Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Reviews

We've been to this zoo multiple times, and it never disappoints! Each visit feels like a new adventure, with something more to discover. The seal show was especially awesome this time—so entertaining and full of energy. The way the seals interact with their trainers is just incredible! No matter how often we come, there's always something more to see, whether it's a new exhibit, an animal we missed before, or just a different perspective on an old favorite. We can't wait for our next visit!

While in Omaha we visited the zoo. Because of my poor walking, I rented an electric scooter. Covid-19 has impacted the zoo. Many of the attractions that were indoors were limited or closed. Nevertheless, the overall experience was positive.

I absolutely love coming here. It is very pricey which prevents me from going more often but that is expected with a zoo as large and famous as this one. I was able to utilize the free admission with the library which I never have done before and it was so much fun. I haven't visited since 2017, and it is now 2022 so you can imagine the shock of how different everything is. The zoo has expanded and grown so much since I arrived. The new sea lion area really feels like something.... not Omaha? Like its too cool to be here, and I love it. It was so well designed I felt like I was at an even more major attraction than a zoo. We also stumbled across a sting ray encounter, is was about ($5.00?) to go inside and extra cost for food. We did not buy the food we just went inside for the small admission price and spent the most time at this spot. You do not need food to have the rays come up to you, they go by and if you keep you hand still in the water they will go by under your hand and let you pet them. It was so cute! They seemed like they actually enjoyed the contact. The new Asian highlands is so pretty, and there was a nice rocky garden that no one was going into so it made a really nice picnic spot. I also got a beautiful picture of the dome from there, I'll try and post it later. I recommend going if you haven't been in a long time to see all of these new renovations. The only thing I do not like is the removal of red barn. That was my favorite spot as a kid.

Very disappointed!!! Most exhibits are closed. All rides (train, carousel, skyfari, tram,) were closed. Apparently only open on Saturday and Sunday. RIDICULOUS!! Tons of construction going on. But yet they charged full price. We were there 3 hours; huge waste of time/money. Will not be back. This used to be a yearly event for myself, daughter and granddaughter.

This was about the sixth time I have visited The Henry Doorly Zoo. It has never disappointed me until this time. Many of the attractions were closed for various reasons yet the admission fee remains one of the most expensive in the country.

I am a nonresident of Nebraska. I love the state and city of Omaha. However, I take offense to the increased price for admission, events, and concessions charged to nonresidents.

I understand we are still in a pandemic and the zoo has suffered along with the rest of us. Don't we all need a break?

The exhibits are blasting hot - so you're sweating while looking around only to have said sweat freeze when you come out. For a zoo, it was pretty nice.

Zoo for the most part was great, except the Tram. Went this Sunday and had to wait 35 minutes before the tram came to pick us up. They were only running one tram. The tram was always packed. We had a round trip ticket, but only got two punches. Wanted to use the tram to get from Glacier to the entrance, but after waiting for another 35 minutes when it did show up it was full so we had to hike up that hill to get to the entrance. Iam 69 years old and my wife is 68. Thank god we are in pretty good shape for our ages. Dont care what day it is the zoo should ALWAYS run at least two trams at a time. Waiting 35 minutes in the sun, and then not getting to use the tram because it full IS NOT ACEPTABLE!

Tickets were by kiosks; very easy to get through the process. Wasn't horribly busy, which was nice. Enclosures seemed well kept. Could find most of the animals. Information on their site said that you couldn't bring in water/food. Apparently we were the only ones that read that, as people brought wagons and coolers of food and beverages. Could have had more associates around if needing to ask a question, and would recommend they have signs listing what some of the trees/flowers were. Spent almost all day there; rain ended up our day, but we were ready to leave, anyway.

Went on a family trip to this zoo and had a good time. It has many animals and areas as you would expect, and many extras like skyrail rides if you want to spend more.

Only gripe was that we went to a restaurant on the map which wasn't serving food because it was "out of season". We were worn out and hungry from walking so far already that this was minorly frustrating since there was no indication it was closed.

Whole place has been in construction for several years now, the splash zone and aquarium are about the only thing open but you still have to pay 30 dollars to go in, place is well monitored and mask required.

I love zoos and have been to dozens all around the world. You expect great things from San Diego, but the Omaha zoo is a hidden treasure. It was by far the best attraction in Omaha and beats out many zoos I've been to in much larger cities.

Wow! This zoo is huge!! We were there for 7 hours and walked 8.25 miles to see everything. They have an incredible array of animals and different activites to do. We were able to see a movie in their giant theater. Almost every exhibit was open even though we went during the COVID times. Do not plan anything else on the day you go to the zoo. We arrived at 9 and left at 4. One of the best zoos in America.

This zoo was awesome. It is laid out well and has plenty for all ages to see and do. There are plenty of bathrooms and good options. T
Most of the enclosures are well built and creative. The sky tram offered a unique view of above the park.

Visit if you haven't already! The experience of different landscapes is amazing. We had a great time in the dome. This is worth the visit. We did go right after Covid protocols were lifted so there was still a lack of refreshments available on an extremely hot day. We took this trip with a bunch of teenagers and they too enjoyed our entire day!

Great zoo, but NOT sensory friendly for kids with autism. Usually my son who is 3 and has SPD loves zoos because they are open air and have spaces to pull back from the crowd to regulate. The design of this zoo has its exhibits in enclosed tunnels along the pathways. Once you are in the only way out is through and its very crowded, narrow, and loud. My son could not tolerate the noise, number of people, and tight spaces. Bathrooms were equally stressful. Again, the actual zoo is an amazing experience but if your child has autism, specifically a sensory processing disorder then it is not very accommodating. The best place for my son was the splash pad. It was amazing and wide open. My other non-autistic son had a blast. My son with ASD ended up waiting in the car while the other one saw the animals.

Great zoo one of the best but one of the worst in terms of food service be prepared to wait an hour in the hot sun, it’s a great way to ruin your customers day. 2 other lanes were closed which would of helped the line. please make some changes in your zoo to speed up food service or make quick service carts could be a top zoo once that happens

We had a wonderful day at the zoo. There is so much to see and do it easily filled the day. Although there is some construction many of the animals were active. The new Asian Highlands is such a beautiful area. This is without a doubt a must visit in Omaha!!!

Very nice zoo! It is laid out very well and easy to navigate. Animals have roomy habitats that are still easy to observe. Zoo staff were friendly and informative. The aquarium was very nice, and we enjoyed the butterfly habitat.
We went early on a Tuesday and it was nicely uncrowded, but some of the extras (feed the giraffes, etc) were not open. The one weakness I noticed was food options, I felt like they were very limited and basic for such a renowned zoo. Bring a picnic!

Please know this review is only for the Behind-the-Scenes Elephant experience. The rest of the zoo is great.

BUT, the Behind-the-Scenes tours have deteriorated terribly in the last year or so. I have taken houseguests 3-4 times before and had great experiences. The guides were enthusiastic and informative. Your rode in a nice golf cart with water bottles. Lots of fun, and always a hit.

Our latest tour, we arrived at the entrance and were told to go to the new Education Center to meet our guide. Okay, but would have been nice to know as we parked a fair way away. We met our guide who did not introduce himself till I asked his name.
It was 98 and muggy, and we are 4 senior citizens. No cart, no water. « Please get a drink here if you want, because we won’t have time on the tour. » Okay,

Our guide walked us to the Elephant House. He gave a very brief talk on the elephants. Before, our guides had recognized each elephant (there are only 4, with 4 babies),their names, ages, origins and even personalities. He said nothing about the Elephant House, which is a marvelous place, built for their health and comfort.

The Behind-the-Scenes part was interesting. We saw the room where cameras watch the elephants 24-7. We saw their schedules on a white board—very Impressive. The « training » consisted of watching keepers throw bits of carrot to a mama and her calf. Necessary and I’m sure important, but no interaction with us at all. On other tours and other zoos, I have safely and enjoyably fed moose, bears, etc.

For $65 per person, I was disappointed. I emailed the Zoo with my thoughts with no response. I will continue to support the zoo—it does wonderful work. But I will stick to the free shows throughout the day.

I was so excited to visit the zoo. I had heard so many amazing things about it, BUT I was so disappointed. First and foremost I know that we can not control the weather, so with that being said, since it stormed the night before and the power was knocked out why did the zoo open. Well the zoo had a delayed opening on that day, so we assumed everything was still operational BUT it was not and we was not informed about the closing of several(9) attractions until we bought($25) our tickets and walked over the threshold, that is where we was met by some attendants telling us of the closures. I was so mad and disappointed, I probably will never waste time to visit again. And besides we came over 2.5hrs away, just to visit with a crew of about twenty(20) folks.

We were here in this past week, it is an awesome zoo, not many animals out because of the weather, but the zoo was full. Only thing that I had problems with was in the Desert Bio-Dome, WAY to many people, I would think there should be some way to limit the people in there so it's not so crowded. We would go back, but go during the summer.

Nice zoo but was such a hot day I feel they need more water availability and seating options between exhibits. Many shady areas could house seating. On good side the animals were cool to see. It didn’t feel crowded since they allow only so many tickets per half hour. Only parts that were busy were indoor areas such as butterfly/insects and shark area. Can’t wait to go back when gorilla exhibit opens but think pick a fall day. Lol. Desert dome was cool but missed the lower level because it didn’t show a sign more to see. The sign seemed to indicate a show which we didn’t want to see. Also missed lemurs and line too long for insects. Overall nice zoo and will be back.

Here’s what we would like to say about the zoo. We planned our trip, bought tickets to admission and the IMAX show the Great Barrier Reef online. The mistake that we made was 1) ordering food at the zoo for lunch and 2) thinking that maybe we would be able to eat before the IMAX show. It took over 2-hours for us to get our food and this caused us to miss the IMAX show. The delay of the food was not the fault of the employees making the food, but rather a severe management problem of the concessions at the zoo. Do you think that the concessions manager returned our call to address the issue? No, not a chance in hell.

We are traveling to Utah with our 5 & 13 year old grandchildren and decided to stop at a zoo. This zoo is very unique not like any zoo I had been to before. I was awesome the aquarium is really need there were many helpers to answer any questions you might have. We did a lot of walking took a ride on the skyride. There was a indoor desert and caves to walk through we saw crocodiles, alligators, bats. Sharks swim over you in the aquarium, also there were penguins which looked like a seen out of Happy Feet. Very cool.. there was also an area with an old keep, helicopter and command station that all hands on and our grandson enjoyed it very much. The grandkids fed giraffes for $5.00 which they also liked. We were there for 4+hours but could have stayed longer.

Staff were very helpful and the grounds were very well maintained. The exhibits were well designed and paths were clearly marked. My family enjoyed our trip and will return on our next trip through Omaha.

Great zoo. The desert done was nice. Pay extra for the sky ride (sky safari) it is worth it. Looks like the train no longer operates but now they have a tram pulled by a tractor instead. If in the summer take a hat and some sun screen.

It is lots of walking up and down the hills in the park. Take your time and see the animals. We spent about 4 hours with only the sky safari as a paid extra.

We enjoyed the day but we didn’t plan well. Wish we had known drinks/coolers were allowed and that most of the snack bars/restaurants would be closed. We melted around more than half the park before we found a spot to purchase a bottle of water. And when we finally did, the lines were long.

Just guessing they are short staffed. But had we known when we purchased our tickets at the gate, we would have turned around and grabbed our water bottles from the car.

Leaving a review to save someone from the same experience.

Today I went to the Henry Doorly Zoo. Online it said that this zoo is the best one in the USA. I have to agree with the internet in this case this zoo was the best I have ever been to and that is without taking into account that quite a few of the attractions were closed because of Covid. Pictured here is the desert dome, which was super impressive. What impressed me the most though was the jungle building. I thought this would be a fairly small building with some jungle habitats and instead I walked into a legitimate jungle. There were huge trees growing out of the ground, monkeys swinging every where and bats flying freely. It felt so much more natural than regular zoo enclosures. It was amazing. The zoo was worth going to just to see this building. The other exhibit I was really impressed with was the dark exhibit used to hold nocturnal animals. No other zoo I have gone to has had such an extensive closure. They has an entire swamp underground. If you are going through Omaha stop for a day and enjoy this impressive zoo.

The zoo was crazy-busy and crowded when we were there, which made the indoor attractions a little less enjoyable but overall we had a great time.

Growing up in Chicagoland, I have access to two good zoos, but was blown away by this zoo, aquarium and more. The desert dome was a gem and we spent quite some time, especially viewing the nocturnal section. Worth a trip to Omaha!

Charge full price which is $53 for one adult and one child.
They have two concession stands open in the entire place, just one entrance open with lines like Disney world everywhere. The aquarium was one of few attractions open and it was shoulder to shoulder moving at a snail pace. The bathrooms did not have soap and the sinks were turned off. it took literally an hour of waiting in line just to get a drink. Most attractions are closed and they do not have it listed or anything. The ones that are open do not have animals. Although the zoo closes at 4 most attractions close by 3. Been there twice in the past year both times it was like this. Don’t waste your money. Kc zoo is way better.

Lot of walking lot of photos there's just a lot of beautiful animals to see the butterfly exhibit was beautiful

Everything about this zoo is excellent, lots of parking, lots to see outside and inside, restrooms and snacks available throughout, well maintained and clean.

Truly one of the best zoos in the world. The gorilla and orangutan exhibits are unsurpassed! The Desert Dome, Rainforest and Aquarium are all a must see. All the outdoor habitats are well designed. Staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. Plan to send a full day.

The grounds were beautifully landscaped, and everything is laid out well. But the best thing was the FREE kennels for our two small dogs. We got to stay longer, since we did not have to leave our dogs in our hotel room. We were very impressed this service.

I don't generally love zoos, but this one is a good one! We loved the way the animals were living in areas somewhat similar to their native habitats. Eat in the Durham Treetops restaurant next to the Lied Jungle and watch the monkeys play in the trees, while you eat.

Most Amazing Zoo I’ve ever been to! I was concerned when I moved to Nebraska, because when I lived in CA, I always went to the Oakland and San Francisco Zoo’s, and didn’t think any could compare.

I WAS WRONG !!

WOW!! This place is amazing!! We took our 6 year old grandson and he loved every minute of it. Even though it was really crowded, we were still able to enjoy the experience. The animals were easy to see unlike other zoos I've been to where they tend to hide or are not on display. All on all a totally awesome experience.

We have been to this zoo once in the past (about 9 yrs ago) but this visit, we had our granddaughter who has never been to a bigger zoo. We were quite disappointed that so many exhibits were closed and quite a few animals were locked in buildings. She really wanted to see the elephants, zebra, red panda, dolphins, gorillas... we had to miss all of this. It was not worth the admission cost with all these closed and put away

We're big zoo fans. This place is huge and there's so much to see. We set our sites on certain exhibits and really enjoyed Madagascar. We were surprised at the entry price which was $45.

