Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was ranked #2 Best Zoo in the country, in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2026! Dedicated CMZoo supporters voted daily for a month, and their commitment earned the Zoo a tie for its highest ranking ever – second place – for the second year in a row.
According to popular vote and the 10Best Readers’ Choice editors, who nominated 20 zoos for Best Zoo consideration, the top-ten zoos in the nation are:
1. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Omaha, Nebraska)
2. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
3. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati, Ohio)
4. Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Jacksonville, Florida)
5. Brevard Zoo (Melbourne, Florida)
6. Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis, Missouri)
7. San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio, Texas)
8. North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro, North Carolina)
9. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (Palm Desert, California)
10. Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita, Kansas)
“This is a remarkable year for us,” says Bob Chastain, president & CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “We’re excited to celebrate 100 years of growth in animal care, conservation, education and community. Later this year, we’ll open the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, and being recognized by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards is a reflection of our community’s dedication and passion. Every day, our supporters inspire us to keep pushing for excellence, and moments like this help remind us why we do what we do. We’re grateful to everyone who makes Cheyenne Mountain Zoo such a special place for the community. Thanks for your ongoing support.”
For the second year in a row, voters helped the Zoo land a second-place hat trick across three categories this year. In addition to ranking #2 Best Zoo in the country, CMZoo again earned the #2 spot for Best Zoo Membership and CMZoo’s home for animals native to the Rocky Mountain region, Rocky Mountain Wild, was voted #2 Best Zoo Exhibit.
With daily keeper talks and animal demonstrations, special events just for the grown-ups, small-group tours, camps, birthday parties, and more, Colorado Springs’ Zoo welcomes more than 800,000 people annually, encouraging them to tap into their inner child, explore the mountain and connect with nature.
Understanding its unique opportunity to connect people to native, rare and endangered animals in a natural mountainside setting, CMZoo aims to make every visit inspiring and memorable. The Zoo does that by designing animal homes that bring guests closer than ever to species from all over the world, and right here in Colorado.
In 2025, CMZoo celebrated a huge conservation milestone: surpassing $6 million raised for frontline conservation efforts, including over a million dollars for African elephant and black rhino conservation. Every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action, because every ticket purchased raises 75¢ for Quarters for Conservation (Q4C).
CMZoo is celebrating its centennial year in 2026 and embarking on historic upgrades to its world-famous giraffe herd’s home – including a 12,000 square-foot International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (the Giraffe Center) and a 25 percent expansion to their outdoor space. Stay tuned for a grand opening date this summer.
About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2026, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.