Updated for September 2026
The Best Aquariums in Texas
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 aquarium in Texas that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Leon Valley
Annual attendance tops a million. The on-site Richard Friedrich Aquarium dates from 1948 and was the city's only aquarium until SeaWorld arrived in 1988, while a miniature train ride has operated since 1956.
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Keeper talk or showChild friendlyTouch pool
Austin Aquarium
Aquarium in Austin
The aquarium is run by Crysty Covino, who is married to a former owner convicted of animal trafficking.
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Keeper talk or show
Dallas World Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Dallas
Under a joint scheme linking local businesses with the Dallas public school district, many of the staff are full-time pupils at the business school within Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet High School.
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Downtown Aquarium, Houston
Zoo & Aquarium in Houston
The aquarium occupies 6 acres at 410 Bagby Street, reusing two landmark buildings. More than 200 aquatic species are held in 500,000 US gallons of tanks, and the site also holds banquet space, a bar and two eateries.
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Behind-the-scenes tourEducation programImmersive media attraction
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium
Aquarium in Grapevine
Thousands of animals are held, with touch pools and a 360-degree tunnel. It is owned and run by Merlin Entertainments.
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PlaygroundAssistance animal policy
Texas State Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Corpus Christi
It is the biggest aquarium in the state and among the biggest in the country. Animals on show include Dolphin, Sharks, Stingray, Otters and Turtle.
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Moody Gardens Rainforest and Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Galveston
Aquariums nearby
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.