Worth a Journey

The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums · 2026

The Best Zoos & Aquariums in the United States

24 of the 100 zoos and aquariums in The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums 2026 are in the United States. The highest placed is Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, at number 1 in the world. St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis (number 9) and San Diego Zoo in San Diego (number 10) follow.

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
N° 1 · Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha

Aquariums

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta has a whale shark and manta rays in its Ocean Voyager tank, and a tunnel passes under the main tank. Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga fills two buildings, one for river life and one for ocean life. Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row in Monterey has a kelp forest and an Open Sea tank on the bay.

City zoos

The Bronx Zoo in the Bronx, New York City, has a monorail and the Congo Gorilla Forest. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in the middle of Cincinnati, Ohio, has plants lining its paths, an elephant trek and manatee rehabilitation. The Memphis Zoo in Memphis has an Egyptian style entrance and a splash pad for children.

Natural habitats

North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro has large natural habitats in an African and a North American section. Trams link the sections across a hilly site, and lions, elephants and polar bears are among the main animals. Wildwood Wildlife Park in Minocqua has deer and goats that roam among people, and a tram safari drives through the larger enclosures.

Zoos and aquariums

99. Wildwood Wildlife Park 95. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere 88. OdySea Aquarium 87. Cape May County Park & Zoo 86. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 85. Memphis Zoo 81. Gulf Breeze Zoo 72. Bronx Zoo 71. National Aquarium 69. Monterey Bay Aquarium 64. Tennessee Aquarium 62. Audubon Zoo 60. Smithsonian National Zoological Park 45. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 37. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 36. Brevard Zoo 26. North Carolina Zoo 25. Georgia Aquarium 20. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium 18. Fort Worth Zoo 11. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 10. San Diego Zoo 9. St. Louis Zoo 1. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 1
99. Wildwood Wildlife Park 95. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere 88. OdySea Aquarium 87. Cape May County Park & Zoo 86. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 85. Memphis Zoo 81. Gulf Breeze Zoo 72. Bronx Zoo 71. National Aquarium 69. Monterey Bay Aquarium 64. Tennessee Aquarium 62. Audubon Zoo 60. Smithsonian National Zoological Park 45. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 37. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 36. Brevard Zoo 26. North Carolina Zoo 25. Georgia Aquarium 20. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium 18. Fort Worth Zoo 11. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 10. San Diego Zoo 9. St. Louis Zoo 1. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 1
  1. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium N° 1 Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Omaha Zoo
  2. St. Louis Zoo N° 9 St. Louis Zoo St. Louis Zoo
  3. San Diego Zoo N° 10 San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo
  4. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo N° 11 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Colorado Springs Zoo
  5. Fort Worth Zoo N° 18 Fort Worth Zoo Fort Worth Zoo
  6. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium N° 20 Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium Springfield Aquarium
  7. Georgia Aquarium N° 25 Georgia Aquarium Atlanta Aquarium
  8. North Carolina Zoo N° 26 North Carolina Zoo Asheboro Zoo
  9. Brevard Zoo N° 36 Brevard Zoo Melbourne Zoo
  10. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden N° 37 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo
  11. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium N° 45 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Powell Zoo
  12. Smithsonian National Zoological Park N° 60 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington Zoo
  13. Audubon Zoo N° 62 Audubon Zoo New Orleans Zoo
  14. Tennessee Aquarium N° 64 Tennessee Aquarium Chattanooga Aquarium
  15. Monterey Bay Aquarium N° 69 Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey Aquarium
  16. National Aquarium N° 71 National Aquarium Baltimore Aquarium
  17. Bronx Zoo N° 72 Bronx Zoo New York Zoo
  18. Gulf Breeze Zoo N° 81 Gulf Breeze Zoo Gulf Breeze Zoo
  19. Memphis Zoo N° 85 Memphis Zoo Memphis Zoo
  20. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens N° 86 The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Palm Desert Zoo
  21. Cape May County Park & Zoo N° 87 Cape May County Park & Zoo Cape May Court House Zoo
  22. OdySea Aquarium N° 88 OdySea Aquarium Scottsdale Aquarium
  23. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere N° 95 Nashville Zoo at Grassmere Nashville Zoo
  24. Wildwood Wildlife Park N° 99 Wildwood Wildlife Park Minocqua Wildlife park

Best by region

  1. The NordicsCopenhagen ZooCopenhagen, DenmarkN° 61
  2. EuropeZoo LeipzigLeipzig, GermanyN° 2
  3. AsiaShanghai Wild Animal ParkShanghai, ChinaN° 38
  4. North AmericaHenry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, United StatesN° 1
  5. The CaribbeanZoo de Guadeloupe au Parc des MamellesBouillante, GuadeloupeN° 41
  6. Latin AmericaZoológico La AuroraGuatemala City, GuatemalaN° 44
  7. OceaniaAustralia ZooBeerwah, AustraliaN° 3

Best by kind

  1. AquariumsPoema del Mar AquariumLas Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainN° 15

Best by country

  1. United StatesHenry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmahaN° 1
  2. GermanyZoo LeipzigLeipzigN° 2
  3. SpainLoro ParquePuerto de la CruzN° 13
  4. FranceBioparc de Doué-la-FontaineDoué-la-FontaineN° 8
  5. PolandZoo WrocławWrocławN° 16
  6. United KingdomChester ZooChesterN° 21
  7. AustraliaAustralia ZooBeerwahN° 3