Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
4.8(35K)google
4.5(857)yelp
Family
Overview
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In August 2014, TripAdvisor rated it the "world's best zoo", ahead of the San Diego Zoo and Loro Parque, based on an algorithmic assimilation of millions of reviews for 275 major zoos worldwide.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-2 days
Best TimeConsistently ranked among the world's best zoos; visit during spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October). Arrive precisely at 9:00 AM at opening to tour the Lied Jungle and Desert Dome first, beating both the midday school crowds and intense greenhouse heat.
Getting ThereLocated at 3701 S 10th St in southern Omaha. Drive via I-80 to Exit 454 (13th St), head north for half a mile, and turn right onto Deer Park Blvd into the expansive free parking lots. Public transit users can ride Metro Bus Route 13 straight to the front gates.
Travel Tips
- The massive footprint requires extensive walking; massive indoor biomes like the Desert Dome maintain high ambient humidity, demanding high-cushion athletic footwear.
- The open Skyfari ski-lift transit chairs extend directly over carnivore fields; dropping personal storage items or food wrappers triggers immediate park expulsion and legal fines.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- The Lied Jungle pavilion contains narrow, slick canopy suspension paths; setting up heavy camera tripods or blocking traffic with extendable selfie sticks is an express code violation.
Reviews
Positive
- Deservedly ranked among the world's absolute best! The massive Desert Dome and grand underground Kingdoms of the Night offer unmatched visual impact and core value.
- The indoor aquarium features a magnificent shark tunnel, and the indoor rainforest boasts cascading waterfalls and suspension bridges, a benchmark for habitat authenticity.
- Accessibility planning is absolute perfection; flat walkways, spacious nursing lounges, and dense elevators make traveling with heavy double strollers stress-free.
- Though admission is pricey, the sheer scale of world-class exhibits and top-tier conservation makes it well worth the spend, backed by highly professional staff.
- Boasting the world's largest indoor desert and a colossal glazed geodesic dome dome, the aquarium's underwater tunnel offers world-class visuals.
- Zoo infrastructure is elite; digital app maps run smoothly, restrooms are dense and clean, and accessible wheelchair paths connect seamlessly.
- Educators and keepers are loving with animals; crowd control at hot pavilions is professional and fast with top-tier security for peace of mind.
- Though ticket pricing is premium, getting a comprehensive look at world-class desert, rainforest, and deep ocean ecosystems offers incredible value.
Heads up
- Covering over a hundred acres with endless exhibits, walking the whole site requires immense stamina; seating benches can fall short during peak holiday crowds.
- On peak summer vacation weekends, it enters extreme crowd congestion mode; the popular Skyfari chairlift frequently commands wait times over an hour.
- Food and souvenirs carry hefty price markups; a simple burger combo and bottled water are expensive, and dining areas are packed solid at lunch.
- Because certain spaces like the Lied Jungle simulate real habitats with high humidity and heat, looking around indoors in mid-summer leaves you sweaty and stuffy.
- Its massive national fame means summer and fall weekends face terrifying crowds, making close tank viewing tough due to rowdy family walls.
- The zoo footprint is colossally huge; long walks exhaust small kids, and adding secondary high sky-lifts or train loops raises costs quickly.
- The dedicated massive lots fill to capacity before 10:30 AM, forcing late arrivals to cruise long in burning heat, dragging down convenience.
- Curbside snack stands and gift shop plushies carry heavily inflated prices with clear premium markups aimed at tourists.