Omaha’s Henry Doorly: Pros & Cons of Visiting The Largest Zoo
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
On a recent long cross country spring road trip (we drove from Cleveland to Phoenix), we decided to plan for a stop in Omaha. Neither Mike and I have done much in the state outside of a few quick one night hotel stays. We figured visiting the top ranked Henry Doorly Zoo would be a great place to start our Nebraska adventures. Being a Chicago native, I am used to having access to one of the country’s biggest and most beautiful zoos (Brookfield is always number 1 to me), so I was eager to see how this highly rated zoo measures up in comparison.
This zoo is the largest in the US by number of species. According to the zoo’s website, over 30,000 animals currently reside within the 160 acre space. Most notably, this zoo is home to the largest indoor desert and rainforest in the country, along with the largest nocturnal exhibit. It’s quite a unique place with attractions not typically found elsewhere which is what sets it apart.
It’s a big place that you need some time to explore. At first, I didn’t understand why 5+ hours is recommended to see it all; that is until getting here and seeing the massive grounds and shear size of the indoor exhibits.
Overall, I would say Henry Doorly is worthy of a spot on your bucket list, especially if you are located within a reasonable daytrip/roadtrip distance. It has won numerous awards over the years and has a great reputation as one of the best zoos in the country.
First off, I have highlighted a few of the positives and negatives of my visit. I have visited zoos all around the country and I have to say this is now one of my favorites.
Pro’s
The indoor rainforest (Lied Jungle) is amazing. It’s easily the best attraction in my opinion. Not only is the exhibit lush and green, but it was fun seeing the monkeys swing from tree to tree in a natural environment. You will get to see many primate species from the rainforests of Africa, Asia, and South America. I thought Tropic at Brookfield was the best until I visited Lied! It’s lush and green with numerous waterfalls, tree climbing structures, and lots of opportunity to see primates in action.
The indoor desert dome is truly one-of-a-kind. I lived in Arizona for several years so I have seen my share of cacti, but for anyone who has never explored the Sonoran, this is a great introductory to all types of cacti. You will also get to see desert plants from Australia and Africa.
Reciprocal admission. You will receive half off your admission ticket if you have another membership (we were members of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo so we saved over 30 bucks for the day).
The aquarium is pretty nice considering it is just an add on vs. a stand alone city attraction. Most aquariums today are pretty pricey so this is a great 2 for 1 deal. I love the shark tank tunnel and the beautiful jellyfish tanks.
A gorgeous Okapi (forest giraffe) lives here. I haven’t seen one in a while living in Cleveland and Tampa the past few years so this was a nice surprise. They are endangered but a lot of zoos still house them. Check out this list to see more.
I loved the orangutan exhibit. It truly is world-class.
The world’s largest nocturnal exhibit (Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night) is pretty spectacular. I really wish we had more time to explore. They have this really cool section where you walk through a swamp (the world’s largest indoor) and the staff points out gator sightings. You will be able to see blind fish in a wet cave and hundreds of short-tailed fruit bats flying around a dry cave.
The massive colorful Koi pond was pretty cool. It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen and there is a nice covered bride (a break from the heat finally!) where you can feed them or just watch them fight for food.
This zoo is one of a few (just 10 percent of over 2000) that has received AZA Accreditation. Basically, this means that they provide great care for the animals, have safety measures in place for guests, and participate in conservation efforts.
Con’s
Finding parking is a real hassle with limited spaces available. Even on a weekday, we had a really hard time.
It’s a big space with a lot of walking in between exhibits. This can be a good or bad thing depending on how much exercise you want to get in. We got in around 20,000 steps for the day which is not far off from what I get walking around Disney/Universal.
We dined at Tree Tops restaurant. The food was really bad and overpriced. The french fries were cold and my salad was completely wilted even though it cost 10 bucks. The seating area both inside and outside is beautiful though.
We tried ice cream later in the day and it was not that great either. Also, I prefer hard scoop and they only had soft serve and bars available.
The staff was a bit rude at the Sweet Shoppe stand.
Little shade. On our spring visit, it was only 75 degrees but we were both super hot. It felt like the middle of August due to the lack of shade. Definitely wear workout clothes and bring plenty of water.
So crowded. I’ve never seen more crowds at a zoo and this was a weekday! The aquarium and Lied Jungle were so packed we could barely move. It was difficult to take quality pictures with the crowding. I recommend getting to these indoor exhibits first thing in the morning or the last hour (it was nice to walk through Lied at 3:30 when all the crowds were gone).
All rides are priced separately. Personally, I would prefer a higher price tag with the theater, aerial tram ride, trolley tram, etc. included for one price.
What to do if you are limited on time
I’ve found that it typically only takes me an hour or 2 max at most to explore most zoos in their entirety even if they suggest much longer. Henry Doorly was really massive though and I highly recommend at least 5 hours especially if you plan on seeing a show or going on any of the rides. If you are limited to an hour or 2, here is what I recommend.