We've been here dozens of times, even though we live closer to KC. No zoo is perfect, but this one has always been pretty great. I have four sons, ages 12-17 now, and over the years, I've gone here with one of my twins every New Year's Eve. So we know what it's like to visit when it's really cold. We know a lot of outdoor animals will be off display, and that's okay... usually. Today it really irked me that there's no signage before some buildings/area that indicates there won't be any animals out, or maybe that just one or two in a mile loop will be out. Seems a very simple thing to do to put a sign up. And you'd think the zoo would have more money to spend on simple things like that, because they're taking away the human connection of things by using automated ticket sales and food ordering windows. We HATED this aspect. We did not use them. We walked into customer service to buy tickets. Why would the zoo use something technology based with the way data centers are destroying the environment? Why contribute to big tech's habitat destruction? In addition, I'm assuming this is a money-saving endeavor. Well heaven forbid you keep those jobs so teenagers who would love to work at a zoo have the opportunity to do those basic entry-level jobs. And also heaven forbid there be any sort of human connection in even the basic transactions. To go along with the money saving decisions, you think they might spend more on making their food edible. We bought fries and chicken fingers from Treetops and one of my sons bought a cheese pizza from the place by the aquarium. NONE of them finished their food. Do you know how bad fast food has to be for teenage boys to throw it away? It was $60 for a chicken fingers meal, a single order of fries, one small cheese pizza, two small sodas, a medium soda - oh, and NO refills, and a parfait. I know zoos are run by money hungry executives who play the game to get as much of the green for not only the zoo but themselves... even though their benefits usually come in the added perks of car allowance, free world travel, fancy dinners, etc. So I think today really put me off from the Omaha Zoo. I know they won't miss our couple times a year visits, but eventually enough people will catch on to this. I know zookeepers would rather there be zero visitors (I used to work at a zoo; I know what I'm talking about), and they may just get their wish.

Since the zoo was closed due to COVID-19, persons with zoo memberships were admitted to the Safari P.arl without paying admission. We took advantage of the offer and enjoyed our drive.

We loved the buildings that were open. The desert dome & aquarium were favorites don't skip them. The jungle was also a lot of fun. We really enjoyed most of the exhibits in & outside, there were several not open or the animal off exhibit & I'm not sure if it was due to the season/weather (March) or just covid or construction. We didn't even see the entire zoo, it's so big. I would love to go back when covid restrictions aren't in place because I feel like more things might be open which would help people to spread out a little more & it wouldn't creat such congestion in the open areas.

Zoo did a good job distancing groups during Covid. This is a great zoo for children and adults. Lots of new areas to visit. I visited over 20 years ago. This zoo just gets better and better.

A wonderful place to visit. I love all the extra room for the animals there I will be back again in the near future. Only negative was the Desert Dome even with the pandemic it seemed like way to many people were in there and I would recommend to keep count. Partially threw there was a wall of people that just was standing there which left me on the frustrated side since I was able to practice social distancing pretty well up till this point. When returning I will not go in there till the pandemic is over.

This zoo was fabulous and met all expectations. Some of the animals were inside due to it being cold outside but all in all it was a very good experience.

My wife and I are native Chicagoans. We live in the Gold Coast neighborhood, adjacent to Lincoln Park, a short walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo. We are familiar with what great zoos are all about. So we were anxious to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, which has a reputation as one of the top five zoos in the world. In fact, in 2014, it was designated as the No. 1 zoo in the world by TripAdvisor. Based on its size (over 130 acres) and the number of species (962), it is the largest zoo in the world, known for its leadership in animal conservation and research. Located at 3701 South 10th Street, off I-80, south on 13th street, east on Werner Drive, it was established in 1894 and has grown considerably ever since. It is more like a biological park, home to the world's largest indoor desert, the world's largest glazed geodesic dome and North America's largest indoor rain forest. Open from 9 to 5 daily, the zoo is highlighted by the dome, which rises 137 feet above the main level and is 230 feet in diameter with 1,760 acrylic windows and contains habitats for such species as fox, rattlesnake, bobcat, ocelot, cobra, wildcat and mongoose. Notable exhibits include African Grasslands, a 28-acre property filled with elephant, zebra, giraffe, rhino, cheetah, antelope, impala ostrich and even pelican; Asian Highlands; Simmons Aviary; African penguins; Owen Sea Lion Shores; Butterfly and Insect Pavilion; Expedition Madagascar; Hubbard Gorilla Valley; Hubbard Orangutan Forest; Kingdom of the Night, the world's largest nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp; Lied Jungle, one of the world's largest indoor rain forests; Desert Dome, one of the world's largest indoor deserts; and the 71,000-square-foot, 1.2 million gallon Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, which opened in 1995 and features displays of aquatic habitats from polar regions, temperate areas, flooded Amazon rain forest and coral reefs. The aquarium also features a 450,000-gallon shark tank featuring sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and coral reef fish. Other aquatic animals featured in the aquarium include jellyfish, a giant Pacific octopus, penguins, Moray eels and red-bellied piranha. Visitors can view the indoor jungle through 90 feet of floor-to-ceiling windows at Durham's TreeTops restaurant, a convenient place to take a snack break while going from exhibit to exhibit. If you are tired of walking, the zoo's railroad is a narrow gauge train that transports visitors in a 2.5-mile loop through the zoo.

Fabulous zoo!
Great variety of animals and they all looked cared for.
Plan to spend the entire day as the zoo is expansive.
Spend extra money on the sky tram as it’s a good chance to give your feet a rest and see some of the animals from a different perspective.
Bring water! Not a lot of opportunities to buy water and while there are some water fountains I did not see any water bottle refilling stations.
Bring food/ snacks. Many of the food locations closed early and those that were open had super long lines.

Regardless of the Covid closures we can't wait to go back when the famous dome is opened and the new stingray exhibit. Definitely looking forward to visiting again

This zoo was awesome and easy to see why it’s so highly rated! We’ve been to a few and I can see why this may be one of the best in a country. It’s well designed and easy to get around and spent the full day. We really liked the indoor dessert and were really surprised when there was a lower level and it was huge. They also had elephants, which was great because they don’t have any at the Chicago zoos. While we’ve done it before, the stingrays were a lot of fun and you are allowed to pet them. The only thing we wanted to do but couldn’t was feed the giraffes because they were not near the feeding area.

It was a very hot day (heat index around 100) and they had some misting stations throughout and that was a nice touch.

The only minor compliant is that they do nickel and dime you, and the food court we went to (Glacier Grill) had a very limited menu (hot dog, hamburger, or mac and cheese). Also we did the train ride and it couldn’t have been 10 minutes long.

However, those are minor complaints and would definitely come back and if we had more time, do the motor safari as well.

Henry Doorly Zoo rocks! 🐾 Loved hanging out with the animals, especially the playful penguins. The zoo vibes are chill, and the staff is super friendly. The jungle and dome are must-see—felt like I stepped into different worlds. Great spot for a family day or a laid-back adventure. Thumbs up! 👍

The Henry Doorly Zoo regularly appears on lists of "best zoos in the US" so, as zoo geeks, we decided to plan a special trip just to check it out.

What a disappointment! I can only conclude that this zoo has declined dramatically since getting on those lists and no longer belongs there.

Many exhibits were empty with signs explaining that the creatures who should have been there were off exhibit. Other exhibits had no signs but no occupants, or in the case of multi-species exhibits, very few occupants.

The gorilla exhibit was just depressing, small and cramped. Now, I understand the difficulties of housing gorillas in Omaha's climate, but the Denver zoo manages to do a significantly better job with similar weather constraints.

The elephant exhibit was also depressingly barren. Again, Denver does a much better job. There were baby elephants, but we left feeling sad that they were going to have to grow up and live in such a small paddock lacking in environmental stimulation.

Because it was the "off season" many of the keeper talks and shows were not operating. The zoo's website disclosed some but not all of the schedule changes. We were looking forward to the bird show indicated on the website for the day of our visit. Turned out when we got there, the show had already closed for the season but they had not bothered to update the website.

The Lied Jungle, supposedly the largest indoor rainforest, had far fewer birds and animals than the much smaller Dallas World Aquarium. Go if you're really interested in plants, though. Lots of those.

Huge disappointment. We'll never return.

After years of waiting, I finally visited the Henry Doorly Zoo for the first time last week. My overall experience was very positive, and the zoo is quite impressive for a city the size of Omaha. While I can't rate it quite as highly as the San Diego Zoo, Toronto Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, or San Antonio Zoo, I will say that it's almost certainly a Top 10 Zoo in the nation, and the citizens of Omaha are very lucky to have it.

My visit landed on the final day of their "Winter" season, so general admission was $16.95. I felt this was pretty fair. There was a long line to get into the zoo, which kind of surprised me for February, but with highs in the low 60's, it seemed like everyone else had the same idea that I did.

Positives: There is a lot to see. We arrived just after the gates opened and left 30 minutes prior to close. From the massive Desert Dome & Kingdoms of the Night to the Rainforest (Lied Jungle), to the Gorilla Valley & Orangutans, to the Asian Highlands, to the Aquarium, to the African animals, you're sure to find something that captures your interest. Give yourself plenty of time!

Neutral: Most of the food vendors were closed this time of year, so we didn't even bother with the long lines at the few that were open. We ate some snacks that we brought with us and ate after we left the park. The prices were about what you'd expect.

Negatives: My biggest criticism of the Henry Doorly Zoo is that they didn't have many "shows" or experiences for audiences like some of the other zoos that I've visited. I understand that I didn't visit during peak season, but I looked at the 2020 schedule, and it doesn't appear that they have that many to begin with. The penguin feeding probably would have been really cool, but I couldn't see much through the orange fencing they have built around the penguins while they work on their habitat. The shark feeding was pretty difficult to see as well. Hopefully, the Elephant, Lion, Sea Lion, and Tiger enrichment training provides a better experience for Summer visitors.

I didn't visit during peak season, but the zoo was crowded. It was like a traffic jam at times in the Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, and some of the enrichment buildings. I can't even imagine how crowded it gets in the Summer.

This is a wonderful zoo and aquarium. Habitats are large and well designed and there are exhibits here that are uncommon at other zoos (large noturnal exhibits, etc.). Almost all are planned for good flow of visitors (the desert dome was a notable exception). Eating locations were spread out and they had a good selection beyond the normal burgers and hot dogs. It is A LOT of walking, but with mist sprayers, benches and bathrooms at reasonable intervals. Highly recommend to all.

Having been to several top of the line zoos, I was skeptical that a world class zoo would be in Omaha. I was wrong. The zoo was laid out very well (though they need more signs indicating what directions things are). Baby elephants, fantastic aquarium, giant dome with various climate zones. Well worth a visit. Food was not a highlight however. They need more healthy options.

This zoo is very large and a great adventure for all ages. The walking is at times strenuous with inclines on the pathways, but all paved and smooth. The park itself is clean, well maintained, and has a large variety of animals in wonderfully kept habitats. There are plenty of interactive installments around the property, including feeding a giraffe, or riding a sky tram above the exhibits. Be sure to visit the aquarium! Well worth the long walk from the parking lot.

The Zoo rating is based on a popular online voting contest and not any objective criteria. It is clearly popular with locals but for anyone who has visited various zoos in the US, Dooley is average at best. It does not compare favorably to other zoos like St Louis, Toledo, Miami, the Bronx, San Diego and other well know zoos. The zoo is spread over 160 areas which is larger than others mentioned but in terms of animals and educational opportunities there is little here.

We had other commitments, so we only had about three hours to spend at the zoo. Since this was our first time to the zoo, we were not familiar with the zoo layout. We should have printed the map of the zoo before visiting since they are not currently handing out maps (due to COVID-19). We had to rely on the map on our cellphone screen which was hard to see in the bright sunlight. There are still some exhibits closed and lots of construction which are listed on their map that you can download from their website. Needless to say, we did not see everything!! However, what we did get to see was great! We probably spent way too much time in the desert dome, but we enjoyed watching the birds and looking for all of the animals in their displays. We also enjoyed watching the baby gorillas play and see the giraffes try to reach tasty leaves that were just out of the reach of their long tongues. We ended our visit at the Aquarium and Jungle. So much to see!! We could have spent 5 or 6 hours here if we attempted to see everything.

The indoor desert under the dome was very cool to see, but so crowded with kids in strollers, it made it hard to walk through. There's a lot of animals to see, but unfortunately when we visited the elephants were no where to be found, not sure why they weren't in their enclosures. It was also almost 90 degrees and there was a lack of places to purchase water or a cold treat - many of the vending machines were out of water. Next time I'd bring my refillable water bottle as there were fill stations located throughout the zoo.

We spent a day at the zoo. What a wonderful experience . . . accessible animals, well-kept grounds, and friendly people. We enjoyed the day and plan to return.

We loved our zoo experience. We arrived right when it opened on a Wednesday and didn't find it very crowded.

The nocturnal exhibit was so cool - especially loved the "bat cave" and the beavers!

We enjoyed seeing the creatures in an environment similar to what it would be in the wild (not just behind bars and glass).

I enjoyed the aerial view on the Skyfari though I was disappointed that I didn't see anything except 2 rhinos, a lion and I think some goats. The rhinos and lion can also be viewed just by walking around - I wish the Skyfari went closer to the animals and over a larger area. $10 for a 20 min ride seemed reasonable.

The jungle area was great!

You can bring in your own food and beverages which will save you money especially if you are coming with children. A soda, fries and plain burger came to close to $20. A very large ice-cream cone was about $4.

It seems that a lot of people are moving about at the zoo with large strollers and many, many big wagons. I understand the reasoning when you have kids, but it does make things more crowded and difficult to navigate around.

Definitely will recommend and hope to return!

No wonder it’s the #1 Zoo in the nation! A must see in Omaha , they have animals /species you’re not even aware they exist! It’s huge , plenty of benches , trees for shades , wheelchairs/strollers for rent, places for snacks & drinks , I saw many families having a picnic with their own food & drinks , you need a full day to see everything!

My family has visited some of the best zoos in the country, including San Diego, Columbus and Cincinnati and this is the best zoo we've been to. Each of the exhibits were so immersive! Each and every one of them was very elaborate and beautiful. So many of them allowed you to walk around and see animals from all different angles. For instance, the jungle one we did the top loop, then went back to the bottom loop and saw them all from other locations. The nocturnal exhibit, which we almost didn't see was this enormous exhibit underground that went on forever! It looked like a swamp and was very amazing. Big, wide paths to walk on. Lots of animals, including some interesting, unique ones. Only downside was it was a bit crowded and not enough water fountains! We were probably not prepared enough and should have brought more food and drinks with us. But, agreement from my family it was the best zoo we've seen.

I should be #1 on the list of US zoos and safaris, as voted in USA today. Amazing zoo, much better that many others on the list

Beautiful zoo, with so much to do. Only thing is that we never saw any bears or alligators. Most of the enclosures were interesting and had lots to look at. Def bring good walking shoes!

This zoo is huge! Desert, savanna, jungle biomes just to name few.
Be warned tho. On hot summer days, many animals will be out of sight in in the dens or in the shade. If you’re out of shape, the heat and walking might make the trek around the zoo very hard. There are ski lifts and trams to take you around.
I recommend bringing kids or friends that enjoy nature

Well worth a trip. The desert dome was extremely interesting. The train was only so-so, but otherwise my family and I enjoyed our visit.

So this is my first of two days to go to the zoo. I did a lot of indoor activity. They’re really good. The customer service was awesome. Every time I ask a question to answer it and the facilities are nice and clean and really enjoyed my first day! Heading back tomorrow to hit more of the outside activities

I have been to this Zoo once before and it is a wonderful place to visit. Just not so much during a pandemic. They have NO covid protocols. Everyone was crammed shoulder to shoulder inside exhibits. No crowd control, sanitizer stations were empty, no mask recommendations-nothing! Very disappointed in the lack of civic responsibility Omaha displayed today. Do better.

