Not all aquariums are created equal. Some are perfect for a quick afternoon, while others are destination-worthy attractions you could plan an entire trip around.

My family has visited many, many aquariums throughout the United States, and they are often among the most memorable parts of our trips. For this list, I considered the aquariums we have experienced personally, recommendations from family travel writers who visited with their own children, and current information from each aquarium.

To choose the best aquariums in the US, I compared the quality and uniqueness of the exhibits, conservation and educational work, family-friendly features, overall visitor experience, and whether each aquarium is worth including in a vacation—or planning an entire trip around.

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the United States and my pick for the best overall. Its enormous galleries, whale sharks, beluga whales, and immersive exhibits make it an aquarium worth traveling to see.

Whether you are looking for the largest aquarium in the US, the best aquarium for kids, or simply an excellent aquarium near your next vacation destination, this guide will help you choose.

If I could only recommend three aquariums in the United States, I’d choose Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Shedd Aquarium. They’re the ones I’d happily travel to again.

 

What Is the Largest Aquarium in the US?

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the United States. Its exhibits hold more than 11 million gallons of water in total, including the 6.3-million-gallon Ocean Voyager gallery.

Ocean Voyager is home to whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and thousands of other animals. Its enormous viewing window and walk-through tunnel make it one of the most impressive aquarium experiences in the country.

Five of the Largest Aquarium Tanks in the US

1. Georgia Aquarium: Ocean Voyager holds approximately 6.3 million gallons.
2. The Seas with Nemo & Friends: The main aquarium at EPCOT holds approximately 5.7 million gallons.
3. Shedd Aquarium: The Abbott Oceanarium holds approximately 2 million gallons.
4. National Aquarium: Its largest aquatic exhibit holds approximately 1.3 million gallons.
5. Monterey Bay Aquarium: The Open Sea exhibit holds approximately 1.2 million gallons.

Aquariums can be measured by total water volume, the size of their largest tank or the physical size of the facility. By total water volume, Georgia Aquarium remains the largest aquarium in the US.

Georgia Aquarium

Best for: First-time visitors, sharks and a truly destination-worthy aquarium
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: Ocean Voyager and the whale sharks

The Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the United States and my pick for the best aquarium overall. It holds more than 11 million gallons of water and is the only aquarium in the country where visitors can see whale sharks.

The highlight is Ocean Voyager, a 6.3-million-gallon habitat filled with whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and thousands of fish. Visitors can walk through an underwater tunnel before reaching an enormous viewing window that makes you feel as though you are sitting on the ocean floor.

The aquarium also has beluga whales, sea lions, dolphins, penguins and the Sharks! Predators of the Deep gallery. Optional experiences include animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours and the opportunity to swim or dive in Ocean Voyager.

Because Georgia Aquarium is one of Atlanta’s most popular attractions, reserve a timed ticket in advance and arrive early. Allow at least three to four hours, especially if you want to attend one of the scheduled animal presentations.

Get tickets to the Georgia Aquarium here.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium

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The Shedd Aquarium

Best for: Families, variety and a day in Chicago
Plan to spend: At least half a day
Don’t miss: The beluga whales, sea otters and Wild Reef

The Shedd Aquarium is one of those places we return to whenever we visit Chicago. It is enormous, filled with animals you don’t see at every aquarium, and easy to combine with the other attractions on Chicago’s Museum Campus.

The Abbott Oceanarium is always a favorite. It is home to beluga whales, dolphins and sea otters, with viewing areas that let you see the animals both above and below the water. We have also seen sea turtles up close at Shedd many times, and they are truly captivating.

Kids will love Wild Reef, where sharks and rays swim through a recreation of a Philippine coral reef. The newer Wonder of Water exhibit has two enormous habitats—one freshwater and one saltwater—filled with thousands of fish.

Shedd is in the middle of a major renovation, so some exhibits may be closed or moved when you visit. Check the website before you go, but don’t let the construction keep you away. There is still plenty to see.

Give yourself at least half a day here. Trying to squeeze Shedd, the Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium into the same day is too much, especially with kids.

Get discount tickets to the Shedd Aquarium here!

