If you are looking for a day outing to a zoo or aquarium in Georgia, you are in luck.
There are many places throughout the state to see amazing animals, no matter what kind of experience you’re looking for.
Whether you want to see rare and exotic animals or enjoy a child-friendly day at a petting zoo, you can find something for everyone throughout Peach State.
These zoos and aquariums should be at the top of everyone’s list!
Contents
- 12 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Georgia
- 1. Georgia Aquarium
- 2. Zoo Atlanta
- 3. North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari
- 4. Chehaw Park
- 5. Oatland Island Wildlife Center
- 6. Bear Hollow Zoo
- 7. Flint Riverquarium
- 8. Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo
- 9. SeaQuest at Stonecrest
- 10. Bainbridge Animal Park
- 11. Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary
- 12. Pettit Creek Farms
- 12 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Georgia – Summary Table
- Georgia Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
12 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Georgia
If you are looking to visit a zoo or aquarium in Georgia, these locations should be at the top of your list.
The Peach State has something for every age and interest.
1. Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium was once the largest aquarium in the world; today, it is the third largest in the world and the largest in the United States.
Featuring an astonishing 11 million gallons of water, the aquarium houses more than 100,000 creatures from 500 species.
Some of the most notable exhibits include manta rays (one of only four manta ray exhibits in the world) and one of the biggest whale shark tanks in the world; the 6.3-million-gallon-tank serves as the centerpiece of the aquarium and is one of the few whale sharks exhibits outside of Asia.
2. Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Atlanta is a 40-acre zoo featuring an amazing assortment of more than 1,000 animals in the heart of Atlanta.
This stunning zoo is one of the most popular attractions in the city, and it’s not hard to see why.
Visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring the many exhibits, which include a reptile house, gorilla enclosure, rare giant pandas, and much more.
There is also a large aviary featuring more than 50 tropical and exotic bird species.
Zoo Atlantic has many activities for kids, including a petting zoo, a kid-friendly ROPES course, special shows, and more.
3. North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari
The North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari is located in Cleveland, Georgia.
It offers the chance not only to view some of the most amazing and exotic animals from around the world but also to interact with them!
In addition to the park’s many exhibits, it offers regular animal encounters where visitors have the chance to pet, hold, and learn about baby penguins, otters, sloths, primates, and more.
You can also schedule walking tours or drive through on safari to see camels, zebras, warthogs, emus, ostriches, and other amazing animals and feed them treats from the comfort of your vehicle.
4. Chehaw Park
Chehaw Park & Zoo, located in Albany, Georgia, isn’t just a zoo — it is also a playground, water park, and all-around amazing experience.
Situated on 800 acres, it is difficult to take this experience in a single day.
The small zoo features 70 animal species.
Among these are bears, alligators, rhinoceroses, cheetahs, meerkats, and many more!
Visitors are welcome to observe the animals, attend a presentation by one of the keepers, and even take part in feeding the animals.
With plenty to do — but not too far to walk — Chehaw Park is a great choice for younger kids.
5. Oatland Island Wildlife Center
Located in Savannah, Georgia, is the Oatland Island Wildlife Center, a zoo and wildlife refuge that always has something new going on.
The center occupies roughly 100 acres of forested land where 95 animals are exhibited.
These include both domesticated animals such as chickens and rabbits as well as exotic animals from all corners of the world.
You’ll find kid-friendly programs and events going on here all year round, including weekly programs geared toward toddlers and preschoolers.
The Oatland Island Wildlife Center is a great place to learn about animals with kids of any age.
6. Bear Hollow Zoo
Bear Hollow Zoo is located in Athens, Georgia.
This facility is a wildlife refuge sheltering wild animals who have been injured or otherwise can’t live in their natural habitat.
When you visit, you will get to see native animal life such as black bears, otters, foxes, alligators, birds of prey, and many other reptiles.
Because animals are rescued as needed, the exhibits at Bear Hollow Zoo are always changing, and you never know what you might find there!
This is a great place to visit and learn about the needs of animals that live right in Georgia.
7. Flint Riverquarium
Located in Albany, Georgia, the Flint Riverquarium is one of the best aquariums in the state!
It stands on the banks of the Flint River and showcases some of the most fascinating freshwater species of the Flint River Basin and other parts of the waterway.
Visitors get the chance to learn about the ecosystem of the river that flows quite literally beneath their feet.
The Riverquarium includes not only exhibits of local freshwater species, but also a fish hatchery and tanks of exotic animals found elsewhere in the world, including water-dwelling birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
8. Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo is located in Dahlonega, Georgia.
This amazing experience offers visitors the chance to see and interact with animals from all over the world, some of which are extremely rare.
Animal exhibits include tigers, zebras, camels, bears, horses, exotic birds, and much more.
You can also feed select species and even touch a sloth during the preserve’s special Sloth Encounter event.
