The Best Zoos
We graded 30 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 208,237 Google reviews of 30 top-rated zoos nationwide. Updated October 25, 2026.
Find the right company for your job
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100 and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of zoos).
| # | Company | Grade | Satis · Relia · Craft · Value · Momen · Track · Accou | ★ | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Water Conservation GardenEl Cajon, CA | A 89 | AA––BCA | 4.85 | — |
| 2 |  Tilden Nature AreaDaly City, CA | A 82 | AA––BBC | 4.82 | — |
| 3 |  Veterans ParkDelaware, OH | B 79 | AA––BCC | 4.81 | — |
| 4 |  Deer Haven ParkDelaware, OH | B 75 | AC––ADA | 4.82 | — |
| 5 |  Char-Mar Ridge ParkDelaware, OH | B 72 | BA––ADA | 4.75 | — |
| 6 |  Elephant OdysseyEl Cajon, CA | B 70 | AA––DFB | 4.82 | — |
| 7 |  Lions Tigers & Bears The San Diego Animal Sanctuary®El Cajon, CA | B 69 | AC––FCC | 4.88 | — |
| 8 |  Hogback Ridge ParkDelaware, OH | B 68 | BA––ADB | 4.72 | — |
| 9 |  California Trail at Oakland ZooDaly City, CA | B 66 | BB––CCD | 4.78 | — |
| 10 |  Balboa ParkEl Cajon, CA | B 63 | BB––CAF | 4.77 | — |
| 11 |  Congo ExpeditionDelaware, OH | C 59 | BC–––FB | 4.86 | — |
| 12 |  Insect ZooDaly City, CA | C 52 | CB––AFB | 4.62 | — |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low | Typical | High | Fair |
|---|
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (35%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume.
Reliability (15%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months (fewer = better).
Craft & service (20%) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — net praise per review.
Value (10%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights.
Momentum (8%) — Last 12 months vs lifetime average — improving or slipping.
Track record (7%) — Review volume and years with reviews.
Accountability (5%) — Owner replies to 1–3★ reviews.