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The National Aquarium

Best for: Sharks, immersive habitats and families visiting Baltimore
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: Blacktip Reef, Shark Alley and the tropical rainforest

The National Aquarium sits right on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and is one of the best aquariums in the US for families who want more than a collection of fish tanks. The building takes you through complete habitats, from a Maryland mountain stream to a tropical rainforest and an Australian river gorge.

Blacktip Reef is one of the first exhibits you see, and it makes quite an impression. Blacktip reef sharks, rays, a rescued green sea turtle and hundreds of colorful fish swim through a huge recreation of an Indo-Pacific reef. Later, Shark Alley lets you walk down through the middle of a 225,000-gallon tank while sharks circle around you.

The aquarium is also home to dolphins, puffins, jellyfish, sloths, crocodiles and thousands of other animals. Kids can touch horseshoe crabs, moon jellies and other animals in the Living Seashore exhibit. The 4D theater is fun, but it costs extra and isn’t essential if you are short on time.

The layout involves a lot of walking and escalators, so give yourself several hours and wear comfortable shoes. Purchase a timed ticket before you go, especially if you are visiting on a weekend or during a school vacation.

The National Aquarium is about an hour from Washington, D.C., making it possible to visit as a day trip from D.C. or as part of a longer Mid-Atlantic trip.

 

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Aquarium of the Pacific

Best for: Hands-on exhibits, young children and a day trip from Los Angeles
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: Shark Lagoon, the sea otters and Moon Jelly Touch Lab

Located on the waterfront in Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the best aquariums in the US for families who want plenty of hands-on experiences. Although there is a lot to see indoors, some of its best exhibits are outside in the California sunshine.

Shark Lagoon lets visitors touch smaller sharks and rays while larger sharks swim in a nearby habitat. There are also touch pools filled with tide-pool animals, a Moon Jelly Touch Lab and opportunities to see sea otters, seals and sea lions.

Inside, the aquarium focuses on the different environments of the Pacific Ocean. You can see colorful tropical reefs, giant spider crabs, sea dragons, frogs and some truly beautiful jellyfish. Lorikeet Forest is a fun break from the marine exhibits, especially for children who want the chance to feed the colorful birds.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is easy to combine with other Long Beach attractions and is about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It makes a good addition to a Los Angeles family vacation, especially if your kids enjoy touch tanks and interactive exhibits.

Get skip the line tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific here.

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Ripley’s Believe It or Not Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Best for: Sharks, interactive exhibits and younger children
Plan to spend: Two to three hours
Don’t miss: Dangerous Reef, Penguin Playhouse and the glass-bottom boat

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is located at Broadway at the Beach and is one of the easiest aquariums on this list to add to a family beach vacation.

The highlight is Dangerous Reef, a 340-foot underwater tunnel filled with sharks, sea turtles, sawfish and enormous rays. A slow-moving glidepath carries you through the tunnel, so you can concentrate on looking above and around you instead of watching where you are walking.

Penguin Playhouse gives families above-water and underwater views of African penguins. Kids can crawl through clear tunnels and pop up inside the exhibit for an even closer look. There are also touch tanks, jellyfish, colorful reef fish and a play area when younger children need a break.

The glass-bottom boat ride travels over the Dangerous Reef habitat and is currently included with general admission. Arrive early enough to check the daily schedule because availability may be limited.

This is not the largest aquarium in the country, but its interactive exhibits make it one of the best aquariums in the US for younger kids.

Get discount tickets to Ripley’s Believe it or Not Aquarium here!

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The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Maui Ocean Center

Best for: Hawaiian marine life, sea turtles and a rainy day on Maui
Plan to spend: Two to three hours
Don’t miss: Open Ocean, Turtle Lagoon and the humpback whale experience

Maui Ocean Center is not trying to show you marine animals from all over the world. Its exhibits focus on the animals, coral and ocean environments found around Hawaii, which makes it feel connected to the trip you are already taking.

Turtle Lagoon is home to Hawaiian green sea turtles, known locally as honu. Visitors can see them from above and through underwater viewing windows as they swim past the glass.

The biggest exhibit is Open Ocean, a 750,000-gallon tank filled with sharks, rays and hundreds of fish. A 35-foot underwater tunnel takes you straight through the habitat while sharks swim above your head. It is beautiful, although kids who are nervous around sharks may want to move through it quickly.

