Updated for September 2026
The Best Zoos in Virginia
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 Virginia that qualifies for the list, fullest entry first.
Listed alphabetically
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Keeper talk or showBehind-the-scenes tourSensory and cognitive support
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
Zoo & Aquarium in Virginia Beach
The tanks hold more than 800,000 US gallons of fresh and salt water.
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Virginia Living Museum
Zoo in Newport News
The museum combines elements of an aquarium, a science centre, an aviary, a botanical preserve and a planetarium.
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ParkingAssistance animal policyMobility equipment loan
Metro Richmond Zoo
Zoo in Moseley
The zoo covers about 70 acres and holds roughly 2,000 animals of over 190 species. It is reached off U.S. Route 360, some 20 miles southwest of Richmond.
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Behind-the-scenes tourParkingAssistance animal policy
Virginia Zoological Park
Zoo in Norfolk
Virginia Zoological Park, opened in 1900, is a zoo in Norfolk, United States.
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Animal encounterRides and attractionsOn-site dining
Mill Mountain Zoo
Zoo in Roanoke
Its red wolves fall under the SAFE programme, which maintains a managed population and funds research.
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Playground
Bluebird Gap Farm
Zoo in Hampton
The farm holds livestock, poultry and wildlife native to Virginia. The municipal master gardeners' demonstration garden also stands on the grounds.
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Animal feeding experienceBehind-the-scenes tour
NOVA Wild
Zoo in Vienna
More than 50 species are held. A safari section is driven through in visitors' own vehicles, with zebras, bison and llamas. A walking route adds cheetahs, capybaras, kangaroos, sloths, camel rides and an aviary.
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.