Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia is consistently ranked among the finest zoological parks in the southeastern United States — and 22,396 reviews averaging 4. 7 stars makes it one of the most verified quality recommendations in this entire directory. The drive from Hilton Head (approximately 2.

5 hours) is worth it for families who want a world-class zoo experience without traveling to Atlanta or DC.

The zoo's standout exhibits are immediately apparent. The gorilla exhibit provides intimate viewing of a full family group through glass so close that the gorillas seem to acknowledge your presence. Western lowland gorillas in this kind of space create interactions that leave children silent with awe — the opposite of the restless zoo visit where kids want to rush to the next animal.

The African Plains exhibit opens the visual scale completely with giraffes, zebras, and rhinoceroses visible in a landscape that mimics their natural habitat. The aquarium building provides indoor relief from summer heat while delivering shark encounters and reef fish viewing.

The Botanical Garden, accessible via a pedestrian bridge over the Saluda River, transforms Riverbanks into a two-destination day. The garden side features formal displays, rose gardens, and seasonal planting that add a different sensory layer to the visit and make the overall experience substantially longer without additional admission cost.

For HHI families, Riverbanks Zoo works best as the anchor of a Columbia day trip: arrive when the zoo opens at 9AM, spend 4-5 hours, cross to the garden, and finish with dinner in Columbia before the drive back. Combining with EdVenture children's museum (15 minutes away) creates an genuinely full day.