# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Omaha: the parent guide > Omaha is a strong little-kid city: one of the country’s biggest zoos, a children’s museum downtown, a new riverfront science museum and playgrounds along the river. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - 16 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/guide/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/index.md - Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/visiting/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/llms.txt ## Kid-friendly restaurants ### Runza (Locations around Omaha) - A Nebraska fast-food classic with kids’ meals on the menu. - Price level: $ - Kids usually order: Kids meals - Good for: A cheap, quick Nebraska classic on the road. - Skip if: you want a sit-down meal; it’s fast food. - Website: https://www.runza.com/ ### Ted & Wally’s (Old Market and Benson) - Homemade ice cream in small batches, a sweet stop after the Old Market. - Price level: $ - Menu prices: kids’ meals $2.59 child scoop - Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–10pm; Fri–Sat 11am–11pm - Good for: A $2.59 child scoop after an Old Market walk. - Skip if: it’s late and sugar won’t help bedtime; it’s open until 11 on weekends. - Price source: https://www.tedandwallys.com/s/Ted-and-Wallys-Menu (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.tedandwallys.com/ ### Upstream Brewing Company (Old Market) - A big, casual brewpub in the Old Market that takes reservations. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: kids’ meals $5–$11 - Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–10pm; Fri–Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 10am–10pm - Good for: A big, casual Old Market dinner you can book ahead; kids’ meals are $5–$11. - Skip if: you want somewhere small and quiet. - Price source: https://upstreambrewing.com/food/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://upstreambrewing.com/ ### Block 16 (Downtown) - A small counter-service spot known for burgers and fries. - Price level: $ - Hours: Mon–Wed 11am–2pm; Thu–Sat 11am–8pm - Good for: A quick burger lunch downtown. - Skip if: you want dinner Monday to Wednesday. It closes at 2pm. - Website: https://block16omaha.com/ ## Indoor play and rainy days ### Omaha Children’s Museum (Downtown) - Play exhibits for young kids, and free for babies under 24 months. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: Everyone 2–59 $17; Under 24 months free. Plus tax; $8 in the last hour - Hours: Tue–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat–Sun 9am–5pm - Good for: The best first morning for under-5s; under 24 months is free and the last hour is $8. - Skip if: your free day is Monday; it opens Tuesday to Sunday. - Price source: https://ocm.org/hours-and-prices/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://ocm.org/ ### Kiewit Luminarium (Riverfront) - A riverfront science museum full of hands-on exhibits and a maker space. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 4–17 $13; adults $18; 3 and under free - Hours: Tue–Sun 10am (Wed until 7pm); closed most Mondays - Good for: Older preschoolers who like making things; 3 and under are free. - Skip if: it’s a Monday, when it’s usually closed. - Price source: https://kiewitluminarium.org/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://kiewitluminarium.org/ ### The Durham Museum (Downtown) - Old train cars to climb inside, in a grand art deco train station. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $10; adults $17; 2 and under free. Plus tax - Good for: Climbing into old train cars; 2 and under are free. - Skip if: you go on a busy weekend. Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are quietest. - Price source: https://durhammuseum.org/visit/hours-and-admission/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://durhammuseum.org/ ### Joslyn Art Museum (Midtown) - A free art museum with family art-making days. - Price level: Free - Good for: A free, short visit, especially on family art days. - Skip if: your toddler needs to touch everything; galleries need gentle hands. - Website: https://joslyn.org/ ## Parks and outdoor play ### The RiverFront (Downtown) - Gene Leahy Mall’s playgrounds, slides and splash areas by the river. - Price level: Free - Good for: Free slides and splash areas walkable from the Old Market. - Skip if: you want to stay dry in summer; the splash areas are part of the fun. - Website: https://theriverfrontomaha.com/ ### Fontenelle Forest (Bellevue) - Boardwalk trails through the trees and a nature center. - Price level: $ - Good for: Stroller-friendly boardwalk trails and the Acorn Acres nature play area. - Skip if: you want to stay downtown; it’s out in Bellevue. - Website: https://fontenelleforest.org/ ### Lauritzen Gardens (South Omaha) - Botanical gardens with a model railroad garden. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $11; adults 13–64 $18; 2 and under free. Advance prices - Good for: The model railroad garden next to the zoo; 2 and under are free. - Skip if: you buy at the door; listed prices are advance. - Price source: https://www.lauritzengardens.org/tickets (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.lauritzengardens.org/ ### Heartwood Preserve (West Omaha) - A newer park with trails, open lawns and seasonal festivals. - Price level: Free - Good for: Free lawns and trails, plus seasonal festivals. - Skip if: you need playground equipment. - Website: https://heartwoodomaha.com/ ## Museums, zoos and big outings ### Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (South Omaha) - A huge zoo with an indoor desert, a rainforest and an aquarium. - Price level: $$ - Tickets (last season): kids 3–11 $20.95; adults 12+ $28.95; 2 and under free. Oct 1–Nov 30 prices; winter prices from Dec 1 - Good for: Any weather, with an indoor desert, rainforest and aquarium; 2 and under are free. - Skip if: you try to see it all in one day with a toddler. - Price source: https://www.omahazoo.com/hours-and-admission (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.omahazoo.com/ ### Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (Ashland (about 30 minutes)) - Giant airplanes and missiles under one roof. