For most of us, visiting the zoo as a child brings up happy memories of adventures, melting ice cream, and childhood friends. Luckily, zoos aren’t just for kids; as a grown-up, you can go whenever you want — no need to wait for a school trip.
While zoos tend to be a hot topic of debate, many in the US are ethical and focus on conservation, education, and research. All the zoos on this list are AZA-accredited, meaning they meet the highest animal care and welfare standards. This earns them a place in this article on the best zoos in the United States.
So, for your next adventure in the United States, you can feel good about supporting these zoos without any worries regarding the ethical treatment of animals. Let’s get into it.
1. Philadelphia Zoo, Pennsylvania
Let’s start with the oldest zoo in America — Philadelphia Zoo, which opened its gates in 1874. Over the years, it has been at the forefront of zoological innovation and opened the first on-site animal care center at a zoo worldwide.
More than 1,900 endangered and rare species are cared for and bred here, including critically endangered Brazilian golden lion tamarins and Sumatran orangutans.
Don’t miss the “Big Cat Falls” exhibit if you’re a cat person. It features five large habitats connected via an overhead passageway, giving the animals more space to explore. You’ll see pumas, African lions, snow leopards, tigers, and Amur leopards prowling about.
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2. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Ohio
Cincinnati Zoo opened in 1875, making it the second oldest in America after the Philadelphia Zoo. It’s known for its many successful breeding programs and was even awarded National Historic Landmark status for its contributions to US heritage.
The zoo pays exceptional attention to detail — each pathway is marked with animal footprints that hint at what exhibit you’ll come across next. The “Lemur Lookout” is one of the zoo’s most popular exhibits. You can get up close and personal with Madagascar’s ring-tailed lemurs, and if you time your visit right, you may even see some baby lemurs.
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3. Bronx Zoo, New York
Visiting the Bronx Zoo is arguably one of the top things to do in New York. It is one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the world and one of the major players in the conservation game. The zoo participates in breeding and reintroducing several protected species internationally, including Tanzania’s Kihansi spray toads and American Bison in the country’s Western states.
The zoo stretches across 265 acres and houses over 10,000 animals, so exploring the entire place in one day is pretty impossible. If you’re in a time crunch, I’d say the “Congo Gorilla Forest” should be at the top of your list of unmissable exhibits.
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4. San Diego Zoo, California
San Diego Zoo is one of the most visited places in the US and with good reason. The zoo has many claims to fame, but the most noteworthy is its successful breeding of giant pandas, which prevented the species from going extinct. Needless to say, you’ll do yourself a disservice if you skip over the panda habitat.
The zoo opened in 1916 and was one of the first to implement open-air, cageless exhibits replicating the animals’ natural habits. It’s now home to over 650 species worldwide, including African animals like giraffes, elephants, and lions. In the “Australian Outback” exhibit, you can see lovable koalas and other animals from Down Under.
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5. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, California
If you’re near Palm Springs and want to explore the desert landscape at its finest, you’ll definitely love visiting The Living Desert Zoo. This zoological and botanical park shows off the fauna and flora of the desert while educating the public on the importance of desert conservation.
At the desert-themed zoo in the park, you can see critically endangered black rhinos along with small desert carnivores like fennec foxes and sand cats. A popular attraction is the “Australian Adventures” exhibit that houses wallabies, emu, bearded dragons, and cockatiels.
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6. Alaska Zoo, Anchorage
Alaska Zoo might not be as big or well-known as the other zoos on this list, but it is definitely an underrated gem to explore when you’re visiting Anchorage. The effects of climate change are limiting the amount of time we have left to see Alaska’s wildlife in their natural habitat, so I’d say this one is a must-see.
As you can imagine, the polar bear exhibit is a big drawing point for visitors. You can view these majestic creatures up close and even participate in cleaning and training other animals, like wolves, in their habitats along with the zookeeper. I loved my visit to this lovely zoo.
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7. Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana
Indianapolis Zoo is one of Indiana’s most popular attractions, with over a million annual visitors. The zoo has five ecosystems: Deserts, Oceans, Forests, Plains, and Flights of Fancy. Each biome is filled with plants and animals representing the habitat, so you’ll see over 1,200 animals from 230 different species and 47,000 plant species.
The “Flights of Fancy” biome is an aviary that’s home to bird species from warm climates, including South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa. You can see macaws, flamingos, hornbills, marabous, and other winged creatures.
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8. Saint Louis Zoo, Missouri
The Saint Louis Zoo is one of the most ethical and respected animal research institutions in America and the largest free zoo in the country. One of its current conservation efforts is participating in the Red Panda Species Survival Plan, as these cuties are at a high risk of extinction in the wild.
