Find The Best Discounts In Omaha (Even For The Zoo)

Ticket prices in Omaha are pretty reasonable when you compare to attractions at similar cities. We’re lucky. But a night out still can get expensive, right? Prices keep increasing, and so it’s pretty understandable that people want to know about all the possible Omaha discounts out there. So, if you’re looking for the best way to save money around Omaha, I’ve gathered up all my tips right here for you!

UPDATED: This post was first published in 2023 and has been updated in August 2026.

What are the best ways to save money on a visit to the zoo?

The No. 1 question I see in Facebook groups is about finding cheap tickets to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The world-renowned zoo is not a cheap place to visit (though in my opinion it is worth the admission price). In the summer, admission for anyone age 12 and older is $33.95. So yeah, I can see why people look for discounts for a family visit. 

There’s no secret coupon out there to save on a zoo visit any time of year, unfortunately. Here are a few not-so-secret ways to save:

• Plan a two-day visit (consecutive days) during the summer. A single-day ticket is $33.95, but for two days, it’s $50.90. So your second day ticket is, like, $16.
• Visit in the OFF off-season to save up to $13 off each ticket. While the adult admission ticket is $34.95 in the summer, from Dec. 1 through Feb. 29, it’s $21.95. 
• Omaha area residents with a library card can reserve a family day pass to the zoo through their public Omaha Public Library branch. These are limited in availability in each branch and typically run out before the end of the promotion. 
• Similarly, Council Bluffs residents can check out a pass from their Library of Things. from the public library for family day admission to the zoo. Like in Omaha, these passes get reserved pretty quickly!

Where to find the best deals on Omaha discounts

There are some long-time discount sites that still occasionally offer discounts to shows and admission tickets to Omaha attractions. The two major ones to check: Groupon and LivingSocial. Groupon has more local options than LivingSocial, in my opinion, but check both if you’re on the hunt for a deal.

Don’t throw out coupon value pack mailers in your mailbox without checking them first, either. I’ve seen discounts advertised in mailers like ValPak for productions by American Midwest Ballet as well as several locally-owned restaurants. 

Also, as a general rule, check your local public library before you go to any museum or attraction. You may be able to check out an Omaha Public Library Partnership Pass that will get your family free admission for the day! Plan ahead, though, since these are popular. The Council Bluffs Public Library offers a similar pass program, but for even more places like el Museo Latino. What I’ve learned with the Omaha library’s pass program is that you need to reserve things far in advance. You’ll never find a pass for the zoo on the morning you want to go.

And don’t forget that many restaurants and bars have Happy Hours with hard-to-beat discounts on food and drinks. I’ve collected a list of more than 100 Omaha restaurants with Happy Hour specials!

Omaha attractions and arts organization discounts 

• El Museo Latino: If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out a pass from the Library of Things. You’ll find a single day admission for families to the museum.
• Fontenelle Forest: If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for a single visit. If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out a pass from the Library of Things for admission to the forest.
• Lauritzen Gardens: If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for a single visit. If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out a pass from the Library of Things for admission to the gardens.
• Ticket Omaha (Official ticket seller for O-Pa, Omaha Symphony, Opera Omaha and Omaha Community Playhouse): Any time of year, you can save a few bucks on each ticket simply by buying them at the Ticket Omaha box office, located inside the Holland Performing Arts Center. Another thing to remember is the Black Friday sale each year, which always has phenomenal discounts of up to 40% off to various shows by all four organizations. 
• O-Pa specific savings: Another easy “trick,” create your own season package and tickets may be discounted (you’ll need to pick at least three shows for it to be a package). Be sure you are subscribed to O-Pa’s emails because that’s where you’ll find out about discounts like Student Rush tickets (when students with an ID can receive a huge discount on a show’s ticket) and lottery tickets for some touring Broadway shows (I saw “Hamilton” and “Six” for $30 per ticket). 
• The Rose: If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for up to four people to a show. You can check it out twice a year. If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out a pass from the Library of Things is good for four people to a show. You can check it out every 90 days.
• Omaha Children’s Museum: If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for a single visit. If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out the Library of Things includes admission to the museum. If you are a family on WIC or SNAP, you may qualify for a Welcome Fund Family Membership. These super discounted Family Memberships are $5. Alternatively, admission is always $5 the last hour of the day. If you’re visiting from out of town, check if you have a membership to an ASTC member museum or science center AND your home museum is more than 90 miles away. If so, you can get free reciprocal admission for up to four people!
• Gifford Farm Education Center: If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out a Discovery Pass from the public library for admission to the farm.
• The Durham Museum: If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for a single visit. If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out pass from the public library for admission to the museum. In the summer, visit the museum on Tuesdays after 5 p.m. and pay only $5.
• Kiewit Luminarium: If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for a single visit to this science center. If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out the Library of Things includes admission to the museum.
• Film Streams: Omaha Public Library’s Discovery Pass allows cardholders to check out a pass four times a year, and each pass admits up to 2 adults and 4 children to a show in the Forever Young series. Films are Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Dundee Theater.
• Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum: While this attraction is in Ashland, Neb., it still counts for this list! If you’re an Omaha resident, you can check out a family pass from the Omaha Public Library and it’s good for a single visit to this science center.

