i got a bunch of MN zoo tickets, expire June 30th
You pay for parking ($5)
im in west st paul

I'd love a pair.

Always chaps my hide that they charge for parking there. There is no practical alternative but to pay them.

with your kids, an annual pass would be VERY economical. Members don't pay parking.

i have never paid for parking at the zoo when did they start this?

It is sort of a "honor" system. They usually ask you when you buy your tickets, no verification.

Before we started getting annual memberships, I once tried claiming we had flown in...via a helicopter...that dropped us off and left. The clerk still charged us for parking

As Paul indicates, the membership pays off....if you go a lot (3+ times/yr) and/or go with family. Compare membership fees to general admin fees.

Now, what chaps me is that they don't have covers and straws for drinks purchased at the zoo. So bring your own straw, or better yet, your own drinks.

We once went with friends. They rode with us but were ahead of us in line. When the cashier charged them the $5 parking fee, my wife mentioned they rode with us and they fixed it. I suspect that it's the same with 2-3 families riding in the same car. There was no verification and no gate out front but the cashiers are going to charge a parking fee for every group that comes in the door because they had to drive to get there.

I suppose it's different for locals who could have walked in.

You would think, but we don't go more than once every few years to pretend we can see a bunch of animals that are hiding in the bushes more than ½ mile away.