Whether you just moved to Omaha, you’re visiting family, or you’re in town for the College World Series, a visit to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is a must. Ranked by USA Today readers as the best zoo in America for four consecutive years, it’s one of the nation’s top zoological attractions. This guide covers everything you need to know for a single-day visit to the Omaha zoo, including admission costs, recommended visit length, and must-see exhibits.
Please note: Admission prices, hours, and exhibit details are subject to change. Always verify current information at omahazoo.com before your visit.
Why Visit the Henry Doorly Zoo?
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is home to the world’s largest indoor desert, the Desert Dome, as well as North America’s largest indoor rainforest, the Lied Jungle. Spanning 160 acres and housing more than 33,000 animals representing 1,415 species, the zoo has become a destination attraction that draws visitors from across the region and beyond. In fact, approximately 40% of visitors travel more than 60 miles away, underscoring the zoo’s national reputation and appeal.
The zoo’s history dates back to 1894, when it began as Riverview Park Zoo. In 1963, it was renamed Henry Doorly Zoo following a $750,000 donation from Margaret Hitchcock Doorly, who requested that the institution be named in honor of her late husband. Since then, the zoo has grown into one of the most highly regarded zoological institutions in the world.
For College World Series visitors, the zoo also occupies a notable place in Omaha’s sports history. Its south parking lot sits on the former site of Rosenblatt Stadium, which hosted the College World Series for more than 50 years before the tournament moved to Charles Schwab Field in 2011. The two institutions have been closely connected for decades.
Henry Doorly Zoo Hours & Admission
From April through November, zoo admission is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the grounds and most buildings open until 6 p.m. The Lied Jungle and Butterfly Pavilion both close at 4 p.m.
During the winter season, the zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with most buildings staying open until 5 p.m. They’re closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Throughout the year, the Main Entrance is open seven days a week, while the North Gate is typically open Friday through Sunday to help accommodate weekend crowds.
Always confirm current hours before your visit, as seasonal schedules can vary.
Admission Prices
| Ticket Type | Price |
| Adults (ages 12+) | $33.95 |
| Children ages 3–11 | $25.95 |
| Children 2 & under | FREE |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $30.55 |
| Military Adult (12+) | $30.55 |
| Military Child (3–11) | $23.35 |
*These prices reflect summer rates. Admission is lower during spring, fall, and winter, so check the zoo’s website for current pricing before your visit.
Parking at the zoo is free, and the main entrance is located at 3701 S 10th St in Omaha.
What Costs Extra
General zoo admission covers all major exhibits, but a few things come at an additional cost. Rides like the Tram ($1.25 one-way, $5 round-trip), the Skyfari ($7), and Sue’s Carousel ($4) all require separate tickets. Interacting with the rays at Stingray Beach also costs a few dollars extra, and the Lozier Giant Screen Theater is a paid add-on for non-members. These are entirely optional and easy to skip on a first visit, but it may be worth choosing one to try, especially if you’ve got young kids.
Save With a Zoo Membership From Home
If you have a membership to an AZA-accredited zoo, check whether it’s part of the reciprocal program. If so, you may qualify for discounted summer admission (50% off). Bring your membership card and a photo ID. Tickets through the reciprocal program are only available in person at Guest Services, not online.
How Long Does It Take to Go Through the Omaha Zoo?
Typically, you’ll need a full day. Henry Doorly covers 160 acres with more than 13 major exhibits, and doing it justice takes five to eight hours. You can visit all the major attractions in half a day if you’re strategic about it. Stick to the indoor exhibit cluster near the Main Entrance (Desert Dome, Jungle, Aquarium, Butterfly Pavilion, Gorilla Valley, etc.), and you can hit many of the highlights in 3-4 hours. But if you have the time, use it!
Families with young kids should seriously consider consecutive-day Omaha zoo tickets, which are discounted 50% for the second day’s admission. You can purchase both days’ tickets together online, or buy them separately on-site by showing your prior day’s tickets or receipt at the ticketing windows. Two days allow everyone to move at a slower pace, revisit favorites, and enjoy lunch without feeling rushed.
What to Bring (& What to Leave Behind)
The zoo allows outside food and non-alcoholic beverages, so consider bringing snacks, a packed lunch, and a refillable water bottle to save time and money during your visit. Leave glass containers, alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, and drones at home, as these items are prohibited on zoo grounds. Pets are also not allowed, but required service animals are.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as you’ll cover a considerable distance throughout the day. During the summer months, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are also recommended. Many of the zoo’s major exhibits are climate-controlled, offering a break from Omaha’s heat.
