EV Road Trip to Wild Animal Adventure Park
Dashboard Duets Power an Electric Journey to Stanton, MO
Wild Animal Adventure Park, Stanton, MO
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Love and Lions at Wild Animal Adventure Park
Memorable dates with your partner don’t always have to involve movies and restaurants. There are alternative plans that can turn into lasting memories, perfect for reminiscing later.
A recent Saturday offered the perfect opportunity for an EV road trip—complete with off-key car karaoke, quality time together, and up-close animal encounters at the Wild Animal Adventure Park in Stanton, Missouri.
Nestled north of I-44, the park offers a hands-on wildlife experience that goes far beyond your average zoo. Whether you're traveling with kids, planning a one-day road trip, or just love animals, this park is a must-visit destination.
Checking our travel essentials and packing a quick lunch we headed down US 50 East, then South to Stanton, Missouri, to share the summer heat with worldly creatures.
EVGo Charging Station, Sullivan, Missouri
EV Charging for Stanton, Missouri
EV Road Trip Charging from All Compass Points
Starting our EV Road Trip at 100% charge, we enjoyed a nearly empty highway for the 61 miles to Beaufort, Missouri. After turning south on Missouri 185, we reached the parking lot in less than 20 minutes.
Missouri 185 brings you into Sullivan, Missouri—home to two fast-charging stations:
Electrify America: Located south of I-44 in the Super Walmart parking lot
EVGo: Found at the Flying J station north of I-44
Our return trip took us to Rolla, Missouri—46 miles down I-44—then onto North US 63 Highway for the final stretch home.
Amp’d Advice: Use the public charging network to add just enough charge to reach your destination—especially when this is your home. There's no need to spend more time or money than necessary.
Not coming from Central Missouri? Charging still has you covered:
Westbound I-44 from St. Louis: Walley’s in Fenton, Missouri, offering both a Tesla Supercharger and a Francis Energy station. Just down the interstate, a reliable ChargePoint station is located in the Schnucks Grocery parking lot.
Eastbound I-44 from Springfield, Missouri: Charging is available at the Electrify America station in Lebanon, the Tesla Supercharger in Rolla, and the stations mentioned in Sullivan.
EV driving to Wild Animal Adventure Park couldn’t be easier and requires very little planning—perfect for a spontaneous day-venture.
We covered 207 miles, including some side trips around the Stanton/Sullivan area, and arrived home with over 20% charge—proving that modern EVs have plenty of range for a full-day journey.
Helpful Apps for Planning:
PlugShare – Great for checking real-time charger availability and user reviews.
A Better Route Planner (ABRP) – Ideal for mapping out your entire EV route with charging stops.
SightSee EV - Use our road trip planning method to identify usable charging stations.
Amp’d Advice: While I’ve never had issues at the referenced charging stations, it’s always best to check their status on the PlugShare app before arrival.
EV Sight See Wild Animal Adventure Park
An EV Road Trip to Animal Interaction
The heat of the day pressed upon me as we pulled into the parking lot. The satisfaction of spending time along US Highway 50 East to reach the Adventure Park was fulfilling—though it quickly wilted under the warm sun.
The mostly shaded parking area offered some protection; we popped our windshield sun reflector in place and secured the vehicle before walking to the entrance to begin our afternoon.
After paying the entrance fee, we also purchased some feed grain to entertain the goats.
The indoor exhibits featured a wide variety of fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Colorful parrots, spaced among their featherless neighbors, added sound and personality to the space.
REPTILES: Venomous Snakes, Lizards, Turtles, Alligators and more!
AQUATIC: Eels, Dr Fish, Sharks, Turtles and more!
Stepping into the outdoor park, the animals were visible and ready for interaction.
Wild Animal Adventure Park - A Certified Wildlife Habitat
We didn’t pay extra to handle the dingoes or lemurs, but watching other visitors pet and hold them was a pure delight. Slightly fearful expressions mixed with laughter showed that each person approached the hands-on encounter in their own unique way.
The winding path takes you past a global variety of animals, each provided with fans and water misting systems to help ease the summer heat.
PREDATORS: Wolves, lions, tigers, bears, caracals, hyenas, and more!
EXOTIC ANIMALS: Kangaroos, dingoes, foxes, and more!
The Bengal tiger and male lion proved they loved physical interaction, demanding head scratches from the zoo attendant. Their deep, satisfied purring filled the shaded area.
Wild Animal Adventure Park Petting Zoo
Get up close and personal with gentle farm animals in the petting zoo—goats, rabbits, pigs, and more are always eager for attention.
Feed them by hand and enjoy watching their playful personalities shine through as they nibble and interact.
It’s a heartwarming experience that brings out laughter and curiosity in visitors of all ages.
FARM ANIMALS: Goats, Donkeys, Rabbits, Pig and more!
(Located outside the petting zoo) Experience the thrill of feeding porcupines—but I recommend skipping the petting for these not-so-cuddly creatures.
Wild Animal Adventure Park - Dinosaur Mini Golf
Take a playful break from the animal encounters and challenge your family to nine holes of Dinosaur Mini Golf.
The course abuts the enclosures, adding a prehistoric twist to your wildlife adventure.
It’s a lighthearted, energizing way to recharge before diving back into more hands-on exploration.
Amp’d Advice: Bring a picnic lunch! The provided picnic tables and small kiosks are a great way to enjoy quality family time. Just remember—no feeding the animals!
We spent a few hours strolling along the gravel paths, returning to visit the tigers, bears, and lions multiple times. Go at your own pace and enjoy the experience as it suits you.
Under the Watchful Eye of the Wooden Parrot
Birds Eye Review: Stanton, Missouri is a Great EV Destination
A day at Wild Animal Adventure Park made for the perfect date in our electric vehicle, combining alternative travel with unforgettable memories.
We wandered the shaded gravel paths hand in hand, pausing to admire majestic predators like tigers, bears, and lions—each species revealing new, captivating behavior.
The gentle sounds of the park and close-up encounters with exotic animals sparked laughter and conversation, creating an effortless rhythm to our adventure.
Feeding curious goats and spotting playful parrots added an extra layer of charm to the afternoon.
With minimal planning and ample charging options nearby, the entire day felt relaxed and spontaneous.
We returned home with plenty of battery—and smiles—proving that an EV Road Trip date can be as wild as it is romantic.
