Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens places fourth in USA TODAY readers’ Best Zoo ranking for second year

National readers’ poll again places Jacksonville among top U.S. zoos

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been ranked No. 4 in the “Best Zoo” category of the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for a second consecutive year, maintaining the same position it earned the prior year. The annual program uses a two-step process: a panel selects a field of nominees, then the public vote determines the final top-10 order.

The repeat fourth-place finish keeps Jacksonville in the top tier of a national list dominated by large, destination zoos and well-known regional institutions. In the same 2025 top-10 results cycle in which Jacksonville placed fourth, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium was again named No. 1, with other frequent contenders also appearing across the list.

How the 10Best “Best Zoo” results are decided

The 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are structured to blend curated nominations with public balloting. Nominees are first selected by an expert panel working with the awards’ editorial team. Voting is then opened to the public, and the final rankings reflect those vote totals.

• Nomination phase: candidate list assembled by an expert panel and an editorial review process
• Voting phase: public balloting determines the final top 10 and the rank order
• Outcome: results represent reader preference within a preselected nominee pool

Reader-voted rankings can track public engagement and travel interest, but they are not the same as accreditation, animal-welfare audits, or scientific assessments of conservation outcomes.

Local context: sustained visibility amid major capital work

The fourth-place national ranking comes as the zoo continues a long-term redevelopment initiative branded “REZOOVENATION,” described by the zoo as a multi-year capital program to обновate exhibits and visitor amenities. Separate public financial reporting for the Jacksonville Zoological Society has also described substantial planned spending tied to facility improvements and visitor-experience upgrades.

In recent months, the zoo has also promoted the opening of large-scale exhibit investments, including a major manatee-focused project described as a $70 million build. Together, those projects reflect a broader strategy aimed at modernizing infrastructure while sustaining attendance and regional tourism appeal.

What the repeat top-5 finish signals

For Jacksonville, repeating a top-five national readers’ ranking provides a measurable indicator of brand recognition beyond Northeast Florida. It also positions the zoo competitively among Florida peers in national travel polls, where only a limited number of in-state zoos typically reach the final top 10.

As capital improvements continue, future editions of the readers’ awards will offer one public-facing benchmark—distinct from professional accreditation—of how visitors weigh their experience against other high-profile zoos nationwide.