VISITING Omaha · The Gateway to the West
Visiting Omaha with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
Omaha is compact. The children’s museum, the Durham, the Luminarium and the riverfront parks are all downtown, and the Zoo is about ten minutes south. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with nap built in.
Top 5 can’t-miss spots
#1Downtown
Omaha Children’s Museum
The best first morning for under-5s. If you’re in town late in the day, admission drops for the last hour.
Kids $17Under 24 months freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#2South Omaha
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Big enough to fill a day, so choose a few areas. The indoor desert, rainforest and aquarium make it work in any weather.
Kids $20.95Adults $28.952 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#3Downtown
The Durham Museum
Toddlers can climb aboard the train cars. It’s quietest on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Kids $10Adults $172 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Downtown
The RiverFront
Let them loose on the slides at Gene Leahy Mall. It’s walkable from the Old Market.
Free
See it in the guide→
#5Riverfront
Kiewit Luminarium
Best for the older preschoolers. Kids 3 and under are free, and the riverfront playgrounds are next door.
Kids $13Adults $183 and under freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Omaha
A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.
If you have one day
MORNINGOmaha Children’s MuseumGo at opening · Downtown · $17 kids
LUNCHBlock 16Beat the lunch line · DowntownNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPThe RiverFrontSlides and splash pads · Downtown · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGOmaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumA full morning · South Omaha · $20.95 kids, $28.95 adultsLUNCHRunzaA quick drive-through · Locations around OmahaNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPThe Durham MuseumClimb the train cars · Downtown · $10 kids, $17 adultsWhere to stay
Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions
Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.
BEST FOR FIRST-TIMERSDowntown and the Old MarketWalk to the Durham, the riverfront and the Old Market, with the Children’s Museum a short drive away.Near The Durham Museum, The RiverFront, Kiewit Luminarium and Omaha Children’s Museum
FOR THE ZOOSouth of downtownClosest to the Zoo and Lauritzen Gardens.Near Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Lauritzen Gardens
FOR A QUIETER BASEMidtownNear the Joslyn, and a few minutes from downtown.Near Joslyn Art Museum
Eat
Easy restaurants near the big stops
Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.
Plan B
Rainy-day backup plan
If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Omaha.
DowntownOmaha Children’s MuseumA whole morning of indoor play downtown.Kids $17Under 24 months freeIndoorDowntownThe Durham MuseumOld train cars in a grand station, indoors.Kids $10Adults $172 and under freeIndoorRiverfrontKiewit LuminariumHands-on science on the riverfront.Kids $13Adults $183 and under freeIndoorMidtownJoslyn Art MuseumA free indoor stop in Midtown.FreeIndoor
Ashland (about 30 minutes)Strategic Air Command & Aerospace MuseumGiant planes, all indoors.Kids $10Adults $183 and under freeIndoorBefore you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
Parking
The Durham Museum: The museum’s parking deck is free. Cars left after hours get towed.
Kiewit Luminarium: Free lots sit directly across the street and just west of the building. They’re shared with The RiverFront parks, so it’s first come, first served.
Kiewit Luminarium: Free lots sit directly across the street and just west of the building. They’re shared with The RiverFront parks, so it’s first come, first served.
Changing tables
The Durham Museum: There’s a family and nursing room. Ask at the Admissions Desk for access.
Free parking downtown
Both the Durham’s deck and the Luminarium’s riverfront lots are free.
Pair the Zoo and the gardens
Lauritzen Gardens is next door to the Zoo, so it’s an easy add if anyone still has energy.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Omaha
If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.
On a budget
Free and cheap wins for visitors
Spend less without skipping the good stuff.
This week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in Omaha. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#16:30pm–9:30pm
Zootacular at Henry Doorly Zoo
Glowing paths, trick-or-treating along Treat Street, live entertainment and Joe Cole's magic show after dark. It's a late night for little ones, so go early.
$25 adults
Hours, food & parking→
#2Sat 1–5pm (members from 10am)
Fright Lab at Kiewit Luminarium
Come in costume for trick-or-treating at 13 candy stations, spooky science demos, a Van de Graaff generator and a Maker Space craft. No costume weapons. Members get in from 10am.
$4 per child
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sun noon–2pm
Flight of Fright at the SAC Aerospace Museum
Candy drops from the cockpits of 13 historic aircraft inside the museum, with costumed staff. Bring a bag; doors open at 11am and drops run until supplies are gone.
