The Omaha Zoo may be the best zoo that you have never heard of. It certainly was not on my radar before our friends suggested we visit it with them. “Omaha, Nebraska has the nation’s top ranked zoo?” Was my immediate question. If you have visited Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, it will not shock you that it is consistently ranked one of the top zoos in the United States. With these Omaha Zoo tips, I hope you enjoy your time at the Omaha Zoo as much as we did.
1. Get there early!
This is a place you want to get to early. Of all my Omaha Zoo tips, this is probably the most critical. At our home zoo, we roll up at any hour of the morning, do a quick loop, and head home for nap. The Omaha Zoo, however, is massive, and it will take time to walk it, especially with little kids in tow. The zoo also gets crowded and there are some exhibits that have narrow paths and will have lines later in the day. Lastly, if you are visiting in the summer, getting there early will give you time to see some exhibits before it really heats up.
I recommend parking and getting in line before the zoo opens so you give yourself as much time to explore as you can.
2. Get creative with your route.
Just because most people go to the right when they enter the zoo, does not mean you have to follow the same route. When planning your route, consider what you are trying to accomplish in your visit and know your priorities.
Are you wanting to see everything with the least amount of crowds and lines?
Hit up the indoor exhibits first. Many of the indoor spaces have narrow paths, which can cause traffic jams later in the day as the crowds show up. Fortunately, most of the indoor exhibits are clustered near the main entrance so they are easy to visit first. Then you can wander the more open and expansive outdoor spaces afterwards.
Are you trying to avoid the summer afternoon heat?
See the outdoor animals first, followed by the indoor spaces. Know that if you go this route, you won’t be alone and you WILL deal with lines. But at least you will stay cool. Also, don’t forget to end your day cooling off at the Alaskan Adventure splash pad. There are also water misters scattered throughout the zoo to help you stay cool.
Do you only have time to see parts of the zoo?
Visit your favorite animals and then hop on a train, tram, or the skyfari (an open-air chairlift) to get a quick tour of the rest. For visitors looking for a fast-tracked tour of the zoo, the zoo offers two-hour golf cart tours (pricing information is available on the zoo’s website).
Are you most excited about the animal presentations and feedings?
Plan your route based on when the animal presentations are (see more below).
3. Look up the animal presentation and feeding times, as well as visitor experiences offered, ahead of time.
The zoo offers many free educational presentations and demonstrations. There are also a number of behind-the-scenes experiences that you can purchase for your family. Many of these must be purchased in advance and some of the experiences take place outside of the regular zoo hours. For this reason, I highly recommend you check out what is offered ahead of time and decide what experiences your family would like to enjoy.
Once we are through the main gates of any zoo, I like to check in with a staff member or guest services to inquire about free presentations, animal feedings, and any other events that might be going on that day. It is helpful to decide which presentations you want to prioritize and have jotted down the times and locations so that you can be sure to have your family on that side of the zoo at the right time. The Omaha Zoo is huge, so it is not realistic to think you will be bouncing back and forth across the zoo, trying to catch all the different presentations.
4. Don’t sit down for lunch over the usual lunch hour.
My kids work up an appetite anytime they are exploring a zoo. One way you can avoid lunch crowds, is to shift your lunch time up or back a bit.
I often will feed my kids lunch instead of a mid-morning snack. Even during our regular visits to our home zoo (which is not nearly as large as the Omaha Zoo) my kids will be asking for their packed lunch around 10:00/10:30 and then I give them a snack on the go or on the ride home during the lunch hour. I basically switch morning snack and lunch.
While everyone else waits in long lines for food or fights for a table, you can check out some of the exhibits that may be less crowded at that time. We managed to walk right on to a train ride around lunch time when we visited the Omaha Zoo. I love saving time and avoiding lines, which is why this is one of my favorite Omaha Zoo tips.
