Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium traces its roots to 1894, when it opened as the small Riverview Park Zoo. It was renamed in 1963 after a major gift from businessman Henry Doorly, and has since grown into one of the most acclaimed zoological parks in the United States, sprawling across roughly 160 acres in Omaha, Nebraska.
The zoo is best known for its record-setting indoor habitats, including the Lied Jungle, one of the world’s largest indoor rainforests, and the Desert Dome, built beneath the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome. In 2014, TripAdvisor ranked it the world’s best zoo, and it has since kept the momentum going, taking USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for #1 Zoo in the Nation multiple years running — cementing its reputation as a premier Midwest attraction and one of the largest AZA-accredited zoos in the country.
Quick Answer
Henry Doorly Zoo is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with grounds open roughly 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from April through early November and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. from November through March. Admission is priced on three seasonal tiers (summer highest, spring/fall mid-range, winter cheapest), with separate rates for adults, children 3-11, seniors, and active military, plus free entry for kids 2 and under. Parking is always free. For exact current hours and prices, check the official Henry Doorly Zoo hours and admission page before you go.
Hours: What Time Does the Zoo Open and Close?
The zoo runs on two seasonal schedules. From roughly April 1 through early November, grounds are open about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with most indoor buildings staying open a bit later, until around 6 p.m. From early November through the end of March, hours shorten to roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with buildings closing around 5 p.m. A few exhibits — the Lied Jungle and Butterfly Pavilion in particular — close earlier than the rest of the grounds year-round, so it’s worth checking those specific closing times if they’re on your must-see list.
The zoo is open every day of the year with only two exceptions: Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Because indoor exhibits like the Lied Jungle, Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, and Scott Aquarium are all climate-controlled, the zoo is a genuine year-round destination regardless of Nebraska’s weather swings. Hours can shift slightly year to year, so always confirm the current schedule on the official hours and admission page or by calling ahead during severe weather.
Ticket Prices & How to Buy
Admission is set on three seasonal price tiers rather than one flat rate: summer (roughly May through September) is the most expensive, spring/fall (March-April and October-November) is mid-range, and winter (December through February) is the cheapest. Within each tier, pricing is broken out by age group — adults (12+), children (3-11), seniors (65+), and active-duty/retired military — with children 2 and under always admitted free.
As a general rule, adult general admission runs in the $20s during winter up to the low-$30s during peak summer months, with children’s and senior tickets priced several dollars lower at every tier. Because exact dollar amounts change from year to year, use the zoo’s official admission page for the current prices before you buy — tickets can be purchased online in advance, at the gate through Guest Services, or at self-serve kiosks.
Parking & Getting There
Parking is free in the zoo’s on-site lots, with the main entrance off 13th Street and Burt Murphy Avenue and a seasonal north entrance off 13th Street and Bob Gibson Boulevard. The zoo sits just off Interstate 80 at 3701 South 10th Street in Omaha, making it an easy stop for locals and road-trippers passing through Nebraska.
Because the grounds cover roughly 160 acres, the Zoo Train, Skyfari sky tram, and shuttle tram routes are worth using to cover ground efficiently or rest between exhibits rather than walking the entire property on foot.
Membership & Reciprocal Admission
The zoo sells several membership tiers — individual, dual, household (which typically covers two adults and several dependent children), grandparent, and military memberships — each offering a year of unlimited admission plus discounts on food, gifts, rides, and special events like the Giant Screen Theater. USA Today’s 10Best readers have voted it the #1 Zoo Membership in the country in recent years on top of the zoo’s own #1 Zoo ranking, a sign the membership itself is considered one of the best values in the industry rather than just an add-on perk.
Members also get reciprocal discounted or free admission at more than 100 other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide through the AZA reciprocity network, which is useful if you travel and want to keep visiting zoos elsewhere. Because membership prices and exact benefits are updated periodically, check the official Henry Doorly Zoo site for current tiers and costs.
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings, right after opening, are consistently the least crowded time to see popular outdoor habitats like the African Grasslands and big cat exhibits before the afternoon rush. Visiting in late fall through winter means smaller crowds and lower ticket prices, and since the Lied Jungle, Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, and Scott Aquarium are all climate-controlled, you still get a full day of exhibits regardless of the temperature outside.
Summer offers the most outdoor programming and the longest hours, but also the biggest crowds, especially on weekends and holidays. If your priority is photos and shorter lines rather than splash pads and extended evening hours, aim for a weekday in spring or fall instead.