Beautiful zoo! There is a large variety of animals in a well-laid out plan. A good variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits, which is helpful on a really hot day. The aquarium and butterfly house are bonuses. It is very clean and well maintained.

We visited on a HOT day (real feel was 117)! We still spent 6+ hours to see it all. There were water misters available along the paths which we used. The Desert Dome was a favorite but so was the Lied Jungle. As expected our lunch for three was a bit over $50.00. We did see people bring in coolers with their own food. It was an amazing day at this zoo and we were so glad to include it in our vacation.

This is a nice zoo, pretty standard. They have several giraffes, and the sea lions habitat was amazing.
When leaving you have to turn around once you reach the end and walk all the way back to the beginning. They are doing construction to add another animal habitat, and I’m sure it’ll be amazing once complete. That part was frustrating.
The gift shop was nice, and there was several employees completing checkout.

Lots to see and do! Great way to get out of the house and not think about covid! Lots to see. We spent 3 hours and didn't see everything!

The Omaha Zoo is OVER RATED!!! This was the second time we visited in the last 20 years and both times we left asking what is all the hype about??? KC Zoo is just as good and the St Louis Zoo is better...

The place was very crowded, lots of people, MERCY... We arrived 20 minutes after they opened and still have to park a long ways away. When we left we realize that we actually had one of the closer parking spots, as cars were parked in lots much, much farer away...

Fabulous zoo. Never disappointed. Even if it's raining there are many indoor displays, like the jungles, the aquarium, learning center. You can easily spend an entire day. Take a lunch with you or purchase food there (currently limited due to COVID)

We visited during the Covid-19 restrictions. Basically only Africa and Asia was open but we saw some amazing exhibits. As the summer progreses in sure more will open up.

Plan on spending a full day here. This is a beautiful zoo with lots to see. Make sure to visit the aquarium.

I grew up in Omaha and have been to the Henry Doorly Zoo many, many times. I've seen it grow, expand, improve over time. The Lied Jungle, the aquarium, the desert dome, etc. It's a very good zoo.

So why 3 stars? It's not in the same ballpark of other zoos across the country. San Diego is much better. So is the Bronx zoo. Even the Oregon Zoo in Portland I enjoyed more than here. The Henry Doorly Zoo marketing team has done a fantastic job of spinning the zoo as the "best in the nation" and it honestly is not. It's not even close to the best, frankly.

What's happening is the zoo is slowly morphing into a theme park. Attractions with a lot of sizzle but no substance. Animals? Sure, but the number and variety pales in comparison to other zoos. And on top of the price of admission, now there are additional costs for things like the sky tram.

Again, a very good zoo, but extremely overrated and overpraised for what you get in return.

We enjoyed visiting the Omaha zoo on Saturday. Although crowded, we were able to see the Desert Dome as well as the Rainforest Exhibit. Beautiful and clean, with lots of animals in large settings.

Great atmosphere, but seems like more atmosphere than animals. Long walks between places. Lots of things closed on the weekdays that we were not made aware of. Train and trams closed. Also some things were not open until further into the year. Desert dome seemed over hyped. Cool looking zoo but could be less walking and less waiting for trains and trams.

Amazing zoo. They currently have 4 baby elephants which are close in age. They play like puppies - it is the cutest thing. Very well done and the animals have a decent amount of space to live in. Very impressive place.

If you have kids, I can see how this zoo might be good with play areas and such, but if you want to learn about animals, this isn't the place.

You walk forever to see one animal on paths that have dead ends. Finding food is another challenge. This zoo shouldn't be rated so high. Columbus Zoo, Minnesota Zoo, even Wisconsin Dells has a better zoo.

We loved this zoo! Well worth the trip to go see. A lot of to see. Loved the aquarium,and butterfly house! Very well kept zoo. You won’t be disappointed!

We loved this zoo. Because of the time of year, not many animals were out in the habitats (we will have to come back when it is warmer). The indoor displays were outstanding! We still spent about 3 hours here --would've been all day had the weather been nicer with more animals to see.

I ranked the Zoo based on the exhibits that were open. Because of Covid, some displays were closed but the ones that were open were excellent, as usual. I made an appointment (per rules during Covid) for early morning and spent the day there. I found extra care being taken to protect visitors and friendly staff throughout the zoo. I will be glad when it is completely open, but was satisfied with what there was. I will be back.

This was a very nice zoo, excellent exhibits, and a few uncommon animals. However, I think it’s a little overhyped. For years, I had heard it was best in the nation. However, I don’t know if I’d use that description. So for that, I gave it a 4; because it didn’t live up to the hype I’d always heard about it. With that being said, it’s an Omaha must, and you can’t go to Omaha and not go to the zoo.

It’s hard to heap too much praise on the Doorly. It’s a Zoo, a desert museum, a wildlife preserve, an aquarium, a museum and a great place to walk. You can also ride a ski lift or the choo choo around its massive and varied grounds. It is so well thought out you suspect that Walt Disney and Warren Buffet brainstormed it over a mug of Gnat Knocker at Omaha Brewing. We paid $49.90 total for two Senior tickets. Don’t miss the Doorly.

There are very few food options open!!! Bring a picnic and plenty of snacks and drinks.

We really enjoyed our time here. The zoo was clean and had plenty of room to roam for our kiddo. The gorilla exhibit was amazing!
The only negative is the food availability. Most of the snack bars are closed and only the restaurants at the entrance are open and with limited options. Pack a picnic and enjoy the provided seating all over the zoo.

The biggest zoo I have ever been in. So much to see - it took a good four hours. A nice day in February seemed the perfect time to go, crowded but not overbearing. The aquarium almost stands on its own as an attraction. The place was clean. Staff were friendly. A lot of walking = good exercise

Nice large zoo with a lot of animals and it was easy to get to. Plenty of room to move and navigate. Only complaint was the concession area(near the aquarium), we waited 45 min after ordering, for 3 hot dogs and 3 drinks. We will definitely come back to this zoo again if we are in the area but we will pack food.

We went on probably the coldest day they've had this fall, which was good and bad. The zoo seemed empty! No one wanted to come out in the weather (30-40 degrees with 10-20 mph winds), but we are from MN, so we just bundled up in winter coats, hats, and gloves and had no issues. In fact, because there are so many places to go inside for displays, my kids got hot and refused to wear their hats or zip their coats up lost of the time they were outside. We were able to feel completely safe, even in the indoor exhibits, like the dessert dome, as we rarely came across more than a group or 2, so we could easily keep our distance. They have people watching the doors to make sure people put their masks on before entering the buildings. The only bummer was that, probably mostly due to Covid but also because of it being cold and off peak season, there were very few places to get any food or drink. It's a large zoo to walk, and my kids were hungry and thirsty after we'd walked for over 2 hours, but all the stands that we'd walked by were closed. We did find one in the Africa section open, right around lunch, with no line and could eat outside in the sun with absolutely no one around us, so it worked out perfectly. There was also one outdoor stand by the aquarium that we saw later that was open. We saw many unique animals we hadn't seen before. Even with no zoo shows open and many areas closed, we still spent 5 hours there. So, plan to spend lots of time, and wear comfortable shoes!

Our first visit to HD Zoo in Omaha during a short family trip. We spent 6 hours there. Lines not long, even with social distancing. We LOVED the gorilla, monkey, exhibits. Loved how the zoo was sectioned into areas/continents the animals came from (Africa/Asian/Australian, etc.). The Aquarium was also phenomenal, along with the desert dome showing different desert types. Could write a lot more, but keeping it short(er), HIGHLY recommend.

Love this zoo! We go there all the time. Even when it is cold there is lots to do. There are several buildings to visit when it is cold outside. The aquarium is one of our family's favorite.

Really nice animal displays and easy to navigate. The aquarium is top notch as well. The big screen movie was greta too.

What an amazing place! We got a 2 day ticket to make sure we could see everything. So worth it! You can see most animals from several different perspectives. So cool to get up close to gorillas, seals, penguins, giraffes, and so many other creates. There are several baby elephants right now. Very fun to watch them play. Totally enjoyed the Skyfari. Did not care for the train. Very noisy so we could not hear the person giving a narrative on our ride around. Also the train is quite smelly from the exhaust.

This is by far the best Zoo in the country, spent all day there and it never got old. Very clean, staff was helpful, the exhibits were great.

Me and my husband went for the day so much to see and do. Wear your walking shoes. Admission was a little steep. But worth it I think.overall i enjoyed it.

We opted and paid almost $200 for a behind the scenes elephant tour. Kids were 16,15 and 12.
They were all very disappointed….they said they said they talked mostly about zookeepers duties and didn’t even see an elephant closer than general public. There was no informative pictures or movies. They came from Idaho and were very excited they were going to do this…..obviously u need to redo this outing.
I felt very sad for my grandkids…..hard to say I would do this again.
Kids told me never to book this again…
A big disappointment

This is an outstanding zoo with very good and spacious exhibits. Its definitely worth a visit. Its simply outstanding.

My family and I always have an amazing time at the omaha zoo,the animals seem so happy, and they way the set up there exitbits is thrilling. Can't wait for them to open downstairs of lied jungle again

It didn't hurt that the temperature was 55 degrees in the middle of February, but every place at the zoo that we were able to visit was just awesome! Indoors and out it was just plain fun. My only regret was that we didn't have the time to explore the entire site, but that insures that we will return, in warmer weather when all of the animals are outdoors.

Bought a family pass with discount code got receipt and membership then they asked for more money a week later saying the discount code I used was not meant for me. Very disappointing as my family loves this zoo. I would think it would be illegal to ask for more money after receipt for goods purchased.

So....the zoo is very well done. In addition to the zoo, there is like a ski lift ride, a train ride, etc. The biggest problem and why we wouldn't return - the strollers & wagons in the Aquarium and the Gorilla House. It's insane, you can't even move. It's worse in the aquarium because it is dark and you are either tripping over a stroller/wagon or one is being run into you. We left the aquarium via a side exit to escape the crowds. Highly recommend a policy be enacted that strollers/wagons are not allowed in the buildings.

Our family loved our visit to the Omaha Zoo. Highlights include: giraffes, elephants and baby elephants, red panda, hippos, rhinos, butterflies, and alligators. The layout is great, it includes lots of walking but several angles for each exhibit. We loved it:

Only negative was no food/drink options open when we visited except at lunch time. One food option was open, lines were horrendous. On a hot day we would have loved an option to buy a drink of any sort.

We visited this Zoo on a Sunday in May of 2024. It was our first stop in Omaha on a one day trip to that city.

Zoo opened at 9:30 and we arrived around 11, so we parked fairly far away. Kudos to the Zoo for no parking fees.

This Zoo is huge. You could spend an entire day at the Zoo which would be fine unless you were in town for just one day and had other places to visit.

My biggest complaint about the Zoo is the amount of hills and upwards walking. The land in Africa & Asia were almost all uphill. Their is also a section really devoted to children and it was impossible to bypass.

Had not been to the zoo in 6 or 7 years, so were excited to see all the new exhibits and improvements. SO let down! While they have made huge improvements in the zoo itself, there are hardly any animals! We went early in hopes the animals would be active and after not being able to find any animals in their areas, we spoke with a zoo keeper and was told that it was feeding time or cleaning time and they were in their cages! You wait until the zoo is open to do that?! So, we kept walking around. Not a single elephant in sight, no lions in sight, one tiger stretched out in the deep grass up at the top of the hill that took several of us to finally spot. So disappointing! While we understand that the new habitat is great for the animals, you can’t find them. Many small areas that had signs that said there animals in them had none. No meercats, no monkeys. Used to be able to watch the seals and otters play, none. There used to be tons of howler monies and chimps, none. Just a very big disappointment.

I was so looking forward to visiting the zoo because of all the wonderful things I had heard. It is completely overrated. So many exhibits closed. No birds at all. No monkeys. Incredibly challenging to see the 1 or 2 animals per species they did have on display. Highlight was, of course, the baby elephants. The aquarium was ok but I've been to better. The Kansas City zoo is so much better.

We have a Zoo pass and go a couple of times a month. I hated all the construction going on lately but what they have built so far is beyond awesome. Especially the new sea lion enclosure. I spent an entire day there just watching the seals swim. There is still a ton of construction going on so there is more to come. This whole Covid thing makes it tricky to navigate the Zoo but it's still worth going.

We have been to this zoo twice in the last six years. Once in the late spring and once in the winter. Recommend going in the late spring due to the weather and many animals are inside and cannot be seen in the outdoor enclosures. This is one of the best zoos in the country, so you will enjoy all that there is to offer for both adults and children. Because we had a zoo membership in another state, we were able to enter free...please donate if you choose to do this as all our public zoos need our support!

This was truly a surprising and delightful experience. My family and I have been to many zoos and we usually plan in a half day experience, however, here we heard amazing things and scheduled in a full day. If you take your time and take part of all of the experiences and activities for kids you will need 2 days to visit this zoo. The exhibits are all designed very well for viewing and the variety is amazing. The children's activities are amazing from the river area to the splash pad and other activities, my daughter was exhausted from running around. Only complaint i had was that there are limited dinning options and the lines for these are excessive (waited over an hour for lunch)

Would absolutely recommend this zoo to anyone a must see!

As an Omahan (Omahanian?) who visits the zoo regularly, I was really excited when I heard the Henry Doorly was voted #1 zoo! I’m not surprised at all. It really has everything you could want in a zoo— an aquarium, jungle exhibit, countess residents, a sea lion habitat, dessert spots, a desert dome, and a carousel, to name just a few. Please, please go here. You won’t regret it.

Henry Doorley Zoo is constantly reinventing itself and updating habitats as they wear out. There are pros and cons to this: one con is that you may have to put up with some construction and maintenance issues that will limit your exposure to some habitats this year. Rest assured that you will not run out of things to see after a five hour trip; like the one we took recently. We will come back soon to see the aviary and stingray beach; which were not open on the Thursday we visited. Most people wore masks indoors and out. We did not wear masks outside because there really is no evidence of the virus being transmitted in open air and the park does not require it. Six feet can easily be maintained in this park. This is self regulated. Everyone seemed respectful of personal choice. There is inherent risk in participating in this type of activity. I realize this and counted the cost; even though I am very medically vulnerable. If you are not willing to do this; you may want to consider another family activity. Families escape to this place to feel normal again and spend time reflecting on what is still good in life.

Outstanding clean and well organized zoo. We’ve been to many zoos and we feel this zoo is a top five to see! Very well latex out. Animals had space to roam and seemed happy. I liked the many rest rooms throughout the zoo. Was sad that the gondolas were closed. I have friends that recommended this. It was nice to see the baby elephant and baby giraffe. Highly recommended this zoo!

Plan on Lots of walking! Our visit was off season - some exhibits closed - apes were indoors except for one Orangutan - one Sliverback gorilla. Crowds were not a problem this day. Wow! This was an excellent example of quality animal care in a captive environment. Baby gorilla was having fun teasing its co-habitation monkeys. Did a few chest thumps for us. Baby orangutan was swinging on the ropes putting on a good show! Marine enviroment was spectacular! Desert dome was pretty quiet but still stuff to see. African animals were very showy! We plan on returning to view the new aviary that is under construction.

I had wanted to come to the zoo for years. We finally had a chance to visit Omaha. We spent about four hours at the zoo, but we soon realized that February is not the best time to visit. Many animals are off exhibit and very few vendors are open throughout the zoo. We found one place to grab a quick bite of an overpriced lunch. Quite honestly, if the zoo wishes to give visitors 50% of the experience, it should charge visitors 50% of the price.

