Updated October 2026. Most “best aquarium” lists come from reader polls or are a photo gallery with a few captions. This one sets out how we ranked each aquarium, compares price, hours and signature exhibits side by side, and tells you how to plan a visit without spending your afternoon in a ticket line.
How We Chose the Top 10 Aquariums in the US
We scored each aquarium on five criteria:
- Scale and exhibit quality: the size of the main habitats, how many species there are, and whether the galleries tell a clear story or feel like rows of tanks.
- Animal welfare and accreditation: all 10 picks are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). That is the baseline standard for animal care in the U.S.
- Conservation and research: real fieldwork, rescue and rehabilitation programs, and published science, not just signs on the wall.
- Family experience: touch pools, how easy the place is to get around with a stroller, how well it works for different ages, and sensory-friendly options.
- Value: what you get for the ticket price, including how long a typical visit takes.
This list covers aquariums only. Zoos with aquarium buildings and marine theme parks were left out, so the comparison stays fair. Prices and hours below are approximate adult general-admission figures. Most of these aquariums now use date-based pricing, so always confirm on the official site before you buy.
At-a-Glance: Top Ten Aquariums in the USA Compared
| # | Aquarium | Location | Adult ticket (approx.) | Typical hours | Signature exhibit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Aquarium | Atlanta, GA | $45–$60 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (later on some days) | Ocean Voyager (whale sharks, manta rays) | Sheer scale |
| 2 | Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey, CA | $60–$65 | 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. | Kelp Forest, jellies, sea otters | Exhibit design and conservation |
| 3 | Shedd Aquarium | Chicago, IL | $40–$50 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Abbott Oceanarium, Amazon Rising | Variety in a single visit |
| 4 | National Aquarium | Baltimore, MD | $45–$55 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (varies) | Blacktip Reef, rain forest | Immersive habitats |
| 5 | Aquarium of the Pacific | Long Beach, CA | $40–$45 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | Shark Lagoon, Pacific Visions | Hands-on families |
| 6 | New England Aquarium | Boston, MA | $35–$40 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Giant Ocean Tank | A city break with kids |
| 7 | Seattle Aquarium | Seattle, WA | $40–$50 | 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. | Ocean Pavilion, Puget Sound habitats | Local ecosystems |
| 8 | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic, CT | $40–$50 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Arctic Coast beluga whales | Marine mammals |
| 9 | Adventure Aquarium | Camden, NJ | $35–$45 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Shark Bridge, Hippo Haven | Thrills for older kids |
| 10 | Tennessee Aquarium | Chattanooga, TN | $40–$45 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | River Journey (freshwater) | Freshwater and value |
Quick takeaways: Georgia Aquarium is the biggest, with more than 11 million gallons of water. For conservation, Monterey Bay is the benchmark. For young kids, Aquarium of the Pacific and New England Aquarium are the easiest days out.
Our Top 10 Aquariums in America, Ranked
1. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
It is the largest aquarium in the country and the only one in the Western Hemisphere that displays whale sharks. The Ocean Voyager window is the moment people come for, and it delivers. The trade-off is crowds. The building fills fast on weekends, so book the first entry slot. It also sits next to the World of Coca-Cola and the College Football Hall of Fame, which makes combo passes worth pricing.
2. Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
Monterey Bay pumps water straight from the bay into the Kelp Forest, so the exhibit changes with the seasons, much as the real ocean does. The jellies galleries are the most photographed rooms in any U.S. aquarium. Its Seafood Watch program and sea otter rescue work make it the conservation leader on this list. It is also the most expensive ticket here, but most visitors spend a full day and don’t feel shortchanged.
3. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago
Shedd covers more ground in one building than any other aquarium on the list: beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins in the Abbott Oceanarium, a flooded-forest walk in Amazon Rising, and sharks in Wild Reef. Illinois residents should watch for discounted and free-admission days. They are the best value on this list, but they bring the biggest crowds.
4. National Aquarium, Baltimore
The building takes you up through a series of habitats, from Blacktip Reef to a rooftop tropical rain forest with free-flying birds. Australia: Wild Extremes adds crocodiles and a flash-flood gorge. The exhibits feel immersive rather than tank-by-tank. Plan for stairs and ramps, and pick up an accessibility map if anyone in your group has limited mobility.
5. Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
This is the West Coast pick for families. Shark Lagoon lets kids touch bamboo sharks and rays, and in Lorikeet Forest they can feed nectar to birds. Pacific Visions uses a large-screen theater to explain ocean science without talking down to adults.
6. New England Aquarium, Boston
The four-story Giant Ocean Tank sits in the middle of the building, and a ramp spirals around it, so you see the same reef from every depth. It takes less time than the top five, about 2 to 3 hours. That makes it easy to fit into a Boston itinerary. Its rescue team responds to stranded sea turtles along the New England coast.
7. Seattle Aquarium
The Ocean Pavilion opened in 2024 and turned a good regional aquarium into a national pick. It adds a large Indo-Pacific coral reef habitat to the existing Puget Sound exhibits, sea otters and the Window on Washington Waters. Pair it with a walk along the waterfront.
