Quick Summary:

  • The beautiful city of Charlotte in North Carolina has a lot to offer.
  • As the biggest city in the entire state, Charlotte is regarded as the cultural and commercial hub of NC, featuring many tourist attractions, exciting nightlife, a beautiful cityscape, and all sorts of monuments to visit and outdoor activities to enjoy.
  • If you’re looking for a zoo to see some wild animals in Charlotte, however, you’re out of luck. The city doesn’t have its own zoo just yet.
  • Fortunately, many other great zoos and animal attractions can be found right nearby.
  • Here are some details on the best zoos near Charlotte, NC.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
  • Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. North Carolina Zoo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Kids & Family
North Carolina Zoo | Zoos near Charlotte, NC
© gudkovandrey/stock.adobe.com

2. Riverbanks Zoo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Kids & Family
Riverbanks Zoo | Zoos near Charlotte, NC
© Mary/stock.adobe.com

3. Carolina Raptor Center

Category: Attractions
Carolina Raptor Center | Zoos near Charlotte, NC
© Anton Rostovsky/stock.adobe.com

4. Lazy 5 Ranch

Lazy 5 Ranch | Zoos near Charlotte, NC
© Brittany/stock.adobe.com

5. Tiger World

Tiger World | Zoos near Charlotte, NC
© Ram T M/stock.adobe.com

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