Saint Louis Zoo Competes for USA Today Best Zoo Honors, Alongside Nominations in Multiple Categories

National readers’ choice contest puts Saint Louis Zoo back in the spotlight

The Saint Louis Zoo has been nominated in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, placing it in contention for the “Best Zoo” title in a nationwide, public-voting competition. The annual contest is structured around an initial slate of nominees selected by an expert panel, followed by daily online voting that determines final rankings.

For the current voting cycle, the “Best Zoo” category includes 20 nominated facilities across the United States. The voting window runs into March, with results expected to be announced later in the month.

How the 10Best contest works—and why it matters

The 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are organized around travel and destination categories and rely on public participation. In zoo-related categories, the contest typically draws major, long-established institutions as well as regional zoos that compete for visibility beyond their home markets.

Because the outcome is determined by reader votes rather than a judging panel, results can reflect both the perceived visitor experience and the strength of community engagement. In past years, multiple zoos have used the competition to highlight membership programs, flagship exhibits, and broader educational missions in addition to day-to-day operations.

Where Saint Louis Zoo fits in the national field

Saint Louis Zoo is a long-running participant in major tourism and attraction rankings and is also known for maintaining free general admission, a model that distinguishes it from many peer institutions that rely on ticketing as a primary revenue stream. The zoo’s national profile has also been shaped by its animal care, conservation, and education programming.

Zoo accreditation is frequently cited as a baseline indicator of professional standards across U.S. facilities in national comparisons, particularly for animal welfare practices, veterinary care, and safety protocols. Saint Louis Zoo has maintained accreditation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since the late 1970s and was granted renewed accreditation in September 2025 following a periodic review.

Multiple awards, not just “Best Zoo”

Beyond the headline “Best Zoo” category, the Saint Louis Zoo is also competing for additional honors tied to the visitor experience and institutional programming. These zoo-related categories in the 10Best format have historically included areas such as memberships and individual exhibits, allowing institutions to be recognized for specific offerings as well as overall operations.

• Best Zoo (overall national ranking)
• Additional zoo-related categories in the same awards cycle, including experience-focused recognitions

The awards are decided by public voting after a nomination process conducted by a panel of travel experts and editors.

What to watch next

The final standings will depend on voter participation through the close of the contest. For the Saint Louis region, the outcome will provide a benchmark against a national field of prominent zoos and may shape near-term tourism messaging as spring and summer travel planning ramps up.