Families with young children may also want to bring a stroller or wagon, although rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Main Gift Shop (all year long) and North Entrance (during the summer). A single stroller is $12 for the day, and a double stroller or wagon is $15. Manual wheelchairs ($10) and electric mobility scooters ($35) are also available for rent. Nearly every major exhibit is stroller-friendly, with the Butterfly Pavilion being the one exception.
Most self-service kiosks, rides, and some dining locations do not accept cash. Credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payment options are accepted throughout the zoo, and cash can be loaded onto a prepaid card at Guest Services.
Must-See Exhibits at the Henry Doorly Zoo
With 13+ major exhibits across 160 acres, Henry Doorly Zoo gives you a lot of decisions to make. Here are the ones we’d consider non-negotiable, followed by a few more worth adding depending on who’s in your group.
Desert Dome & Kingdoms of the Night
The Desert Dome is the iconic glass geodesic dome you’ll see from the parking lot, and the first major exhibit you’ll encounter from the main entrance. It’s the world’s largest indoor desert, home to species from the Namib, Sonoran, and Red Center deserts—including ocelots, klipspringers, peccaries, cobras, rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, and more—in a habitat that accurately recreates the heat and conditions of desert climates around the world. USA Today has named it the #1 Best Zoo Exhibit in America for years.
Directly below it, underground, is Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night, the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit. The lighting is deliberately dim as you walk through, allowing the animals to behave naturally. Alligators, crocodiles, beavers, snakes, insects, and bats make this one of the most genuinely immersive experiences in the zoo. Budget time for both, as the building holds two full experiences.
Scott Aquarium
Going through the tunnel at the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium is one of the most memorable things you can do at any zoo in the country. Sharks, sea turtles, and fish swim above and around you as you walk through the 70-foot tunnel, and it never really loses its impact no matter how many times you’ve done it. The aquarium’s penguin habitat is another highlight, providing some of the most consistent entertainment in the zoo, and crowds tend to gather and stay there for good reason. The aquarium is entirely indoor and air-conditioned, making it a smart midday stop when the heat peaks.
Hubbard Gorilla Valley & Orangutan Forest
Few experiences at any zoo match standing face-to-face with a 500-pound silverback gorilla through the glass at Hubbard Gorilla Valley. The exhibit is designed to bring you genuinely close to these animals in a way that feels more like a shared space than a viewing station. It’s one of the most visited exhibits in the zoo for a reason, so don’t rush through it.
Gorilla Valley also connects directly to Hubbard Orangutan Forest, home to Bornean orangutans and siamangs in an immersive, indoor-outdoor habitat designed to mimic an Indonesian rainforest—so make sure to explore both areas.
Lied Jungle
The Lied Jungle is one of the largest indoor rainforests in North America, and it’s well worth a visit. Monkeys swing through the canopy overhead as you walk through. Tapirs and pygmy hippos swim in the water beneath you. Exotic birds and fruit bats fly freely through the space, and the sounds and humidity make it feel legitimately like a tropical environment. One important note: the Lied Jungle closes at 4 p.m., so don’t save it for the end of your day.
The Durham TreeTops Restaurant sits directly above the Lied Jungle and looks out over it through floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s the best lunch spot in the zoo, and it’s one of the few places on the grounds where beer is available for purchase.
Owen Sea Lion Shores
Owen Sea Lion Shores offers two completely different viewing experiences in one exhibit. Above ground, you can watch from a shaded amphitheater as sea lions zip through the water, race, and play. Below ground, there’s a cave with an underwater viewing window that shows you everything happening beneath the surface. Sea lions are active and entertaining, and this is one of the best show-like experiences at the zoo that doesn’t cost anything extra.
Scott African Grasslands
The Scott African Grasslands is the zoo’s largest outdoor habitat, spanning 28 acres where lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants, and rhinos roam across terrain designed to reflect the African savanna. The Giraffe Encounter lets you get up close to the herd and watch feedings throughout the day. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is included with general admission, with no separate ticket required (though there is a $5 cost per branch if you want to feed the giraffes yourself).
When the heat picks up midday, the African Lodge provides an air-conditioned indoor dining and viewing area within the exhibit, making it one of the best spots in the zoo to cool off without losing your place.
