Zoos have become the most popular tourist destinations for families. Not only is it fun family entertainment, zoos are a closer place to observe animals in the wild while raising our awareness of endangered species.
Across the world, zoos come in varying sizes, from the smallest to the largest, which are usually based on the acreage and the number of animals in them. Even though they both offer views of animals, there are many significant differences from one zoo to another, especially in terms of breeding programs and the activities you can do in them.
Before you visit one of the zoos in the United States, be sure to decide what you want to do there. If you want to do research on several types of animals, it’s best for you to choose the large ones since they’ll provide more than 500 species.
Thankfully! We’ll show you the top 15 largest zoos that you may visit across the United States. Let’s take a look at them!
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1. Oakland Zoo, California
Oakland Zoo, California, has become home to over 850 species, both native and exotic, making it a nationally recognized leader in animal welfare, conservation, and rescue. It is a well-managed zoo under the Conservation Society of California that has partnered with 25 conservation groups and has donated over $1 million to help wild and captive animals.
Situated about 20 miles east of downtown San Francisco, the Oakland Zoo developed a “protected contact” method of animal care in 1991. This program worked to separate keepers and elephants with barriers and reward the animals through incentives rather than disciplines.
Featuring a hilly and sloping layout, this zoo allows visitors to take in the aerial views on a gondola-style Sky Ride. Alternatively, they can take the Wild Australia Express Train to see emus, wallabies, and wallaroos roaming around.
2. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Nebraska
- Animals: 17,000
- Species: 962
- Size: 160 acres
The geodesic Desert Dome, a place containing the world’s largest indoor desert, is a signature feature of the Henry Doorly Zoo. This is a visitors’ favorite place since they’re feeling as if they’re in the Sonoran and Namib deserts as well as Australia’s Red Center.
In this zoo, you can explore 160 acres of land by seeing various amazing species up close, such as elephants, rhinos, gorillas, sea lions, etc., but you will not find Indian rhinos, Amur tigers, snow leopards, or red pandas here. Inside the aquarium, your eyes will be spoiled with a 70-foot shark tunnel.
For those of you who want to observe animals, the Henry Doorly Zoo can be a good option. However, this zoo has provided space for those who want to participate in various conservation programs in the fields of medicine, nutrition, reproductive physiology, and molecular genetics.
3. Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
- Area: 163 acres
- Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Hours: Daily, starting from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free admission is a highlight of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, which aims to educate the public about various animals and proper conservation. Created in 1889, the zoo is situated in Rock Creek Park, around 2 miles northwest of downtown Washington, D.C.
Visitors have the opportunity to see more than 2,000 species, including Andean bear cubs, Bennett’s wallabies, California sea lions, seals, orangutans, and meerkats. However, the giant panda family has been the main attraction at the zoo for more than 20 years.
In maintaining the balance of habitats within the zoo, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has made a major contribution to saving wild species from extinction and strives to continue training future conservationists to continue this program.
4. San Diego Zoo, California
- Animals: 14,000
- Species: 700
- Size: 100 acres
- Location: 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
- Hours: Daily, starting from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Opened on December 11, 1961, San Diego Zoo has the most popular feature, i.e., Panda Canyon. This is an AZA-accredited zoo that was also recognized by the American Alliance of Museums for its work that focuses on the education of animals, science, animal health and care, as well as sustainable conservation projects.
San Diego Zoo allows visitors to see rare and endangered species, such as Tasmanian devils, clouded leopards, giant pandas, and Galapagos tortoises. In addition, you can also tour the Safari Park to see gorillas, platypuses, elephants, Matschie’s tree kangaroos, and greater one-horned rhinos.
5. Saint Louis Zoo
Just like the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, St. Louis Zoo is also dedicated to conservation and research, so visitors are not charged an entrance fee. For its research and activities in the Galapagos Islands, the zoo received the World Conservation Award from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
St. Louis Zoo is home to more than 15000 species, which are kept in a clean and spacious natural habitat. At the Zoo, visitors can take advantage of facilities such as a carousel, 4D cinema, behind-the-scenes tours, and a narrated 1.5-mile journey around the park.
6. Kansas City Zoo
- Animals: 1,700
- Species: 200
- Size: 202 acres
- Location: 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO 64132
- Hours: Saturday-Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday-Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thanks to its amazing Australian and African sections, Kansas City Zoo has become one of the most popular zoos across the United States. It accommodates more than 1,700 species, which are grouped based on their habitat zone.
The orangutan and penguin areas are by far the visitors’ favorite areas. Here, they can watch the cute little birds glide through the water and walk around on land, adding to the charm of the zoo.
7. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Area: 580 acres
- Location: 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
- Hours: Daily, starting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As the name suggests, the Bay Lake Zoo in Florida offers the largest Disney theme park in the United States. Blending its magic throughout the park, its truly breathtaking scenes actually draw visitors in to feel as if they are right in the magical world of Disney.
The theme park, with an area of more than 580 hectares, is home to various species of animals and plants. Taking an adventure in this zoo will give you an unforgettable experience, especially when you explore mystical paths that seem to take you to faraway places to interact with tigers, lions, and gorillas.
8. Bronx Zoo, New York
- Animals: Over 10,000
- Species: Over 700
- Size: 265 acres
- Location: 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460
As the largest urban zoo in the US, the Bronx Zoo sits on 265 acres and is home to over 700 species. Open since 1899, the zoo has made significant contributions to saving wildlife and wild places through the Wildlife Conservation Society, which even operates its own zoo hospital.
There are so many different animals to see at the Bronx Zoo that you may not have enough time to explore the entire area in one day.