What to See: Record-Setting Exhibits
The Lied Jungle recreates an Asian, African, and South American rainforest under one 80-foot-tall roof spanning about 1.5 acres, complete with a 50-foot waterfall and free-roaming primates and birds overhead. The Desert Dome sits beneath a 230-foot geodesic dome made of more than 1,700 acrylic panels — the largest glazed geodesic dome on Earth — and recreates arid landscapes from the Namib, Australian Outback, and Sonoran deserts across roughly 84,000 square feet on two levels.
Directly beneath the Desert Dome, the Kingdoms of the Night exhibit pairs a walk-through indoor swamp with darkened corridors for viewing nocturnal wildlife, and is billed as the world’s largest nocturnal animal exhibit. The Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium holds about 1.2 million gallons of water across 71,000 square feet, including a 450,000-gallon shark tank with a 70-foot walk-through tunnel, giving visitors close-up views of species from penguins to sharks and coral reef fish. With this many major indoor exhibits plus extensive outdoor habitats like the Scott African Grasslands and Hubbard Orangutan Forest, plan on a full day — most visitors spend four to six hours or more to see the highlights without rushing.
Food & Dining Options
Several dining spots are spread across the grounds so you don’t have to leave for a meal. Durham TreeTops Restaurant is the zoo’s main sit-down option, serving grill items, sandwiches, and salads, while quick-service spots like the Plaza Café, Sea Turtle Café, Tusker Grill, and Glacier Bay Landing offer faster snacks and meals near major exhibit clusters. Note that several kiosk and quick-service locations are cashless, so bring a card if you’re planning to eat on-site.
Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are also welcome in a bag or cooler, which is inspected at entry; glass containers and alcohol aren’t permitted, so packing a picnic lunch is a budget-friendly alternative to the on-site restaurants.
Accessibility & Practical Tips
Wheelchairs and strollers can be rented at the Main Gift Shop year-round, and guests may bring their own mobility devices at no charge. The zoo is a tobacco-free facility throughout the grounds. Given the size of the property, the Zoo Train, Skyfari, and tram routes double as convenient ways to rest between exhibits for visitors with limited mobility or young kids.
Conservation and Research
Beyond its exhibits, the zoo operates the Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research, a 32,000-square-foot facility recognized for pioneering work in reproductive science for large cats, including the world’s first in-vitro-fertilized tiger in 1990 and the first artificially inseminated tiger in 1991. The zoo has also been involved in landmark gorilla reproductive research and runs one of the largest amphibian conservation programs in the country, having released tens of thousands of endangered Wyoming toads and Puerto Rican crested toads back into the wild.
Henry Doorly Zoo has been continuously accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1983 and is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) — two of the most rigorous accreditation standards in the industry, covering animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, and safety.
Henry Doorly Zoo Omaha visitor guide FAQs
What are the hours at Henry Doorly Zoo?
Grounds are open roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from April through early November, and roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from early November through March. The zoo is closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Confirm exact current hours on the official hours and admission page before visiting.
How much are tickets to Henry Doorly Zoo?
Prices are set on three seasonal tiers — summer is highest, spring/fall is mid-range, and winter is cheapest — with separate rates for adults, children 3-11, seniors, and military, and free admission for kids 2 and under. Check the official admission page for the current dollar amounts.
Is parking free at Henry Doorly Zoo?
Yes. Parking is free in the zoo’s on-site lots at both the main entrance (13th Street and Burt Murphy Avenue) and the seasonal north entrance (13th Street and Bob Gibson Boulevard).
Is Henry Doorly Zoo worth visiting in winter?
Yes. Winter brings the lowest ticket prices and smallest crowds of the year, and major indoor exhibits — the Lied Jungle, Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, and Scott Aquarium — are all climate-controlled, so you still get a full day of exhibits regardless of outside temperatures.
How long does it take to see the whole zoo?
Most visitors spend four to six hours to hit the major exhibits at a comfortable pace; if you want to see everything across the roughly 160-acre grounds, including outdoor habitats like the Scott African Grasslands, plan on a full day.
Is Henry Doorly Zoo membership worth it?
For repeat visitors, yes — membership includes a year of unlimited admission, discounts on food and gifts, and reciprocal discounted or free entry at more than 100 other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide. USA Today’s 10Best readers have ranked it the #1 zoo membership in the country in recent years.
Can you bring outside food into the zoo?
Yes. Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed in a bag or cooler, which is inspected at entry. Glass containers and alcohol are not permitted, and the zoo also has several on-site restaurants and quick-service cafés if you’d rather buy food there.
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