Omaha Zoo Railroad
3.5· 12 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-22- TypeZoo-operated narrow-gauge train with current weekend service
- LocationOmaha, NE
- Rating3.5 ★12 Google reviews
- Tickets & faresOne way $3.50; roundtrip $7; children age 2 and under free; members receive 5% off with membership card and photo ID
About Omaha Zoo Railroad
Omaha Zoo Railroad is a paid ride inside Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The current official train page publishes Friday-through-Sunday service from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. while the zoo builds its operating team, and says all rides are weather permitting. The ride requires zoo admission plus a separate train ticket. The train page calls the southeast boarding area African Lodge, while the current plan page calls it Kenefick Station in Scott African Grasslands; visitors should use the current zoo map and staff guidance rather than treating either label as an exact standalone street address.
Plan a Weather- and Staffing-Dependent Zoo Train Ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupVisitors deciding whether the train is operating today
Check same-day train status
Use Today at the Zoo for weather, staffing and temporary-hour changes before entering the zoo.
Families planning transportation across the zoo
Choose a one-way or roundtrip ride
After separate zoo admission, train tickets are $3.50 one way or $7 roundtrip; children age 2 and under are free, and members receive 5% off with card and photo ID.
Visitors who need a specific boarding accommodation
Resolve an access need with Guest Services
The zoo publishes no train-specific lift, transfer, securement, seat, platform route or onboard service-animal contract. Confirm the exact boarding accommodation before purchase.
Visitors preparing to purchase a train ticket onsite
Know the ride-ticket and payment terms
Ride tickets are nonrefundable. Ride areas do not accept cash; use a card or mobile wallet, or load cash onto a prepaid Mastercard at a Ready Station.
Travelers building a broader Omaha day trip
Pair the ride with nearby rail history
Visit Kenefick Park for static Union Pacific locomotives or The Joslyn for a free art-museum stop nearby.
Current Operating Status
Official operating information
Current Friday-Sunday train service · 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. · weather and staffing dependent
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check official operating status ↗
Plan Your Visit
- ParkingZoo parking is free and first come; current official pages conflict on the North Gate—Today at the Zoo says both entrances are open seven days, while Plan Your Visit says the North Gate is Friday-Sunday
- WeatherRides do not operate in rain, snow or ice, or when the temperature will not reach 50°F by 1 p.m.; temporary heat changes may also appear same day
- Current ServiceFriday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; no Monday-Thursday service while the zoo expands qualified staffing
- Same Day CheckUse Today at the Zoo before travel because ride hours and availability are weather- and staff-dependent
- Train FareOne way $3.50; roundtrip $7; children age 2 and under free; members receive 5% off with membership card and photo ID
- Zoo AdmissionSeparate zoo admission is required; the train is an additional-charge attraction
- BoardingOmaha Depot near Stingray Beach, Sue's Carousel and the North Entrance; southeast boarding is described as African Lodge on the train page and Kenefick Station on the plan page
- Tickets And RefundsRide tickets are nonrefundable; unused single ride tickets may be used on another visit, but date-specific all-day passes are excluded
- PaymentRide areas do not accept cash; cards and mobile wallets are accepted, and cash may be loaded to a prepaid Mastercard at a Ready Station
- AccessThe zoo promotes wheelchairs and mobility rentals and references the train as an option, but publishes no train-specific lift, transfer, securement, seat or platform contract
- AnimalsPets are prohibited on zoo grounds; qualifying service animals may enter the zoo, but train-specific onboard handling is not published
- ContactGuest Services and inclement-weather line: 402-733-8401; informational recording: 402-733-8400
Find the Depot
The Trains
The six approved photographs document locomotives and zoo property between 2001 and 2015, but the reviewed current official pages do not name or guarantee a locomotive, coach set, fuel type or consist for any operating day. Riva, No. 119 and Virgie therefore remain dated visual context only. The official current contract is a zoo train ride with two boarding areas; do not transfer the stale packet's exact locomotive assignments, 1.8-mile route, 15-20 minute duration or steam-service assumptions into current planning copy.
History
Union Pacific helped lay 2.5 miles of opening-era track, and the Omaha Zoo Railroad made its inaugural run in July; this is not a verified current route length.
The Union Pacific Engine House for the Omaha Zoo Railroad was completed.
The approved archive includes a dated photograph of locomotive No. 119, without implying its current status.
The approved archive includes a dated photograph of the Riva locomotive, without implying current assignment.
The approved archive includes a dated photograph of the Virgie diesel, without implying current assignment.
The live train page publishes Friday-Sunday service while the zoo expands qualified operating staff.
See full history
The zoo's official timeline says Union Pacific helped lay 2.5 miles of track and the Omaha Zoo Railroad made its inaugural run in July 1968. That figure describes the opening-era construction, not a verified current route length. The same timeline records completion of the Union Pacific Engine House in 1994. Later photographs document changing stations, locomotives and zoo branding, but current service details come only from the live train, plan and policy pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Omaha Zoo Railroad running?
The current page lists Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. It is not operating Monday through Thursday while the zoo builds its operating team.
Should I check before visiting?
Yes. Train service is weather- and staff-dependent, and the zoo may publish temporary same-day changes on Today at the Zoo.
How much is the train?
A one-way ticket is $3.50 and a roundtrip is $7. Children age 2 and under are free; members receive 5% off with card and photo ID.
Is zoo admission included?
No. Zoo admission is separate, and the train is an additional-charge attraction inside the zoo.
Where do I board?
Use Omaha Depot near Stingray Beach, Sue's Carousel and the North Entrance, or the southeast stop described as African Lodge on one current page and Kenefick Station on another. Confirm with the current map or staff.
Does the train run in bad weather?
No. Official policy excludes rain, snow and ice and days when the temperature will not reach 50°F by 1 p.m.; same-day heat or staffing changes may also apply.
Are ride tickets refundable?
No. Unused single ride tickets may be used on another visit, while an all-day pass is date-specific.
Can I pay cash at the ride?
Ride areas do not accept cash. Use a card or mobile wallet, or load cash onto a prepaid Mastercard at a Ready Station.
Is the train wheelchair-accessible?
The official pages do not publish enough train-specific detail to promise a lift, transfer, securement, platform route or particular seat. Call Guest Services before purchase.
Which locomotive will operate?
No current locomotive or consist is promised. The gallery shows dated historical equipment and property context only.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 22, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official current train hours, fare, boarding and weather page
- Official current planning page for zoo admission, parking, station and entrance labels, and payments
- Official same-day attraction availability
- Official policies for weather, refunds, animals and mobility rentals
- Official contact page for visitor phone lines
- Official zoo timeline for the 1968 inaugural run and 1994 engine house
- Exact licensed 2015 station image
- Exact public-domain Riva image
- Exact public-domain locomotive 119 image
- Exact public-domain Virgie image
- Exact licensed Desert Dome image
- Exact licensed historical zoo-sign image
