San Antonio Zoo just earned more national bragging rights!
In March 2026, USA TODAY readers voted SA Zoo into the Top 10 of the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Zoo in America, landing at #7 in the entire country. And that’s not even the full story.
San Antonio Zoo didn’t just show up in one category. Our zoo earned recognition across three separate USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards categories this year, making this one of the most exciting pieces of local news to come out of Bexar County in a long time.
Three Awards. One Amazing Zoo.
Here is how San Antonio Zoo stacked up in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards:
- #7 Best Zoo in America, voted on by readers nationwide, beating out hundreds of local zoos across the country
- #9 Best Zoo Exhibit, recognized for Flamingo Mingle, the beloved up-close flamingo experience that lets guests walk among and feed a flock of Caribbean flamingos
- #8 Best Zoo Membership, one of the top ten zoo memberships in the entire country, according to USA TODAY readers
Three categories. Three Top 10 finishes. All in the same year. This is what award-winning looks like!
What the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Actually Mean
The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are one of the most recognized reader-driven rankings in the country. A panel of travel and tourism experts nominates 20 finalists in each category, and then readers cast votes to determine the final Top 10 winners.
San Antonio Zoo competed against some of the biggest and most famous zoos in America. Finishing in the Top 10 against competition like that is a genuine achievement for a Texas zoo and for the city of San Antonio.
This is the fourth time in the past three years that SA Zoo has landed on a national Top 10 list. It is not a fluke. It is a pattern.
What Tim Morrow Had to Say
San Antonio Zoo President and CEO Tim Morrow shared his thoughts on the recognition and gave credit right where it belongs.
“We are incredibly proud to be ranked among the best zoos in the country by USA TODAY readers,” Morrow said. “These honors reflect the passion and dedication of our Zoo Crew and the incredible support from our community. Together, we are continuing to elevate San Antonio Zoo as a destination for conservation, education, and unforgettable wildlife experiences.”
Under Morrow’s leadership since 2014, San Antonio Zoo has invested over $200 million in upgrades and improvements across the park. That investment is showing up in the rankings, and visitors are feeling it every time they walk through the gates.
Flamingo Mingle: A Zoo Exhibit Like No Other
One of the most exciting parts of this year’s recognition is seeing Flamingo Mingle ranked #9 in the country for Best Zoo Exhibit. If you have not experienced it yet, here is what you are missing.
Flamingo Mingle is an up-close, immersive encounter where guests walk among and feed a flock of Caribbean flamingos. You learn how flamingos feed and socialize, and you get one of the most unique and memorable zoo experiences in all of South Texas.
It is a separate add-on experience that requires its own ticket in addition to your general admission. All guests 3 years and older need a ticket to enter, and kids under 10 must be accompanied by a paid adult. Plan ahead and grab your spot early!
A Zoo Membership Worth Bragging About
Finishing #8 in the country for Best Zoo Membership is a huge deal. If you are a San Antonio-area resident who does not already have a zoo membership, this is your sign to get one.
A San Antonio Zoo membership gets you:
- Unlimited visits on operating days
- Free parking every visit
- 10% discount on zoo food and merchandise
- Discounts on select special events and birthday parties
- Invitations to Member Appreciation Days
- The satisfaction of supporting one of the top ten zoo memberships in America
For families who visit more than once or twice a year, a membership pays for itself fast. Check out current membership options on the San Antonio Zoo website.
What Makes San Antonio Zoo a Top 10 Zoo
USA TODAY’s official write-up highlighted some of what sets San Antonio Zoo apart, including its legacy of wildlife conservation and the incredible Congo Falls gorilla exhibit, our zoo’s newest habitat and home to seven Western lowland gorillas. Congo Falls marked the return of gorillas to San Antonio Zoo after more than 35 years, and it has been turning heads nationally ever since.
A few more reasons the rankings keep coming:
- Congo Falls, a two-acre state-of-the-art immersive gorilla habitat
- Flamingo Mingle, a Top 10 nationally recognized zoo experience
- Conservation programs, including work focused on Texas horned lizards and other species native to the region
- Over $200 million in upgrades since 2014, touching nearly every corner of our zoo
- Free parking with every zoo membership
San Antonio Zoo is not just keeping up with the best zoos in the country. It is one of them.
Plan Your Visit
San Antonio Zoo is open year-round in Brackenridge Park, just minutes from downtown San Antonio. If you are a first-time visitor or a longtime member, there is always something new to discover. This summer, Zoorassic Park, presented by the Bank of Texas, runs through September 7, so there has never been a better time to come out.
Here is how to make the most of your trip:
- Buy tickets online ahead of your visit
- Add Flamingo Mingle to your visit for the full award-winning experience
- Look into zoo membership if you plan to come back more than once (which you will)
- Arrive early to stay cool and get the most out of your day
- Check our zoo map on San Antonio Zoo’s website to plan your route ahead of time
Come Visit One of the Best Zoos in America
We are so honored by this recognition and so grateful to every reader who voted for San Antonio Zoo. This award belongs to our whole community.
Come see what USA TODAY readers are raving about. Grab your tickets, add Flamingo Mingle to your visit, and explore everything that makes SA Zoo one of the best in the country. We will see you soon!