8. Mystic Aquarium, Connecticut
Mystic is best known for its beluga whales and beluga research, along with African penguins and Steller sea lions. It is smaller and calmer than the city aquariums, and it fits neatly with a Mystic Seaport day.
9. Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Across the river from Philadelphia, Adventure Aquarium has Shark Bridge, a rope suspension bridge a few feet above a shark tank. It also has Hippo Haven, which is rare for an aquarium. Older kids and teenagers tend to rate it higher than toddlers do.
10. Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga
Tennessee Aquarium is the freshwater specialist on the list. River Journey follows water from the Appalachian mountains to the Gulf. Ocean Journey adds penguins and a butterfly garden. Its work on Southeastern river species is among the most serious freshwater conservation in the country. The ticket price is lower than at the coastal giants.
Costs, Hours and Special Features
- Tickets: adult tickets run from about $35 to $65. Child tickets (usually ages 3–12) are typically $5–$15 less, and kids under 3 are usually free. Senior and military discounts are common.
- Add-ons: animal encounters, such as swimming with whale sharks in Georgia or penguin meet-and-greets, cost from about $50 to well over $250 per person. They sell out weeks ahead.
- Timed entry: most of these aquariums now sell entry by time slot. Prices are often lowest for weekday slots booked online.
- Parking: urban garages cost about $15–$35. Transit is usually the smarter choice in Chicago, Boston and Baltimore.
- Memberships: for a family of four, a membership usually pays for itself by the second visit, and it often includes guest passes.
- Accessibility: most of these aquariums offer wheelchair loans, sensory bags, quiet-hour mornings and printed guides for low-light galleries. Ask when you book.
Hours shift around holidays. Many aquariums open on major holidays but close early. Our guide to what’s open on July 4 and 5 shows how holiday schedules tend to work.
Florida Aquariums Worth Knowing About
No Florida aquarium made our national top 10. The reason is scale, not quality, and three of them are well worth a trip for readers in the state:
- The Florida Aquarium, Tampa: this is the state’s largest public aquarium and is AZA-accredited. Its coral reef gallery and pioneering work spawning Atlantic coral in the lab stand out.
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium: a working rescue and rehabilitation hospital, best known from the Dolphin Tale films. Visitors come for the rescued dolphins and sea turtles.
- Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota: a research institution first, with strong shark, manatee and red tide science. Check which facility is open before you go, because Mote has been expanding into a new aquarium building.
SeaWorld Orlando has impressive marine habitats, but it is a theme park, so we left it off the list. Florida aquariums also make a good rainy-afternoon backup. If you’re unsure whether a forecast will wreck an outdoor plan, our explainer on what “isolated T-storms” means helps you decide.
Planning Tips for Visiting the Best Aquariums in the US
- Book online, take the first slot and go on a weekday. The first hour after opening is the quietest. School field trips peak from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays from fall through spring.
- Check feeding and talk schedules on arrival and plan your route around them. A shark or otter feeding is the highlight of most visits.
- Price out a city pass. CityPASS and similar bundles in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Seattle and Southern California include these aquariums and can save 30–40% if you’ll use the other attractions.
- Plan for 3 to 4 hours at the top five, and 2 to 3 at the rest.
- Bring a light jacket. Galleries run cool, especially the Arctic and Pacific Northwest exhibits.
- Skip the flash. Most aquariums ban it, and you’ll get better photos by pressing your lens flat against the glass.
If you’d rather spend the day outside, our visitor guide to the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park covers a free alternative. For more travel and family guides, browse our News & Lifestyle section.
FAQs
What is the number one aquarium in the US?
On our criteria, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta ranks first. It is the largest aquarium in the country and the only one in the Western Hemisphere with whale sharks. Monterey Bay Aquarium is a very close second and leads on conservation and exhibit design.
What is the biggest aquarium in the United States?
Georgia Aquarium is the biggest, with more than 11 million gallons of water across its habitats. Its Ocean Voyager exhibit alone holds over 6 million gallons.
Which US aquarium is best for kids?
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and New England Aquarium in Boston are the easiest picks for young children. Both have touch pools, are easy to get around and take 2 to 3 hours. For older kids, Adventure Aquarium’s Shark Bridge is a hit.
Which US aquarium has whale sharks?
Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium in the United States, and in the Western Hemisphere, that displays whale sharks. You can see them in its Ocean Voyager gallery.
How much do tickets to top US aquariums cost?
Adult general admission at the top 10 runs from about $35 to $65. Georgia Aquarium is roughly $45 to $60 depending on the date, and Monterey Bay is around $60 to $65. Booking weekday time slots online is usually cheapest.
Is there a good aquarium in Florida?
Yes. The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is the state’s largest and is AZA-accredited. Clearwater Marine Aquarium focuses on rescued dolphins and sea turtles, and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota is known for shark and manatee research.
