Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

What a day at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo! Over 11,000 steps and more than four miles later, I'm amazed at how much there is to see--yet we still couldn't fit it all into one day. You really need two days to fully explore this world-class zoo, which houses over 17,000 animals from 962 species across 160 acres. It's no wonder it's consistently ranked one of the top zoos in the world!The kids' favorites were the Desert Dome and Lied Jungle (seriously, the largest indoor desert and rainforest exhibits on the planet!), along with the food and, of course, the gift shop. I loved seeing their excitement and joy--it made every step worth it.If you're planning to visit, wear comfy shoes and be ready for an adventure! Have you been? What's your favorite exhibit?

The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is an absolute must-visit! In fact, I'd recommend planning a trip to Omaha specifically for this world-class attraction. The zoo is enormous, so come prepared with your most comfortable walking shoes, and if you're visiting with kids, be ready for their uncontainable excitement--it's fully justified!One of the highlights of my visit was seeing animals from every continent up close. From majestic big cats to fascinating reptiles and birds, the diversity of species is astounding. The immersive exhibits, like the Desert Dome and Kingdoms of the Night, offer unique environments that feel like stepping into another part of the world. The aquarium is equally breathtaking, featuring vibrant marine life and even a tunnel where you can watch sharks and other sea creatures swim overhead--it's a magical experience!I visited in March, and while the weather was a bit cold, it didn't detract from the experience. If anything, the cool weather made walking around more comfortable. Despite the popularity of the zoo, the crowds weren't overwhelming because of the sheer size of the grounds, which gives everyone plenty of space to explore at their own pace.Parking is ample and convenient, so getting in and out is easy. The only downside during my visit was the limited food options--only two dining areas were open, as many were closed for the season. I'd recommend bringing snacks or checking in advance if food is a priority for your group.Overall, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is truly spectacular. Whether you're an animal lover, a family with kids, or just looking for a unique adventure, this place has something for everyone. My time here was unforgettable, and I'll cherish the memories for years to come. If you're in Omaha--or even if you're not--make this a top priority on your travel list!

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is amazing! The entire zoo experience fully lived up to its hype and reputation. The highlights for me are the Desert Dome and underground area, Rainforest, and the aquarium. Definitely do not skip out on anything. Pro tip: the Desert Dome is right near the entrance, so it is crazy busy start of the day. We did a quick walk through and went further into the zoo to other exhibits. We made our way back to do the underground portion of the Desert Dome later in the afternoon as our last stop. I'm glad we went back as that was one of the coolest parts of the zoo for me.One thing I noticed is there's not a whole lot for food options. We did find the main food area towards the end of our visit, but it looked like only the ice cream stand was open. It looked like those were closed for the season (visited end of October). You are allowed to bring in snacks and drinks, so plan accordingly.

What a great place to go on a hot day! Newly renovated entrance into the aquarium makes for easy access. Beautiful displays and interesting exhibits require a close look so don't hurry through!A nice way to visit the zoo is one exhibit at a time. Get a membership it pays for itself after one visit and you can go any day of the year and it includes the IMAX theater inside the park.

This was an awesome aquarium and zoo all in one! It is huge and takes a few hours to fully explore the whole thing. It's cool to walk around and check out all the animals it has to offer. Great zoo experience! I highly recommend when you're in Omaha!

What can we say? Best zoo! The renovated Orangutan exhibit just opened and WOW! We were blown away. Be sure to check it out.If you are planning to come to the zoo a couple times a year, I would definitely consider getting an annual membership. Nice thing about that is you can stop in for a couple hours and not feel like you have to see the entire zoo to make daily admission fee worth it. In fact, it might be worth considering a patron membership as it includes free rides and other perks, and the option to bring guests and go to the Safari Park.

Yeah I see why this is the number one zoo for a reason. I did the two day pass for $50 and it was worth it. We spent two mornings there and didn't feel pressure to see everything in one day. It's a lot of walking Very unique exhibits and the animals look happy and healthy. The elephants were amazing! Free parking. Even during college World Series weekend, it wasn't crazy packed.

Time of visit: August 2024My husband and I both love going to zoos and aquariums. So, when he was in Iowa for work and we saw that one of the top 3 zoos in the U.S. was only 2 hours away, we had to go! This zoo is definitely enormous! There were a multitude of exhibits and animals, you definitely will spend a whole day there, maybe more if you are with littles! Be prepared with comfy shoes. And maybe don't go during the hottest part of the year like we did - there are many long stretches with no shade. With this being said, we were quite disappointed to see so many drink stands closed with no workers as well as many empty vending machines. Water got hard to find at one point, which can be dangerous during high temps. That combined with the actual zoo itself, it didn't live up to the hype of a top 3 zoo in our minds. Did we have a good time? Yes! Would I go again if we were in the area? Yes (but not when its 100 degrees lol). Would I travel here just to be able to go to this zoo? No.

Having heard some great things about Omaha's zoo, we were excited to visit it for ourselves. We were NOT disappointed -- it was definitely as good as advertised! My wife and I spent well over 4 hours exploring the zoo and only saw about half of the exhibits. We especially enjoyed the Desert Dome and its underground sections, the Giraffes, the Lions with their "pride rock", the Aquarium, the Elephants... actually, we liked everything we saw!We ate lunch at the Durham Treetop Restaurant which overlooks the Lied Jungle while we watched the monkeys playing. We will return when our grandkids come to visit so that we can see the exhibits that we didn't have time for this time.

Lots to see! The rides are fun too. In the summer they have a waterpark fun to go to with the kiddos. Lots of exhibitions to see