The aquarium also has an impressive collection of living Pacific coral. This is a great way for children to see what is beneath the water without needing to snorkel in the ocean.

Admission includes the 3D humpback whale experience inside the Sphere. There are no whales kept at the aquarium, but the film surrounds you with underwater footage and the sounds of humpback whales recorded around Maui.

Maui Ocean Center is particularly useful on a rainy day or when your family needs a break from the beach. Arrive early because the aquarium is not enormous and can feel crowded later in the day.

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

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Mote Science Education Aquarium

Best for: Families who want to learn how aquariums actually help marine animals
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: The enormous Gulf Coast habitat, manatees and penguins

Mote Aquarium has always been more than a place to look at fish. It is connected to a real marine laboratory where scientists study sharks, restore coral reefs, rescue injured animals and work on problems such as red tide.

In October 2025, the aquarium moved from its old City Island location to the brand-new Mote Science Education Aquarium, or Mote SEA. The new aquarium is much larger and is located near the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota.

The first thing families will want to see is the two-story Gulf Coast habitat. It holds 400,000 gallons of water and is filled with sharks, rays and sea turtles. You can see the animals from above, walk beneath them and stop at a touch area to meet stingrays.

There is also an entire area devoted to Florida animals, including manatees, river otters and turtles. The Indo-Pacific section has colorful coral reefs, sharks, penguins and a giant Pacific octopus.

What I like most about Mote is that the science does not feel separate from the aquarium. Kids get to see beautiful animals, but they also learn what scientists are doing to protect them in the wild.

Buy tickets before you go because the new aquarium is still extremely popular. Be sure your directions take you to University Town Center Drive, not the former City Island location.

It is a great place to visit as part of a family friendly Sarasota trip!

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Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Best for: Young children, sharks and families visiting Gatlinburg
Plan to spend: Two to three hours
Don’t miss: Shark Lagoon, the piranhas and Penguin Playhouse

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg is one of the best aquariums we have visited as a family. Our three favorite things were the frightening teeth on the piranhas, the beautiful sea dragons and the enormous underwater tunnel.

The piranhas were especially memorable because we had never seen them in an aquarium before. Their jagged teeth make them look terrifying, but their glittering silver bodies are beautiful. We could have watched them race around the tank for a long time.

The sea dragons are completely different. They float through the water so gently that they almost look like pieces of seaweed. They are strange, beautiful and easy to miss if you rush through the gallery.

However, Shark Lagoon is the best part of the aquarium. A moving glidepath carries you through the underwater tunnel while sharks, sawfish, sea turtles and enormous rays swim over your head. We went through more than once and noticed something different every time.

Kids can also crawl through the clear tunnels at Penguin Playhouse and touch stingrays at Touch-A-Ray Bay. The aquarium is right in downtown Gatlinburg, making it easy to include in a Smoky Mountains family vacation.

Adventure Aquarium

Best for: Sharks, hippos and families visiting Philadelphia
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: Shark Bridge, Hippo Haven and Ocean Realm

Adventure Aquarium is in Camden, New Jersey, directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. It is especially good for families who love sharks—or who want to find out how brave they really are.

Shark Realm has a 40-foot underwater tunnel filled with sand tiger, sandbar and nurse sharks. If walking underneath them is not frightening enough, you can cross Shark Bridge, a narrow rope bridge suspended just inches above the shark tank. You can see the sharks swimming directly beneath your feet.

Adventure Aquarium is also home to two Nile hippos, Button and Genny. They are the only Nile hippos displayed at an aquarium, and the underwater viewing windows show just how graceful these enormous animals are in the water.

Ocean Realm holds more than 760,000 gallons and is filled with sharks, rays and sea turtles. There are also African penguins, tiny blue penguins, stingray touch pools and a hands-on area where visitors can touch small sharks.

The aquarium is only a few minutes from Center City Philadelphia, making it easy to include in a Philadelphia family trip. Parking in Camden is usually simpler than driving into the middle of Philadelphia, but check the aquarium’s directions before you go.

