From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. Downtown is flat and easy to walk, and the zoo and Lincoln are each a short drive away.Details
Flying in
Eppley Airfield is the airport for Omaha, a few miles north-east of downtown. Taxis, booked rides and rental cars wait outside, and the road into the city is short and straight.
A car helps
Day 1 is on foot, but Day 2 spreads across the south of the city and Day 3 is a drive to Lincoln along the interstate. Rent a car for the trip, or book rides for the first two days.
What to wear
The weather swings across the seasons. Pack layers and comfortable shoes for the zoo and the brick streets, a rain jacket for spring and early summer, and a warm coat from late fall to early spring.
First evening
Drop your bags and stroll the brick streets of the Old Market, where the horse-drawn carriages and the street performers are part of the evening. Day 1 starts there too, so it is an easy walk back in the morning.
How much walking? On foot, about 0.8 to 1.9 miles a day, and 833.5 miles by car in all across 5 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. The zoo, the gardens and the south and Old Market and the riverfront
5 stops · 10.1 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningIndoor
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
A zoo and aquarium that grew from a park zoo of 1894. Its indoor exhibits include a rainforest, a desert under a glass dome and a swamp for animals of the night, which makes it a plan for hot, cold or wet days. Check ahead on tickets.
Go whenMorning, as early as you can, and plan to stay on.
Local tip Start with the outdoor animals while it is cool, then use the indoor rainforest, desert and night exhibits for heat, cold or rain. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and check ahead on tickets.
About 11 min by car or transit2.1 mi
2
Morning
Old Market
A neighborhood of downtown Omaha, with brick-paved streets from the turn of the 20th century, covered sidewalks, art galleries and street performers. Horse-drawn carriages pass by. A good place to wander slowly with children.
Go whenMorning, before the streets fill, or in the evening (about 7:33 PM) when the lights come on.
Local tip The bricks are uneven, so push a stroller slowly and watch small feet. Look in at the galleries, and let the children pick which street to try next.
The botanical garden and arboretum of Omaha, in the south of the city, with a conservatory and a play garden for younger children. The paths are an easy walk after the zoo. Check ahead on tickets and on what is in bloom.
Go whenAfternoon, after the zoo.
Local tip Walk the paths, step into the conservatory and let the children try the play garden. Check ahead on what is in bloom and on tickets.
About 9 min by car or transit1.4 mi
4
AfternoonIndoor
Durham Museum (Omaha)
A museum of the history of the American West, housed in the old Union Station of Omaha. The station hall is worth a look even before the exhibits. Check ahead on tickets and what is on.
Go whenAfternoon, as an indoor stop.
Local tip The museum fills the old Union Station, so look up at the station hall before you go into the exhibits. Check ahead on what is on and on tickets.
About 20 min by car or transit5.0 mi
5
Evening
Fontenelle Forest
A forest preserve of about 1,500 acres at Bellevue, south of Omaha, with hardwood forest, floodplain, loess hills and marsh. It has hiking trails and a nature center, and it is a National Natural Landmark. Wear closed shoes, carry water and check ahead on the trails.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:33 PM), when the light comes through the trees.
Local tip It is a real forest on soft ground, so wear closed shoes and carry water. Mosquitoes can be thick in the warm months, so bring repellent. Check ahead on the trails and the weather.
A breaded and fried cutlet of beef, covered in cream gravy, with mashed potatoes, a comfort plate of the Midwest.
Local tip The plates are large, so share one between two children.
If it rains. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Durham Museum (Omaha) are covered, so keep them. Move Old Market, Lauritzen Gardens and Fontenelle Forest to a dry day if you can.
Day 2. Old Market and the riverfront and Midtown and the Gold Coast
5 stops · 1.4 mi on foot, 8.9 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Fontenelle ForestAbout 21 min by car or transit5.4 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Morning
Gene Leahy Mall
A park of nearly ten acres in downtown Omaha, next to the Old Market, with two large slides, a sculpture garden, a remote-control boat cove, a children's play area and an amphitheater. It is lit with thousands of lights in the winter holiday season.
Go whenMorning or afternoon, for a run around.
