Travel options are scarce these days but adventure lives on. As you do your best to stay safe, focus on freeing the explorer within. Trust me, he/she is there & will appear with a little creativity. Remember to be on the lookout for local(ish) activities to enjoy that don’t require a gathering of people. There’s more around you to do than you think. (Stick around for the video at the end of this post.)

OUR DESTINATION…

Wanderlust took us to Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, North Carolina. The drive was about 1.5 hours from our home. We felt so much excitement packing our bags & preparing for a getaway. Currently, we’re only venturing to places we can return home from the same day. Choosing to stay in a hotel is one thing. Having no other option is another.

The drive-through zoo is 3.5 miles long & has over 750 domestic/exotic animals from six continents. It is privately owned with no state or federal funding. The ranch has a touching backstory so be sure to visit the website. In the absence of a pandemic, wagon rides & petting areas are also available to the public. A wagon ride seems fun for next time but we were happy cruising safely in our car.

Prices were more than reasonable & I’ve listed them at the end. One can only imagine the costs of running a business like this! As a family of 4, we paid $44 to enter including the cost of feed (two buckets). Although nervous, we definitely wanted to engage with some of the animals!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO…

1. The animals roam freely on this land & are not afraid to approach people. They know food is waiting for them in most cars. Therefore, they walk right up to your window to indulge. It’s a very up close & personal experience!

2. NO DEBIT OR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED SO BRING CASH. If you definitely want to feed the animals, purchase a bucket of feed when you pay for entry ($3). Otherwise, you can opt to ride through as a spectator & enjoy the views. Just remember to keep your windows up if you don’t want additional passengers.

3. Use the restroom beforehand-especially if you have children. They are located ONLY at the entrance. A ride through the park can range from 1-5 hours depending on the day & time. COVID-19 has brought this place a lot of business because of it’s drive-through convenience. People are looking for things to do & this activity is high on the list.

4. You are NOT to exit your vehicle after entering the animal area. If there’s an emergency, pay attention to where you are & call to the front gate. I suggest having the number convenient just in case.

5. Even though you aren’t doing any walking, wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Feeding the animals makes you susceptible to their saliva & other liquids. Animal feed can also fall on you & into your car during this experience. My family brought latex gloves to hold the buckets & had hand sanitizer readily available. I also suggest bringing paper towels, water, & a bag for trash.

6. Eat before you visit Lazy 5 Ranch. I wouldn’t suggest putting your hands on anything you want to chew while there. Unless, of course, you aren’t interacting with the animals.

7. Expect your car to be very dirty when you leave. I mean that with my whole heart. We headed directly to a car wash afterwards.

8. Have a charged phone/camera. You will definitely want to document your experience. It’s a very fun time & the animals are such a delight to see!

9. I’m sure you know this already but allow me to add… please don’t force anyone (especially children) to interact with the animals if they’re afraid. Watching safely from the car is still a great time if that’s the preference.

10. There may be kind people who want to share their leftover feed with you as they exit. If you accept it, just remember to socially distance as you thank them for their generosity.

A trip to Lazy 5 Ranch is definitely worth the time & money in our opinion. As a family, we really enjoyed ourselves & would love to return. Have you visited? If so, what was your favorite thing about it? If you decide to visit after reading this post, let me know about your experience & if my tips helped you prepare.

Lazy 5 Ranch

15100 Mooresville Rd, Mooresville, NC 28115

(704) 663-5100

Hours of Operation

Monday to Saturday 9am - 7pm, arrive by 5pm

Sunday 12pm - 7pm, arrive by 5pm

Drive Through Pricing

Cash or NC check

No Debit or Credit Cards

Adult $11.00

Children (2-11) $8.00

Seniors (60+) $8.00

Feed $3.00 (64oz bucket)

* * As always, we vlogged the trip for our Youtube channel. To see the fun & the animals we fed, click on the link below. Be sure to press the subscribe button & the notification bell to keep up with all of our adventures. **