Complete List of California Zoos for the 2025 Season

30 Zoos Found in California

Aquarium of the Bay

San Francisco

Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, California, located at Pier 39, is a Smithsonian-affiliated waterfront aquarium dedicated to Northern California’s aquatic life, featuring over 24,000 marine animals[2]. Key features include walk-through glass tunnels that immerse visitors among sharks, rays, and other marine species, as well as transparent touchpools for hands-on animal encounters[1][4]. Notable animals include the orange garibaldi, green moray eels,...

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, is the largest aquarium in Southern California, featuring over 12,000 animals representing more than 500 species across 100 exhibits and 19 unique habitats[1][2]. Its architecture is inspired by the fluid motion of Pacific waves, and the facility spans a 5-acre site on Rainbow Harbor[3]. Key galleries include the Southern California/Baja Gallery—home to...

Birch Aquarium

La Jolla

Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, California, is the public outreach center for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and features exhibits highlighting cutting-edge ocean research, interactive activities, and animal encounters in 2025[1]. Key features include the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins—the only place on the West Coast to see this species—and the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery[1]. The aquarium regularly hosts...

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

San Pedro

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, California, is located on the beach and specializes in hands-on experiences for visitors[1]. The aquarium features Pacific marine exhibits with interactive aquariums and touchscreen displays, allowing guests to explore and learn about local ocean life[3]. Visitors can encounter a variety of aquatic animals from the Pacific, though the main aquarium exhibit is closed through the end...

California Academy of Sciences

San Francisco

The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California, is a world-renowned institution located in Golden Gate Park, uniquely combining an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome, and natural history museum under one living roof. Key features include a four-story rainforest teeming with butterflies and birds, the immersive Steinhart Aquarium showcasing ecosystems from the Amazon to the Philippine coral reef, and the Morrison...

California Living Museum

Bakersfield

The California Living Museum (CALM) in Bakersfield, California, is a family-friendly zoo and educational facility that highlights native California wildlife and habitats. Key features include a reptile house, a popular train ride around the zoo, and special event spaces like the California Coast Room[3][2]. Visitors can see notable animals such as badgers, mountain lions, bears, and live California condors, along with...

Charles Paddock Zoo

Atascadero

The Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero, California, was rebranded as the Central Coast Zoo in 2025, remaining the only AZA-accredited zoo on California’s Central Coast and San Luis Obispo County’s sole zoo[1][2][3][5]. Located at 9100 Morro Road within scenic Atascadero Lake Park, the zoo features a relaxed and intimate setting with approximately 100 species from around the world, including several that...

CuriOdyssey

San Mateo

CuriOdyssey in San Mateo, California is a hands-on science playground and zoo renowned for its immersive exhibits and interactive outdoor spaces. Located at 1651 Coyote Point Drive, it offers visitors a blend of science education, wildlife encounters, and nature play opportunities, and is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM[1][2][3]. Key features include the Nature Story Loop,...

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

Folsom

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary in Folsom, California is a unique facility dedicated to the care of rescued animals, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about wildlife and conservation in a welcoming environment. Key features include educational programs such as summer camps where guests can explore the wonders of the animal kingdom and participate in hands-on learning experiences.[1] Notable animals at the...

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno

Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California is a vibrant, community-focused zoo open daily from 9AM to 4PM, offering a variety of interactive and educational experiences for visitors in 2025.[1] Key features include the popular African Adventure savannas—home to animals such as giraffes (with feeding opportunities outside of maintenance periods), and the immersive Sea Lion Cove that provides an oceanic experience for...

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

1300 Senter Road San Jose, California 95112

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose, California is a family-friendly destination combining a zoo with over 140 animals, amusement rides, a Puppet Theater, and interactive play areas for children. Key features include the recently reopened and upgraded Danny the Dragon ride, a popular attraction that delights visitors of all ages with its whimsical journey through the park[1][3]. The zoo...

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Palm Desert

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California is a renowned attraction dedicated exclusively to desert animals and ecosystems, featuring hundreds of species from North America and Africa[1][4]. Key features include interactive exhibits, recreated habitats, scenic hiking trails, and immersive gardens showcasing exotic plants like acacia and kokerbooms[1]. The zoo offers unique experiences such as the Summer Walking Club...

Los Angeles Zoo

Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Zoo in Los Angeles, California, is a vibrant destination for wildlife enthusiasts in 2025, featuring diverse animal habitats, interactive exhibits, and unique dining experiences. Among its key attractions is the Animals of Australia exhibit, now home to Tasmanian devils for the first time in five years. Visitors can see Danny Zuko and Crush, two Tasmanian devils brought from...

Micke Grove Zoo

Lodi

Micke Grove Zoo is home to native animals and exotic species from all over the world, including several endangered species, such as the Snow Leopard and the Cotton Top Tamarin. Exhibits include the Tropical Forest Canopy with Green Iguanas, Paseo Pantera – Path of the Mountain Lion and the Island Lost In Time featuring lemurs, parrots and radiated tortoises from...

