Best Zoo (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards (2024)

Top spots to see and learn about animals

Best Zoo(2024)
March 13, 2024

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The United States is home to hundreds of zoological parks, including more than 200 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Short of heading out into the world's wild places, nothing beats a visit to the zoo to foster an appreciation for the striking animal diversity of our planet.

A panel of experts nominated their top picks for the best zoos in the United States — facilities that excel in the fields of animal care and enrichment, while also facilitating meaningful interactions between animals and human visitors. Then, readers voted for their favorites to determine the winners.

Here are the 10 best zoos across the United States for 2024.

Photo courtesy of ZooMontana

No. 10:

ZooMontana - Billings, Montana

Located in the southwestern reaches of Billings, ZooMontana offers insight into the rich biodiversity found across Big Sky Country. Many of the state's beloved species are on display — American bison, gray wolves, and grizzly bears, to name a few — while international representation includes Sichuan takins, red pandas, and a wide array of other animals from far beyond U.S. borders.

Photo courtesy of Saint Louis zoo

No. 9:

Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, Missouri

Situated within one of the nation’s largest urban parks, the free-to-the-publicSaint Louis Zoofeatures a stunning diversity of animals — more than 600 species in total. The zoo is divided into six zones, including Lakeside Crossing where the award-winning Sea Lion Sound combines a stellar exhibit experience with educational presentations and shows.

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Photo courtesy of AFP PHOTO / SAN DIEGO ZOO / TAMMY SPRATT

No. 8:

San Diego Zoo - San Diego, California

San Diego Zoohas been awing visitors for more than a century, and it continues to innovate. The world-famous zoo, along with its safari park, represents one of the largest and most diverse zoological collections in the world. Visitors at the zoo can explore different zones, including the award-winning Elephant Odyssey with its one-of-a-kind Elephant Care Center. The largest collection of koalas outside Australia resides within the Australian Outback exhibit. Africa Rocks hosts animals from six different habitats on the continent, like penguins, lemurs, leopards, and a host of African birds.

Photo courtesy of Audubon Nature Institute

No. 7:

Audubon Zoo - New Orleans, Louisiana

Animals hail from all corners of the globe at the Audubon Zoo, a verdant preserve located in one of New Orleans' most picturesque parks. For a deep dive into local culture and species like the Louisiana pine snake and black bear, the Louisiana Swamp boardwalk is the perfect exhibit, while the Jaguar Jungle area is particularly popular thanks to its resident big cats.

Photo courtesy of Brevard Zoo

No. 6:

Brevard Zoo - Melbourne, Florida

Home to more than 900 animals, the AZA-accreditedBrevard Zootakes the zoo-going experience to adventurous new levels. Guests can zip-line through the jungles of South America or kayak through the African savanna or a restored Florida wetland.

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Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

No. 5:

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Colorado Springs, Colorado

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs connects visitors with more than 750 animals representing some 170 species from all corners of the globe. The African Rift Valley exhibit is home to one of the largest zoo giraffe herds in North America, as well as red river hogs, meerkats, African lions, and colobus monkeys. Rocky Mountain Wild hosts regional species, like moose, grizzly bears, mountain lions, river otters, Mexican gray wolves, bald eagles, and lynx. A ski lift offers stellar views over Colorado Springs.

Photo courtesy of Honolulu Zoo

No. 4:

Honolulu Zoo - Honolulu, Hawaii

The biodiversity of the Aloha State is on full display at the Honolulu Zoo, a42-acre park located in Hawaii's largest city. Thenene goose, kolea,and a wealth of other native bird species serve as a major draw for visitors, while eye-catching animals like the Sumatran tiger and African wild dog can be found at the zoo as well.

Photo courtesy of North Carolina Zoo

See Also

🦁 The 14 Best Zoos in the U.S. in 2024 (Our Top Picks)10 Best Zoos in the US to Visit in 2023 - Scenic StatesThe best zoos in the U.S. for all kinds of sightings10 Largest Zoos in the United States - Largest.org

No. 3:

North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, North Carolina

Visitors can discover spectacular wooded landscapes and native North American fauna in one fell swoop during a visit to theNorth Carolina Zoo, a tree-filled expanse of land that measures in at 2,600 acres. For those in search of wildlife found across the country, the massive Prairie Habitat is loaded with American bison and elk, while the Watani Grasslands Habitat offers insight into the incredible herbivore biodiversity found across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Photo courtesy of Michelle Curley

No. 2:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Cincinnati, Ohio

TheCincinnati Zoo — one of the oldest zoos in the nation — brings visitors nose-to-nose with a range of exciting animals. Guests can view hippos underwater (including world-famous hippo Fiona), pop up in a bubble amid meerkats, or watch cheetahs racing at top speeds. The multi-sensory Night Hunters exhibit hosts cats and other nocturnal predators, while Manatee Springs seeks the long-term conservation of the Florida manatee by encouraging guests to observe these gentle giants.

Photo courtesy of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

No. 1:

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium - Omaha, Nebraska

Continued investments have allowed Henry Doorly Zoo to continue to offer one-of-a-kind exhibits to guests, including the world’s largest indoor desert where arid plants and animals — peccaries, quail, death adders, rattlesnakes, and inland taipans, the world’s most venomous land snake — are visible inside a geodesic dome year-round in the heart of the Midwest. The $73 million Scott African Grasslands exhibit features 28 acres of habitats and exhibit spaces for meerkats, giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and sable antelopes.

Annita Thomas

Annita Thomas

Annita is the on-air personality of Travel With Annita radio show, the recipient of two Gold Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards. With 40 years of travel experience she has been to 119 countries and territories, and has worked in several areas of the travel industry. She started her travel career with Pan American World Airways and later worked for the Atlanta CVB during the 1996 Olympics. The multi-media journalist not only host a travel show on terrestrial radio, but also a Lowell Thomas Bronze Award winning podcast - Quarter Miles Travel featuring stories based on the U.S. Mint coins programs. She writes for Upscale Magazine and is an ambassador for Oprah Daily digital magazine. Annita's mission is to inspire Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters to go out and explore the world, creating memorable experiences. She values storytelling, cultural awareness, sharing human interest stories and highlighting sustainable travel brands. Her mission is to help shape the listeners and readers perspective of beautiful destinations around the world. She is the proud fur-baby mom of two fun loving Chocolate Labs, Boris and Natasha. Her favorite destination - the last place she visited. Her favorite travel quote - “Let’s Go!”

Chez Chesak

Chez Chesak

‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.

Corinne Whiting

Corinne Whiting

Corinne hails from theother Washington, where she caught the travel bug early on. Corinne studied abroad in Strasbourg, France (undergrad) and in Edinburgh, Scotland (graduate school). She's backpacked around Australia, taught English in Argentina and explored (so far!) countries from Cambodia and Egypt to Turkey and China.Corinne served as associate editor at Where magazine for five years; as a freelancer, she now writes for publications like National Geographic Traveler and Amtrak's OnTrak. Here in the lovely Northwest, she's attempting to debunk the rain myths, up her coffee and live music quotient and find her Zen near/on the water.

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the websitebraveskimom.comin 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.

Melody Pittman

Melody Pittman

Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blogand is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country.She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing.Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book.Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.

Nicky Omohundro

Nicky Omohundro

Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitterand Instagram.

10Best Editors

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

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