From the adorable to the ferocious, see wildlife at the 10 best zoos in the US

Situated within an urban park in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri, this zoo is free to the public and features a stunning diversity of around 16,000 animals and 500 species in total. The zoo is divided into six zones — within the Lakeside Crossing zone is the award-winning Sea Lion Sound, which features a 35-foot-long underwater viewing tunnel, combining a stellar exhibit experience with educational presentations and shows.

More than 3,000 animals and nearly 6,000 plant varieties are waiting for you at Riverbanks Zoo’s 170 acres along the Saluda River. Visit African savannas, Asian forests, and native South Carolina landscapes that offer stellar views of animals. The zoo’s hands-on experiences include giraffe feeding and lorikeet encounters. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so be sure to seek out historical landmarks from the Civil War and South Carolina’s textile industry.

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.

At this accredited zoo and botanical Garden, guests adventure through immersive landscapes spanning 2,800 acres in the ancient Uwharrie Mountains. The world’s largest natural habitat zoo is home to 1,700 animals, including elusive white deer that roam free on zoo property. Bison and elk rove near critically endangered American red wolves, unique species thrive inside the iconic Desert Dome, and guests can explore the 40-acre Watani Grasslands to experience the biodiversity of sub-Saharan Africa. Best of all, every visit helps save wildlife and wild places around the globe!

Home to more than 800 animals, the AZA-accredited Brevard Zoo takes the zoo-going experience to adventurous new levels. Guests can walk through the canopy above South American jungle habitats, or kayak through an Africa-like savanna or restored Florida wetland.

The Cincinnati Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the nation, brings visitors nose-to-nose with a range of exciting animals. Guests can watch hippos underwater, including the world-famous hippo Fiona, meerkats scurrying around and popping upright, and cheetahs racing at top speeds. The multi-sensory Night Hunters exhibit hosts cats and other nocturnal predators, while Manatee Springs encourages guests to observe Florida manatees, and showcases the importance of the long-term conservation of these gentle giants.

See giant anteaters, vampire bats, and a Brazilian rainbow boa at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, which span 117 acres along the Trout River. Blending lush botanical gardens with diverse wildlife habitats, the zoo’s African Forest showcases western lowland gorillas and bonobos, while the Range of the Jaguar is a national award-winning South American exhibit. Flora fans should visit the gardens’ collection of rare bamboo, and Wild Florida features native species along with alligators, snakes, manatees and bobcats. Don’t miss Stingray Bay’s touch pool and behind-the-scenes experiences with exotic animals.

Within its 580 acres, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium houses around 10,000 animals representing over 600 species, each in habitats akin to their native lands. From Heart of Africa, where giraffes can be spotted stretching their necks, to Asia Quest with its endangered red pandas, every region tells a different wildlife story. Polar Frontier captivates with underwater views of swimming bears, and in Congo Expedition, you’ll discover one of North America’s most impressive groups of great ape. Don’t miss the Shores and Aquarium region, showcasing penguins, seals, and an extensive array of fish.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs connects visitors with hundreds of animals representing a vast array of 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.

Continued investments have allowed Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo to continually 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.