During your visit, it’s best to prioritize attractions like the Wild Asia Monorail and the Congo Gorilla Forest since you can meet western lowland gorillas in a glass-enclosed rainforest habitat who love to pat their chests, along with other African animals.
9. Alaska SeaLife Center
There’s no end to the discussion about Alaska, the state nicknamed America’s “Last Frontier,” which actually offers untouched natural wealth and diverse wildlife.
There is a unique facility called the Alaska SeaLife Center, which is the official rehabilitation program in Alaska for marine animals that are still alive, stranded alive, abandoned, injured, or have died.
In addition to being a place for animal rehabilitation, Alaska SeaLife Center also contributes greatly to handling oil spills or other incidents that can endanger the habitat of species living around it.
This zoo also provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about Alaska’s marine ecosystem, learn about wildlife activities, and increase understanding through the dissemination and development of scientific information.
One of the facility’s major conservation initiatives is the Chiswell Island Steller Sea Lion Remote Video Monitoring Project. Through this project, scientists have conducted experiments for 25 years and monitored the endangered animals since 1998, resulting in long-term insights published in several scientific papers.
10. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas
As the oldest continuously operating zoo in Texas since 1909, the Fort Worth Zoo has educated visitors by presenting rare species such as two species of rhinoceroses and bonobos, one of the four great ape species. The Museum of Living Art building also stands strong as a home for amphibians and reptiles.
Today, the zoo has been successful in breeding the world’s largest colony of lesser flamingos and is also a pioneer in Asian elephant conservation. The visitors can try to ride the Yellow Rose Express train, so they can see various types of animals up close.
11. Dallas Zoo
- Animals: 2,000
- Species: 400
- Size: 106 acres
- Location: 650 S. R. L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX 75203, United States
- Hours: Daily, starting from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Founded in 1888, the Dallas Zoo has become the oldest zoo in Texas and also in the United States. Since it has been operating for so long, it is no wonder that you will find many rare species in this zoo.
Since its operation, the number of animals in this zoo has continued to increase from year to year, which are placed in their diverse habitats.
Many visitors are interested in studying pandas, Malayan tigers, and Sumatran tigers. Not only the charm of rare animals, but this zoo also offers various environments such as trees and rivers, which of course become an oasis for various species, especially monkeys.
12. Zoo Miami
- Animals: Over 2,500
- Species: 400
- Size: 750 acres
- Location: 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami, FL 33177
- Hours: Daily, starting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Since its operation in 1948, Zoo Miami has accommodated more than 3,000 animals from over 500 different species from Asia, Australia, the Americas, and Africa. Visitors can explore a variety of species across more than 750 acres of land, making it the largest zoo in Florida.
In addition to being the fifth-largest zoo in America, Zoo Miami is also the only subtropical zoo in the United States. That means that the zoo features tree kangaroos, Komodo dragons, and more than 40 endangered species, so visitors can see them firsthand.
The animals in the zoo are grouped by geographic region and placed in environments that replicate their natural habitat as closely as possible.
13. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Area: 140 acres
- Location: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80906
- Hours: Daily, starting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
USA Today ranked Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, as the fourth-best zoo in North America. Located on a mountainside, the Zoo has accommodated more than 750 animals from 150 different species.
Historically, this zoo collected exotic animals owned by philanthropist Spencer Penrose, but today it has turned into a noted educational facility. Thanks to a portion of every admission ticket and money donated at the “Quarters for Conservation” kiosks, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has raised more than $4 million for conservation programs.
The visitors can walk around the African Encounter exhibit, where they can see African porcupines, elephants, black rhinos, and meerkats. If they want to witness the cuteness of hippos and African penguins, they can visit the Water’s Edge: Africa exhibit. While in the Rocky Mountain Wild area, visitors can see grizzly bears, Alaskan moose, grizzly bears, and Canadian lynx.
14. Minnesota Zoo
- Animals: Over 4,300
- Species: 505
- Size: 485 acres
- Location: 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA
- Hours: Daily, starting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Minnesota Zoo, formerly known as the Minnesota Zoological Garden, has accommodated more than 4,500 animals from 500 different species. Opened on May 22nd, 1978, the zoo once grouped its animals based on their ideal environment rather than species.
Set on 500 acres of forest and about 20 miles of freshwater ponds, the Minnesota Zoo offers visitors a variety of fun activities, including behind-the-scenes zoo experiences, overnight stays, Treetop trail tours that take them throughout the zoo, and even family adventures.
Visitors can also see animals up close, including local wildlife such as wolves, river otters, and beavers, as well as animals from around the world such as brown bears, sea otters, Amur tigers, and Komodo dragons.
Basically, the goal of this zoo is wildlife conservation, which focuses on protecting endangered prairie butterfly species and also restoring bison populations. In addition, this zoo also runs international outreach programs that include chinchilla and black rhino conservation.
15. Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
- Animals: 3,000
- Species: 400
- Size: 170 acres
- Location: 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
- Hours: Daily, starting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located in North Carolina, the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens is a family-friendly zoo to visit. This zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals of various species. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is also noted on the National Register of Historic Places. It is known that the giraffe overlook has become the most popular feature in this zoo.
At this zoo, visitors can invite their children to do various fun activities, such as camping, playing in a children’s garden, and participating in dinosaur excavations, so they can get an archaeological experience at The Boneyard. Also, they can watch amazing animal shows.
Okay, those are the top 15 largest zoos that you can visit in the United States. Be sure to choose the ones that can give you space to do what you want.