Other Family-Friendly Zoo Attractions
If you have kids, the Scott Alaskan Adventure Splash Park is a summer game-changer. This water play area gives little ones a way to cool off and burn energy while you catch your breath. The Bay Family Children’s Adventure Trails are excellent for younger kids as well, with interactive learning activities built around nature and outdoor exploration.
The Berniece Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion is one of the more underrated zoo exhibits, a living space filled with free-flying butterflies. Like the Lied Jungle, it closes at 4 p.m. The Asian Highlands exhibit is also well worth the time if your schedule allows, and going first thing in the morning offers the best chance of seeing higher animal activity levels.
Best Route: A One-Day Itinerary for the Omaha Zoo
The zoo’s major indoor exhibits are clustered near the main entrance, making it easy to start the day in climate-controlled spaces before exploring the outdoor areas. This route works well for most visitors planning a full day at the zoo.
- 9:00-10:15 a.m. | Desert Dome & Kingdoms of the Night
Start with the zoo’s signature exhibits while crowds are light. Plan 30–45 minutes to explore each. - 10:15-11:45 a.m. | Scott Aquarium, Hubbard Orangutan Forest, & Hubbard Gorilla Valley
Visit the aquarium early before it becomes crowded, then continue to Orangutan Forest and Gorilla Valley nearby. - 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Owen Sea Lion Shores
Head out the north doors from Gorilla Valley for the quickest route to Sea Lion Shores. - 12:15-1:15 p.m. | Lunch
Enjoy a sit-down meal at Durham TreeTops Restaurant or use one of the zoo’s shaded picnic areas if you’ve packed food. - 1:15-2:30 p.m. | Lied Jungle
After lunch, spend the early afternoon exploring the Lied Jungle. - 2:30-3:00 p.m. | Butterfly Pavilion
See the butterflies before this exhibit’s 4 p.m. closing time. - 3:00-4:30 p.m. | Scott African Grasslands
Explore this expansive area and remember to check the daily schedule for daily giraffe feedings. - 4:30 p.m.-5:00 | Children’s Areas & Gift Shop
Finish the day with the Children’s Adventure Trails or a stop at the gift shop.
Remember that the zoo grounds stay open until 6 p.m. in summer, providing some wiggle room in this schedule if you want to stop by the splash park, go on one of the rides, or see another exhibit! Just keep in mind that certain areas may close at 4 or 5 p.m.
Download an official zoo map before your visit.
Getting to the Zoo From Omaha’s Other Attractions
From Charles Schwab Field (home of the Men’s College World Series): The zoo is roughly three miles from the ballpark, about a ten-minute drive. If you’re in town for the CWS, the zoo makes a natural day trip on an off day. The two venues have been neighbors in spirit for a long time, as the zoo’s south parking lot now sits on the former site of Rosenblatt Stadium, which the CWS called home for more than 50 years.
If you’re driving in from out of town, here’s how far the zoo is from several regional cities:
| City | Distance | Drive Time |
| Lincoln, NE | ~55 miles | ~1 hour |
| Des Moines, IA | ~133 miles | ~2 hours |
| Kansas City, MO | ~184 miles | ~3 hours |
| Minneapolis, MN | ~377 miles | ~6 hours |
Hotels Near the Henry Doorly Zoo
If you’re in town for the College World Series or want access to the Old Market district and Omaha dining, staying in the heart of downtown puts you about three miles from the zoo. Well-reviewed hotels in that area include the Hilton Garden Inn Omaha Downtown/Old Market, Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown/Old Market, and Hampton Inn & Suites Omaha Downtown. Note that hotel prices in Downtown Omaha spike significantly during CWS weeks, so book well in advance if you’re visiting in June.
Short-term rental options (Airbnb, Vrbo) also exist within a five to ten-minute walk of the zoo and tend to be popular with families visiting during CWS season.
More Things to Do in Omaha
If you’re in Omaha for more than one day and you’re looking for other things to round out your visit, we’ve got you covered:
- Best Restaurants Near the CWS: Our picks for the best spots to eat after a day on your feet
- Things to Do in Omaha With Kids: More family-friendly activities beyond the zoo.
- Best Omaha Comedy Clubs: For late-night entertainment after your day at the zoo
With its world-class exhibits and all-ages appeal, a day at the Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the best ways to spend your time in Omaha. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime local, there’s always something new to discover. For more things to do in Omaha, check out Hurrdat ONE!