Wonders of Wildlife

New England Aquarium

Best for: Penguins, sea turtles and families visiting Boston
Plan to spend: Two to three hours
Don’t miss: The Giant Ocean Tank, penguins and harbor seals

We have visited the New England Aquarium many times, and the enormous sea turtles were always the highlight for my kids. Myrtle, the aquarium’s famous green sea turtle, has lived there since 1970 and is absolutely huge. My kids loved looking for her every time we circled the tank.

The entire aquarium is built around the four-story Giant Ocean Tank. A ramp winds from the bottom to the top, giving you a different view of the sea turtles, rays and hundreds of colorful fish on every level.

The penguins live around the bottom of the tank, so you will see and hear them almost as soon as you walk inside. They are funny, noisy and always entertaining.

The sharks were another story. My kids found them genuinely scary, especially when they swam close to the glass. If you have a child who is nervous around sharks, be prepared to move through that area a little faster. There is also a shark and ray touch tank for braver children who want to get closer.

Outside the main building, stop to see the harbor seals near the entrance. The aquarium also has sea lions and a giant-screen theater, although movies cost extra.

The aquarium can get very crowded during weekends and school vacations, so reserve a timed ticket and arrive early. Its waterfront location makes it easy to add to a Boston family trip.

Get skip the line tickets for the New England Aquarium.

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South Carolina Aquarium

Best for: Sea turtles, conservation and families visiting Charleston
Plan to spend: Two to three hours
Don’t miss: The Sea Turtle Care Center, Great Ocean Tank and river otters

If your family loves sea turtles, the South Carolina Aquarium needs to be on your list. It has a real sea turtle hospital where sick and injured turtles are treated before being released back into the ocean.

Visitors can see the current patients, look inside the surgical suite and learn how the aquarium rescues, rehabilitates and releases sea turtles. Because the patients change, you may see something completely different each time you visit. This is not an exhibit created to look like a hospital—it is the actual hospital.

The rest of the aquarium follows South Carolina’s water from the mountains to the coast. You will see river otters, alligators, birds, stingrays and thousands of animals found throughout the state.

The Great Ocean Tank is the deepest aquarium tank in North America and is filled with sharks, fish and a resident loggerhead sea turtle. Kids can also touch stingrays and other animals in the hands-on exhibits.

The aquarium is on the Charleston waterfront and is easy to add to a weekend in Charleston. It is especially useful on an extremely hot or rainy afternoon when your family needs a break from walking around the city.

Texas State Aquarium

Best for: Wildlife rescue, sharks and families visiting the Texas coast
Plan to spend: Four to five hours
Don’t miss: H-E-B Caribbean Sea, the dolphin presentation and splash park

Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is much more than an indoor place to look at fish. It has sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, river otters and birds, plus a huge outdoor splash park that makes it especially good for families.

The H-E-B Caribbean Sea habitat is the biggest attraction. Sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and an enormous grouper swim around a life-size shipwreck. You can see the tank from above, walk through an underwater tunnel or watch everything through an enormous viewing window.

The aquarium also has daily animal presentations, including dolphins, sharks, stingrays and sea turtles. Check the schedule when you arrive because the presentations are spread throughout the day.

One of the best reasons to support the Texas State Aquarium is its wildlife rescue program. The aquarium treats injured sea turtles, shorebirds and marine mammals with the goal of returning them to the wild.

During the warmer months, bring swimsuits for the 15,000-square-foot splash park. It has slides, spray features and a separate area for toddlers, and it is included with aquarium admission. Your kids may want to spend as much time there as they do inside the aquarium.

With the exhibits, animal presentations and splash park, this can easily become a full-day outing.

The Tennessee Aquarium

Best for: Freshwater animals, river ecosystems and families
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: River Journey, River Otter Falls and Penguins’ Rock

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is actually two aquariums in two separate buildings. One ticket includes both, and together they take you from the mountains all the way to the sea.

River Journey is what makes this aquarium different from almost every other one on the list. You start in the Appalachian Mountains and follow the water as it travels through rivers, swamps and eventually toward the ocean. There are enormous freshwater fish, turtles, alligators and playful river otters along the way.

