Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Michigan
How this list is ordered: by how complete our listing is — how much we hold on opening hours, ticket prices, accreditation, photographs, animals and facilities. It is a measure of our own coverage, not a judgement of the venue. We hold no visitor scores or conservation assessments, so “best” here means every zoo in Michigan that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Rides and attractionsBehind-the-scenes tour
John Ball Zoo
Zoo in Grand Rapids
More than 2,000 animals of over 200 species are kept, laid out across the ravines and bluffs at the western edge of the property. A Zoo School and a Wildlife Conservation Fund are also run.
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Animal encounterBehind-the-scenes tourOn-site dining
Potter Park Zoological Gardens
Zoo in Lansing
Described as Michigan's oldest public zoo, it holds over 160 species. Its mission is framed around prompting people to conserve wildlife, and it joins AZA Species Survival Plan work for threatened and endangered animals.
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Binder Park Zoo
Zoo in Battle Creek
It ranks among the largest zoos in the state, and its attractions include a tram, a train, a carousel and a ropes course called Skylark Ridge.
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Rides and attractions
Detroit Zoo
Zoo in Royal Oak
The zoo covers 125 acres and holds over 2,000 animals in more than 200 species. It was the first zoo in the country to use bar-less habitats.
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On-site dining
Garlyn Zoo
Zoo in Naubinway
Garlyn Zoo, opened in 1994, is a zoo in Naubinway, United States. Animals on show include Sika Deer, Whitetail Deer, Goats, Grizzly Bear and black bears.
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ParkingWheelchair accessible routes
Belle Isle Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Detroit
The building covers 10,000 square feet, with a single long gallery under an arched ceiling of green glass tiles. At the opening ceremony it was said to be the third largest aquarium in the world, holding 65,007 US gallons. In 2005 it ran 60 exhibits totalling 32,000 US gallons, with 146 species and more than 1,500 fish.
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DeYoung Family Zoo
Zoo in Wallace
The site lies roughly 15 miles north of Menominee, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and keeps many exotic cats, with young animals that visitors may pet and bottle-feed. Animal care there has been queried in recent years.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 7 venues above are listed alphabetically by name, the same order used throughout this site. We do not collect visitor reviews, star ratings, ticket-sales figures or a conservation-impact score, so none of those exist here to rank by — “best” in this page’s title means every venue that qualifies for this list, not first-to-last by quality. If we ever add a data source robust enough to support an honest ranking, this note and the order above will change together.