10 best zoos across the United States, according to our readers

Photo courtesy of kali9 // Getty Images

North America is home to hundreds of zoological parks, including more than 200 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Besides traveling around the world to see animals in their natural habitats, nothing beats a visit to the zoo to inspire an appreciation for the diversity of animals we have on our planet. A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Scroll to see the winners.

Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Zoo

No. 10: Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, Missouri

Situated within one of the nation’s largest urban parks, the free-to-the-public Saint Louis Zoo features 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. 

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo

No. 9: Houston Zoo - Houston, Texas

The Houston Zoo is dedicated to bringing new and exciting experiences to its animal-loving visitors, experiences like the World of Primates where apes, monkeys and lemurs from around the world can be observed from close range. The African Forest leads visitors on a trek from a small trading outpost into a forest and through to a clearing that hosts chimpanzees, gorillas, rhinos and giraffes. The zoo’s 3-acre Asian Elephant Habitat provides a home for a family of gentle giants, who enjoy spacious grounds, a large pool and a dust-bathing area.

Photo courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

No. 8: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Powell, Ohio

Wildlife from seven regions around the world, including Australia, the Congo, Asia and North America, call the Columbus Zoo home. The zoo is one of only two facilities outside of Florida to care for manatees, visible in the Manatee Coast area alongside other rescued animals such as a sea turtle and pelicans.

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

No. 7: Philadelphia Zoo - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Located on 42 acres of beautiful gardens on the Schuylkill River, the Philadelphia Zoo welcomes more than a million visitors annually and is home to Zoo360, the first-in-the-world animal travel trail system. This “first true zoo” in the United States opened in 1874 and today is home to nearly 1,700 animals, including many rare and endangered species. 

Visit KidZooU for hands-on learning experiences, see African lions in Big Cat Falls, gorillas in the PECO Primate Reserve and much more in this animal oasis.

Photo courtesy of Audubon Zoo

No. 6: Audubon Zoo - New Orleans, Louisiana

The Audubon Zoo, situated in historic uptown New Orleans, is ranked as one of the city's top things to do and offers visitors personal encounters with wildlife, including highly endangered whooping cranes, Amur leopards and orangutans.

Be sure to check out the award-winning Louisiana Swamp re-creation, an exhibit linking the region’s distinct Cajun culture with the plants and animals of the surrounding habitats. You'll have the chance to observe black bears, alligators, red foxes, blue crabs, water snakes and a host of other animals with a view into the daily lives of those who rely on the swamp for a living. 

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Photo courtesy of Memphis Zoo

No. 5: Memphis Zoo - Memphis, Tennessee

Created in 1906, this zoo is located in midtown Memphis and is home to more than 4,500 animals and over 500 different species. Explore Teton Trek, inspired by the extraordinary ecosystem of Yellowstone National Park, or view polar bears and sea lions in a naturalistic environment in the Northwest Passage exhibit. See giraffes, rhinos and elephants in the African Veldt, or experience a multi-level open-air viewing of Cat Country’s “big cats.”

Some of the most powerful and beautiful creatures on Earth can be seen in the Zambezi River exhibit, and don’t forget to stop by the China exhibit to see the giant pandas or the penguins at Penguin Rock.

Photo courtesy of Brevard Zoo

No. 4: Brevard Zoo - Melbourne, Florida

Home to more than 900 animals, the AZA-accredited Brevard Zoo takes 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. 

Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

No. 3: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Colorado Springs, Colorado

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs connects visitors with more than 750 animals representing 170 species from all corners of the globe. The African Rift Valley exhibit is home to the largest zoo giraffe herd in the world, 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, porcupine, Mexican gray wolves, bald eagles and lynx. A ski lift offers stellar views over Colorado Springs.

Photo courtesy of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

No. 2: 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 – meerkats, peccaries, quail, gila monsters, death adders, rattlesnakes and inland taipans, the world’s most venomous snake – are visible inside a geodesic dome year-round in the heart of the Midwest. The $73 million African Grasslands exhibit features 28 acres of habitats and exhibit spaces for giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs and sable antelopes.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Curley

No. 1: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Cincinnati 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.