$18 adults
Hours, food & parking→
#4Tue–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat–Sun 9am–5pm
Cobweb Castle at Omaha Children’s Museum
A not-so-scary Halloween maze with a castle wall to climb and black-light play, through November 1. Closed Mondays.
$17 ages 2 and upIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
#5Sun 1pm–3pm
Storybook Land: Scamper's Costume Party (Westroads Mall)
Trick-or-treat with library mascot Scamper and costumed book characters like Pout-Pout Fish, Penelope Rex, Click Clack Duck and Curious George. Storytimes at 1:30 (bilingual) and 2:15pm, and each child gets a free book while supplies last. In the level 1 atrium outside Von Maur.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Omaha with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Omaha kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Omaha guide lists 16 places we checked for little kids, plus 3 free places and 2 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 4 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 29 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Omaha and this weekend’s list.
Where should we stay in Omaha with little kids?
Downtown or the Old Market. The Children’s Museum, the Durham, the Luminarium and the riverfront are all close, and the Zoo is a short drive south.
How many days do you need in Omaha with a toddler?
Two days: one for the Zoo, and one for downtown and the riverfront.
Where can we park free in downtown Omaha?
The Durham Museum has a free deck, and the Luminarium shares free lots with The RiverFront.
More Littles Weekly
Other cities
Indy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Indianapolis
LiveColumbus LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbus
LiveCincy LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cincinnati
LiveLouisville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Louisville
LiveKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Kansas City
LiveCharlotte LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charlotte
LiveRaleigh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Raleigh
LiveNashville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Nashville
LiveTwin Cities LittlesThings to do with little ones in Minneapolis–St. Paul
LiveSTL LittlesThings to do with little ones in St. Louis
LiveGR LittlesThings to do with little ones in Grand Rapids
LiveMilwaukee LittlesThings to do with little ones in Milwaukee
LivePittsburgh LittlesThings to do with little ones in Pittsburgh
LiveCleveland LittlesThings to do with little ones in Cleveland
LiveDetroit LittlesThings to do with little ones in Detroit
LiveDes Moines LittlesThings to do with little ones in Des Moines
LiveRVA LittlesThings to do with little ones in Richmond
LiveGreenville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Greenville
LiveKnoxville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Knoxville
LiveOKC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Oklahoma City
LiveLexington LittlesThings to do with little ones in Lexington
LiveDayton LittlesThings to do with little ones in Dayton
LiveChattanooga LittlesThings to do with little ones in Chattanooga
LiveBirmingham LittlesThings to do with little ones in Birmingham
LiveTulsa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tulsa
LiveMadison LittlesThings to do with little ones in Madison
LiveBuffalo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Buffalo
LiveSLC LittlesThings to do with little ones in Salt Lake City
LiveBoise LittlesThings to do with little ones in Boise
LiveSan Antonio LittlesThings to do with little ones in San Antonio
LiveNOLA LittlesThings to do with little ones in New Orleans
LiveMemphis LittlesThings to do with little ones in Memphis
LiveBaton Rouge LittlesThings to do with little ones in Baton Rouge
LiveLittle Rock LittlesThings to do with little ones in Little Rock
LiveHuntsville LittlesThings to do with little ones in Huntsville
LiveCharleston LittlesThings to do with little ones in Charleston
LiveJax LittlesThings to do with little ones in Jacksonville
LiveOrlando LittlesThings to do with little ones in Orlando
LiveTampa LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tampa
LiveCOS LittlesThings to do with little ones in Colorado Springs
LiveWichita LittlesThings to do with little ones in Wichita
LiveFort Wayne LittlesThings to do with little ones in Fort Wayne
LiveRochester LittlesThings to do with little ones in Rochester
LiveSpokane LittlesThings to do with little ones in Spokane
LiveSavannah LittlesThings to do with little ones in Savannah
LiveAustin LittlesThings to do with little ones in Austin
LiveABQ LittlesThings to do with little ones in Albuquerque
LiveTucson LittlesThings to do with little ones in Tucson
LiveColumbia LittlesThings to do with little ones in Columbia
LiveToledo LittlesThings to do with little ones in Toledo
LiveAll citiesThe Littles Weekly home page
Your weekend, planned by Friday.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in Omaha, plus what to skip.