We visited there as we've always before it's fun there's always a lot of construction so you're never always gonna say everything but thank ybut they keep moving forward and improving it's all it's always a great place to go out with always recommend and friendly staff

We managed to do the entire zoo from 10AM-5PM without exhausting out 8 and 1-year-olds. Worth it! We have a national zoo membership which made the trip more affordable. We recommend bringing your own food though.

Great zoo! Lots of beautiful animals an neat scenery, it's very large, go on a mild day. The only drawback was flow of walking traffic in exhibits made it difficult to enjoy due to people setting to take a dozen pics or texting an walking on both sides. Other than that we had an amazing day,

It was fun it looks like they are expanding and was a mess but still fun. The price was more than last not realy worth it. For limited and crouds. Resercations needed to enter.

Great zoo!! The only reason to come to Omaha! We will be back!! If you are a member of your local zoo church to see if you can get half off tickets!! Bring your lunch and snacks, the lines were horrible. Get the app or you’ll miss a ton!

First time in a long time that I left disappointed. They have a lot of construction going on that really disrupts the flow for guests. Several species are no longer at the zoo due to expansion. Sun Bear, Polar Bear, & Amur Leopard are most notable. Asian exhibit is nice, but there’s a lot of empty landscaped areas. In the past I considered this the best zoo in the country along with St Louis. Will have to go back after construction to see if it is still up there.

Went to the zoo on Aug. 10, 2021. Had not been in several years. It had changed a lot. Looked more unkept but i understand this as the corona virus has changed many things. It is hard to find help now and it showed.
Each of the animal habitats needed attention. There was no place to get a cold drink on a very hot day. I purchased us a drink expecting it to be cold from a vending machine. The drinks were hot. None of the food places were open.
I am sad for the help that showed up for work. I know they must be over-worked. I am sad for the animals who pay the ultimate price. Hopefully relief comes soon. All this aside , i will definatly make return visits. The zoo needs the support right now. Please make the effort to visit it. It is a beautiful place. They make strides to educate the public. It IS worth the visit. Take your own refreshments.

World class zoo has won many awards for layout, variety of animals, animal breeding program, display spaces, aquarium, desert dome...the list goes on & on. Many activities for all ages. Easy to walk. Very appealing to the eye. Our family loves this zoo!

The Henry Doorly Zoo has been ranked as the USA's top zoo, and for good reason. It is an amazing facility with huge spaces for larger animals, such as the elephants, to roam.

Though our family visited during the end of the winter season, much was still open. The desert dome and aquarium alone are worth the trip. We could only imagine what the fully opened zoo must be like!

It is not inexpensive but worth every penny. Also, we spent an entire day there. In the summer, two days would be needed to experience it all.

Lovely zoo. Clean and tidy, big and you can fill a day well. Animals have large enclosures and there is a lot of variety. Friendly people, second time we were here and that was really nice. Too bad everything wasn't open yet. Like the gondolas that pass above the animals. That was really a setback for us. That was the only thing....

I've been a member of the zoo for a little over a year now, and I can attest that it is a world-class establishment.

Not only are there plenty of really exciting outdoor attractions (including the new Asian Highlands area), but there are enough unique indoor exhibits that a winter trip is totally worth it! They are constantly updating attractions, which means each trip you can usually see something new.

The downtown area was beautiful but, it is still a work in progress. Lots of things to do and see. Bring tons of energy and comfortable shoes. Very walkable area. Plenty of open air concerts to be enjoyed. The zoo was a real treat.

We always enjoy visiting here when we are traveling cross country. We create photography books of AZA accredited zoos around the country and Henry Doorly is in progress. We needed some additional photos and our day was filled with success. There was one problem for the day and that was purchasing sky ride tickets at the kiosk (it didn't print them) and then finding out we had to walk all the way back across the zoo to board (the nearest boarding platform was closed). Otherwise, another great day at the zoo and aquarium!

This was our first post-COVID visit to the Zoo and we were very happy to be back. The nocturnal animals exhibit was closed but nearly everything else was. Masks were required for ages 5 and up and there were hand sanitizing stations everywhere. We made reservations on-line and paid beforehand. Prices seem to have increased considerably since our visit last year- $109 for two adults, one senior (me), and children ages 6, 3 and 1. Part of it may have been one of the kids getting into a higher-priced bracket but the Zoo may also have had to compensate for limiting attendance- the animals still have to be fed and cared for.

It was well worth it- the Aquarium alone is almost as good as the one in Kansas City and not that much more expensive even though the entrance fee at the Dourly Zoo covers both.

The misting stations were welcome- it was a very hot day!

The helicopter and the SUV were huge hits with my granddaughters. Note that the Intercoms allow people in the helicopter and the SUV to talk to each other!

I'm very glad the Zoo is open again,

I was underwhelmed by this zoo. I dont know if it was the hot weather or what but we really didnt see anything. All the animals were sleeping or hiding in the shade. They had no open tables in the air conditioned buildings even though have the tables were open and they blocked them off. I cant say I would be interested in going back.

This was by no means a bad zoo, but this zoo had been hyped up to my entire family over the course of at least 10 years.  This zoo has been on my mom’s bucket list for at least that long and we planned an entire trip just to see this zoo.  I have grown up going to a local zoo that is in the top 10 in the US, so I am probably even more biased than I realize.  I went with my parents and siblings (siblings ranged in age from late teens to late 20s) on a Saturday in August 2025.  We got there right at 9am expecting to stay the entire day, only to leave around 12:30pm.

The three buildings we went into (Desert Dome, Aquarium, and Rainforest) were impressive and we had fun but the rest of the zoo left us wondering how this zoo is first in the nation.  To give the zoo credit, this was likely due to the crowds that we encountered since it was peak season on a Saturday no less.  The walkways were constantly clogged with strollers and people (at least 6 at a time) aimlessly standing around (in the middle of the path).  I think more benches would really improve this since I didn’t see hardly any.  I’d also recommend wider paths but I doubt that would be feasible.  It got so bad that my family started dodging the crowds which was unfortunately more entertaining than seeing the animals.

Seeing the animals quickly became tedious.  Seeing the animals in the three buildings was just fine but outdoors was exhausting due to the lack of visibility points.  Many other visitors would flock to the one 10-foot view point and stay there.  I can’t blame them, but it made it really hard to see the animals.  We went counterclockwise around the zoo, starting with the giraffes.  After we saw the elephants (the second animal along that path), we essentially pointed to the sleeping animal and moved on to the next exhibit from that point forward.  There weren’t any zookeepers speaking about any of the animals that we saw, so we didn’t see a reason to actually stop for longer when the stroller people could catch up to us (while still dodging other stroller people and obnoxiously slow groups).  Along the pathways (tucked slightly out of the way) there were a ton of water misting sprays.  Would have been a nice perk had we used them.

We did not go into the children’s play area or the petting zoo area (we were all done at that point) but saw all the other exhibits.  The exhibits were well done but it felt like there weren’t very many animals for such a large zoo (which is probably a better situation for the animals but lame for us).  There was a ton of walking (which we weren’t against) but it became too much with the crazy crowds and small number of animals “on display”.

I would recommend this zoo, but highly encourage off-season or a weekday.  Disappointing for us since we rearranged multiple work schedules to go, but the potential is there.  There are other zoos that we have been to that I would definitely recommend first but we are overall glad that we went after waiting for so long to visit.

We have memberships and frequent the zoo often. We love this zoo so much and could go there everyday. You definitely will need to spend multiple days here if you want to see everything thoroughly. I’ve read multiple times that this zoo is ranked 1 or 2 best zoo in the world depending on the year.

Very fun for all ages and reasonably priced. Lots of animals to see with cool areas that look like the actual habitat some of the animals would live in the wild.

In Omaha for the CWS. Needed something to do between games and this was perfect. Lots of animals with an aquarium! Lots of walking so be prepared and there are extra activities in the zoo that are not included in the price of admission.

We heard rave reviews about this zoo, but we were disappointed in the hype. The zoo is big and spread out but there are very few animals. We visited on a cooler day (high 70's) and many of the animals were inside. The elephant habitat is hardly a habitat - needs a lot of work compared to other zoos. Sky ride was nice. Imax movie was nice. Food locations had huge lines and were very understaffed.

Our first visit to the zoo was disappointing. It was very crowded even though the weather was perfect, yet many of the main attractions were unexpectedly closed, including the tram and the train. This resulted in having to walk long distances with no transportation options. Additionally, most of the dining establishments were closed, and the few that were open had an extremely inefficient ordering system that caused us to wait over an hour just to place and pay for our order, then another 45 minutes to receive the food, which was mediocre at best. The $18 pretzel was outrageously overpriced. For a family of four, the $100 admission fee felt like a waste when we could not even access one ride or many exhibits. While some rave about this zoo, unfortunately our experience was a major failure. The small children's playground was dangerously overcrowded. The bathrooms were in poor condition - no paper towels, missing toilet paper in some stalls, and one was completely broken. For first-time visitors, we were very unimpressed and do not feel inclined to return.

First off, there are areas still under construction so we weren’t able to see everything. Still, it was an amazing zoo with so much to see! The animals were nicely spread out but we still could see them in their zoo habitat. It was busy and I’m glad we went on a Monday as the weekends must get super busy! Our teenagers actually enjoyed the zoo and didn’t complain much. A win!

The Henry Doorly Zoo was on my bucket list for a while, so this was our plan for the one day we were passing through Omaha. I was really bummed to only get to see part of the zoo—I got sick and spent some time in the first aid center before I could catch an Uber back to our hotel…the staff at the first aid center couldn’t have been more helpful.

But, I did see some of it. The aquarium was awesome. I loved seeing the sharks and turtles and the puffins and penguins. There were really cool jellies. The jungle was probably my favorite part. I could have watched the otters and the monkeys (especially the baby) all day. The Desert Dome was pretty neat, too, but incredibly hot.

I’d love to go back one day and ride the sky ride and see the rest of the zoo. It’s back on the bucket list!

We lived in Omaha 6 years ago and were members every year and were there almost every weekend. It was our favorite place. So when we drove through on our family road trip we made it a point to stop and stay another night specially for this zoo.
Let me preface with I realize everything is different since Covid. Staffing is horrible because no one wants to work. It’s the age in which we live-unfortunately-however; I feel like at this point it’s an excuse for bad business. Instead of evolving we are making excuses. If you have 21 places that serve food and 3 are open-I feel like signs need to be all over said areas-with hours and where you can find food.. They need to be on the apps. It needs to be clearly defined so you aren’t walking around aimlessly trying to find food. And the prices. 🙈 holy moly. This isn’t Disney world. I remember prices being extremely reasonable considering we were at the zoo-however not this time-We spent $70 on lunch. Yes you read that right-For a family of 4.

They have new exhibits which are incredible, But half the park is closed “for the season”. I feel like if you are paying full season price you should get full season experience. 🤷🏼‍♀️ but no…off season is the best weather but you are punished for it because nothing is open. I’m not sure what’s going on here or if everything has gone up to pay for all the new things but I wasn’t impressed.

The staff doesn’t seem impressed either. Everyone used to be friendly. Loved their job. Interactive. We passed several staff and they avoided us like were weren’t even there. The man at the butterfly place was so rude I wanted to lecture him about talking to children the way he did-you work at a zoo for goodness sakes…there are children! 😑

The exhibits were very nice and the animals were in clear view. The animals are treated very well and the staff works hard to provide a great experience for guests. However the seating was a problem and when it was hot outside shade was hard to find. This is still a great zoo but the food and seating could improve.

I have gone to the zoo many times over the years and have seen the transformation.

It appears to me they have expanded to a place that is know longer the family friendly, zoo I was so fond of.

Not an elephant, lion, cheetah or just about any other outside animal to be seen. Prices have sky rocketed. Family friendly no more.

Very disappointing. Gone to far in my opinion.

Still too hot to walk around the entire thing but we made the best of it! It was 88 degrees the morning we went. Thought they had scooters but they are just motorized chairs for the disabled and/or elderly. Must be 16 to rent them. Wish the staff was nicer but I wouldn't want to be out there all day either so it is what it is. Two staff members were VERY friendly though. No real food is served until 10:30/11. We missed out on the goat petting area, it's easy to miss unfortunately. Dessert dome is awesome, don't skip that one.

Beautiful zoo! We went to see the baby elephants and spent the whole day there. We brought my 80-year-old grandmother, and she enjoyed riding in the electric scooter the zoo rented her for $30.

If you have a reciprocal zoo membership, they offer discounted tickets. But you need to go to guest services to get all your members discounted.

There are many water features for kids to play in, so make sure to pack the swimsuits! They also have a cool kids area that has animals to pet, special crafts, and tons of zoo-themed climbing areas.

My wife and 2.5 year old daughter went to the zoo on a Monday. Apparently that was a mistake. The train, lift, and several of the exhibits were closed down. I agree that the train and lift aren’t the main reason to go to a zoo, they are important when you have a two year old that loves trains and rides. There was one tram to transport you around the park. The tram seemed to take 30-40 minutes to make the rounds.

The animals appeared to be well cared for and were in reasonable sized accommodations. It just felt like $70 was a lot to pay for the experience we got. I don’t think you could see everything in the zoo in a single weekday visit. I think you would need at least two days. A $140 to experience the whole zoo would not be worth it.

We had lunch in the zoo. One place required you place your order online. We wanted a bottle of water and had to order it online. I was told it would take 45 minutes to prepare. I went to the pick up window and asked them if this was right. They told me it wasn’t and gave me a bottle immediately.

We ate lunch at the Durham Treetop Restaurant. My wife ordered while I was wrangling our daughter. My wife order two things of chicken strips, mac and cheese, and tried to order some fries. There was miscommunication and the fries weren’t prepared. The “restaurant” was self service and you brought your food to the register and paid for it after you collected it. So when there were no fries my wife simply asked if she could get some fries too. This was accomplished by the cook in 20 seconds. During that time, the woman who took the order began accusing my wife of not ordering the fries. My wife never said she did, just asked for an order of fries. It was a strange argument for this person to try to start.

My wife had four cardboard “boats” of food and there were no trays. The cook told the woman to go and get some trays because my wife needed one. The woman did this without delay and quickly brought a stack of trays to the order pickup area. She set the stack down, out of reach of my wife, put her hands on the stack and stared at her. I walked up and got a tray from her. My interactions with her was fine. I witnessed her entire interaction with my wife, so I don’t know what her issue was with her.

The zoo is short staffed and people are overworked. I get that. I would say the entire experience at the zoo was less than ideal.

I bet a weekend visit when extra people are working would make a better experience. However i can only score it based on my family’s experience.

Honestly, I am not a zoo person, but having been in Omaha I needed to stop at the zoo. I have heard great things. Partially due to covid19, the heat and the fact that I’m not a zoo enthusiast, I was pretty much over it by the time I made it through Africa. Now! That being said, we did the skyfari, and loved that! It was an excellent way to view the zoo.
*Again, the zoo is not my thing, but that’s a me problem! This zoo is phenomenal!!

If you come in February, as we did, many of the African animals will not be on display. That being said, what was viewable was awesome. It’s a huge zoo. You need at least 3-4 hours to see everything, especially if you go in season. The dome is super cool and the largest indoor desert in the world. The aquarium is also really cool. My whole family really enjoyed seeing what we could see and the variety of animals is impressive. It’s a must visit zoo, especially when everything is on display.

