🦛 Only Aquarium in the World to Exhibit Hippos
Adventure Aquarium
Camden, NJ
2 million gallons, 15,000+ animals, the world’s longest V-shaped Shark Bridge walked inches above live sharks, NJ’s longest Shark Tunnel, the only Nile hippos exhibited at any aquarium on Earth, and a Philadelphia skyline view across the Delaware. AZA-accredited, USA Today Top 10 Aquarium, and one hour from Atlantic City.
🦛 World’s Only Hippos at an Aquarium
🌉 World’s Longest Shark Bridge — 81 Feet
🦈 Largest Shark Collection in the Northeast
🐧 Little Blue Penguins — 1 of 6 US Facilities
🛥️ RiverLink Ferry from Philadelphia — May–Sept
🎭 Free Live Shows Daily
Buy Tickets Online →
Philly CityPASS — Save 54% →
81ft
Shark Bridge — World’s Longest
$31–50
Adult Ticket (plan-ahead pricing)
2–3hrs
Recommended Visit Time
Adventure Aquarium sits on the Camden Waterfront with direct views of the Philadelphia skyline across the Delaware River — one of the most dramatic urban waterfront settings of any aquarium in the Northeast. Inside, it holds the world record for aquarium hippo exhibition (Button and Genny, the only Nile hippos at any aquarium on Earth), the world’s longest V-shaped rope suspension bridge over a live shark exhibit, and the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast — all packed into 2 million gallons of water that house over 15,000 animals. It’s been a USA Today Top 10 Aquarium and has been AZA-accredited since opening in 1992.
The experience is structured around a series of world-first and regional-first claims that are worth taking seriously: the Shark Bridge genuinely is extraordinary (walking 81 feet on a rope bridge inches above circling sharks is not a common experience), and the hippo exhibit is unique in the world. Four touch exhibits, free live diver shows, a 3D theater, animal encounters, and a brand-new 2026 Boardwalk exhibit round out a 2–3 hour visit that works for all ages but particularly delivers for kids.
Tickets are tiered with plan-ahead pricing — booking online days or weeks in advance is significantly cheaper than walk-up ($31 vs ~$50). Philadelphia CityPASS bundles admission with top Philly attractions at up to 54% off — a useful option for visitors pairing the aquarium with a Philadelphia day.
World & Regional Records — The Unique Draws
🌍 World Only
🦛 Hippo Haven
Button and Genny — the only Nile hippos exhibited at any aquarium on Earth. 3,000+ lbs each. Nose-to-nose underwater viewing windows. Above and below water perspectives. Porcupine roommate. Hippo feeding/talks on schedule — check daily program on arrival. Hippo encounter add-on available (extra fee).
🌍 World’s Longest
🦈 Shark Bridge
81-foot V-shaped rope suspension bridge suspended inches above Shark Realm. Look straight down at sandbar, sand tiger, and nurse sharks circling below. The only bridge of its kind in the world. Staff can arrange alternative behind-the-scenes viewing for guests who can’t cross.
Northeast Largest
🦈 Shark Realm
550,000-gallon exhibit — the largest shark collection in the Northeast. Sand tiger, sandbar, nurse, epaulette, zebra, and bamboo sharks plus 200+ other animals. NJ’s longest 40-foot Shark Tunnel surrounds you with sharks swimming above, beside, and around you.
1 of 6 US Facilities
🐧 Little Blue Penguins
One of only six facilities in the US with Little Blue penguins as permanent residents. Also home to an outdoor colony of endangered African penguins at Penguin Park. Penguin encounter add-on (20 min with expert) available.
More Must-See Exhibits
🐢
Ocean Realm — 760,000 Gallons
Massive loggerhead and green sea turtles, stingrays, and a diver show that is consistently praised as a highlight (entertaining divers, giant sea turtle interactions). Tong-feed sea turtles from a floating dock above the exhibit — add-on encounter available.
🐟
Piranha Falls — Amazon River Exhibit
Vibrant Amazon-themed habitat with piranhas and South American aquatic species. Colorful, immersive, and popular with kids. A sharp contrast to the ocean exhibits.
✋
Touch Exhibits (×4)
Four interactive touch tanks — sharks, stingrays, starfish, and more. Touching animals is prohibited by NJ state law except in these designated touch exhibits. Popular with children and adults alike.
🔍
Golden Shark Scavenger Hunt
Find 8 golden sharks hidden among the aquarium’s thousands of animals and 2 million gallons of water. Redeem your completed map for a treasure. Everyone wins — a fun throughline activity for the whole visit.
🏖️
The Boardwalk — New 2026 Exhibit
Brand-new for 2026: a beach-themed interactive exhibit with VR experiences, face painting, and more. Brings the Jersey Shore experience inside the aquarium. Check schedule for current programming.
Animal Encounters — Add-On, Advance Booking Required
🤿
Snorkel with SharksWetsuit provided. Swim inches from sand tiger and sandbar sharks in Shark Realm (550K gallons). Then feed stingrays. Extra fee, age restrictions apply.
🦛
Hippo EncounterBehind-the-scenes feeding + tour of where Button and Genny go off-exhibit. Extra fee. Limited availability.
🐢
Sea Turtle FeedTong-feed loggerhead and green turtles from the dock above Ocean Realm. Extra fee.
🐧
Penguin Encounter20 min with an expert and the endangered African penguin colony. Extra fee.
Insider Tips
🎟️
Buy tickets online in advance — plan-ahead pricing saves significantly ($31 vs ~$50 walk-up). Prices vary by date.
📱
Philadelphia CityPASS saves up to 54% on admission and bundles with Constitution Center, Franklin Institute, and other top Philly attractions. Best value for visitors doing a Philadelphia day.
⏰
Best timing: Weekdays after 2pm (least crowded, hippos most active). Weekends: arrive before 11am or after 2pm. Visit weekdays when possible.
🍔
Eat before you go — food inside the aquarium (burgers, cheesesteak, pretzels) is pricey, per consistent visitor reports. Budget accordingly or eat on the Camden Waterfront before/after.
🎂
Birthday visit: Free admission on your actual birthday — box office only, proof of age required.
🎖️
Military discount available for active/retired military, disabled veterans, and reservists at the box office with valid ID.
📍 World Cup Context: Adventure Aquarium is ~1 hour north of Atlantic City on the Camden Waterfront — directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, which makes it ideal as part of a Philadelphia day trip rather than a standalone Atlantic City activity. The RiverLink Ferry (May–September) from Philadelphia’s Penn Landing crosses directly to the aquarium’s waterfront — a scenic approach that gives you the Philadelphia skyline from the water. The hippos alone are a legitimate world-first worth seeing. Plan 2–3 hours, book online, and go on a weekday if possible.
🦛 World’s Only Aquarium Hippos
🌉 World’s Longest Shark Bridge
🦈 NE Largest Shark Collection
🐧 Little Blue Penguins
📍 1 Riverside Drive, Camden NJ
🛥️ RiverLink Ferry from Philly
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