Lied Jungle: The largest indoor rainforest in the US showcases rainforests from South America, Asia and Africa. You will see Monkeys, tapirs, macaws and pygmy hippos as you enjoy lush plant life and waterfalls.
Desert Dome: It’s not as impressive as the Jungle to me, but a beautiful intro to desert plants and won’t take up nearly as much time. You will get to walk through 3 deserts which are separated by a massive 55 foot mountain inside the dome. You will get to explore pant and animal life from: the Namib Desert of Africa, the Sonoran of the Southwest US, and the isolated Red Desert of Australia. Various snakes, owls, and even a roadrunner make an appearance.
Asian Highlands: This is one of the most gorgeous walk through sections. You will get to see an Amur Tiger, Snow Leopard, Sloth Bear, Indian Rhino, Takin and Goral. This section is much flatter and a bit shadier than other sections. The enclosures are all really gorgeous and spacious. Both the leopard and tiger were sleeping on our visit.
Hubbard Orangutan Forest: A really impressive habitat for Bornean orangutans and Siamangs. Highlights include a 20-foot-tall waterfall and tree root climbing structures.
Berniece Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion: A great quick stop near the aquarium. Entry is limited to just a few people at a time. You will get to see gorgeous butterflies from around the world fluttering around. Staff will inform you that you can’t touch them even if they land on you.
Enjoy this quick photo tour of some of the other animals we saw during our visit. Other great exhibits I haven’t previously mentioned include: South African Highlands and Hubbard Gorilla Valley.
Things to know
Yes, you can bring in outside food. No alcohol or glass containers. There are several picnic areas. I recommend packing your own lunch as the food we tried was honestly not that good. The rest of the zoo was fabulous though.
No smoking on the grounds (I am totally fine with this!). This includes vaping and electronic cigarettes.
Walking the entire zoo will be a workout. It’s about 2 miles around with a lot of hills and some of the indoor exhibits are more than one level.
Some indoor exhibits close early. Lied Jungle closes at 4 during the summer and 3 in the winter. You definitely want to budget time for this one.
Stroller ($12) and wagon rentals ($15) available on a first come, first served basis.
A limited number of pet kennels are available if you are traveling with your dog. Please contact Guest Services.
Discounts are available for 2 day passes. It’s tiresome walking around so splitting your visit into 2 days is ideal.
You are free to leave and come back (the staff will stamp your hand for reentry)
Accessibility: Manual wheelchairs available for $10, electric for $32. All are first come, first served.
Admission includes all indoor exhibits. All rides and specialty attractions priced separately.
Special experiences include:
- Giant screen theater (currently showing Coral Sea and Wild Asia). Price: $7/members free
- Wild Explorer (a virtual reality ride). Price: $8/$6 members
- Tram (covers the grounds). Price: $1.25 one stop/$5 for the full ride
- Train. Price: $3.50 per person
- Sues Carousel. Price: $4 per person
- Skyfari (a scenic aerial ride) Price: $7 per person
- Giraffe Encounter (seasonal). Price: $5 per branch
- Scott Alaskan Adventure Splash Park (seasonal). Price: included
- Bay Family Children’s Adventure Trails (weekends only). Price: included
Where to eat afterwards
We were starving after putting in a number of miles in the heat. I recommend skipping the touristy restaurants in The Old Market and instead supporting a local business. Whenever I travel, I love to try out local gems. I recommend this little gem called Jim and Jennie’s Greek Village. The food was so good, the staff friendly, and the decor bright and colorful. Servings were massive too! It was a treat after a long day walking.
Additional details
- Location: 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107
- Hours: 9am-5pm (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Winter hours (Nov 4th – March 31st): 10am-4pm.
- Indoor exhibit hours: Buildings are open until 6 in summer and 5 in winter (Lied Jungle closes at 3 in winter and 4 in summer). The Butterfly Pavilion closes at 4 year-round.
- Price: $33.95 adults, $30.55 seniors, $25.95 (ages 3-11)
- Discounts: 2 day passes priced at: $50.90 adults, $45.80 seniors, and $38.90 child
- Reciprocal: 50% off discount
- Parking: Free
- Dining options: Tree Tops (next to Lied Jungle), Plaza Cafe (at Desert Dome), Sea Turtle cafe (next to Aquarium), Tusker Grill (inside African Lodge), Yeti Camp (Asian Highlands), Glacier Bay Landing cafe, Sweet Shop (Glacier Bay Landing). We also saw numerous concession and Dippin Dots stations.
Also, I recommend taking a look at my guide to some of my favorite zoos I’ve visited around the US. I highly recommend a visit to Brookfield in Chicago. It’s home to the best dolphin show. Also, San Diego is amazing especially with the Giant Panda exhibit and incredible tram ride. The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium and Cleveland Metroparks are also worthy contenders.
