As Thanksgiving Break approaches, many Omahans are looking for a short vacation. Of course, what better way to do this than by taking a road trip! Below are some of the best road trips one can take from Omaha, providing adventure, relaxation, and nature. Many of these, such as Minneapolis and Kansas City, are long-time favorites. Others like Indian Cave State Park, Medicine Bow National Forest, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are hidden gems. These road trips range from two to ten hours of driving, yet all offer unique experiences that will be sure to create lasting memories.

Nearby Destinations (Less Than 3 Hour Drive):

Indian Cave State Park, NE

Situated along the Missouri River, Indian Cave State Park is only a 1.5-hour drive from Omaha. Visitors to the park can take scenic hikes, ride along equestrian trails, view Native American petroglyphs, and see a variety of wildlife.

Kansas City, MO

A 2 ½ hour drive from Omaha, Kansas City offers much to do. Whether it be shopping at the Crown Center, dining at one of the city’s many BBQ restaurants, or visiting the National WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City has something to offer for any visitor.

Topeka, KS

At just under a three-hour drive from Omaha, Topeka is a great option as a day trip or weekend getaway. The highlights of Topeka include The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, the Kansas Museum of History,  the Kansas State Capitol, and the world-famous Evel Knievel Museum. 

Mid-Range Destinations (3-7 Hour Drive):

Rapid City, SD

The drive to Rapid City takes roughly 7 hours, but South Dakota’s second-largest city makes the drive well worth it. For nature and history lovers, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Badlands National Park are sure to impress. There are also other fun attractions, such as The Journey Museum and Learning Center and The Reptile Garden.

Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis is perhaps one of the most popular road trip destinations from Omaha, clocking in at a roughly 5 ½ drive. The city’s world-famous Mall of America fulfills any visitor’s shopping and dining needs, and the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park within the mall is fun for families and amusement-park-lovers. The nature near Minneapolis, including the Chain of Lakes and Minnehaha Falls, also offers scenic experiences

St. Louis, MO

Home to the famed Gateway Arch, St. Louis also has great opportunities for cultural exploration, including free art museums and a zoo that quietly rivals Omaha’s in terms of design, accessibility, and kid-friendliness. An underrated feature of St. Louis is also its extensive urban parks, which are much larger than anything comparable in Omaha. Forest Park hosted the 1904 World’s Fair and still retains some of the structures built for that event. St. Louis is a little more than 6 hours from Omaha, but there’s plenty to do once visitors arrive.

Effigy Mounds National Monument, IA

National Parks are hard to come by in the Midwest, but Effigy Mounds National Monument just outside of Harper’s Ferry, IA offers beautiful views of the Mississippi River and extensive hiking trails, many of which pass near historic burial mounds from the Woodland cultures that thrived in the region over 1000 years ago. Effigy Mounds is also a great destination for birders, especially in the spring and fall migration seasons. It’s a roughly 5 1/2-hour drive from Omaha, but it’s close enough to cities like Dubuque and Cedar Rapids to make it a weekend trip.

Long-Distance Destinations (7-10 Hour Drive)

Medicine Bow National Forest, WY

While Yellowstone or Jackson Hole may be the first places to come to mind when one thinks of Wyoming, perhaps the state’s hidden gem is the Medicine Bow National Forest. Located just outside of Laramie, the Medicine Bow National Forest can be reached from Omaha by heading west for about 8 hours on I-80. Highlights of this stunning area include hiking the 12,000 ft Medicine Bow Peak and eating dinner at the Old Corral Steakhouse. 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND

North Dakota’s only national park is located about 10 hours from Omaha, making for a fantastic nature escape. Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s location in Western North Dakota makes it more off-the-beaten-path than other, more touristy nature spots. The area boasts bison and elk, the scenic Painted Canyon, and a cabin where Theodore Roosevelt once lived. 

Winnipeg, MB

Located about 9 ½ hours north of Omaha, Winnipeg is the nearest major Canadian city and well worth the drive. As the regional and cultural hub of Manitoba, Winnipeg’s The Forks and The Exchange District both boast stunning arts, cuisine, and architecture. The Assiniboine Zoo also hosts a wide variety of Arctic wildlife.