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 4–12 $10; adults $18; 3 and under free. Plus tax - Good for: Plane-crazy kids; 3 and under are free. - Skip if: you don’t want to drive about 30 minutes toward Lincoln. - Price source: https://www.sacmuseum.org/visit/visitor-information/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.sacmuseum.org/ ## Staycations and overnight trips ### Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (Ashland (about 30 minutes)) - Cabins, a lodge, an indoor play area and trails, halfway to Lincoln. - Price level: $$ - Good for: Cabins with an indoor play area, halfway to Lincoln. - Skip if: you want to be near the Old Market. - Website: https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/eugene-t-mahoney/ ### Lied Lodge at Arbor Day Farm (Nebraska City (about 50 minutes)) - A lodge next to a tree adventure trail and orchard. - Price level: $$$ - Good for: A lodge by a tree adventure trail and orchard about 50 minutes out. - Skip if: you want to be near the zoo and downtown; it’s about 50 minutes away. - Website: https://www.arbordayfarm.org/ ## Free things to do - Joslyn Art Museum - The RiverFront - Heartwood Preserve ## Best for under 3s - **Omaha Children’s Museum**: Babies under 24 months get in free. - **The Durham Museum**: Toddlers love climbing into the train cars. ## With a baby or a 1-year-old ### Baby and lap-sit storytimes - **Baby Storytime** (Omaha Public Library): Tuesdays at 9:15am · A.V. Sorensen Branch. Birth to 15 months. Experience simple books, rhymes, music, and play designed to promote development and learning. https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby Storytime** (Omaha Public Library): Saturdays at 9:30am · Benson Branch. Birth to 15 months. Experience simple books, rhymes, music, and play designed to promote development and learning. https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby Storytime** (Omaha Public Library): Tuesdays at 9:30am and 10:30am · Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch. Birth to 15 months. Experience simple books, rhymes, music, and play designed to promote development and learning. https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby Storytime** (Omaha Public Library): Mondays at 9:30am; Saturdays at 10:30am · Central Library. Birth to 15 months. Experience simple books, rhymes, music, and play designed to promote development and learning. https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby Storytime** (Omaha Public Library): Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30am · Millard Branch. Birth to 15 months. Experience simple books, rhymes, music, and play designed to promote development and learning. https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby Storytime** (Omaha Public Library): Fridays at 9:30am · Milton R. Abrahams Branch. Birth to 15 months. Experience simple books, rhymes, music, and play designed to promote development and learning. https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events ### Babies get in free - **Omaha Children’s Museum**: Under 24 months free. https://ocm.org/hours-and-prices/ - **Kiewit Luminarium**: 3 and under free. https://kiewitluminarium.org/tickets/ - **The Durham Museum**: 2 and under free. https://durhammuseum.org/visit/hours-and-admission/ - **Lauritzen Gardens**: 2 and under free. https://www.lauritzengardens.org/tickets - **Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium**: 2 and under free. https://www.omahazoo.com/hours-and-admission - **Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum**: 3 and under free. https://www.sacmuseum.org/visit/visitor-information/ ### Changing tables and nursing rooms - **The Durham Museum**: There’s a family and nursing room. Ask at the Admissions Desk for access. ### Stroller notes - **Fontenelle Forest**: Free stroller loans are available, first come, first served, and the mile-long boardwalk works with wheels. ## Library storytimes - **Omaha Public Library**: Weekly at 11 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at branches around the city. https://omahalibrary.org/ ## Happening this week - **Zootacular at Henry Doorly Zoo** (6:30pm–9:30pm) at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. $25 adults, $15 ages 3+ (non-members); members save 20%. https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/#e-zootacular_at_henry_doorly_zoo - **Fright Lab at Kiewit Luminarium** (Sat 1–5pm (members from 10am)) at Kiewit Luminarium. $4 per child, $3 per adult (non-members). https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/#e-fright_lab_at_kiewit_luminarium - **Flight of Fright at the SAC Aerospace Museum** (Sun noon–2pm) at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. $18 adults, $10 ages 4–12, 3 and under free. https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/#e-flight_of_fright_sac_museum - **Cobweb Castle at Omaha Children’s Museum** (Tue–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat–Sun 9am–5pm) at Omaha Children’s Museum. $17 ages 2 and up; under 24 months free. https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/#e-cobweb_castle_at_omaha_children_s_museum - **Storybook Land: Scamper's Costume Party (Westroads Mall)** (Sun 1pm–3pm) at Westroads Mall. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/#e-storybook_land_scampers_costume_party Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Omaha: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Omaha for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo good for toddlers? Yes, if you don’t try to see everything. The indoor desert, rainforest and aquarium keep it comfortable in any weather, and kids 2 and under are free. ### What’s free to do with little kids in Omaha? The RiverFront playgrounds, the Joslyn Art Museum and Heartwood Preserve are free, and so are library storytimes. ### What’s good for a rainy day in Omaha with a toddler? The Children’s Museum, the Durham Museum and the Zoo’s indoor exhibits. ### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Omaha? Omaha Children’s Museum: Babies under 24 months get in free. The Durham Museum: Toddlers love climbing into the train cars. Free for the littlest: Kiewit Luminarium (3 and under free), Lauritzen Gardens (2 and under free) and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (2 and under free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/guide/#under3). ### Where are the free storytimes in Omaha? Omaha Public Library: Weekly at 11 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Omaha weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/omaha/). ### How do you choose the places in the Omaha guide? Every one of the 16 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 8 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/). ### How much is Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for a toddler, and who gets in free? 2 and under free; kids 3–11: $20.95; adults 12+: $28.95. We checked this on [its official site](https://www.omahazoo.com/hours-and-admission) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go. ### How much is the Omaha Children’s Museum for a toddler, and who gets in free? Under 24 months free; everyone 2–59: $17 (plus tax; $8 in the last hour). We checked this on [its official site](https://ocm.org/hours-and-prices/) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.