Local tip Two large slides, a sculpture garden, a children's play area and a boat cove make this a park for children. It is lit with thousands of lights in the winter holiday season. Check ahead on what is open.
A mansion in the Scottish Baronial style, built in 1903 in the Gold Coast Historic District of Omaha. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and was named an Omaha landmark in 1979.
Go whenMorning or afternoon, as a short look.
Local tip A mansion of 1903 in the Scottish Baronial style, in the Gold Coast Historic District. Look at the outside and the grounds, and check ahead on whether you can go in.
Corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on grilled rye bread, with a sauce. The sandwich is said to be linked to Omaha, and is on many menus downtown.
Local tip Ask for the sauce on the side if you like it mild.
About 9 min by car or transit1.3 mi
3
MiddayIndoor
Joslyn Art Museum
The fine arts museum of Omaha, opened in 1931, with American and European art of the 19th and 20th centuries, Western American art, and Chinese and Japanese art. Pick a few rooms rather than all of them, and check ahead on tickets.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip Choose three or four rooms and let the children lead, since the collection spans many centuries and countries. Ask at the desk about family trails, and check ahead on tickets.
A public park of 23 acres along the Missouri River walk in downtown Omaha, opened in 2003 and reopened in 2023 after renovations, a short walk from the footbridge.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:33 PM), by the river.
Local tip A riverside park along the Missouri River walk, beside the footbridge. Walk the river path, and keep children back from the water edge.
A footbridge over the Missouri River that joins Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa, opened in 2008. Walk out over the water for the view of the river and the city, and keep children close to the rail. Check ahead on the weather and wind.
Go whenLate afternoon into evening (about 7:33 PM), when the light softens on the water.
Local tip It crosses into Iowa and back. Keep children close to the rail, and check the wind and the weather before you walk out. Take a jacket, since it is cooler over the river.
A thick cut of Nebraska beef with a baked potato and a side of vegetables, a plain supper in the state that raises the cattle.
Local tip Ask for the size that suits your appetite, and share a side with the children.
If it rains. Joslyn Castle and Joslyn Art Museum are covered, so keep them. Move Gene Leahy Mall, Lewis and Clark Landing and Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. On the interstate between the cities and Lincoln, the state capital
4 stops · 1.9 mi on foot, 75.4 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Bob Kerrey Pedestrian BridgeAbout 1 h 21 min by car51.4 mi
Where Day 2 ended.
1
MorningIndoor
Nebraska State Capitol
The seat of state government, built of Indiana limestone between 1922 and 1932, with a 400 foot tower that can be seen from far across the flat country. Nebraska has the only one-house state legislature in the United States. Check ahead on tours and on which rooms are open.
Go whenMorning, once you have arrived in Lincoln.
Local tip Look up at the tower from the grounds, then go in and look at the halls and the mosaics. It is a working government building, so check ahead on tours and on which rooms are open.
A zoo in Lincoln designed for children, with close encounters with the animals, more than 400 of them, among them a Sumatran tiger.
Go whenMorning, for the animals at their most lively.
Local tip A small zoo made for children, with close encounters with the animals. Easy to pair with a day in Lincoln. Check ahead on tickets and on which animals are out.
A bowl of beef and bean chili with a warm cinnamon roll on the side, a pairing said to come from Midwest school lunches. Sweet and savory in one meal.
Local tip Dip a piece of roll in the chili if you dare, or keep it as a dessert.
About 48 min by car24.0 mi
3
MiddayIndoor
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
A museum of aircraft and missiles of the United States Air Force in the Cold War, near Ashland on the interstate between Omaha and Lincoln.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop on the road between the cities.
Local tip A museum of aircraft and missiles of the Cold War, near Ashland on the interstate. It is large inside, so choose the aircraft the children point to. Check ahead on the opening.
A state park on the Platte River, a few miles east of Ashland beside the interstate, with trails, a marina, an aquatic center and a 70 foot observation tower over the river valley.
Go whenAfternoon, for a walk on the river side.
Local tip A state park on the Platte River, with trails, a marina and an observation tower, right beside the interstate. Check ahead on what is open, and carry water.
