Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
3329 Riverview Blvd, Omaha, NE
Omaha, NE
A zoo famous for its immense indoor worlds, a desert under a dome, a rainforest under glass, and a tunnel through an ocean, all in the middle of the plains.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is regularly ranked among the very best zoos in the United States, and its reputation rests on a bold idea: rather than simply keeping animals, it builds entire ecosystems you can walk into. The result is a series of enormous immersive habitats that transport visitors from a scorching desert to a steaming rainforest to the depths of the ocean, all within a single campus in the middle of the plains.
The zoo is Nebraska's most visited attraction, and its signature exhibits have become famous well beyond the state. Under its great domes and inside its indoor jungles and aquarium tunnels, families wander through worlds far from the Nebraska prairie, which is exactly why the place draws visitors from across the region and the country.
What Guests Love
- The Desert Dome, a vast indoor desert under a huge glass roof
- A giant indoor rainforest full of birds, monkeys, and lush plants
- A walk-through aquarium tunnel with sharks overhead
- The nighttime swamp and cave beneath the desert dome
Worth Knowing
- The zoo is large, so wear good shoes and plan a full visit
- Weekends and summer are busiest, so arrive early to beat the crowds
- Much of the best of it is indoors, so it is a great rain-or-shine stop
- It sits just off Interstate 80 on Omaha's south side
Details
Omaha, NE
Learn about Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
The Desert Dome and the night beneath it
The zoo's most iconic structure is the Desert Dome, an immense geodesic glass dome that houses an entire indoor desert. Inside, sand dunes, rock canyons, and desert plants recreate arid landscapes from different continents, with the animals and birds that live in them, all beneath a soaring transparent roof that lets in natural light.
Beneath the desert lies its dark twin. A nocturnal exhibit takes visitors down into a world of night, with an indoor swamp and cave where bats, alligators, and creatures of the dark live under reversed lighting so they are active during the day. Descending from the bright desert into that shadowed underworld is one of the zoo's memorable experiences.
A rainforest under glass
Another of the zoo's landmark habitats is its great indoor rainforest, a multi-story jungle enclosed under glass. Inside, tall trees, waterfalls, and dense greenery fill the air with humidity, and free-flying birds, monkeys, and other animals move through a recreated tropical forest that you walk through on winding paths.
The immersive approach means you are not looking at animals through bars so much as sharing their environment, with the sights, sounds, and smells of a rainforest around you. It is a striking thing to step into a tropical world under a dome while snow may be falling outside on the Nebraska plains.
Through the ocean and beyond
The aquarium carries the same idea underwater. A walk-through tunnel lets visitors pass through a large ocean tank with sharks, rays, and fish gliding overhead and to either side, along with exhibits ranging from cold polar waters to coral reefs. It brings the sea to the landlocked heart of the continent.
Beyond these headline habitats, the zoo holds a wide range of animals and exhibits, from big cats and primates to gorillas and an African grassland, along with a strong record in conservation and animal science. The breadth is part of why it consistently earns its place among the country's top zoos.
Omaha, the city around it
The zoo anchors the south side of Omaha, a river city on bluffs above the Missouri that grew up as a railroad and stockyards town and is now the largest city in Nebraska. It is a lively place, with a historic warehouse district, museums, and a strong food and arts scene.
For travelers, the zoo pairs easily with Omaha's other draws, the Old Market district, the Joslyn Art Museum, and the riverfront, making a stop here the centerpiece of a fuller city visit. Just off the interstate, it is also an easy break for families crossing the country.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Prairie Lodge Motel
Honorable Mention1219 Old US Highway 56, Council Grove, KS
180 miles away|Learn More ›
Things to Do Near Omaha
Old Market
About 4 miles north
Omaha's historic warehouse district of brick streets, restaurants, galleries, and shops near the riverfront.
Joslyn Art Museum
About 5 miles north
A landmark art museum in a marble Art Deco building, with strong collections of Western and American art.
Missouri River waterfront
About 5 miles
Omaha's riverfront parks and the pedestrian bridge linking Nebraska to Iowa across the Missouri.