The Georgia Aquarium is the largest by volume, but size depends on how you measure

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta holds the title of largest aquarium in the United States by total water volume. It contains 11 million gallons of water across its exhibits. However, "largest" can mean different things — some aquariums are bigger by the number of animals they hold, the square footage of their building, or the number of exhibits. The Georgia Aquarium's size comes from its massive tanks, particularly the one that holds whale sharks and manta rays.

If you are planning a visit or comparing aquariums by what you will see, understanding how size is measured matters. A larger water volume does not always mean more animals or more exhibits to walk through. The Georgia Aquarium is genuinely enormous, but other major U.S. aquariums offer different experiences depending on what draws you.

Key Takeaways

  • The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta holds 11 million gallons of water, making it the largest by volume in the United States.
  • The aquarium's size comes largely from a single massive tank designed for whale sharks and manta rays, not from having the most exhibits or animals overall.
  • Other major U.S. aquariums like the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California and the National Aquarium in Baltimore are smaller by water volume but may have more exhibits or different animal collections.
  • Water volume, building square footage, and number of animals are three different ways to measure aquarium size, and each tells a different story about what you will experience.

How the Georgia Aquarium measures up by the numbers

The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 and was built specifically to hold whale sharks — the world's largest fish. The main tank, called the Ocean Voyager Express, is 6.3 million gallons by itself. That single tank is larger than most entire aquariums in the country. The building also contains a beluga whale habitat, a tropical diver exhibit, a cold-water section, and several other galleries, but the whale shark tank dominates the overall volume.

When aquariums are ranked by water volume, the Georgia Aquarium consistently ranks first in the United States. The second-largest is typically the Oasis Park Aquarium in Mexico City, which is outside the U.S., so domestically the Georgia Aquarium has no competitor by this measure. If you are visiting specifically to see the largest single tank in the country, this is the place.

Other major U.S. aquariums and how they compare

The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California holds about 750,000 gallons of water — roughly 15 times smaller than the Georgia Aquarium. However, it is widely regarded as one of the best aquariums in the world for the quality and diversity of its exhibits. It specializes in Pacific Ocean animals and has won numerous awards for its conservation work and animal care.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore contains about 2.2 million gallons and is the largest aquarium on the East Coast. It features a tropical rainforest exhibit, a shark tank, and a dolphin pool. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago holds roughly 1.5 million gallons and is known for its beluga whales and dolphin shows. Neither of these comes close to the Georgia Aquarium's volume, but each draws millions of visitors annually because of their specific animal collections and exhibit design.

The difference matters if you are deciding which to visit. The Georgia Aquarium is the most impressive by sheer size, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium may offer a more intimate experience with more species, and the Shedd or National Aquarium may be closer to where you live.

Why the Georgia Aquarium is so much larger

The Georgia Aquarium was built with a specific purpose: to house whale sharks in a tank large enough to let them swim naturally. Whale sharks can grow to 40 feet long and need enormous space. The Ocean Voyager tank was engineered to hold two whale sharks and several manta rays, which are also large animals. This single design choice — building one massive tank rather than many medium-sized ones — is why the Georgia Aquarium's total volume is so much higher than other facilities.

Most other major aquariums were built with a different philosophy: many exhibits of varying sizes, each designed for a specific habitat or animal group. This approach spreads the water volume across dozens of tanks instead of concentrating it in one or two. It is not that other aquariums are poorly designed — it is that they were designed for a different purpose.

What "largest" actually means when you visit

If you go to the Georgia Aquarium expecting to see the most animals or spend the most time, you may be surprised. The building is large, but much of that size is water in the whale shark tank. You will see the whale sharks, which is remarkable, but you will not necessarily see more species or spend more hours there than at a smaller aquarium with more exhibits.

The Georgia Aquarium has about 10 major galleries and thousands of animals, which is substantial. But the Monterey Bay Aquarium, despite being one-fifteenth the size by water volume, has over 35 major exhibits and is known for taking several hours to explore thoroughly. Size by volume and size by experience are not the same thing.

Visiting the Georgia Aquarium: what to expect

The Georgia Aquarium is located in downtown Atlanta and is one of the most visited aquariums in the country. The main draw is the whale shark tank, which you encounter early in the visit. The building also includes exhibits on beluga whales, sea otters, jellyfish, tropical fish, and cold-water species. Most visitors spend two to three hours there, though you can move through more quickly if you focus only on the main exhibits.

Admission is paid, and prices vary by season and whether you purchase online in advance. The aquarium is open year-round. If you are in Atlanta and interested in marine life, it is worth visiting, particularly if seeing whale sharks is important to you. If you are comparing it to other aquariums you have visited or are considering, remember that its size advantage comes from one tank, not from having more to see overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Georgia Aquarium bigger than the Monterey Bay Aquarium?

Yes, by water volume — the Georgia Aquarium holds 11 million gallons compared to Monterey Bay's roughly 750,000 gallons. However, Monterey Bay has more exhibits and animal species, so "bigger" depends on what you are measuring. If you want to see the largest single tank in the U.S., Georgia wins. If you want the most exhibits, Monterey Bay is often considered superior.

Can you see whale sharks at other U.S. aquariums?

The Georgia Aquarium is the only facility in the United States that currently houses whale sharks. If seeing whale sharks is your main goal, this is the only place in the country to do it. Other aquariums have different signature animals — Shedd has belugas and dolphins, Monterey Bay has sea otters and jellyfish.

How long does it take to see everything at the Georgia Aquarium?

Most visitors spend two to three hours there. You can move through the main exhibits in about 90 minutes if you walk quickly, or take four to five hours if you read all the information and watch any live presentations. The whale shark tank is the centerpiece and takes 15 to 20 minutes to view thoroughly.

Is the Georgia Aquarium worth visiting if I have been to other major aquariums?

If you have not seen whale sharks before, yes — they are remarkable animals and the tank is impressive. If you have visited Monterey Bay or Shedd and are looking for a similar experience with more exhibits, the Georgia Aquarium may feel smaller than expected despite its water volume. It is worth visiting for the whale sharks specifically, not necessarily as a "must-see" aquarium in general.