8 Best Attractions To Visit In Nebraska

There’s much more than storm-chasing to do in Nebraska. As one of the most common states to pass through on a cross-country road trip, Nebraska is often skipped over by travelers who aren’t hoping to get an epic shot of a storm in the heart of Tornado Alley. But Nebraska is much more than the endless cornfields you see from the highway, and is very worth a pit stop or two. If you’d like to dig a little deeper before you hit the state line, these eight top Nebraska attractions are your best bets.

Henry Doorly Zoo

Far too few Americans know that Omaha is home to one of the nation’s finest zoos, so if you’re only going to make one stop, use it to explore this world-class zoo and aquarium. Exhibits strive to naturalistically represent wild places from Madagascar to the Himalayas on a 160-acre plot you could easily spend a whole day exploring.

The zoo is also widely involved in species-saving conservation work and features unique exhibit themes like nocturnal animals and the wildlife of southern Africa’s Namib Desert, offering even travelers who visit every zoo they find something new to see. Not for nothing was it listed on U.S. News’ most recent list of the top American zoos.

Fort Robinson State Park

Fort Robinson State Park has a lot going on. There’s the historic military fort that gives the park its name, now a museum. There are miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as campgrounds for those who want to extend their explorations a little further. There is an in-house bison herd (yes, really). It’s the death sight of the famous Sioux chief Crazy Horse. It’s frankly a little bit difficult to sum up all of the fascinating angles on this state park in far-northwestern Nebraska in one neat package - that’s what makes it one of Nebraska’s most fascinating places to visit, whether it’s nature or history you’re interested in.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site

Nineteenth-century pioneers traversing the Oregon Trail tended to get a little weary of the open plains, and that is why the bizarre rock formation that gives Chimney Rock National Historic Site its name became locally famous. Rising up 300 feet from the surrounding plains, it was one of the most recognizable landmarks on this stretch of the trail and came to be treated by many parties as a symbol of the progress they’d made on their journey. Today, it’s a beacon for road-weary travelers looking for something interesting to break up the monotony of the drive - so really, has the world changed all that much since then?

Scotts Bluff National Monument

As Chimney Rock demonstrates, Nebraska isn’t all flat: it’s got plenty of interesting geological phenomena to go around. This one, located in the southwest of the state, is a particularly popular local attraction.

The namesake Scotts Bluff is a dramatic, seemingly free-standing rock formation that also served as a navigational landmark both for the region’s indigenous peoples and for later travelers on the Oregon Trail. It’s now a National Monument with hiking trails (you can, indeed, hike to the top), Badlands and Prairie scenery, and a museum detailing its importance to 19th-century pioneers on site.

Rowe Sanctuary

One of the world’s great animal migrations passes through Nebraska, and few people outside of the state even know it! Every spring, nearly a million endangered sandhill cranes pass through Nebraska while migrating north for the summer, and the Rowe Sanctuary is an Audubon Society facility that is perfectly positioned to host and show off several thousand of those cranes to curious visitors. If you’re a birder, it’s a must in March and April. If you aren’t, take a guided tour through the Audubon Society and learn how fascinating Nebraska’s annual visitors really are.

Carhenge

“Stonehenge with cars”: it’s the kind of roadside attraction that only the resourceful folks of the drive-by American heartland would ever be likely to invent. In other words, it’s probably the coolest expression of local culture you’re going to find here. Consisting of 39 vintage cars spray-painted grey, Carhenge is one of those road trip stops you might later suspect was a fever dream. Well, it wasn’t. And it might just be the most entertaining thing you see on that cross-country road trip of yours, so if you’re passing through northwestern Nebraska, don’t miss it.

The Home of Kool-Aid

Nebraska’s most famous export is one you might not know is from Nebraska at all: Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in the town of Hastings, Nebraska. And you’ll find evidence of this all over town, from a permanent exhibition at the local Hastings Museum to the original Kool-Aid Factory. The town even hosts an annual Kool-Aid Days festival if you happen to visit in August. (Featured events include the World’s Largest Kool-Aid Stand, Kool-Aid drinking contests, and all the usual fair festivities.) Whether you’re a Kool-Aid drinker or not, it’s a fun stop to learn a little more about a household name you may not have realized came from Nebraska.

Toadstool Geological Park

Geology enthusiasts, make your way to northern Nebraska: as you get closer to the South Dakota border, you’ll start seeing the otherworldly geological formations of the badlands. At Toadstool Geological Park, drivers and hikers alike can marvel (maybe with bafflement) at the mushroom-like protrusions that give this park its delightful name. A one-mile interpretive trail will take you out across the badlands to get a closer look at some of its many varied formations. While a small site, it’s a delightfully weird reminder that Nebraska isn’t just cornfields and plains when you know where to look.

Whether you’re visiting family in-state, road-tripping through, or just curious about a new place, it’s easy to skip over some of the most unique and enjoyable things Nebraska has to offer. Don’t be one of the many travelers to make that mistake! There’s much more to this state than meets the eye, or than a drive-through might indicate. And armed with this list of eight attractions (of many!) that locals and visitors alike love, you’ll be better-prepared to plan out your Nebraska stops and get the most out of your time in the Cornhusker State.