Best Zoos and Aquariums in Dallas

2299 Co Rd 2008, Glen Rose, TX 76043, USA

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Enjoy a leisurely guided tour at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where you can come face-to-face with some of the world's most fascinating animals. The center participates in Species Survival Plans (SSP) for a variety of animals such as the Attwater’s prairie chicken, several rhinoceros and giraffe species, and wolves.

1801 N Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202, USA

The Dallas World Aquarium

Considered by many people the best aquarium in Dallas, The Dallas World Aquarium offers an unforgettable journey, beginning in the rainforest exhibit where exotic birds like Cocks-of-the-rock and various toucans flutter above. Your little ones have the opportunity to discover Japanese crabs, jellyfish, and Leafy, Weedy, and Ribbon seadragons. At the fascinating outdoor South Africa Exhibit your family will see playful black-footed and blue penguins in their aquatic antics; and at the Mundo Maya cenote, you’ll meet incredible rays, sharks, and sawfish, surrounded by euphonias, tanagers, and hummingbirds, plus reptiles and amphibians.

1989 Colonial Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USA

Fort Worth Zoo

The Fort Worth Zoo is probably the best zoo in Dallas and, indeed, it ranks among the top five zoos in the United States. It stands as the premier attraction in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, housing more than 500 species of animals, including a world-famous reptile collection, over 70 mammal species, almost 150 bird species, and over 170 ectotherm species. Besides, the Fort Worth Zoo actively participates in wildlife conservation efforts across more than 30 countries. Among the zoos in Dallas and beyond, the Fort Worth Zoo certainly stands out!

650 S R L Thornton Fwy, Dallas, TX 75203, USA

Dallas Zoo

Another fantastic zoo is, of course, the Dallas Zoo, home to more than 2,000 animals and 400 different species. It was the first zoo in the Southwest and has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for 35 years. At this exciting zoo, your children will have the opportunity to learn about the animals they meet, get up close with various species of animals, enjoy birds landing, and even feed giraffes! Also, your family can enjoy amazing shows at the amphitheater, and much more. Definitely, this is one of the most amazing zoos in Dallas and your family will have a blast there.

2203 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tyler, TX 75702, USA

Caldwell Zoo

Your family can’t miss out on the chance to enjoy one of the most diverse zoos in Dallas. A visit to The Caldwell Zoo is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a family outing with a collection of over 2,000 animals, including zebras, cheetahs, black bears, giraffes, alligators, and various exotic birds. You and your little ones will be able to immerse yourselves in diverse habitats as if you were there with the African Savanna, and the North American and South American exhibits—the fascinating African Aquarium, the North America Herpetarium with a great variety of frogs and snakes, and the interactive Wild Bird Walkabout. Besides, Caldwell Zoo houses a dozen endangered species and strives to protect the natural world.

1701 N 4th St, Waco, TX 76707, USA

Cameron Park Zoo

If your family is looking for zoos in Dallas where they can enjoy seeing wild animals survive in their natural habitats and have close-up encounters with them, visit Cameron Park Zoo! It is a 52-acre zoo located adjacent to the Brazos River in Waco, Texas, where you’ll find more than 1700 animals and over 300 species that enjoy the best of care, including training, proper nutrition, veterinary care, and life enrichment. Additionally, your family can relax with the wonderful views of native vegetation and waterfalls, a lake, and ponds.

3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine, TX 76051, USA

Sea Life

Are your kids Shark lovers or Seahorse fanatics? So, they can’t miss Sea Life, one of the most fascinating aquariums in Dallas and surrounding areas! This interactive Dallas aquarium contains thousands of aquatic creatures, interactive touch pools, and a 360º ocean tunnel (the only one in Texas) where your children can get up close to 500 creatures! At Sea Life Grapevine, your little ones will meet various fascinating animals—sharks, seahorses, clownfishes, jellyfishes, sea turtles, and many more—with the unique opportunity to see them all up close swimming as they immerse themselves in a tropical sea of 180,000 gallons of water!

1974 Green Oaks Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76116, USA

SeaQuest

SeaQuest is one of the most fascinating aquariums in Dallas and surrounding areas, where your children have the opportunity to see thousands of animals from five continents of the planet, without ever getting on a flight! SeaQuest is home to more than 1000 animals of 300 different species that arrived from rescues, from homes where they have outgrown their habitats, or were injured and arrived for care and rehabilitation. Thus, you and your little ones will be able to see stingrays, sharks, tortoises, snakes, lizards, insects, birds, and more species as well as enjoy an amazing petting zoo aquarium feeding experience.

1900 West 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075, USA

Heritage Farmstead

Another fantastic option is to visit the most beloved historic farm site and museum in North Texas—The Heritage Farmstead. The Heritage Farmstead Association transformed the farmstead into a living museum, actively engaging with the public to promote an understanding of the past. At this Farm School, your children will have fun with their field trips and other kid-friendly programs like Little Farmer Fridays, Child & Parents, Summer Camps, as well as guided tours, hands-on workshops, scavenger hunts, animal interactions, outdoor games and activities, seasonal and special events, and interactive exhibits.