Then you move next door to Ocean Journey for the sharks, stingrays, colorful reef fish and penguins that most kids expect to see at an aquarium. There is also a butterfly garden, which is a fun surprise after spending so much time underwater.

The new Scuttlebutt Reef gallery opened in 2026 and is filled with some of the strangest and most colorful animals found in coral reefs around the world. Kids can use the interactive screens and touchable coral models to learn more about what they are seeing.

The Tennessee Aquarium is right on the Chattanooga riverfront, with plenty of restaurants and other attractions nearby. Give yourself enough time for both buildings because rushing through River Journey would mean missing the part that makes this aquarium so special.

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The Florida Aquarium 

Best for: Florida wildlife, coral reefs and younger children
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: Wetlands of Florida, the Coral Reefs habitat and Moon Bay

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa begins in the treetops and slowly takes you down through Florida’s rivers, wetlands and coastal waters until you finally reach the ocean.

The Wetlands of Florida area is underneath an enormous glass dome and feels more like a greenhouse than an aquarium. Birds fly overhead while alligators, turtles, freshwater fish and river otters live in the habitats below. This is one of the best parts of the aquarium because it introduces kids to animals they might actually see while visiting Florida.

The largest habitat is Coral Reefs, a 500,000-gallon tank filled with sand tiger sharks, sea turtles, enormous stingrays and hundreds of fish. The huge viewing window makes it easy to sit for a while and watch everything swim past.

At Moon Bay, visitors can gently touch moon jellies. They feel completely different from what most kids expect and are much less frightening than touching a shark or stingray.

The Florida Aquarium also does important coral restoration work. Scientists breed and raise threatened Florida corals with the goal of returning healthier corals to the reef.

The aquarium is in downtown Tampa, close to the waterfront and several other family attractions. Give yourself at least a few hours, especially if your kids want to stop at every interactive exhibit.

Get skip the line tickets to the Florida Aquarium here.

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Mystic Aquarium

Best for: Beluga whales, animal shows and younger children
Plan to spend: Three to four hours
Don’t miss: The beluga whales, sea lion show and shark touch tank

Living in Connecticut, we have visited Mystic Aquarium many times. It is not the largest aquarium on this list, but it has animals and experiences that make it feel completely different from the others.

The beluga whales are the main reason to visit. Mystic is the only aquarium in New England with belugas, and you can see them from several viewing areas. They are enormous, beautiful and very curious. We could stand and watch them swim past the glass for a long time.

The sea lion show is another family favorite. The sea lions are funny, loud and much faster than you expect them to be. Arrive at the theater early because the shows can fill up during busy weekends and school vacations.

Braver kids can touch small sharks and rays in the hands-on exhibits. There are also African penguins, seals, Steller sea lions, sea turtles and a giant Pacific octopus.

A large part of Mystic Aquarium is outside, which surprises some first-time visitors. Dress for the weather and bring sunscreen in the summer because you will spend more time outdoors than you might expect.

Mystic Aquarium is easy to combine with Mystic Seaport and downtown Mystic, making it a great stop on a family trip through Connecticut.

 

 

Best Aquariums in the US for Kids

If you are visiting an aquarium with children, the best choice is not always the biggest one. Touch tanks, underwater tunnels, play areas and exhibits that kids can understand often matter more than the total number of animals.

• Best overall for kids: Georgia Aquarium
  The enormous tanks, whale sharks and underwater tunnel make it exciting for almost every age.
• Best for young children: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
  The moving glidepath, penguin tunnels and hands-on exhibits keep younger children interested.
• Best for hands-on experiences: Aquarium of the Pacific
  Kids can touch sharks, rays, jellyfish and tide-pool animals.
• Best for animal rescue: South Carolina Aquarium
  The Sea Turtle Care Center lets children see how injured turtles are treated and returned to the ocean.
• Best for an all-day outing: Texas State Aquarium
  Animal exhibits, presentations and the seasonal splash park can fill most of a day.
• Best for children who love penguins: New England Aquarium
  The penguins live right in the center of the aquarium, so kids see them throughout the visit.
• Best for children who love sharks: Adventure Aquarium
  The shark tunnel, Shark Bridge and shark touch tank provide three completely different ways to see them.

Best Aquariums in the US by Region