Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos 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 zoo in Texas that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Rides and attractions
Abilene Zoological Gardens
Zoo in Abilene
The collection runs to over 800 animals of more than 175 species, and 255,000 visitors were recorded in 2021. Members receive free or reduced entry at other collections through the AZA reciprocity scheme.
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Animal feeding experienceOn-site diningKeeper talk or show
Caldwell Zoo
Zoo in Tyler
Caldwell Zoo, opened in 1953, is a zoo in Tyler, Texas, United States. Animals on show include Capybara, jaguar, Giant River Otter, Giraffe and Goat.
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Animal encounterBehind-the-scenes tourEducation program
Cameron Park Zoo
Zoo in Waco
More than 1,731 animals of 300 species are kept. They include one female African savanna elephant, Tembo, born in the wild in 1977 and on site since 15 January 1979.
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Fort Worth Zoo
Zoo in Fort Worth
Fort Worth Zoo, opened in 1909, is a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Animals on show include Elephant, Gharial, Giraffe, Lion and Longhorn.
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Animal feeding experienceRides and attractionsEducation program
Houston Zoo
Zoo in Houston
Forty animals made up the collection in 1922, when it began as an attraction within a park. Some 4,300 animals were held in 2026, and the species count stood at 575 in 2024. Two million people came through the gates in 2024.
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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 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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Keeper talk or showOn-site diningNight and evening opening
Dallas Zoo
Zoo in Dallas
More than 2,000 animals of 406 species are kept. Annual attendance passed a million for the first time in 2015, and as of 2026 the zoo supports close to 1,800 jobs.
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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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PlaygroundOn-site diningParking
El Paso Zoo
Zoo in El Paso
The zoo covers 35 acres and holds more than 200 species, including critically endangered ones.
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Frank Buck Zoo
Zoo in Gainesville
The zoo takes its name from Frank Buck, a screen actor and director born locally, and keeps more than 130 animals.
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Rides and attractions
Gladys Porter Zoo
Zoo in Brownsville
The zoo covers 31 acres and holds roughly 400 animal species, 47 of them endangered, with attendance averaging more than 424,000 a year. It was the first anywhere to breed Jentink's duiker, a species no longer held in the United States.
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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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Austin Zoo
Zoo in Austin
It states a mission of rescue, conservation and education for animals in need. More than 300 animals of over 100 species are kept, among them African lions, Bengal tigers, cougars, black bears, three monkey species and ring-tailed lemurs.
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Ellen Trout Zoo
Zoo in Lufkin
Around 700 animals are kept, and roughly 150,000 people visit each year. School programmes began in 1977, and the zoo runs Wildlife on Wheels classroom sessions, teacher workshops and university internships. Summer options include a Junior Zookeeper scheme in which pupils in grades seven to nine work alongside keepers.
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Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Zoo in Glen Rose
The centre covers 1,800 acres of Texas Hill Country, with guided and self-drive tours, lodging, dining and education facilities.
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Moody Gardens Rainforest and Aquarium
Zoo & Aquarium in Galveston
Our ranking methodology
This is not a ranking. The 18 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.