San Antonio Zoo named nation’s second-best in Newsweek reader poll

The San Antonio Zoo has won yet another national accolade, this time being recognized by Newsweek readers as the nation’s second-best zoo.

Newsweek’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards have ranked the San Antonio Zoo among the nation’s 10 best for three consecutive years. However, 2025 marks the first time the Alamo City’s wildlife park has broken into the top 2. This year, only the North Carolina Zoo ranked higher.

“We are incredibly honored to be named one of the top two zoos in the country by Newsweek,” San Antonio Zoo President and CEO Tim Morrow said in a statement. “Our award-winning initiatives are a direct reflection of the incredible work and commitment of our zoo crew and support of our donors, guests and the city of San Antonio.”

Newsweek readers gave the San Antonio Zoo rave reviews for its array of exhibits featuring “creatures that fly, swim and crawl,” as well as its unique experiences, including its VIP and after-hours tours. It’s not the first time the San Antonio Zoo has found itself in the national spotlight. The Texas Travel awards have named the zoo the state’s best for five consecutive years, and industry magazine Blooloop named it the nation’s second best in 2020.

The nation’s 10 best zoos, according to Newsweek readers:

1. North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, North Carolina
2. San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio
3. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Denver
4. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, Washington
5. Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia, South Carolina
6. San Diego Zoo, San Diego
7. Rolling Hills Zoo, Salina, Kansas
8. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs
9. Houston Zoon, Houston
10. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, Nebraska

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This article appears in May 14-27, 2025.