Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Ohio
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 Ohio that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Zoo in Cleveland
The zoo belongs to the Cleveland Metroparks system. It holds one of the largest primate collections in North America, including golden-bellied mangabeys, which are shown at only twelve zoos.
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Rides and attractionsOn-site diningNight and evening opening
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Powell
It stands on the Scioto River, along the east bank of the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir. Its public profile owes much to promotion by the director emeritus, Jack Hanna, and in 2009 the USA Travel Guide ranked it the top zoo in the United States.
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Keeper talk or showNight and evening openingParking
Toledo Zoo
Zoo & Aquarium in Toledo
The zoo keeps over 10,000 animals from 720 species. Its holdings have been described as one of the most varied zoo and aquarium collections in the country.
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Parking
Akron Zoological Park
Zoo in Akron
Of a 77-acre holding, 35 acres carry the habitats, facilities and support buildings. More than 1,000 animals of over 100 species are kept, and roughly 400,000 people visit each year. It is the busiest attraction in its county.
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Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Zoo in Cincinnati
The zoo began on 64.5 acres in the middle of the city and later spread into neighbouring blocks and into reserves in the outer suburbs. Several of its historic buildings became a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It holds over 500 animal species, 1,800 animals and 3,000 plant species.
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Overnight stayGuided tour
The Wilds
Zoo in Cumberland
The land is reclaimed strip-mine ground of 37.04 sq km, taking in 8.1 sq km of pasture and a 27-acre carnivore centre. Over 15 miles of bike and walking trails run across it, along with around 150 lakes. Visitor activities include ziplines, horse riding and fishing.
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 6 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.