We were in Omaha for the SlumpBuster L.L. World series, and had heard that the Omaha Zoo was one of the best in US. Maybe it was in the past, but we were highly disappointed. It cost us over $100 for a family of 4 to visit, but most exhibits were closed "for the safety of the animals". Of the exhibits that were open, about half had no animal. Then, the walking in between habitats was ridiculous! We would walk forever down a shaded path, but not see anything except trees and bushes. The zoo is way too spread out between animal habitats and nothing to see.

Another huge downside was that the attractions closed 2 hours before the zoo closed. We were hoping to ride the Skyfari, but when we reached what we thought was the entrance, we were greeted with a closed sign. The had closed one entry and were forcing everyone to purchase round trip tickets. By the time we made it to the other side of the zoo to purchase a ticket, they were closed. Which made no sense, the zoo didn't close for another 2 hours.

Another disappointment was the lack of snack and drink kiosks. We saw several, but they were closed. The few that were open had such long lines, we had to wait 30 mintues to get a water. On a hot June day, more drink kiosks should have been available.

The zoo was nice, but definitely not the top zoo I've been to. Waste of money.

One of best zoos in world. Some animals were hiding, but living space is bigger here than other zoos, making it easy for animals to be out of site. Need 2 days to visit. Different. Exhibits were amazing.

One of the worst zoo experiences I have had. No map when entering. Signage was minima. I saw two lions, one zebre and two rhinos, but only after paying extra for the overhead safari. . Indoor displays were mediocre. I have no idea where the "best zoo in america" comes from. I have seen much better in Florida and Canada.

Definitely not worth the money.

This is a huge zoo. Between Covid and it being an overcast day, not many animals were out. But we did enjoy the African elephants as they tore tree branches apart, the rhinos soon after they were let out, and the female lions that started playing and p9ouncing on each other. My favorite was the Siamon, a type of smaller black monkey. When he saw me looking at him, he jumped down from his perch, came towards me and gave me a big hug through the glass of the window. Several of the houses were open, but you need to wear a mask inside each one. Our favorite was the aquarium where we could watch sharks and schools of fish swim over us. They also have a very interesting collection of jellyfish.

Was excited to see this zoo…. Was a total let down, they charge you the full fee but not tell you “a lot” of things were closed and one of the biggest the dome, CLOSED!! Hardly any animals were out… just wasn’t worth looking at fish, that was about it.

This zoo was amazing! We love visiting zoos, so we have been to a fair share. The outside exhibits are ok - sometimes you don’t see any of the animals because their exhibits are so big. And that’s awesome! The real hits are the desert biome and the lied jungle. These are just phenomenal. You feel like you are actually there - in a cave, in a swamp, in a tropical jungle, etc. Very well done, and we saw animals we had never seen before which is pretty cool. The aquarium isn’t the best if you have been to other aquariums BUT it is part of a zoo and not a stand alone, so it makes sense it would be a bit smaller. All in all, great fun!

We visited the zoo in June 2020. We purchased our tickets 2 days in advance. Due to required social distancing, many of the exhibits were not available to the public.
The animals were out for us to see. It was a really hot day so they had misting stations available for the animals and also some misting stations for the zoo visitors. Many of the shops were closed but they were selling their products outside.
Outside water fountains were unavailable so it would be wise to bring water with you to drink along the way. Also wear a hat because there is not many places to get out of the sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Wear light colored clothing and maybe bring an umbrella to have less sun.
You can only walk in one direction and cannot back track. The foot traffic was light which allowed you to get close enough to see animals without being too close to other people.
When you exit, you come out at the bottom of the hill so if you park at the top of the hill, there is a long uphill climb to get back to your car. Suggestion is to park downhill where you come out.
I have been to this zoo a couple of times and I really like this zoo . It is disappointing not to be able to see some of the exhibits. No monkeys, no butterfly's, no birds, no penguins. I realize this is not within the zoo's control.
Lastly, my only concern was that none of the sanitizer stations had no sanitizer in the dispensers. Bring your own. And that when I bought a soft drink, the teenager handed me a straw with bare hand contact after handling my money. So there may be more training required for food handlers.

I still recommend visiting this zoo.

What a waste of time and money, a lot of the exhibits were closed and none of the food concessions were open down below by the carousel, kids were really disappointed. We only seen one animal that was walking around, the rest was either hidden or motionless. If they are going to have most of the main exhibits closed then they should charge accordingly. We could have left after we seen the aquarium and the butterfly house and not missed anything except a long walk and not to mention unhappy kids

Excellent zoo. My only regret is not purchasing a two day pass. It was really really hot for our visit and while there are several indoor options for reprieve and the splash pad for cooling off-this was just one of those days where the kids couldn’t make it. We did buy the rides pass for unlimited carousel, train, tram and sky ride rides. We only took advantage of the carousel and train….for a family of 6, we at least made the higher admission fee worth it. I would love to come back when it’s not as warm because we missed so much! But sometimes you just got to cut it short when you have kids. All things considered, we did make it from 9:30 am-4 pm.

If you can pack a cooler-do it, as food is sooo expensive but I expected this anyway.

Very few zoos in the U.S. can compare with this medium size zoo in Omaha. While I generally do not favor keeping animals imprisoned, if keeping them safe from extinction in an environment close to their natural habitat protects the species, it is a good thing. That describes the Omaha zoo. How many zoos have a large area devoted to red tailed pandas? The Omaha zoo does. The mountain gorillas seem content in their mountain like jungle area. The zoo spends a lot of its resources on educating the visitors - another important reason for a zoo to exist. Beyond all of the above, the zoo is just a clean, modern, fun place for all ages! Highly recommend it .

Perfect day to go to the zoo, only part was we werent able to get close due to kids. Wish they had more signs about what was and open and what wasn't. Would have saved us a lot of time time walking down to the Alaskan part and back around. Very little food options. Be ready to walk 5 miles.

Lied Jungle and the desert dome are fun to walk through. The sights, smells and sounds of the swamp in the lower level of the desert dome are probably my favorite spot.

We usually only go to the zoo with our kids but we are traveling without them and decided to check out the zoo anyway. We are so glad we did, it is a beautiful zoo, very well landscaped. The highlight though was seeing the gorillas. The gorilla exhibit is so well done you can get within inches of the gorillas with only glass dividers. There is another exhibit with families of gorillas and babies. It was a lot of fun to see them so closely. The other exhibits split by world regions are also great. Lots of walking but we love that.

We had an excellent experience at the zoo. It was one of our main reasons for coming to Omaha for a weekend trip from the Twin Cities. It is in the 1,000 Places to See Before you Die in the United States and Canada and deserves to be! The zoo is huge with great and spacious animal habitats. The animals seemed well cared for. This was my first zoo trip since watching “Tiger King,” so I was nervous. But this is what a zoo should be. We took our five month old daughter and she loved it! It was chilly and the buildings are spread apart, so dress accordingly if visiting in the winter. We put her in a baby Bjorn and she loved it! Highlights were the tunnel with sharks swimming in the aquarium and the huge desert dome. The gift shop was really reasonable as well. Huge stuffed animal for $15! We also got reciprocal admission with our MN Zoo membership, so check if you live somewhere else!

Unbelievable experience…
Well worth the visit .
Go early in the morning..
Handicap accessible, strollers, wagons, wheelchair , mobility scooter rentals at Main entrance .
Highly recommend for all

Our family of 5 visited the zoo on a weekend. The zoo was quite busy even though we arrived right when it opened. We liked that the exhibits had lots of animals, which made for less walking but created more congestion. On the day we came, there was a thunderstorm, but we felt safe inside the desert dome and jungle building. We considered the trams to minimize our walking (they go counter clockwise around the main loop). There are lots of restrooms, benches, and food places around the zoo. Definitely a top three zoo in the US with San Diego and the Washington DC zoo.

Wow, what a zoo!!! Loved the indoor rainforest, it’s really unique. Almost didn’t see the animals in the basement of the desert exhibit. It was a spooky and well done experience, be sure not to miss these animals and unique environment.

I hadn't been to the zoo for several years, so many of the exhibits were new to me. Absolutely loved the sea lion exhibit! Great day at a great zoo!

We had read such wonderful things about this zoo, we were expecting great things. There is no comparison between this facility and the Bronx Zoo or the St. Louis Zoo. The zoo is certainly in a convenient location, only about 3 miles south of downtown Omaha.
Although rain and thunder were predicted, we went anyway, as did many others; the zoo wasn't just busy, it was crowded with families.
Attempting to house animals in environments that mimic what would be found in the wild is the goal of the modern zoo. In this case, many of the inhabitants were obscured from view. Possibly the impending storm affected them. We were introduced to a couple of species that were new to us: Takins and Pere David's Deer.
When the heavy rain started we looked for an indoor restaurant, but were not successful in locating one.

It has been many years since I was at the zoo, and it has become much more commercialized than it used to be. They have many of the same attractions, but there are advertisements around now, and the walking paths have been widened, a lift put in, and other things making it feel like more of an amusement park now than a zoo unfortunately. They have lost the home town feel that they used to have, and turned corporate.

That being said, we did go on a busy holiday weekend, so the crowds were abnormally large and many of the exhibits took a while to get through and we felt pushed along because of the crowds.

Some of the zoo exhibits have been remodeled such as the giraffes, large cats, monkeys on the island and a few other things to give the animals more space so they are not as stressed and pacing the cages as they did before. This was a big improvement which I had noticed.

The prices have gone up accordingly too, and are a little on the high side for a family. Over $25 a ticket for an adult now, and the discounts for students and seniors was $1 less only. Whoopie, we saved a dollar!

Henry Dorley is always rated in the top 3 or 4 zoo's in the world. I believe it will take 3 days to see it all.

The zoo was really gorgeous, we really enjoyed the Stingray Beach and Safari Zip Line the most! We were disappointed to see the Gorilla area closed for construction as we were all very excited for that part of the Zoo. However, the aquarium is beautiful and large! I loved the landscaping at the zoo! The penguins were beyond adorable!

This is an excellent zoo! Must see the Desert Dome, Lied Jungle and person favorite the Kingdom of the Night exhibit. Don't miss the Kingdom of the Night take the stairs down when leaving the Desert Dome. The nocturnal animals viewed in the dark as soo cool and a little creepy but so well done!

Great collection of animas that are well displayed. The movie theater experience with the Antarctic film we saw was stunning. Suppose the Giraffe, Apes and Elephant exhibits are the best. Aviary was closed. I would suggest doing this in the summer if you are from out of town as there were many of the highlight experiences that were closed (free and paid). Elephant training, giraffe feeding and Lion show are examples. So you save five dollars if you go in fall or spring but that pales by comparison to what is available in season. It is still worth the price of admission but you leave thinking you need to come back for what you missed.

Every city has a zoo and I only visited this one because it had a great reputation. Indeed, it is a nicer and more grandiose zoo than others I have seen. It is set up as a series of huge multi-level buildings that you walk through such as the Desert Dome, aquarium and rain forest. The habitats are very immersive. While I don’t think the Omaha Zoo has “special” animals like the giant pandas and Komodo Dragon of the Smithsonian or California Condors in San Diego, the overall setup and the vastness of the property are hard to match.

Zoo was impressive. The aquarium was my favorite and could have stayed there for hours. Desert dome was fascinating. Lots of hills but it had great resting areas to watch he animals. Of from out of town this is a recommended stop!

It was the first nice spring weekend of the season and spring break for our youngest grandson. His first trip to this zoo and our first for at least 10 years. We were disappointed that none of the rides were operating and very few concessions were. Many of the water fountains were still shut off. We waited a long time to get in. I got my tickets online as advised in many reviews but the wait was still long. There is lots of construction and the roof line of the aquarium is going to be beautiful when completed. The aquarium was everyone's favorite by far.

there is so much stuff to do at this place you should go see Belsky fall aka really my uncle and my dads brother

Spectacular. Every impressive step of the way. Thank you, so much, for adhering to the highest of standards in providing close-to natural environments for the animals, and giving families an opportunity to spend time together, in an outdoor environment. Kudos to Henry Dooley Zoo of Omaha!

Put the Doorly Zoo on our travel agenda as we both remember watching Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom on TV as kids. Ending up spending the entire day at the zoo. So many fun things to do and great animals to observe. It was a beautiful April day but there were some animals that were not out in their enclosures yet. Had lunch there … was pretty good. If you like zoos and are in Omaha, this is a must see.

We recently spent five hours here, four adults, two that have season passes and knew their way around. The other two of us hadn't been there for years and were very impressed with the updated exhibits, especially the landscapes. For the outdoor habitats most animals were able to be viewed from several vantage points, many quite close. Loved the garden areas, water features and the efforts to make the habitats as natural as possible while incorporating modern techniques for cleanliness and safety. There were very few animals that weren't visible even on a warm day.

Our least favorite were the older indoor buildings which in places were quite crowded on a weekend morning. There were hand sanitizers and signs with health safety suggestions.

We took in water and snacks. Parking was ample and I bought tickets online and was quickly scanned in. We didn't need a map, but printing one before you go is an option.

Really a nice zoo and the updated outdoor habitats were very impressive.

When we go to zoos, we never know how long we will be there, 6 hours later, I am still not sure we saw everything we should have! Staff is absolutely the best!

I have visited a lot of zoos, but this one was the best by far. Never have I seen so many of the animals out and up so close.

Best ever to i and my wife to take our 4 year old granddaughter. So much to see and a beautiful place to walk around and to tell our grandaughter about nature and wildlife.

I had this place on my list to visit for a while and it did not disappoint. While a few attractions were closed, like the butterfly exhibit, we still spent the whole day looking around and enjoying it. One of the coolest things they do is let you bring your own drinks and food in without having to pay for the overpriced things at the concession stands. Just really an awesome place to see that every zoo lover has to visit.

I had heard this was a great zoo. Wanted to end the girls trip on a fun excursion. We scheduled to spend a full (open to close) day at the zoo.
The visit started in the desert dome and worked our way thru the exhibits. A few of the exhibits were closed for renovations and most of the concessions were closed. We went towards the end of September.
At the end of exploring everything we could, we were done 3 hours before closing. Huh? We were very surprised and now either needed to revisit some of the exhibits or find something else to do. (We chose something else-the gardens about a mile away).
After thinking about why it was so short a visit, we concluded that there just wasn’t the amount of animals to see that we thought there would be.
No Zebras, bears, maybe 1 tiger, 2-3 lions.
Granted we did not do the sky ride(closed) or the tram tour, but the amount and variety of animals was very disappointing. Especially for the amount of money we paid to enter.
I personally would not recommend this zoo to anyone and neither would my friend who loves to visit zoos.

We spent the day here and covid19 restrictions were in place: closed water fountains, wearing masks indoors and restricting numbers in exhibits, no train or tram. It was quite hot outside but shade generally available. Or only complaint was that food service places are all currently serving the same items and none of those are gluten free (except popcorn). Did NOT know that food and drinks are allowed inside, which would have been helpful info! They will give you small cups of ice water at food places, if you ask, since water fountains are closed. Food and drink prices are high. But the zoo itself: very well laid out, construction continues for bigger exhibits, "Africa" is most impressive!