This amazing zoo gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures in a way you’ve never experienced before.
Make sure to bring a food donation that the animals will enjoy!
9. SeaQuest at Stonecrest
SeaQuest at Stonecrest Mall might be located in a mall in the town of Stonecrest, but that doesn’t mean it’s like any other mall experience you’ve had before.
SeaQuest offers visitors the chance to see exotic animals of all kinds and even interact with them.
Don’t let the name throw you off, as SeaQuest has both marine and land animal experiences to offer.
In addition to the aquarium residents, you will find reptiles, amphibians, exotic birds, mammals, and much more.
Visitors get the chance to feed some of the animals and handle them gently with the zoo’s signature “two-finger touch”.
10. Bainbridge Animal Park
Bainbridge Animal Park is a small facility in the town of Bainbridge, considered a local hidden gem.
This little petting zoo is free to the public and located in the Earle May Boat Basin Recreation Area, making it a perfect stop while you are exploring the nearby nature trails or playgrounds.
This is a great spot for younger kids who will enjoy petting and feeding the donkeys, goats, and other domestic animals that call Bainbridge Animal Park their home.
This is also one of the few free zoos in Georgia, so it is worth a visit if you’re nearby.
11. Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary
Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary is a one-of-a-kind animal facility located in Lilburn, Georgia.
Here, visitors can view and learn about both native and exotic animals, many of which were surrendered to the facility after being rescued from poor conditions.
As you walk around the sanctuary, you will get to learn not only about the species but also about the individual animals and their stories.
You may even get the chance to feed some of the animals, which include ring-tailed lemurs, porcupines, bison, monkeys, kangaroos, foxes, kinkajous, and many more.
Other exhibits include wild cats, sloths, birds of prey, and farm animals.
12. Pettit Creek Farms
Pettit Creek Farms is located in Cartersville, Georgia.
This gorgeous property is not only a working farm but also a refuge for exotic animals. Camels, llamas, capybaras, ring-tailed lemurs, zebras, kangaroos, and giraffes — just to name a few — make their home here and greet thousands of visitors every year.
Visitors are able to get up close with the animals to feed them and learn about the unique places they come from across the globe.
Pettit Creek Farms is only open for part of the year, so take the chance to visit when you can!
12 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Georgia – Summary Table
| Zoos & Aquariums | Address |
|---|---|
| Georgia Aquarium | 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA |
| Zoo Atlanta | 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315, USA |
| North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari | 2912 Paradise Valley Rd, Cleveland, GA 30528, USA |
| Chehaw Park | 105 Chehaw Park Rd, Albany, GA 31701, USA |
| Oatland Island Wildlife Center | 711 Sandtown Rd, Savannah, GA 31410, USA |
| Bear Hollow Zoo | Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail, 293 Gran Ellen Dr, Athens, GA 30606, USA |
| Flint Riverquarium | 101 Pine Ave, Albany, GA 31701, USA |
| Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo | 469 Old Dahlonega Hwy, Dahlonega, GA 30533, USA |
| SeaQuest at Stonecrest | 8020 Mall Pkwy Suite #1000, Stonecrest, GA 30038, USA |
| Bainbridge Animal Park | Earl May Boat Basin , Bainbridge, GA 39817, Bainbridge, GA 39819, United States |
| Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary | 4525 US-78, Lilburn, GA 30047, USA |
| Pettit Creek Farms | 337 Cassville Rd, Cartersville, GA 30120, USA |
Georgia Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Georgia Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Georgia Aquarium The Largest In The US?
The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United States.
From its opening in 2005 until 2012, it was the largest in the world.
Today, it is the third-largest aquarium on the planet, having been outranked by Singapore’s S.E.A. Aquarium and China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.
How Many Exhibits Are At Zoo Atlanta?
Zoo Atlanta is a large facility.
There are roughly 220 distinct species of animals on the grounds, housed in eight habitat-themed exhibits: the aviaries, the Children’s Zoo (a petting zoo), the Asian Forest, Corridor to Change/Complex Carnivores (a two-part conjoined exhibit), The Ford African Rain Forest, the Giant Panda Conservation Center, the African Savanna, and Scaly Slimy Spectacular.
Are There Safari Outings In Georgia?
Not every zoo or wildlife refuge has a drive-through safari option, but there are several places in Georgia that provide a safari experience!
North Georgia Wildlife Park and Safari, for example, offers several options for viewing the animals, including a walking safari and a driving safari where visitors can feed the animals treats.
If you are located in a different part of the state, there are several other facilities that offer similar experiences.
Are Zoos In Georgia Open Year-Round?
Georgia enjoys a mild climate, so you can expect most zoos to remain open throughout the year.
However, this depends on the facility in question, and most zoos and aquariums do shut their doors for major holidays.
Some are only open seasonally, however, so make sure you check the website before planning your visit.
