Great Cats Exhibit/Lion and Tiger Hill

Great Cats Exhibit (Lion and Tiger Hill) at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is a must-stop on any National Zoo itinerary. Lions and tigers are the animals that reliably appear on every child's wish list before a zoo visit — and seeing them at actual scale, in outdoor habitat where they can move naturally, consistently delivers on the anticipation.

The exhibit at the National Zoo gives big cats genuine outdoor space on a hillside habitat that allows for movement, terrain variety, and natural behavior. The contrast between a photo of a lion and standing 20 feet away watching one pace along a ridge is significant — kids who've seen countless wildlife documentaries often describe the size and power as more impressive in person than anything they'd seen on screen.

Timing matters significantly here. Lions and tigers follow the natural cat schedule: most active in the cooler hours of early morning, progressively less active as the day heats up. Families who arrive at zoo opening (8AM) and head directly to Great Cats often see the most engaging animal activity. Midday visits are typically marked by cats napping in shade.

The exhibit has both outdoor viewing areas around the habitat perimeter and indoor viewing areas that allow closer observation through glass. The indoor areas are also valuable on very hot or rainy days when outdoor viewing is less comfortable.

As with all Smithsonian National Zoo exhibits, admission is free — part of the zoo's founding principle of public access. The zoo is 163 acres; Great Cats is typically a 30-45 minute stop on a full zoo day.