We spent two days here to see it all. This is very well done, and earns its top marks for best zoo in USA. There's a nice little water park for hot days. A neat kids adventures area. Lots of space to move around. They allow outside food and beverages. The tram is very handy and informative for getting around. Lots of great exhibits. Didn't feel crowded, even on a busy weekend. Train ride was ok, could use some work or a lower price for what you get. Lots of parking available.

We went here in winter but still saw so much and had most of the zoo to ourselves. It was a fun time and my children loved it. Only disappointing thing was some of the areas were closed. But lions, tigers, snow leopards, elephants and cheetahs were out. Highly recommend

Wow! Amazing experience. Animals are close so that you can enjoy them without needing binoculars. Ended up going two days.

Always enjoy this zoo, great to see updates to displays, hope there are more to come. Wish property was a little more spread out to relieve volumes or people in popular areas

World class zoo and for a good reason! This place it top notch and service here was exceptional. Plan on spending an entire day there and know that you still didn’t see everything.

We both grew up watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, so, when in Omaha, we had to visit Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Acquarium. Great displays, especially its jungle exhibit. The aquarium's penguins and sea lions were fun! Both were kid favorites. Plenty of food options on site and restroom choices for little emergencies. If you are scheduling your day, highly recommend purchasing tickets online.

It's a nice zoo, but we didn't get to see many animals. Where are the elephants? So much space is dedicated to them, but we saw not even one.

We had a great time at the zoo even though it wasn't fully open yet. It was jam packed and a lot of walking. They had strollers and wagons for rent that are reasonably priced. I would recommend going later in the season to get the full experience. Take your own food and drinks to save money and there are many places to picnic, and the lines are long at the eateries which are kind of pricey.

I had heard so much about this zoo and how it's one of the top in the country, that I think I built it up in my head too much. It was well laid out, beautifully landscaped and designed, overall a very good zoo. But why ask people to get timed tickets if you're not going to limit attendance? At 9:30 (half hour after opening), the place was packed. The desert biodome was so crowded I could feel myself starting to panic. Many of the animals at the zoo decided to not make themselves visible, but that's typical. The worst part was the food situation. You can't order at the counter; you have to scan a QR code and order on your phone. AFTER paying, we're told the food will be ready in an HOUR. An hour, for a hot dog and fries? And speaking to some people in line, they'd waited their hour, and had been standing in line to pick up their order for another 30 minutes! That's just wrong. We'd already seen all the exhibits, so we left without our food. Consider it a donation.

We went for four hours on a weekday afternoon so we were able to cover the full circle of the zoo but it didn't allow us to linger too long in any one place. I really enjoyed the indoor exhibits, particularly the desert, the swamp, the jungle and the butterfly house. In the jungle exhibit we were pleasantly surprised at all the fruit bats flying around! The Asian exhibit was also well themed. I will say on a weekday afternoon not many amenities were open (no train, few food areas, a lot of the kids areas were closed) and we walked uphill to where the lions were supposed to be only to find very few animals in exhibit in that area (no lions). I really enjoyed seeing the elephants, they have an amazingly large herd and several calves which was surprising. The zoo overall was really quiet visitor-wise but LOTS of construction noise around every turn. I wish there were more paths to cut back to the entrance, you were kind of trapped into going all the way around but that may be because the orangutan exhibit was under construction. $30 per person pretty steep price, no discounts but worth it to support the zoo and I felt like we got our money's worth.

Beautiful zoo and aquarium with really nice animal habitats, which means the animals can hide from you. Loved watching the playful penguins snd puffins and enjoyed the short ride on the steam-powered train. Some disappointments..exhibits closed, animals including elephants snd sea lions, still in night quarters where they aren’t visible. There appeared to be a lot of interactive things for children.

Be aware that almost nobody was wearing masks besides zoo employees. Lots of walking required.

I have been to many Zoos in America and I worked at one one for a year. I will say this is one of my favorites! Visited while I was in town on a Saturday. VERY CROWDED IN THE SUMMER! The highlights were the Kingdoms of the Night-(especially the bats! ) the Lied Jungle, and also the baby elephant.
The Aquarium would have been better if they kept the strollers and wagons out of there. Too many people were in there and no one would walk- very claustrophobic on a crowded Saturday. Just dont go in the Aquarium there if you dont like crowds.
They limited my reciprocal AZA discount to 2 tickets which I dont think is fair. Many Zoos allow the discount on more tickets than that.

We had a great time at the zoo. It was very clean, the animals were active and well cared for and in general, it was a great experience. My complaint however has to do with the zoo’s use of the QR code for downloading a map in order to get around the area. The person at the cashier window told us they no longer used paper maps due to Covid and that there were lots of map displays around the zoo so we could find our way. So first of all, OK, I get the Covid thing, but honestly I only saw two maps at the very front of the zoo and no others. Pushing the QR code thing on people is very distasteful and makes the assumption that 1 -everyone has a phone with this feature and 2 - that everyone knows how to use it. Both assumptions are incorrect, so if you fall into either of these groups, the zoo is just sort of ignoring or discriminating against you. They should offer a map for those that do not want to do the QR thing or dont know how and that would take care of the whole thing. Nuff said, They do that and I would rate the zoo a 5.

When they tell you to plan a full day to see the zoo, they are not kidding! There are so many things for all ages. I saw many adults in the 50+ range unaccompanied by children enjoying the sites.

We had a good time seeing everything. Down part was i wished they had more benches to rest alot of walking , plus they need more misting spots when its so hot. Needs to stay open longer than 6 pm during vacation season.

We visit a lot of zoos and aquariums. We also work in veterinary medicine, so we are pretty picky on our zoos. I am happy to say Omaha is easily the best Zoo we have been to. We live 3 hours south in Kansas City and visit the zoo twice a year. They have friendly and knowledgeable staff, a great mix of animals, and they take great care of their animals. The 3 best exhibits are Asia Highlands, the desert dome( an enclosed desert), and the Rainforest. Plan for at least 4-6 hours at this huge zoo. Always enjoy this zoo!

Typically, I LOVE this zoo. But I have grown increasingly frustrated with this last visit. No paper maps. I don't want to pull my phone out every time I want to see where I'm at. Mutual of Omaha Building. Closed. Lower trail of the rainforest. Closed. Sting ray Beach. Closed. Adventure park. Closed. Butterfly house, closed. Train, closed. Sky ride, closed. Majority of concession stands, closed. I guess some are open only on weekends. But if they are closed for covid, why only be open on the busiest days of the week?

I can't really say we had a bad time, but were surprised at the lack of services that were open and available, especially in the food department. I think we saw 2 snack kiosks open, and waited for 27 minutes in line for a hot dog and ice cream at an actual restaurant only to have them give us the wrong food. The gift shop was also understaffed. I hope it improves over the course of the season, but until then bring your own lunch!!

Having heard great things about Omaha's zoo, we were excited to visit it for ourselves. We were NOT disappointed -- it was as good as advertised!
My wife and I spent over 4 hours exploring the zoo and only saw about half of the exhibits. We especially enjoyed the Desert Dome and its underground sections, the Giraffes, the Lions with their "pride rock", the Aquarium, the Elephants... actually, everything we saw!
We ate lunch at the Treetop Restaurant overlooking the Lied Jungle while watching the monkeys play.
We will return when our grandkids come to visit and see the exhibits that we didn't have time for this time.

This place was amazing. The price was reasonable and you could bring your own food and drink. Would highly recommend this zoo.

We were at the Henry Doorly Zoo Saturday July 17, 2021. Went there with our family.
Our daughter-in-law has annual passes so we got in free. I needed either a scooter or a wheelchair to get around since I have some health/disability issues. Neither one was available when we got there (before 10am). Our daughter-in-law was able to get a wheelchair for me after an hour and 15 minutes. There are long waits to see displays, everyone is taking a picture of every animal, seriously, have you never been to a zoo? Our oldest son who lives in Nebraska now told us of these incredible pretzels. He had to wait in line over an hour just to get the pretzel. Virtually no benches for people to sit down and rest until we were getting ready to leave. When our oldest son lived in Lincoln, we went to the zoo there and enjoyed it so much more. It was much more shaded outside and much less crowded. My husband and myself thought going to the Omaha Zoo was more like a super spreader for COVID. We did take masks along to wear especially in the inside exhibits and where crowds were too large for comfort. Will I be going back anytime soon, gosh, I hope not!

We visited the zoo this last Saturday and had a pretty good day. Take your own water bottle or you will be sorry. Only a couple eating establishments open to get a drink. Not a single snack place open. Water fountains only worked to fill a bottle, didn’t work to get a drink. Soda machines were either empty or broken. (We put 4.00 into a machine hoping for a bottle of water. Took our money and got nothing in return).

We enjoyed everything else about this fabulous zoo, but on a hot day, they should be better prepared.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium was named the "world's best zoo" in 2014, by TripAdvisor. The zoo is known for its leadership in animal conservation and research. Evolving from the public Riverview Park Zoo, established in 1894, today the zoo includes several notable exhibits. "Kingdoms of the Night" is the world's largest nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp, the "Lied Jungle" is one of the world's largest indoor rainforests, and the "Desert Dome" is one of the world's largest indoor deserts, as well as the largest glazed geodesic dome.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST ZOOS WE'VE BEEN TO IN THE WORLD!

TIPS:

You must buy tickets in the park for Skyfari or the train - do that first - you can use them at any time. Otherwise, you are waiting in long lines to do so.

If you are gluten-free, the only place that offers gluten-free food is Tree Tops near the front of the park. Nowhere else will you find options. You may also bring your own food as well.

Well it's a zoo so I expected to see animals..not so much. First it was overcrowded so all the exhibits had long lines. Half of the exhibits were closed and the few animals we saw were scarce. Like one tiger, 2 rhinos, 1 bear,etc.
Hungry? Better bring your own food cause the lines for food have a 45 min to 1 hour wait. Not impressed.

We came here instead of getting married like we were supposed to - I've been here several times, but I just love the zoo!

This zoo has so many great and interesting enclosures and designs that I just love to see. They have such a wide range of animals as well as some of the more common ones too. We were SO disappointed this trip that some of the enclosures were closed and we couldn't go and see them, but we understand. Therefore, we finished seeing everything way sooner than we have in the past. It definitely won't be our last trip here anyway - it looks like they have some awesome new things coming soon!

Also - I know most people hate gift shops, but they have one of the best gift shops ever. I always find really cute shirts and clothes, and unique trinkets.

This zoo is the best, always worth the trip!

Wow what a great experience! Went on the golf cart tour our guide was the best guide we have ever had. She was small had blond hair with colored streaks in it
The staff was friendly too.
I was amazed at all the things she knew. The zoo it’s self I would have to say is number 1 # in the country. And San Diego a close 2# I was impressed by the amount of space the animals had in their exhibits. And the amount of animals at the zoo. And the care that is given to the animals. And I was impressed by the amount of research and education that goes on there. Also what an aquarium! They had better exhibits then most stand alone aquariums . To be able to keep so many different species of sharks in captivity is amazing. The desert dome was amazing but do t forget here is a underground exhibit
The only negative was the food section not the best quality

I have always heard great things about this zoo. It is always on the top 10 zoos of America. So I went in with very high expectations. While this is still a very nice zoo perhaps my expectations were too high. I felt for what they charge to get in that it should have a little better than it was. Like I said, a really nice zoo, just didn't live up to what I expected.

Disappointed that much was closed down like skytram and tram. Only train was operating. Very little open for food and beverages either. Seemed to be repair and construction work with no reduction in price. Thought spendy for what we got to see....

We were here Memorial Day Saturday, and it was packed. The entrance and the aquarium.were the busiest. Everything else was thinned out. There is lots to see here. Not everything was open as a result of COVID or construction, but there was still plenty to see.

Very cool zoo with lots to see. We were there during a thunderstorm, so the inside exhibits were very crowded, but it's understandable - who wants to get wet? It's a nice zoo, but I would have liked a paper map. We wound up getting turned around a few times and ended up taking a photo of the map at the entrance so we could have something to refer to, instead of waiting to download it every time we wanted to look at it.

This is one of the best zoos and aquariums we have visited. Despite the cold, there were still plenty of animals and exhibits to see. Great place for kids. I wish more of the restaurants/snack booths were open.

This is supposed to be one of the best zoos on earth but I imagine that is an outdated claim. It is VERY spread out and you do a LOT of extra walking for absolutely no reason. There are minimal spaces to see the animals within their habitat and social distancing is non-existent! Many of the areas are still closed "due to COVID" but it seem like more of money grab. You still pay the same price but get half the value. If Omaha in in your travel plans, go ahead and plan a trip with very low expectations. I would not make a special trip to the area just for this zoo.

Try and park by the north entrance — it’s not used as much so there is parking. From that entrance, you can easily get down to the train station. This zoo has it all, animals, exhibits, food spots, and a helpful staff. If it’s a hot/muggy day try and keep the aquarium and other indoor exhibits for the afternoon when it’s miserable. Great zoo!

This was a BIG place. We arrived early and it was a hot day in the summer. They were working on several things and some things were closed-food vendors, rides, exhibits. But did I say it was a BIG place? There was plenty to see open. Plenty of things for anyone to find a favorite thing. Loads of walking and we were happy to call it a day after about 6 hours.

First of all, Too many birds here for Sandre., Ducks were all around us almost the whole entire time thiere at the zoo grounds and she does NOT like ducks the most so it was not ideal.. Things defintely changed here since we lived here before and we came here a lot but this time things are being in construction all over the zoo grounds and the zoo keepers are no where to be seen. Second of all, we were happy to see the alaska bathrooms near the alaska town in the back of the left side of the grounds near to the whales. Reminds us exactly of our new home in juneau AK!!!! an ICE job to the keepers for it ;)! We will be back once the birds are put back into there cages! And next time we are in the states

Zoos have gotten so expensive and rarely live up to their price. This one did. There is so much to see here. Their buildings and exhibits are well crafted. Beautifully crafted grounds. I would go for another visit next time I'm in Omaha.

We are "out-of-towners" and really enjoyed our time here recently while visiting friends and celebrating their son's 3rd birthday. While it was insanely busy due to beautiful weather, the people were very nice and the attractions top-notch. Apart from the usual difficulty with big crowds, everything was pretty easy to maneuver and getting around pretty simple. We've been to many Zoos throughout the U.S. over many years, including San Diego, St. Louis, Chicago, Seattle, Tacoma, etc., and this is one of the very best we've seen. Highly recommend it, especially for a family group. Definitely a Zoo this city should be proud of.

I took my wife to the Doorly Zoo to prove we really can do things on the spur of the moment since retirement. We stayed at the Ameristar casino (I highly recommend).
It was hard to decide our favorite things, the gorillas, giraffes, elephants, skyfari, jungle, or the aquarium (sharks, stingrays,etc). We went the day after Labor Day. Felt it was a smart move because less crowded. It certainly was not crowded, but we may have missed some exhibits because of it. (Stingray beach). All in all, it was a great visit with lots to see and do. My wife loves the butterfly house. I liked the Lied jungle and the gorillas home. We will probably be back with the grandchildren when we can get the smallest one to stay with us. Lol. The price is extremely reasonable.

Our favorite highlights were the desert biome and ocean exhibits. Super cool! We went in January and not much was open but still worth the visit. Had a very nice souvenir shop and the bathrooms were immaculate. Very friendly staff.

The zoo is huge and great to explore. The Desert dome was incredible. There is also an aquarium, large exhibits, and additional activities. Lots of hills and walking so be prepared for a full day. The only reason I rated it 4 stars is that I didn’t like that they charged for tickets of every single activity within the park. I would rather pay a little more upfront and have everything included but that’s just my opinion.

