxdale entrance. Or IND D Express to Fordham Rd., then change to eastbound Bx12 Bus. Exit bus at Southern Blvd. and walk east on Fordham Rd. to entrance.

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BY BUS
Bx9 and Bx19 buses to Southern Blvd. entrance. Or, Bx12 and Bx22 to Fordham Rd. and Southern Blvd. and walk east on Fordham Rd. to entrance. Or, Q44 to 180 St. and Boston Rd. Walk north to entrance. Liberty Lines BxM11 air conditioned express bus from Mid-Manhattan makes various stops on Madison Ave. in Manhattan; call Liberty Lines at (718) 652-8400 for more information.

I don't travel to the Bronx by subway these days but my subway map (post 9/11) shows that after the 180th ST. stop there is a #5 that goes to 241st ST. and a #5 that goes to Dyre Ave. If you are on the 241st #5 you don't have to transfer to a #2 since it stops at Pelham BAy Parkway station.

Goodness, this is confusing! I am visiting NYC with friends for four days in November and it has been suggested we go to the Bronx Zoo. But 's' says it will take the better part of a day to do, so I'm wondering if it's really worth it? Opinions?

Zoo opens at 10 AM. Figure one hour each way if you use public transportation from midtown. If you haver lunch at the zoo your visit should last at least four hours. If you leave for the zoo at 9AM it will prababvly be past 2pm when you get back to midtown.