Omaha & Lincoln
Ashland sits dead-center between Nebraska's two biggest cities. West: Lincoln's Haymarket district, the university, and game-day Saturdays. East: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo — regularly ranked among the world's best — the Old Market, and a serious food scene. Either one is an easy day trip; your fire pit is waiting when you're done with the city.
Known for
The Henry Doorly Zoo, the Old Market, and Husker Saturdays
Look it up
The day trips
- Henry Doorly ZooFull day
Desert dome, jungle, aquarium — a full day with kids. Arrive at open.
- The Old MarketEvenings
Omaha's brick-street district — galleries, restaurants, and bars in converted warehouses. The dinner move.
- The HaymarketLincoln
Lincoln's historic district by the university — shops, restaurants, and arena events.
- Husker SaturdaysFall
If your stay lands on a home game, Lincoln is an experience — book dinner early; everything fills.
More beyond the gate
One of Nebraska's most-visited state parks, five minutes up the highway from the glampgrounds. Summer brings the aquatic center with its wave pool and slides; the Go Ape treetop course, horseback trail rides, paddleboats, and the observation tower run most of the season — and winter means sledding, ice skating, and the indoor activity center.
The Strategic Air Command's flagship museum — 40+ historic aircraft and spacecraft in two massive hangars with 300,000 sq ft of indoor exhibit space. The Cold War story told through icons like the SR-71 Blackbird, B-52 Stratofortress, and B-1B Lancer. Walk underneath them, stand in their shadows, peek into cockpits. Right off exit 426, minutes from the glampgrounds.
A drive-through safari run by Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo — bison, elk, pronghorn, and waterfowl from your own car windows along a 4-mile loop, then wolves, bears, and bald eagles along the walking trails at the end. Kids never have to leave their seats for the best parts.
The state-of-the-art Schramm Education Center — Nebraska-native fish in floor-to-ceiling aquariums — plus wooded bluff trails, a suspension bridge, and a fossil dig along the Platte River. The site of Nebraska's first fish hatchery, and one of the prettiest short hikes in the valley.