6 free or low-cost fun places to take your family this summer in Nebraska
Summer and fall activities that cost under $25 per person.
Looking for fun things to do with your family this summer and fall that won’t break the bank? Here are some ideas for entertaining activities across the state of Nebraska that are either free or under $25 a person.
Take a guided tour of the State Capitol
The Nebraska State Capitol building in Lincoln was designed in 1920 and built between 1922 and 1932. Free public tours are available daily. https://capitol.nebraska.gov/visit/public-tours/
Learn about history
Discover the history of the Cornhusker State at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. It houses more than 125,000 artifacts of life both before and after Nebraska became a state. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 5-18. Kids under age 5 are free. https://history.nebraska.gov/museum/
Learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center in Omaha. Throughout the summer, park rangers offer guided tours of the Missouri River Trail. They also offer a “Become a Junior Ranger” program on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. https://www.nps.gov/lecl/planyourvisit/lecl_headquarters.htm
Tour the home and barns of “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the Army scout and buffalo hunter who later toured the country and Europe in the late 1880s and early 1900s with “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” show, which purported to show authentic life in the West. The mansion and barns are located in North Platte. Tickets are $4 for ages 13 and older, and $1 for ages 3-12. Kids under 2 are free. https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/buffalo-bill-ranch/
Swim, slide, or tube
Beat the heat at the Omaha spraygrounds, a collection of nine splash pads across the city. The splash pads are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through September. A full list of splash pads can be found at https://parks.cityofomaha.org/sprayground/
Omaha also has indoor and outdoor public pools that cost $3 per visit for adults and $1 per visit for kids ages 3-17. A full list can be found at https://parks.cityofomaha.org/pool-locations-passes-punchcards/
For those looking for a more adventurous way to beat the heat, Tubing & Adventures offers tube and kayak rentals on the Elkhorn River. The cost is $25 per person and includes one free cooler carrier tube for every group of four. https://www.tubingandadventures.com/tubing-kayaking-camping
Enjoy art and culture
Omaha is home to the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, which presents experimental art forms in all media. Its Low End space hosts frequent concerts, and admission is always free. https://www.bemiscenter.org/
The city is also home to the Durham Museum, which presents traveling exhibits on culture, history, science, and industry. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids ages 3-12, and free for those age 2 or under. https://durhammuseum.org/visit/hours-and-admission/
Additional art installations also adorn Omaha’s free outdoor RiverFront, a set of parks along the banks of the Missouri River. https://theriverfrontomaha.com/
Discover with the kids
The Kiewit Luminarium in Omaha offers 100 interactive exhibits about science and art for kids and adults to explore and enjoy. Timed-entry adult tickets at $24.95, youths ages 5-17 tickets are $19.95, and kids 4 and under enter for free. Free admission with federally recognized tribal ID cards. https://kiewitluminarium.org/tickets/
The Omaha Children’s Museum lets kids explore science and technology; pretend to be doctors, grocers, and bankers; play with water; and paint a window. Admission costs $16 for anyone ages 2-59, $15 for anyone age 60 or above, and is free for anyone under 24 months. omc.org
Hike, swim, bike, or learn in a state park
Nebraska is home to eight state state parks.
Smith Falls State Park in Valentine is home to the state’s highest waterfall and paddleboating in the Niobrara River. Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun hosts frequent “living history” reenactment events. Crawford’s Fort Robinson State Park offers hiking and mountain biking trails. Indian Cave State Park in Shubert is a perfect place for hiking, biking, or camping.
The cost for daily entry is $7 for Nebraska licensed vehicles or $35 for an annual pass. https://outdoornebraska.gov/parks/
