Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a 160-acre zoo and aquarium located at 3701 S 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, open year-round to the public. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips to help you plan your visit.
Updated May 2026. Summer 2026 adult admission is $33.95 — up from previous years. Other guides using older pricing figures may be out of date.
Quick facts: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107 |
| Phone | (402) 733-8401 |
| Opening hours (summer) | 9am–5pm daily (1 Apr–3 Nov) |
| Opening hours (winter) | 10am–4pm daily (4 Nov–31 Mar) |
| Closed | Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day |
| Adult ticket (summer) | $33.95 |
| Child ticket (summer, ages 3–11) | $25.95 |
| Children aged 2 and under | Free |
| Parking | Free on site |
| Typical visit duration | Full day (4–8 hours); minimum half day |
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo opening hours
The zoo is open daily year-round, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- 1 April – 3 November: gates open 9am, last admission 5pm; buildings close at 6pm (note: the Lied Jungle and Berniece Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion close at 4pm during this period)
- 4 November – 31 March: gates open 10am, last admission 4pm; buildings close at 5pm; the Lied Jungle closes at 3pm and the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion at 4pm
During inclement weather, call (402) 733-8401 before visiting.
Henry Doorly Zoo ticket prices
Admission prices vary by season. Current prices from the official website are below.
Summer (1 May – 30 September)
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 12+) | $33.95 |
| Children (ages 3–11) | $25.95 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $30.55 |
| Children (aged 2 and under) | Free |
| Military adult (ages 12+) | $30.55 |
| Military child (ages 3–11) | $23.35 |
Spring and autumn (1 March – 30 April; 1 October – 30 November)
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 12+) | $28.95 |
| Children (ages 3–11) | $20.95 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $25.95 |
| Children (aged 2 and under) | Free |
| Military adult (ages 12+) | $25.95 |
| Military child (ages 3–11) | $18.85 |
Winter (1 December – 28 February)
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (ages 12+) | $21.95 |
| Children (ages 3–11) | $14.95 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $19.75 |
| Children (aged 2 and under) | Free |
| Military adult (ages 12+) | $19.75 |
| Military child (ages 3–11) | $13.45 |
A two-day pass is available at 25% off standard pricing. The second visit must follow the first day consecutively.
The Lozier Giant Screen Theatre costs an additional $7 per person. Zoo members are admitted free.
Rides and add-on costs (weather and staff dependent): Tram $1.25–$5 per person; train $3.50–$7; Skyfari $7; Sue’s Carousel $4; Wild Explorer VR $8.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
The zoo is located at 3701 S 10th Street, south of downtown Omaha, just off Interstate 80.
By car: The zoo is accessible from I-80 and is 5.3 miles from Eppley Airfield (OMA). Use 13th Street and Bert Murphy Avenue (Main Entrance) or 13th Street and Bob Gibson Boulevard (North Entrance, northbound only).
By public transport: Omaha’s Metro Transit bus network serves the area. Check current routes and schedules at ometro.com before travelling.
Parking at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Parking is free for all visitors. The zoo has two entry points: the Main Entrance (open seven days a week) and the North Gate (open Friday to Sunday only). Parking areas are designated by animal groups to help visitors locate their vehicles.
How long to spend at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Plan for a full day (a minimum of four hours, and up to eight or more with children). The zoo covers 160 acres and has over 13 major exhibits. Visitors focused solely on the main indoor exhibits — Lied Jungle, Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, and Scott Aquarium — should allow at least three to four hours.
Accessibility at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
The zoo provides several mobility options, all available from the Main Gift Shop on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Manual wheelchairs and adult chairs: $10 per day
- Electric scooter riders: $30 per day (operators must be 16+ with a valid driving licence or state ID)
- Single strollers: $10 per day
- Double strollers and wagons: $14 per day
Guests may bring their own equipment. The train, tram, and Skyfari are also suitable for visitors with mobility limitations.
Inside Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: what to see
Lied Jungle is a four-storey indoor rainforest and the largest in North America. It is home to more than 90 animal species, including pygmy hippos, otters, primates, and large macaws.
Desert Dome sits beneath a geodesic dome and recreates three desert ecosystems: the Namib, Australia’s Red Centre, and the Sonoran Desert. Directly below is Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night, the largest indoor nocturnal exhibit in North America. It features an indoor swamp, cave environments, beavers, alligators, and nocturnal species.
Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium contains a 70-foot shark tunnel where visitors walk beneath sharks, sea turtles, and rays. King, gentoo, and rockhopper penguins are also on display.
Scott African Grasslands covers 28 acres and houses elephants, giraffes, lions, meerkats, and zebras in open outdoor habitat. Asian Highlands features Amur tigers, snow leopards, white rhinos, and sloth bears.
Hubbard Gorilla Valley and Hubbard Orangutan Forest offer ground-level and overhead viewing of western lowland gorillas, Bornean orangutans, and siamangs.
Practical visitor tips for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive early | Gates open at 9am (summer). Arriving at opening reduces queue times at indoor exhibits, which become crowded by mid-morning on weekends and public holidays. |
| Start at the back, work forward | Beginning at the North Entrance and moving towards the Main Entrance means visiting against the general crowd flow, which reduces congestion at popular exhibits. |
| Buy tickets in advance | Tickets are available online at omahazoo.com. Purchasing ahead reduces time at the gate. Online tickets are not available for reciprocal admissions. |
| Cash is restricted on site | Cash is not accepted at self-service kiosks, Plaza Café, Sea Turtle Café, Tusker Grill, or Glacier Bay Landing. Use the Ready Station kiosks to load cash onto a prepaid Mastercard if needed. |
| Outside food is permitted | Guests may bring food and non-alcoholic drinks in a bag or cooler. Glass containers and alcohol are not allowed. The zoo also has 13 dining and snack locations on site. |
Frequently asked questions about Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo suitable for young children? | Yes. The zoo has stroller and wagon hire, a children’s splash park (Scott Alaskan Adventure), Bay Family Children’s Adventure Trails, a carousel, and a train ride. Nursing facilities are available throughout the site. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Henry Doorly Zoo? | Advance booking is not required, but buying online at omahazoo.com reduces time at the gate. Tickets are also sold in person. |
| Is the zoo open on Sundays? | Yes. The zoo is open seven days a week, year-round, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. |
| Is Henry Doorly Zoo included in the Scott Aquarium admission? | Yes. The Scott Aquarium is included in the standard daily admission price. No separate ticket is required. |
| Are bags allowed at Henry Doorly Zoo? | Yes. Visitors may bring bags and coolers with food and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic beverages and glass containers are not permitted. |
Things to do near Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Lauritzen Gardens – Omaha’s Botanical Center (100 Bancroft St, ~1 mile) is a 100-acre public garden with seasonal displays, a model railway, and a conservatory.
The Durham Museum (801 S 10th St, ~2 miles) is housed in the city’s restored Art Deco Union Station. It covers Omaha’s history through permanent and touring exhibitions.
Kenefick Park (100 Bancroft St, adjacent to Lauritzen Gardens) displays two full-size Union Pacific locomotives and is free to visit.
Joslyn Art Museum (2200 Dodge St, ~3 miles) is a free-entry art museum with collections spanning ancient to contemporary art, housed in a pink Georgia marble building.
Omaha Children’s Museum (500 S 20th St, ~2.5 miles) is an interactive science and arts museum aimed at children aged 0–12.
What to visit tomorrow: zoos and wildlife parks near Omaha
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park (Gretna, NE, ~20 miles) is the zoo’s sister attraction. Visitors drive through 900 acres of open-range habitat. A new ‘Dinosaurs Unearthed’ experience opened in spring 2026.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo (Lincoln, NE, ~60 miles) focuses on hands-on animal interaction and is home to over 400 animals, including snow leopards and red pandas. Designed primarily for families with younger children.
Blank Park Zoo (Des Moines, IA, ~2.5 hours) is a mid-sized zoo with African, Asian, and Australian sections, an aquarium building, and a children’s discovery centre.
Great Plains Zoo (Sioux Falls, SD, ~2.5 hours) houses over 1,000 animals across 45 species, including snow leopards and spider monkeys, with an adjoining natural history museum.
Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium (Kansas City, MO, ~3 hours) covers 202 acres with a full aquarium, penguin exhibit, and Africa savanna section. Note: at approximately three hours’ drive, this is at the outer limit of a same-day return trip.