Take advantage of other attractions in Omaha with special offers

Beyond the excellent museums and cultural attractions around the Omaha metro, there are even more entertainment venues and parks to enjoy. And if you’re looking to save some money, there are deals out there for coupons or discount admission:

• Aksarben Cinema and ACX Cinema 12 in Elkhorn: Tickets to all movies are $6 on Tuesdays. *Know that there is a fee for purchasing tickets online (so, like, $6.35).
• AMC Theatre Westroads: Tickets to all movies are $6 on Tuesdays. The theater chain also has $5 Fan Favorites.  
• Amazing Pizza Machine: Members of the Amazing VIP Club, which is free to join, get access to member-only specials four times a year, as well as discounts on birthday parties.
• Marcus Theaters at Village Pointe, Twin Creek, and Majestic: The cinema chain offers several types of deals. A popular series for families is the Kids Dream Winter Film Series, during which the selected show is $3 per person (visit the website to learn about downloading a FREE voucher for this series). In the summer, they do something similar called the Kids Dream Summer Film Series. On Tuesdays, the chain celebrates Value Tuesdays with discounts on tickets, food and drinks.
• Motto McLean Ice Arena: The City of Omaha manages Motto McLean and offers public ice skating year round. Check Groupon before you go. I often see discounted tickets for that ice rink.
• MW Climbing: This indoor climbing center is one of the newest businesses to become a part of Omaha Public Library’s Discover Pass program. When it was announced, the first round of passes were quickly all reserved. The pass can get two adults and three children in the same household into the gym for a day.
• Nebraska State Parks: There are a few state parks near Omaha – Mahoney State Park, Platte River State Park, Louisville SRA and Two Rivers SRA – and they all require a vehicle entry permit. Enjoy free entry into those parks (and all others in the Nebraska State Park system) on the Saturday before Memorial Day, when things open up for Free Fishing and Park Entry Day.
• Nelson Produce + Farm: A popular Valley, Neb., destination, you can save $5 on Day Passes and Festival Passes when you purchase them online instead of at the gate.
• Pottawattamie Parks (Iowa): If you’re a Council Bluffs resident, you can check out a Library of Things Pass from the public library for day vehicle pass to Pottawattamie County Conservation parks, including Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, Hitchcock Nature Center, Narrows River Park, and Old Town Park. 
• TreeRush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest: TreeRush Adventures is a three-hour outdoor experience where guests (age 4 to adult) explore the forest canopy via ziplines, suspended obstacles, bridges, rope ladders, tunnels, and other surprises. They have Try It Tickets, for two-hour experiences on select Monday through Thursday evenings for a discount.
• Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard: Tickets will be less expensive if you visit in September versus the busiest month, October. Tickets are 50% off if you go over Labor Day Weekend (opening weekend), for instance. Plus, you can also save $2-$5 per ticket by purchasing tickets online.

Tips to making sure you get the best prices on your next outing

Why pay full price when you can save a couple of dollars? What’s more: Why pay way over the ticket value when you don’t have to? It just makes sense to pay attention to Omaha ticket deals. 

Here are a few final tips I want to pass on to you in regards to getting the best deal possible:

• When it comes to live performances, buy tickets in person to save on online convenience fees. This works the same for TicketMaster as it does for Ticket Omaha.
• When it comes to attractions, though, check online ticket prices vs. in-person ticket prices. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy those online. (I know, it’s confusing)
• Do not buy from ticket resellers unless you have to (ie. the show is sold out and you really want to go). Always check the official ticket seller first before you buy so you can do some price comparison. I’ve seen astonishing mark-ups to shows that still had ticket availability. 

And one final thought: Omaha has world-class theaters and museums (and obviously, a world-class zoo), so even if you can’t snag a discount, admission is worth it. Even full-price admission.