Best Zoos & Wildlife in the USA
39 zoos & wildlife • Updated July 2026
The best zoos & wildlife in the USA for a family day out. We have rounded up 39 zoos & wildlife, from Lincoln Park Zoo to family favorites across Texas, ranked by what actually matters with kids: age suitability, ticket value and how easy they are to get to. Compare the top five below, then browse every zoos & wildlife by state. Need a different angle? Try our other things to do in the USA.
Reviewed by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
All zoos & wildlife
39 zoos & wildlife across the USA
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Cameron Park Zoo
Waco, Texas
Animals thrive in lush natural habitats with waterfalls and lakes at this Waco zoo.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco, California
A conservation-focused San Francisco zoo set among lush gardens by the Pacific coast.
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Orange County Zoo (Irvine Regional Park)
Orange, California
A small, kid-focused zoo of southwestern wildlife set inside 495-acre Irvine Regional Park.
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ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Tampa, Florida
Meet rescued manatees and endangered Florida panthers at this top-ranked Tampa zoo.
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Butterfly World
Coconut Creek, Florida
Wander screened aviaries where thousands of free-flying butterflies drift among tropical plants at the country's largest butterfly park.
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Crystal River
Crystal River, Florida
Florida spring-fed waters where families can swim alongside gentle manatees, then fish, scallop, or paddle the unspoiled rivers.
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Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Brookfield, Illinois
Meet bottlenose dolphins, ride a Ferris wheel, and roam open-enclosure habitats at this century-old Chicago-area zoo.
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Dallas Zoo
Dallas, Texas
North Texas's hub for wildlife encounters, from powerful predators to tiny pollinators, paired with active conservation work.
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Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago, Illinois
See lions, gorillas, and polar bears for free at one of America's oldest zoos.
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Gator Country Adventure Park
Beaumont, Texas
Meet 450-plus rescued alligators and even wade with baby gators at this Texas sanctuary.
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Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Los Angeles, California
Meet newborn gorillas and orangutans and ride a carousel of 64 hand-carved animals.
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Fort Worth Zoo
Fort Worth, Texas
Texas's oldest zoo packs 7,000 animals into habitats from African Savanna to a Great Barrier Reef.
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Scovill Zoo
Decatur, Illinois
A small-town Decatur zoo where a carousel, a train, and 400 animals share the grounds.
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Miller Park Zoo
Bloomington, Illinois
Spot snow leopards, red pandas, and a Galapagos tortoise at this AZA-accredited Bloomington zoo.
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Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Naples, Florida
A zoo and a lush botanical garden rolled into one easygoing Naples day out.
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Austin Zoo
Austin, Texas
Every animal here is a rescue with a backstory, and your ticket helps care for them at this welfare-focused Hill Country zoo.
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Brevard Zoo
Melbourne, Florida
Animals roam naturalistic habitats at this community-built Melbourne zoo focused on close-up encounters.
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Bronx Zoo
The Bronx, New York
At 265 acres, one of America's largest urban zoos, home to gorillas, tigers and sea lions, a seasonal dinosaur safari, and a monorail that glides over free-ranging Asian wildlife.
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Peoria Zoo
Peoria, Illinois
Trek from Africa to Australia in one zoo, with giraffe feeding and playful spider monkeys.
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Phillips Park Zoo
Aurora, Illinois
A free-to-explore community zoo set within Aurora's Phillips Park.
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Henson Robinson Zoo
Springfield, Illinois
A compact Springfield zoo that's an easy, affordable wildlife outing for younger families.
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Cosley Zoo
Wheaton, Illinois
A compact five-acre zoo focused on Illinois wildlife and farm animals, with a strong education mission and sensory-inclusive certification.
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Prospect Park Zoo
Brooklyn, New York
A compact Brooklyn zoo where daily sea lion sessions steal the show.
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El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens
El Paso, Texas
Ride a carousel of endangered animals, climb a three-story ropes course, and meet wildlife from three continents.
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Queens Zoo
Queens, New York
A manageable Queens zoo where a soaring aviary dome and sea lion feedings anchor the visit.
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The Dallas World Aquarium
Dallas, Texas
Walk from a rainforest canopy to a Maya world inside this downtown Dallas aquarium.
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Houston Zoo
Houston, Texas
Every ticket here funds real conservation work, so a day spotting big mammals, reptiles, and birds doubles as support for endangered species worldwide.
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Escondido, California
Open-range safaris in Escondido where you watch African and Asian wildlife roam vast enclosures.
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Gatorland
Orlando, Florida
Orlando's original roadside attraction since 1949, 110 acres of alligators and crocodiles, a zip line over the breeding marsh, capybaras, and an old-Florida charm the mega-parks lost.
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Niabi Zoo
Coal Valley, Illinois
A rescue-focused zoo where giraffe feeding, train rides, and a carousel round out the day.
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Central Park Zoo
Manhattan, New York
Get nose-to-glass with wildlife in naturalistic habitats right in the heart of Manhattan.
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San Diego Zoo
San Diego, California
A world-famous Balboa Park zoo where giant pandas are back on view.
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Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
San Antonio, Texas
Drive your own car through 500 acres of open habitat and feed animals from the window.
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San Antonio Zoo
San Antonio, Texas
Gorillas are back after 35 years at Congo Falls, a two-acre immersive habitat.
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Oakland Zoo
Oakland, California
Ride the gondola up to the California Trail and meet native wildlife above the Bay.
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Wildlife Prairie Park
Hanna City, Illinois
Spot bison, bears, and wolves across 1,800 acres of central Illinois prairie.
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Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Glen Rose, Texas
Drive your own car through open habitats where giraffes and rhinos roam up close.
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Santa Barbara Zoo
Santa Barbara, California
Watch giraffes and penguins against an ocean backdrop at this seaside Southern California zoo.
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Gladys Porter Zoo
Brownsville, Texas
See 377 animal species, including Komodo dragons, on a walkable three-quarter-mile loop.