If it rains. Nebraska State Capitol and Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum are covered, so keep them. Move Lincoln Children's Zoo and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park to a dry day if you can.
Day 4. Lincoln, the state capital
3 stops · 0.8 mi on foot, 24.8 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Eugene T. Mahoney State ParkAbout 49 min by car24.8 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
1
Midday
University of Nebraska State Museum
A natural history museum in Morrill Hall on the university campus, founded in 1871. Elephant Hall holds fossil elephants, and there is a planetarium, fossils, wildlife, gems and minerals. A good fit for children. Check ahead on tickets and shows.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip Go straight to Elephant Hall for the fossil elephants, then follow the children to the wildlife and the gems. The building is on the university campus, so check ahead on parking, tickets and planetarium shows.
A historic district of downtown Lincoln, laid out in 1874 as Haymarket Square and now on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk the streets and look at the old buildings.
Go whenAfternoon, on foot.
Local tip Walk the streets and look up at the old building fronts. It is a flat, easy walk from the capitol and from the campus.
An art museum on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, in a travertine building by the architect Philip Johnson, with a sculpture garden of more than thirty large works.
Go whenAfternoon, as an indoor stop on the campus.
Local tip A building by the architect Philip Johnson, with a sculpture garden of more than thirty works outside. Pick a few rooms, and let the children walk the sculpture garden. Check ahead on the opening.
Fresh sweet corn, boiled or grilled, with butter and salt, with grilled chicken or a burger. In season in late summer, when the fields are ripe.
Local tip Check with the server whether corn is in season, and ask for napkins.
If it rains. University of Nebraska State Museum and Sheldon Museum of Art are covered, so keep them. Move Haymarket District (Lincoln, Nebraska) to a dry day if you can.
Day 5. The west of the state and Lincoln, the state capital
3 stops · 714.3 mi by carAbout 14 h 56 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
A rock formation in the west of the state that rises over 300 feet above the North Platte River valley. It was a landmark along the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. It is a long road from Omaha, so plan a night away.
Go whenMorning, as early as you can, before the sun is high.
Local tip A tall rock that was a landmark of the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, in the west of the state. It is a long road, so plan a night away, and check the road and the weather ahead.
A nature preserve of 668 acres in the west half of Pioneers Park, with ponds, prairie, a bird garden, a wetland, live rescued animals in an exhibit building and eight miles of trails. Check ahead on what is open.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:33 PM), for the light on the prairie.
Local tip Look at the live rescued animals in the exhibit building, then take one of the trails to the ponds and the wetland. The park is west of the center of Lincoln, so drive. Check ahead on what is open.
About 7 h 40 min by car367.0 mi
3
Afternoon
Scotts Bluff National Monument
A National Park Service site near Gering, in the west of the state, that protects bluffs, prairie and remnants of the overland trails along the North Platte River. A long road from Omaha, so plan a night away.
Go whenMidday, with a hat and water.
Local tip A bluff on the North Platte River that guided settlers on the Oregon Trail. It is a long road from Omaha, so plan a night away, and check the road and the weather ahead. The prairie has little shade.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. If you are driving back from Lincoln, leave time for the road to the airport.Details
Leaving town
Day 3 ends in Lincoln, a drive from Omaha and the airport. Check the road ahead, and leave time for traffic and for a stop for fuel and snacks before you hand back a rental car.
Something to take home
A zoo toy, a postcard of the capitol tower or a small fossil replica from a museum shop are all easy to pack. Wrap anything fragile well.
If you have a few hours
Walk the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge once more, or spend an hour on the slides and paths of Gene Leahy Mall, with room for children to run.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Omaha?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, April and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Omaha. This plan is built for september to October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 5 days in Omaha, planned for september to October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
On foot, about 0.8 to 1.9 miles a day, and 833.5 miles by car in all across 5 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
3 days of tallgrass prairie and a river city in KansasAbout 230 miles away
4 days of jazz and a night out in two Missouri citiesAbout 250 miles away
3 days of river bluffs, farm country and Norwegian IowaAbout 290 miles away
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