The 10 Largest Zoos in the United States in 2024

Zoos are very popular around the world, providing wonder and education to millions of visitors a year. There are over 10,000 of these establishments around the globe, varying in size from small enclosures to the largest in the world. In the United States, there are 384. We’re going to take a look at the 10 largest zoos in the United States and give you information on the best time to visit each. There are two different ways to rank the size of a zoo – by acreage and by the number of animals that live there. In order to keep our list cohesive, we will rank ours by the number of animals they house. We’ll also include fun facts and some more information about what makes these man-made attractions so very important.

1. Henry Doorly Zoo

• Animals: 17,000
• Species: 962
• Size: 160 acres
• First Opened: 1894
• Most Popular Feature: Lied Jungle (America’s largest indoor jungle).
• Mission Statement: “To inspire, educate and engage people to serve as lifelong stewards for the conservation of animals and their habitats.“
• Fun Fact: This zoo is home to the Desert Dome, the world’s largest indoor desert. This is also the world’s largest geodesic dome!
• Location: 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107
• Hours: Hours vary by season, check the official website for current hours.

2. San Diego Zoo

• Animals: 14,000
• Species: 700
• Size: 100 acres
• First Opened: December 11th, 1916
• Most Popular Feature: Panda Canyon
• Mission Statement: “Committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature.”
• Fun Fact: A Kodiak bear named “Caesar” was one of the first animals at this site.
• Location: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
• Hours: Hours vary by season, check the official website for current hours.

3. Bronx Zoo

• Animals: Over 10,000
• Species: Over 700
• Size: 265 acres
• First Opened: November 8th, 1899
• Most Popular Feature: Congo Gorilla Forest
• Mission Statement: “Connect visitors to wildlife and inspire them to join our conservation work.”
• Fun Fact: Established its full-time animal hospital in 1916, the first of its kind.
• Location: 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10460
• Hours: Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, and Saturday-Sunday 10 am-5:30 pm

4. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

• Animals: Over 10,000
• Species: Over 600
• Size: 580 acres
• First Opened: September 17th, 1927 (est.)
• Most Popular Feature: The Heart of Africa
• Mission Statement: “To lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife.”
• Fun Fact: Wildlife celebrity and zookeeper Jack Hanna was the director from 1978 to 1993!
• Location: 4850 W Powell Road, Powell, OH, 43065
• Hours: Hours vary, check the official zoo website for seasonal hours.

5. Minnesota Zoo

• Animals: Over 4,300
• Species: 505
• Size: 485 acres
• First Opened: May 22nd, 1978
• Most Popular Feature: Discovery Bay
• Mission Statement: “Connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.”
• Fun Fact: The first captive-born dolphin was born here.
• Location: 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124
• Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily

6. Riverbanks Zoo

• Animals: 3,000
• Species: 400
• Size: 170 acres
• First Opened: April 25th, 1974
• Most Popular Feature: Giraffe Overlook
• Mission Statement: “To create meaningful connections and inspire actions that will have a lasting impact on conservation.”
• Fun Fact: On the National Register of Historic Places.
• Location: 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia SC 29210
• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas

7. Zoo Miami

• Animals: Over 2,500
• Species: 400
• Size: 750 acres
• First Opened: 1948
• Most Popular Feature: Florida: Mission Everglades
• Mission Statement: “Share the wonder of wildlife and help conserve it for generations to come.“
• Fun Fact: This is the only tropical zoological park in the United States!
• Location: 12400 SW 152 St. Miami, FL 33177
• Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily

8. National Zoo

• Animals: 2,100
• Species: 400
• Size: 163 acres
• First Opened: 1889
• Most Popular Feature: Rubenstein Family Panda Habitat
• Mission Statement: “We save species by using cutting-edge science, sharing knowledge, and providing inspirational experiences for our guests.“
• Fun Fact: Admission is free!
• Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily

9. Dallas Zoo

• Animals: 2,000
• Species: 400
• Size: 106 acres
• First Opened: 1888
• Most Popular Feature: Wilds of Africa
• Mission Statement: “Engaging people and saving wildlife.”
• Fun Fact: First zoo in the southwest and the oldest in Texas
• Location: 650 S R.L. Thornton Fwy, Dallas, TX 75203
• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily

10. Kansas City Zoo

• Animals: 1,700
• Species: 200
• Size: 202 acres
• First Opened: December 1909
• Most Popular Feature: Helzberg Penguin Plaza
• Mission Statement: “Connects all people to each other and the natural world to promote understanding, appreciation, and conservation.”
• Fun Fact: Best in the nation to see chimpanzees and kangaroos
• Location: 6800 Zoo Dr, Kansas City, MO 64132
• Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am – 4 pm, and Saturday-Sunday 9:30 am – 5 pm

Purpose of Zoos

Zoos aren’t just fun attractions for seeing wildlife up close. Zoos dedicate themselves to the protection and conservation of wildlife through a scope of education and awareness, research, fundraising efforts, and ethical breeding programs that revitalize endangered populations.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums plays an integral role in upholding these values in all of their accredited zoos. Accredited facilities hold themselves to a scientifically-based standard that encompasses concern for animal welfare, access to veterinary medicine and care, conservation, rehabilitation, and education. This rigorous standard works to ensure the safety of all animals kept at zoos and aquariums in the association’s network.

Through species management and survival plans, these zoos work diligently to monitor and preserve animal populations – especially those endangered or facing a risk of extinction. The success of these programs is clear, and a great example is the rehabilitation of the California condor. Condors were on the brink of extinction in 1982, with only 22 remaining birds. Through the collaborative efforts of a variety of organizations, including the San Diego Zoo, their population has grown to over 400 birds. Without the assistance of zoos and aquariums, this never would have been possible.

Zoos also work to restore habitats for animals. A main cause of animal endangerment is habitat loss, accounting for 85 percent of the threat to wildlife populations. By protecting and rebuilding these natural habitats, we help to secure and protect the safety of animals worldwide.

Are Zoos Ethical?

It is important to acknowledge the ethical implications of keeping wild animals in captivity. A variety of individuals and organizations have spoken out against zoos, voicing concerns about animal welfare, cruelty and abuse, and the emotional and physical impacts of life in captivity on animals. It’s sad but true – there are many roadblocks and complications to ensuring that zoos remain ethical and safe, and a tragic history of abuse at some of these facilities leads many to condemn them as a whole.

However, we must not ignore the importance of zoos in protecting our planet and the organisms living here. Ever-raising standards of care protect wildlife from the harms of the past and work to ensure its survival in the future. Questioning and researching the practices of these establishments is integral to upholding these values. It is through activism and partnership with these organizations that we can learn how to best interact with the world around us – and change it for the better.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit zoos is on weekdays when there is less visitor traffic. A crowded zoo is not as fun of an experience for visitors or for the animals, and you will have a much better time visiting on quieter days. Further, animals are more active in the mornings and in the late afternoon and evening. Get to the zoo early to have the best chance of seeing well-rested and relaxed animals that are more likely to be moving around and interacting with each other. There are other advantages to visiting in the morning. On hot days, animals are more active during the cooler hours of the morning. Many zoos feed their animals in the morning, as well, and you’ll have a higher chance of seeing them eating!

If you can’t make it to the zoo in the morning, try for the late afternoon. The animals might be more tired and reclusive, but foot traffic often slows down at the end of the day and gives you a better chance at getting a good look at the animals and exhibits.

Zoo vs. Safari Park: What’s the Difference?

You’ll notice that we have not listed any safari parks on our top 10, and this is for good reason. Zoos and safari parks are different. Zoos showcase animals in a variety of ways, but most commonly construct enclosed environments for their wildlife. These enclosures mimic native habitats and offer many different angles for viewers to observe the animals from. They also allow the zoo to keep a larger variety of species – the specialized build of each enclosure gives animals from every continent a comfortable and temperate environment. One downside is that these enclosures have more limited space for the animals.

Safari parks are much larger than zoos by acreage, and they do not use the same enclosure type. Animals in safari parks roam free across large, open enclosures. Visitors drive their cars or ride trolleys through these open safaris and witness animals living in larger habitats. This structure limits the number of different animals you can see when you visit but lets you observe them behaving more naturally. Safari parks also commonly double as areas for population rehabilitation – the larger spaces encourage healthy cohabitation and breeding.

Both of these wildlife establishments have benefits for humans and animals and play an important role in the way we understand and interact with the world around us.

Summary of the 10 Largest Zoos in the United States

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Thomas Barrat/Shutterstock.com