Great place to enjoy amazing animals. This is unique in the aspect of the layout of the park and the fact you don't have to walk miles between attractions. Engagement level 100+ at all times. Reasonable pricing and great fun. Parking is easy, staff is friendly and helpful. Go enjoy it without hesitation.

this might be hard to do if you have a large family but you will definitely get your day filled with an enjoyable experience for all. We thought the dome experience was very unique and very educational. Parking lot was available. If we were with kids and had a choice we would recommend going in the off season so the kids could enjoy it more with less people.

On a perfect October day the Henry Doorly Zoo once again proved that it is one of the premier zoos not just in the U.S. but in the world. This was the first time I'd been back to the zoo since their significant African area was expanded and improved, and it is certainly a wonderful upgrade to this facility. The animals have lots of space to live and interact, the places for human visitors to view from are very nice, clean, with lots of room. The Great Ape exhibit is currently undergoing major renovations & replacement so we did miss seeing most of Henry Doorly's ape population which is a major draw of this particular zoo, but the new facility is now much anticipated for our next visit to Omaha. If you've never been to the Henry Doorly Zoo you should make it a destination on your next trip.

My family and I were driving from
Oklahoma to minnesota, and we stopped at the zoo around 9:00 am, expecting to stay a couple hours. We ended up leaving the gates at 2:00 because of how much there was to do.

I found that the zoo provided astounding attractions in just a few buildings. We didn’t even get to much of the zoo despite being there for 5 hours. It’s jam packed with dense exhibits with stimulation everywhere you looked.

Despite there being a large weekend crowd, the paths are wide enough to limit congestion around the park. There were some choke points in the buildings, but I was pleased that a zoo so popular was designed to accommodate so many people.

I was also quite happy that walking time between exhibits was minimal, as most of the buildings are placed closely together.

The lied jungle was amazing, and I loved seeing the tapir and hippo. All of the exhibits seemed too notch.

The new orangutan area was superb with a clear view of the orangutans, and the fact that they were engaging with their exhibit made me believe they were healthily stimulated.
The desert dome was fun, but the nocturnal exhibit underneath blew me away. I felt immersed in another world, and the alligator and swamp exhibit was one of my favorites. My only gripe is that there’s not a lot of signage for that area, I went down the stairs to see it on a whim, almost skipping it because it didn’t seem like a big deal.
Apart from that most places were clearly marked and I could find my way around the zoo easily.

Overall I’m beyond pleased that I took the time to come here, and my only regret is that I couldn’t spend more time to explore.

What an amazing zoo! The themes around each exhibit were excellent. They have every animal you can think of. Only the Canopy Trail was open in the Lied Jungle as they reintroduce animals, but once it is fully open, it will be beautiful. The kids loved the elephants, the sea otters, and the adventure trails. Bring a swimsuit! We also felt like we could've split our trip into two days instead of trying to squeeze it all in one.

The Henry Dooley Zoo is a fantastic zoo and we are so lucky to have a zoo of this caliber in the area. I’d suggest you go early when the it opens in order to avoid the crowds and the heat of the day. Many indoor exhibits so even on a hot day you can get out of the sun. They allow you to take in your own beverages and snacks which is a plus.

this is definitely a must see while visiting omaha. the zoo is well organized and spaced so the animals are not in cages. it was a great learning experience and it was wonderful to see famil. i would go back if have a chance to go back to omaha

Total lack of signs, no maps, no "you are here" map signs, no cell coverage to download a map. No paper maps. No direction signs to inform visitors what is closed or what is open. Waste of money and time except for the really good aquarium.

We visited on a surprisingly cool and rainy morning in August. This pushed everyone inside more than they might have been, which is important to keep in mind with this review.
This zoo did a great job utilizing all available space by building up/down and using terraces to fit wonderful exhibits into spaces underutilized by other zoos.

That being said, this led to some spaces feeling cramped, loud, and hard to move through. I would echo another reviewer who mentioned issues with sensory sensitivities - it got intense sometimes. I was really looking forward to the Dome, but my husband and I ended up speeding through all the indoor portions as best we could because it was so loud and cramped that it was triggering my sensory-based panic attacks.
The jungle, dessert dome, and aquarium weren’t quite as good as I was hoping due to a combination of sensory issues and many animals not being in their habitats.

SAFETY WARNING: There is a section in the basement of the jungle that is really worth checking out. Bats, alligators, spring hares and more. However, it is very dark in there and it’s easy to trip. Consider bringing a red light flashlight with you. In one darker area, there is a cave pool that is nearly on the pathway, drops 8+ feet down, and has no railings or warnings. We thought it was covered with glass, but it’s an open pond. It would be very easy to fall in…
Also, they have signs up, but the stone/concrete pathways around the zoo are VERY slippery when wet, so be cautious. It’s a hilly zoo, so it would be easy to slide down a ways.

Food options seemed limited for those with allergies. At 11:30, only the walk up food windows were open for lunch. Their food is prepackaged (salads, sandwiches, etc) and they are not able to make any substitutions. We ended up having to eat elsewhere. At least you can bring in your own food/drinks and they have designated picnic areas.

Overall, I love zoos and I’m glad that we were able to visit this one. There are just considerations to keep in mind when planning your visit. I’m hopeful that the zoo will make updates to support all visitors in the future.

While the zoo overall is a world class venue, my recent experience was not the best. I guess we made the mistake of taking the grandkids on a nice day during spring break. The zoo was very crowded and t seem like this surge took the staff completely by surprise. Huge crowds and very few employees. Long lines for admission, all done by machine which you have to learn how to use while everyone waits behind you. And if you try to use a reciprocal pass from another zoo, or have a question, you must hold up the line while looking for the one guy that runs back and forth trying to help the mob.

We planned our day around stopping in at the Glacier Bay Landing food court. We read all about it on the website and really looked forward to it, only to work our way over there and see it's closed. With no employees anywhere to ask about other possible food venues, we just kept walking. Finally arrived at Tuskers Grill way over on the other side. I got into one of the five long lines to order, and after 35 minutes I finally got to the "window", which again, was just a digital screen. After paying for my order, the instructions said to get in one of the other long lines for food pickup. It took another 30 minutes of standing in the second line to finally pick up my two hot dogs and a hamburger. The food was good but with only about five things on the menu it seemed ridiculous to take another half hour just to be handed the food I paid for earlier. I heard the lines were very long at the TreeTops Restaurant too.

Again, lots to see, though not as much in the off season, but Henry Doorly needs to do a better job anticipating crowds and staff accordingly.

We have family in Omaha, and haven't visited the Henry Doorly Zoo for several years. It continues to grow, and mature, and the new animal sections are even more natural habitats. While the Zoo was very busy on a Saturday, because it is spread out, each outdoor area was not overcrowded. Concessions and the indoor exhibits (aquarium, desert dome, Wild Kingdom, Rainforest) were more congested. We will return on next trip to Omaha.

Went on a 35 degree day! A number of indoor buildings, so it was ok
++ not crowded! The jungle is 2 floors so you see more & you walk in the tropics!
Several statues to enjoy as well as flowers.
A world class zoo.. go enjoy year round!!

Since everyone was back to school or work, the zoo was less crowded. Sadly, some of the attractions were closed. The major let down was the train not running. Another issue was having to place a food order on a screen and then pay with a debit, credit, or a zoo member card. They wouldn't take cash. I have no problem with using the screen to order but the cards....some people don't use cards. The animals were treated well, the zoo even takes animals who have been injured and need rehabilitation.
Overall, it was enjoyable! I even lost 5 pounds trekking around the park on foot. I'd give this experience a 4 .

We had an absolutely wonderful time at the zoo today but we noticed that none of the snack areas were open today and were SO grateful we brought snacks and lunch into the park. We did notice The Sea Turtle Cafe and Glacier Bay Landing we're offering food from their menus.
Additionally, we were really pleased how our day turned out. We started working our way through the African Grasslands and around the park so that by the time we reached the Splash park (Alaskan Adventure) we were ready to cool down ( about 12:45/1pm). This also allowed us to get to the Sea Lion show. We worked our way around to the Aquarium where we were grateful to cool down from the heat of the day.
Lastly, The Lied Jungle closed at 4pm. Not sure why but that might be worth visiting before the Aquarium.

We had a lovely day the sky ride was amazing. So many different areas to see. Be prepared for a lot of walking zoo is big. Lots of places to eat.

I love the exhibits at Doorly. Everything was clean for us and the animals. You really got to see the animals in their natural habitat.

We visited the Henry Doorly Zoo while traveling through Omaha. We’ve visited about 20 zoos in the US and Europe and this was one of the best, if not the best, zoo we’ve visited.

The indoor desert exhibit was amazing and very informative, we loved the replication of different deserts across the world. The African grasslands and Asian areas were outstanding- a wide variety of animals, large exhibits and a very nice theme to make it feel like you were visiting another country. The sky-fari is a must-do! You get a great birds- eye view of half of the animals in the zoo.

We spent about 4 hours here and had to leave to drive another 7 hours home after traveling 12 the prior day. We easily could have stayed the entire day.... A must-visit!

This Zoo totally lives up to its hype. Lovely grounds and walks with beautiful plantings and sculptures. The animal exhibits and buildings are top notch. Everything is super clean and well thought out. Lots of places to sit when you get pooped out from walking. We spent all day here easily. There were quite a few of kid attractions which were shut down during the fall period that would attract kids. The food and service were also a standard above usual zoos with restaurants being built as themes to match the areas they were in. We visit zoos everywhere we travel and this is tops for us. We would rank it ahead of San Diego even.

Fantastic zoo. Lots of animals and also fun things for little kids. Bring a swim suit for little ones for the splash pad. My daughter enjoyed the carousel. Food is expensive but we were from out of town so didn’t bring lunch with us and I expected this. We will be back.

Awesome place. What a wonderful zoo!👍
Took us the whole day to finish. I might want to visit again with other friends. Highly recommend the aquarium, they have a fantastic tunnel under water.

Nice zoo, lots to see. We spent the whole day. We did pay extra for the chair lift & the kids loved it. Most of the animals were out. The aquarium was well done. We loved the jellyfish room. We have seen jellyfish before but not so many kinds or such a beautiful exhibit. It also provided a break from the heat. I LOVE that you can bring your own food in. They also have water bottle filling stations that are open - yay! We brought heavy snacks & water bottles & planned to buy a meal. Only a few of the food stands were open & the lines were really long but we were fine with our snacks & water since we could refill. There is plenty of seating. The only part that was too crowded was the splash pad, it just needed more seating for parents. The kiddos loved it. We had a great day!

My girlfriends and I decided to visit Omaha Zoo, during our trip to Nebraska. We stayed at an Airbnb. The Zoo experience was a lovely one. There is a wide range of animals to be seen in their various natural habitats. This zoo is good for all markets (couples, families, friends, solo, etc.); as such, I highly recommend it. Do take a lot of pictures as we did and purchase memorabilia at the souvenir shop ;-).

We are members, so go every few months on nice days when we know it won't be too busy. With a dozen 'world-class' displays, any of which would be a major draw in a regular zoo, there is frankly not enough time in a full day to do justice to all of it. Based on weather, we select our favorites. Frankly, the Lied Jungle is simply awe-inspiring Wandering through the beauty with animals all about and even flying overhead. When they feed the hundreds of bats each afternoon, it is just amazing (if you like bats!). Be prepared to hike long distances but don't miss the new Orangutan habitat or the redesigned Gorilla areas. The elephants, with five young ones born in the past two years, are a huge draw, as is the sea lions. Yes, it is a hefty ticket to take the whole family, but when I meet folks from other states, they are always in amazement of the place.

I flew in for the weekend just to experience the largest zoo in the US! The hype is real! This zoo requires comfortable shoes, a sun hat and plenty of snacks. You're in for a multi-hour adventure. HINT: once you enter, make your way to the back and work your way forward. Crowds are less doing the zoo "backwards". HINT: do the Skyfari. This gentle ski-lift type aerial ride gives your feet a break and offers birds' eye views of the zoo. You can do one way or round trip. This zoo has all of your favorites! The animals look healthy, well taken care of, and live in expansive enclosures. Bonus, there is an aquarium on site as well! Kids of all ages will enjoy looking at the fish, sharks, rays and penguins. This is a MUST DO attraction in Omaha! This is a great way to spend a day appreciating beautiful plants, animals and sea creatures.

This Zoo is amazing. I would rate the Zoo a 5 Star, but the concessions are 1 star. They have the most amazing exhibits. Guerilla Valley is incredible and the Creatures of the night is my favorite. We also loved the Giraffe, Elephant and Aquarium. However their concessions are awful. We went to a drink stand and were just wanting 2 bottles of water and we had exact change but they said that they could not take it because the cash register was not set up. This was 2 hours after the park opened and it was 95 degrees. We ran into issues like this all over the zoo. The concession people acted like they did not care to be there. Enjoy the zoo and take your own food and drinks.

This is a very nice zoo/aquarium. It is huge with a variety exhibits and knowledge employees. My husband and teenaged daughter were there for about 4 1/2 hours but still missed a few exhibits. My only complaint was that most of the snack/drink stands were closed, and it was really hot outside. I guess it was due to COVID?

There are so many amazing exhibits and fin interactive things to participate in! The only thing I wasn't impressed with was teh Desert Dome, when it was first built I thought we were going to be able to be more interactive with the animals, it's ok once.

We love coming to this Zoo with our grandchildren. We especially love riding the train with them. That’s all our 3 year old grandson talks about. It’s a little disappointing when the train ride isn’t running and the fact that you don’t mention it as you entering the zoo. We paid almost $30 to get i to the zoo. It would be very helpful if you would have signs of some sort stating what attractions were closed before we’ve spent that much money.
Thank you

The zoo is very nice & laid out well. We went on a Monday & several exhibits were closed due to staffing & school not yet out for their summer workers. The aquarium is included in the price of the admission so that’s great! It’s amazing! A lot of things require extra money to attend. Plan on a lot of walking. It’s clean & well maintained. Definitely recommend!

While not much happens during the first hour after they open, there is so much to see and do that many people with young children actually have to go back for a second day!

Easily one of the worlds best zoos! You have to see it to believe it. The Lied Jungle and the Kingdom of the Nights are so incredible they just took my breath away! You need two days to see everything, period.

We have wondered for years why this zoo ranks number 1 in the USA Today poll. After visiting we had to say it deserves the ranking. The zoo is well laid out and easy to walk around without having to backtrack to see something. The Desert Dome, Rainforest and Aquarium are all a must see.

Went on a Friday. Easy to get around, but with temperatures in mid 90s many animals weren't out. Love thr splash pad for the kiddos, so definitely bring some swimwear. Things appear to close down around 4pm, however I believe thr zoo is open until 6pm. Overall, it was a great stop on our road trip. Keep in mind this can be pricey experience.

Great for all ages. Make sure you bring a wagon, snacks, and drinks. We broke the zoo experience into two days and we are glad we did. It allowed us not to overdo it and come back the next day.

This is more of a theme park with a few animals than it is a zoo. As others have noted, there are not many animals to enjoy, often only one or two of a given species in enclosures that are poorly-designed for viewing with little educational information. Too few staff helping to manage the crowds make it difficult to access exhibits and ticketing for some of the exhibits within the zoo adds to that challenge. Dining options are also very limited for what is touted as a top zoo.