5. Wear comfortable shoes and come prepared for a full day outside.
Another one of my critical Omaha Zoo tips: come prepared for a full day and lots of walking. This means plenty of weather appropriate gear and layers, comfortable shoes, changes of clothes, snacks, and anything your family might want/need while out for a full day. Here is a list of some items to consider:
- Water bottles
- Diaper bag with the usual supplies
- Stroller or wagon
- Stroller kickboard for the older kid(s). Even an elementary schooler who has seemingly endless energy may need a break from time to time.
- Stroller fan
- Sunscreen
- Sunhats or winter hats
- Sunglasses
- Swim suits and water shoes
- Changes of clothes (for the usual messes and for changing into after playing at the splash pad)
- A towel
- Snacks, snacks, and snacks. They are pricey at the zoo.
When we visited, I saw a family roll in with a large, hard-case cooler in their wagon. Pro move, I thought.
6. Consider seasonal hours, prices, and closures when planning when to visit.
If you are trying to time your visit to the Omaha Zoo, consider seasonal closures and know that prices and hours vary throughout the year.
Here are some attractions that are seasonal/weather dependent:
- Alaskan Adventure splash pad
- Stingray Beach
- Skyfari
- Train
- Giraffe Encounter
- Bay Family Children’s Adventure Trails (weekends only last I looked)
- Certain restaurants and shops
During the winter months, some outdoor exhibits are closed and many animals are indoor. Zoos also tend to do more of their maintenance/construction projects during the slower months. That does not mean you can’t have a great time. In many ways the off-season and shoulder seasons are more enjoyable times to visit zoos. They tend to be less crowded, you don’t have to suffer the heat, and some of the outdoor animals are more active when it is not as hot.
Plus, the Omaha Zoo has some incredible indoor exhibits that you won’t find at your average zoo.
The Desert Dome is a really neat exhibit and architecturally beautiful. You will see it glistening on the hilltop as you walk around the zoo. The Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night (underneath the Desert Dome) is the largest nocturnal exhibit in the world and houses the largest indoor swamp in the world, complete with alligators, beavers, turtles, and so many other fascinating species. My kids enjoyed exploring the dark exhibits and seeing the fruit bats, aardvarks, and other nocturnal animals that they had not seen before.
The Lied Jungle is a lot of fun and is the largest indoor rainforest in the country. My kids had a blast walking rope bridges, crawling through rock caverns, and seeing all the tropical species in this massive rainforest exhibit.
Aquariums are always a big hit with my kids and the Omaha Zoo’s aquarium has plenty of glass bubbles and a glass tunnel to view the colorful sea life.
Plus, there is a Butterfly and Insect Pavilion, indoor primate exhibits, and a gift shop to explore. Bottom line, you won’t run out of animals to see and things to do no matter the time of year. But planning ahead and knowing what exhibits will be closed can help you manage expectations.
7. Stay nearby so you can leave for nap and then return for the afternoon/evening.
Naps are still a critical part of our days. Fortunately our kids have all napped well in strollers (and the Bumbleride Indie Twin is the perfect vessel for transporting a couple napping kiddos!! – read more about this stroller here), so naptime doesn’t have to slow us down. But it is a bummer to have a kid miss a bunch while they nap. So I would suggest either planning to see things your kids care less about during naptime, OR going back to your accommodations for a mid-day rest time/nap.
Honestly, the Omaha Zoo is so big that it’s a lot for anyone to take in during a single visit. Even my highly inquisitive child’s eyes started to glaze over as we passed exhibits later in the day. If you really want to optimize your time at the zoo and enjoy it all, a mid-day break is a good idea. There are many Airbnbs available near the Omaha Zoo. Even if you are staying a little further away, it might be worth a rest. The zoo is open later than many other zoos, making a mid-day break possible.
Make sure to have your hand stamped on your way out! That way you can return to the zoo the same day without any issues. And, with anything that you read on the internet, confirm that the re-entry policy has not changed before you leave.
Alternatively, spread your visit out over two days! The zoo sells two-day passes, so you won’t be alone if your family can’t fit it all in in one day.
I hope these Omaha Zoo tips were helpful! For packing tips, check out my Packing Tips for Trips with Young Kids. Have a great time exploring!
Leave a Reply