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey

Among the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s numerous exhibits, 2 are of particular note: The centerpiece of the Ocean’s Edge Wing is a 10 meter (33-foot) high 1.3 million liter (1/3 million gallon) tank for viewing California coastal marine life. In this tank, the aquarium was the first in the world to grow live California Giant Kelp using a wave machine at the top of the tank, allowing...

Moonridge Animal Park

Big Bear Lake

The Moonridge Animal Park provides wildlife rehabilitation and release. Those animals that cannot be released are given a “Home for Life” in the Park. The Moonridge Animal Park is the only zoological facility located in an alpine forest specializing in alpine species. Park residents include grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, snow leopard, wolves, and eagles, to name a few of the 160 animals representing 80...

Oakland Zoo

Oakland

Each year approximately 600,000 guests visit Oakland Zoo. The zoo boast 20,000 member households, and provide educational programs and opportunities to more than 50,000 children. The communities the Zoo serves in Oakland and all across the East Bay and beyond offer feedback, inspiration, guidance, and support for their ongoing work and our long-term vision.

Orange County Zoo

Orange

The Orange County Zoo traces its roots back to 1905 when Red Foxes were introduced in the Irvine Park Region and bred by J.A. Turner. A small collection of animals started in 1920 by Tustin rancher Sam Nau featured a pair of pet mule deer. Nau eventually built a corral for the park that held an additional male mule deer....

Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento

The role of zoos has dramatically shifted over the past few decades. Once merely concerned with showing animals to the public, zoos have progressed well beyond the original intent. The focus of zoos now has shifted from showcasing as many animals as possible, to creating a recreational and fun experience while providing educational messages about animals and their wild habitats...

Safari West

Santa Rosa

Nestled on 400 acres in the heart of California’s wine country, Safari West is home for over 400 exotic mammals and birds. Not a zoo, not a drive-through park, it’s a wildlife preserve where the whole family can experience some of nature’s most beautiful animals in a natural habitat. Established by Peter Lang in 1989, Safari West gained membership in the...

San Diego Zoo

San Diego

See the San Diego Zoo like you never have before. Meet our animal stars up close, learn about our conservation work, see what goes on behind the scenes, or explore our world-class botanical garden. You also get to enjoy activities that allow a more in depth understanding of our animals and conservation activities, with up close animal encounters, expert lectures, special...

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Escondido

See the San Diego Zoo Safari Park like you never have before. Meet the animal stars up close, explore the safari, see what goes on behind the scenes, or learn a lot from the animals we have. You also get to enjoy activities that allow a more in depth understanding of our animals and conservation activities, with up close animal encounters,...

San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco

At the San Francisco Zoo, we believe that people have the intelligence and compassion to turn the current extinction and environmental crisis around; they just need some help to get motivated. That’s why we have made it our goal to inspire our one million annual visitors to take some form of conservation action. From breeding endangered species as a hedge...

Santa Ana Zoo

Santa Ana

50 Monkeys at All times! That was the unusual request made in 1952 by Joseph Prentice, the founder of the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park. The Santa Ana Zoo now occupies 20 acres and hosts more than 270,000 people annually. Along with at least 50 monkeys, visitors will find a rain forest, endangered species, an aviary, an electrical train and...

Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara

Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres of lush botanic gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Andree Clark Bird Refuge and Santa Ynez Mountains. It is home to 160 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. More than 500 animals are exhibited in open, naturalistic habitats. Thirty acres of lush botanic...

Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

Santa Monica

Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is located beach level at the historic Santa Monica Pier and attracts more than 85,000 visitors annually, including 15,000 students visiting for school and group field trips. The center serves as an educational resource for the community and attracts a portion of the estimated 4 million annual visitors to the Santa Monica Pier. The Aquarium’s...

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego

The founding principles of education, entertainment, research and conservation make SeaWorld San Diego an ideal place to learn about, enjoy and gain an appreciation for some of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Spread out over more than 189 acres on beautiful Mission Bay Park, SeaWorld is known for spectacular animal shows, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides and dining facilities.

Sequoia Park Zoo

Eureka

Welcome to Sequoia Park Zoo. Established in 1907, this zoo is the the only accredited zoological facility between San Francisco and southern Oregon. Truly a jewel in the heart of Eureka, exploration opportunities abound both within the Zoo and beyond–in its majestic redwood forest backdrop.

Shambala Preserve

Acton

The Roar Foundation, founded in 1983 by Tippi Hedren, exists solely to support the abandoned exotic felines at Shambala Preserve. Our mission is to educate the public about the dangers of private ownership of exotic animals. Huge numbers of dangerous animals are bred and sold in the United States for illegal purposes. Private ownership presents a grave danger to the public...

Wildlife WayStation

14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd Angeles National Forest, California 91342-5999

Founded in 1976 by wildlife lover and expert Martine Colette, the Wildlife WayStation is a national non-profit, holding rehabilitation, medical and problem solving refuge for native, wild and exotic animals. Located in the Angeles National Forest, north of the San Fernando Valley, the Wildlife WayStation is a safe haven for both native and exotic wildlife and is dedicated to their...

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