We visit the Omaha zoo basically once a year. Absolutely love all the exhibits and attractions. Great family experience. Only down fall is lots and lots of walking up and down hill. They're always adding new and awesome exhibits.

We did visit during COVID-19 restrictions, so I was unsure with how much would be open. Although there were multiple exhibits closed, the zoo was amazing!! A very clean and beautiful zoo. The Skyfari is an absolutely MUST DO!! Amazing views of the animals, especially the lions and giraffes!! We will be back!

This was the most amazing zoo, I have ever been to. The Desert Dome, Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night, Lied Jungle were amazing. I didn't make it to the theater, but it looked very nice. The train was very nice and the skyfari with fun and we could look over the whole park.

Very well done and informative. Would recommend seeing it. Wear some comfortable shoes. Lots of parking.

Thank you!

This was such a great zoo! We are 2 adults and were there for 4 hours. If you have children, you definitely could be there for the day. There is so much to do and see - besides the animals, there's a movie theater, a water splash park, a train and tram. The animals and their "homes" looked like they were very well cared for. This zoo has a lot of parking and ticket buying lines were fast. (You can pre-purchase tickets online but you do not have to) This is a really awesome zoo - definitely go if you're in the area!

Nothing was open including the gift shop.give me a break. The st.louis zoo is so much better.save your money.

How is this #6 of 200 things to do in Omaha? No, skip the other 5 and come here ! This is an amazing zoo ! Great way to spend a day in Omaha ! We will so be back here every year !

I wish they had physical brochures and maps. Food places were not open all the way so it was a long walk just for a drink or snack. The sea lion show wasn't going. The aquarium was probably my favorite.

The Henry Dooley Zoo is amazing, so much to see it takes up about half a day. The zoo is huge! Must check out the rainforest, aquarium, butterfly’s pavilion and the swamp! Very clean and well kept. Will definitely be going again.

We fell for the hype and regret it. The Zoo is just okay. My family and I love to visit different zoos when we travel. We’ve been to several in many different parts of the country and I have to say, this one is very underwhelming and did not live up to the hype.

It may be the largest zoo we’ve been to based on physical space and walking distance, but there are a lot of gaps in between with little to no animals to see. There are larger exhibits for the animals, but less species than I expected. All the traditional animals are here that you would see at any other Zoo, but the difference is other Zoos have had more variety and more interactive experiences.

For somewhere that is almost $100 a day for a family, I would expect more. There also were only one or two places open for food and heavily overcrowded lines.

Highly recommend bringing your own food and trying to make the most out of a single day. Don’t pay for 2 days. It’s a waste of money and time.

I felt like there were many exhibits closed and half of the Zoo isn’t even open. I’ve been to Zoos in colder climate during off seasons and they have had better experiences.

If you want a Zoo experience to remember, the Columbus Zoo is definitely MUCH better and worth it.

A very good addition to the zoo is the sea lion exhibit. It is a must see, don't walk by.

On the other hand, the train ride was a waste of time and money. If it wasn't for the grandkids wanting to ride. We would have never spent the money. The first half of the run if 95% see maintenance equipment. The elephant pen fences are full of fines and hard to see through.

Several buildings not open. Could be staff shortage, like everywhere.

We were there on 10/16/21. Lots of people but not many places open to eat. So, keep that in mind.

Looked forward to seeing this since watching Marlon Perkins hosting a show about animals from here 50 years ago...great assortment of animals; however quite a number of exhibits were empty! Loved the airy aviary; the gorilla habitat was awesome. There were a few signs talking about the research projects led by this zoo; I was expecting to see many more such stories. It is rated #1 zoo in the country; I've been to loads; and while this would rate top 5 to me; I don't think it's a #1. TopTop cafe was good; oh, it is quite expensive to get tickets there; look for discounts where ever you can. There was a huge gift shop. None of its extras were running when we went

I have seen numerous zoo's in my travels and this is nicer than the average zoo. Nice habitats. Lots of restrooms. Lots of shaded areas. Lots of benches to rest.. Gorilla area was my favorite area. The nocturnal area is also super cool too. The little ones really liked the splash park area. Food was pricey, bring your own snacks and a water bottle to fill. I would recommend.

Mask wearing and social distancing needs to be enforced! Zoo personnel not monitoring at all inside buildings where masks are suppose to be worn! Very disappointed with this experience!

We live within a couple hours drive from here and visit at least once a year. We have watched this zoo really struggle, more so than any other tourist destination we frequent, to emerge from COVID. The problem is definitely not due to lack of customers, but seems to be lack of staffing and ability to handle crowds. By visiting on a holiday weekend, we expected heavy crowds. We did not expect there to be zero, and I mean ZERO, crowd control measures in place. I am not exaggerating when I say crowds were close to Disney World level. We waited in line for 45 min to buy tickets, which we were unable to do online because we had a zoo reciprocity discount. Several long lines had formed and people had no clue where to stand and what was actually a line vs someone just standing around waiting. They had two open windows for ticket buying and the staff working at them seemed unsure of what to do, causing the wait to be even longer. By the way, this zoo puts limits on how many "adults" can get in with a discounted reciprocity membership. Any child over 11 is considered an adult and you can only get two adults discounted. So, if you are a family with children over the age of 11, plan on paying full-price for your children. Despite the huge crowds, there were never queue lines set up or staff directing visitors on where to go or performing crowd control measures of any kind. We witnessed a few angry interactions between customers due to line budging and other things that tend to happen when crowds are high and over sight by staff is non-existent. The staff that we encountered were few, but the ones we did interact with seemed angry and agitated, definitely not friendly and helpful. Several attractions were closed and not working including the stream for playing in in the children's area, the foggy forest in the Asia area, the children's play area in the Gorilla area, and the orangutan area is STILL not open (this has been under construction for over a year). Be prepared to stand in line to see anything and be prepared for your glimpse of animals to be very brief due to the crowds literally pushing you out of the way. Also, be prepared for many patrons to be pushing large wagons that they will use to push their way through crowds and block your ability to get close to the attractions. This zoo has always been more amusement park like than education-focused, so don't expect to actually be able to learn anything about these animals. Bottom line, I would save your money and visit a smaller zoo that is a little more focused on education and customer service. This is an expensive place to visit, and just not worth it anymore in my opinion.

THIS IS THE BEST ZOO IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! I've been here over 30 times and it never fails to amaze me. I've visited many of the "famous" zoos in the country (San Diego Zoo, Bronx Zoo, LA zoo) and none of them even come close in comparison to Henry Doorly Zoo. The LIED Jungle is my favorite, along with the Kingdom of the Nights and the aquarium!! I love this place so much and I just want the world to KNOW how amazing this zoo is and it's a MUST SEE attraction.

We made a pit stop back to our home state because we had heard about the zoo. Very worthwhile. They also had a kennel for our dog to stay while we went around. We only stayed for a couple hours but could have spent the ENTIRE day there.

Going to a new zoo is an annual tradition for three generations of girls (age 3-65+) and this year's choice was The Henry Doorly Zoo. Friends had told me that it's wonderful..they sooo undersold it! This zoo is amazing! It's really a full, full day from opening moment to the last guest being chased out the gate. It is not inexpensive and some of the 'extras' in cost are a bit of a surprise but I'd do it again all over again, and then some. The butterfly house was overflowing with beautiful butterflies, along with plenty of education too. The aerial tram gives you a great overview of the majority of the acreage and can be a nice sit down break. The elephant house and yard had multiple generations and they seemed quite pleased with their surroundings; stimulating searches for treats and drinking loads of water, noisily, making the girls giggle. The stingrays are always a big hit with our girls and these proved to be great too; even a new baby in the pool which was fun to watch. The orangutans were up to high climbing shenanigans and other primates were fun too. These are just a few of our highlights. The grounds were immaculate; bringing in your own picnic is welcomed and there are plenty of places to sit (some are even stunning pieces of artwork) and people watch. We ran out of time to see the aquarium and have discussed if it would 'break' our rules to go back to a previous zoo, since we missed the entire aquarium. That's pretty remarkable and hasn't come up before other zoos... This is a truly amazing zoo.

I am a zoo lover and we try to visit area zoos wherever we travel. Had heard much about The Omaha zoo BUT was very disappointed! No directions for first time visitors at entrance area. Most of the exhibits closed (COVID I get it). but other zoos we have been to this month had glassed in enclosures so you could still watch the animals. Very few to no benches to just sit and enjoy the animals that were out. And so much grasses and bushes you could only get a peek at them. Tram was an extra $4 / person and was like “over that wall is the elephants and behind these bushes are the giraffes.” Three of four stops were either construction areas or eating areas. $47.90 For two seniors. Spent over $60 all together and bought no food or drinks. Wouldn’t pay $8 for six inch cheese pizza. This zoo drops to last place in my rating. Want to see number one? Go to Minot ND. I live in OK.

Took 6 hours to pretty much do everything. Small crowd on Wednesday, but offset by some rides and food choices closed. Especially enjoyed Lied Jungle (fox bats were amazing!), Knight of Darkness and American Swamp exhibits. New orangutan exhibit was nice, but a little disappointing in lack of orangutans “in habitat” (or anywhere, for that matter). Lots of other good things to see (check out the butterflies - small building but incredible number of butterflies)

Absolutely best zoo ever! So many different species of animals haven’t seen before. Layout is easy to navigate. Chairlift is a must for better view of African animals. Will definitely return.

Went when weather was 74. Loved it. Had several places to eat and sit. Even though it was March and warm lots of sites available. Have a big gift shop of darn near every animal. Definitely going back in July when on vacation.

We were in town for a wedding and didn't have much time but the layout of the zoo was nice for even a quick trip! The tree-house feel of the primate exhibit really makes you feel like you are in the jungle. The exhibits look natural and allow close viewing.

We loved the zoo! The staff was friendly and helpful. The zoo was clean and well cared for. Only disappointment is that several of the animals were not in their habitats for viewing. Overall we loved it and would come back!

The zoo has hired extra folks to enforce a mask mandate and have closed many of the fun things they have in order to "keep people safe" even on a day when there was hardly anyone there. I like living in a country with rights, freedom and liberty. I want common decency to reign and not fear. They also strive ever more greatly to instill Godless propaganda in everything. We will not be returning to Covid Zoo even though the zoo has been a family tradition for a decade.

I'm not much of a zoo person. My experience with zoos is mostly limited to Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo, both in Chicago.

While the exhibits at this zoo seemed to be of higher caliber, what I appreciated was how the zoo was filled with trees. It is also surrounded by nice landscapes surrounding Omaha, which is visible if you elect to do the Skyfari ride (a ski lift ride that takes you above the zoo).

I really thought the aquarium and dessert dome were top notch.

We love going to the Henry Doorly Zoo! It is quite large so be aware you will be walking a lot. They do have a tram that makes several stops. Definitely worth taking. The animal exhibits are fantastic. We especially like the Aquarium and the elephants. You could spend all day there and probably not see the whole zoo.

We went today, it was about 60 degrees outside & perfect for seeing the animals out & active & moving around. There were a bunch of buildings closed due to COVID-19. Some of the areas told you that the animals were gone for now, but others didn’t have signs out, but still didn’t have animals. The layout is great, very easy to walk around in one large circle & see everything. We scheduled our reservation for 2:30 not realizing the buildings closed at 4 so we walked the whole place (fairly quickly) in 2 hours & were able to see everything and stop and look at everything we wanted to look at. But that’s 2 adults, no kids! 😂 I think it’s definitely worth getting the membership to support the zoo & go often to get a workout in while having fun.

Zoo was amazing. Organized and clean. Staff was great. So much to do and see. We returned the next month.

The staff was amazing! They were helpful and friendly. The zoo boasts a wide variety of animals and Skyfari. We chose the Skyfari to see more of the zoo because one needs two days or a full day to see it all.

Being in late winter, several exhibits and attractions were closed. The jungle dome and aquarium are worth the price admission. In the jungle cafe, sit close to the furthest window with a view into the jungle dome. You might have a dining guest!

We are trying to travel to each state and everywhere we go we visit the zoo, this one is by far the best! HUGE! You can pet and feed stingrays. The indoor desert is amazing, they have a nocturnal exhibit that is amazing.
Don't miss this zoo!

We were amazed at the scope and quality of the exhibits, especially the aquarium and the geodome housing the desert. Don’t miss the creatures of the night exhibit on the bottoms level! One suggestion would be to skip riding the tram, as you waste a lot of time waiting for it to come and riding it through the zoo. Plus, you don’t see as much as if you spent that 45-60 minutes walking the paths.

Went on a Tuesday at the end of August.Spent about 6 hours there. No big crowds and was able to take our time and see everything. Lots of animals off exhibit which was to bad. All in all great zoo lots to see and do

I would give this a 10 if I could (out of 5). Due to some mobility issues, we took the early morning golf cart tour. We are so glad we did. Chris was our guide, and she was the absolute best! We were very impressed with her and the zoo. It is clear that the Omaha Zoo is on the leading edge of caring for animals while allowing the public to become educated about them. We think our zoo in St. Louis is pretty good, but it pales in comparison to Omaha's zoo. Worth the trip.

I haven't been to a lot of zoos, but this is the best one I can remember. The animals and displays of course are great. Highlights include feeding giraffes, touching stingrays, interacting with primates, the aquarium and watching swimming seals through glass. Ride options are also fun. We were able to ride the train and the chair lift. One piece of advice: I wouldn't use the train as transportation around the zoo. Waits are too long. I'd use it more just as a sightseeing loop, returning where you started. The trams seem to be better for that. All rides are for an additional fee.

Awesome place to go. All of the exhibits had a feel that they were “original” to the individual animal’s normal habitat.

The best part was the aquarium.

We visited on a very cold March day and opted primarily for indoor exhibits, which was our priority anyway. Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night and Scott Aquarium were all great (loved the tunnel at the aquarium), but the Lied Jungle topped the list. It is a very large rainforest setting with a wide variety of animals in an open environment. We were a little bummed that the tram and Skyfari weren't operating that day due to the cold temperatures, but we felt the Henry Doorly Zoo absolutely did live up to the hype as a world-class zoo.

This Zoo is well maintained and reflects investment in growth. I was told that the Zoo had recently been expanded and it was far larger than I remember when I visited in my youth.

The animals are well maintained and have ample space to walk in their enclosures, this is not always the case in other zoos.

I highly recommend a visit as you will learn a lot about the animals while getting your steps in for the day.

My little one and wife enjoyed themselves as well.

Word to the wise, if you are traveling from out of town choose to stay at a hotel with a shuttle. Zoo parking has not expanded enough to reflect the growth for the zoo and it is crazy to find adequate parking.

We visited on a weekday so we were pleasantly able to see things with very little crowds. Parking was plentiful and there’s a good balance of indoor and outdoor exhibits to warm up if it’s chilly out. Volunteers shared info about the elephants and giraffes.

A really disappointing zoo says it is the one with the most felines in the United States but I only saw one tiger! And the others who could not be seen at their best were a lion, a leopard, a cheetah and a desert cat .. I think it's a bit 'little to bear this title. Also there was the so-called Land of Elephants: there was not even one!
If you want to do something where animals are in their habitat Then maybe it's better to really leave them in their habitat and not charge people money for anything

This zoo is great! Lots of nice animal enclosures, easy walking path, and quite a large variety of animals. It's a fun day for a group or family.