The zoo has six zones: River’s Edge, Red Rocks, Lakeside Crossing, The Wild, Discovery Corner, and Historic Hill, each with its attractions.
Some highlights include the Insectarium in the “Discovery Corner,” which is dedicated to bugs. In the “Red Rocks” zone, you’ll meet powerful predators like lions and tigers living next door to their prey, including zebras and gazelles.
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9. Memphis Zoo, Tennessee
Memphis Zoo started out small when it opened in 1906, but since then, it has grown in size and now stretches across 70 acres in Overton Park. The zoo has created habitats for animals from across the globe and now has more than 3,500 inhabitants.
One of the zoo’s highlights is the “Zambezi River Hippo Camp,” where these creatures swim and lounge around in an accurate replica of their natural habitat. But you’ll see more than hippos in this four-acre exhibit. It’s a tribute to the Zambezi River Valley in Africa, so it also houses Nile crocodiles, flamingos, okapi, mandrills, and nyalas.
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10. Woodland Park Zoo, Washington
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is known for its commitment to wildlife conservation and education about endangered species. The zoo is spread over 92 acres, divided by bioclimatic zones. You can visit the “African Savannah” exhibit to see lions and zebras. Or walk along the Northwest Trail to view brown bears, snowy owls, and grey wolves.
When you think of penguins, you’ll probably imagine a snowy winter wonderland. So, you might be surprised that one of the zoo’s main attractions is its “Humboldt Penguins” exhibit. These cuties hail from the hot coastal regions of Peru, so Seattle’s oceanic climate is perfect for them to waddle around in.
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11. Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington D.C.
The Smithsonian National Zoo is situated in Rock Creek Park in downtown Washington and was opened in 1889.
Over the years, the Smithsonian’s scientists and biologists have done some seriously impressive animal research and led many successful conservation programs. Thanks to them, you can see rare African elephants, giant pandas, and the near-extinct Scimitar-horned oryx, all in one place.
If you’re looking for some cuteness, be sure to visit the “Small Mammal House” — it’s home to adorable small critters like sand cats, fennec foxes, sloths, and wallabies. This is also where the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute keeps their black-footed ferrets, which their conservationists single-handedly saved from extinction.
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12. Zoo Miami, Florida
Zoo Miami is not only the largest in Florida but also the only tropical zoo in the continental United States.
Florida’s balmy climate is perfect for all kinds of tropical fauna and flora, which is on full display in the zoo’s “Amazon & Beyond” exhibit. A river runs through the habitat, and you’ll see various South American animals, including crocodiles, anacondas, capybaras, jaguars, and other creatures of the tropics.
You can see more than 500 other species at the zoo, and there are over 100 exhibits to explore. The Asian habitat features tigers, Indian rhinoceroses, Komodo dragons, and various primate species. You can also see African wildlife, such as lions, giraffes, elephants, and meerkats.
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13. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Nebraska
The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is right up there amongst the best zoos in the US. It’s home to around 1,000 different species of animals. The zoo has many habitats and exhibits, including an aquarium, a butterfly and insect pavilion, and the famous Hubbard Gorilla Valley.
The main attraction at this zoo is its glazed geodesic dome filled with accurate recreations of global deserts. So, you can walk through southern Africa’s Namib Desert, Australia’s Red Center Desert, and the American southwest’s Sonoran Desert, all in one afternoon.
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14. The NEW Zoo, Wisconsin
The NEW Zoo in Suamico is the perfect choice for a short, family-friendly outing in Wisconsin. Its name is quite interesting — the zoo has existed since 1952, but after the county stopped funding, a nonprofit called the NEW Zoological Society took over the property.
In 2014, the zoo expanded to include an adventure park, so you can zipline over the park for a bird’s eye view.
The zoo covers 43 acres and cares for 200 animals from around the world. It might be small, but it’s big on close-up, educational animal encounters. The giraffe feeding tower lets you get face-to-face with these elegant creatures and give them a snack.
You might enjoy reading my article on best unknown vacation spots in the United States.
15. Dallas Zoo, Texas
Dallas Zoo started with two deer and two mountain lions in 1888 and is now one of Texas’s largest and oldest zoos. It stretches across 106 acres and houses 2,000 animals from 406 different species. The zoo’s mission is to educate and inspire a passion for nature and wildlife, which it achieves with successful conservation programs.
The zoo is renowned for its Gorilla Research Center in the “Wilds of Africa” area. The center supports several African conservation organisations by providing funding and research findings to take steps against poaching and animal trafficking. Around the Gorilla Research Centre, you can also see hippos, cheetahs, vultures, crocodiles, and other animals from Africa.
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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.