If you’ve ever driven across Nebraska on I-80, you might have noticed the huge arch that goes over the highway in Kearney. Maybe you even decided to stop at the Archway, but did you know that Kearney also has a thriving arts district, is the sandhill crane capital of the world, and has even more to offer?
I was so impressed with the arts, parks and museums in Kearney. It’s a fun and vibrant city that deserves a spot on your Midwest bucket list. Whether you’re passing through Nebraska or planning to spend a few nights, I hope this guide helps you discover the best things to do in Kearney.
Tip: The name of the city is actually pronounced “carn-ee”!
Disclaimer: I was hosted on a trip to Kearney, but opinions are my own. Thanks to Visit Kearney for their generosity and hospitality!
How To Get To Kearney
Kearney is conveniently located right off of interstate 80. The Kearney Regional Airport also has daily non-stop flights to Denver via United.
Kearney is also located 45 minutes from Grand Island, 2 hours from Lincoln, 3 hours from Omaha and a little over 5 hours from Denver.
When To Visit Kearney
If you’re interested in seeing the iconic sandhill cranes, you’ll want to visit Kearney between mid-February and mid-April. If you aren’t visiting for the cranes, fall is a great time to visit for mild weather, festivals and foliage.
The summer is a great time to hang out indoors or cool off on the whitewater trail. However, it can be blazing hot during the day. Winter in Kearney can bring snow and strong winds, but is a peaceful time to visit if you bundle up.
Where To Stay in Kearney
Kearney has several hotels to choose from, plus campgrounds and some unique, historic stays.
Check out the Fort Kearney State Recreation Area for peaceful camping on the water, Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn for a b&b experience, or Crowne Plaza Kearney for a nice stay with an indoor waterpark.
The Best Things To Do in Kearney, NE
From art to history, there is so much to do on a day trip to Kearney (or a weekend getaway)!
Admire Art at MONA
The MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) is an absolute must-visit during your visit to Kearney. The museum reopened in May 2025 after 3 years of renovations, and has become an incredible space to showcase art from Nebraska and beyond.
The space intermixes the old and new beautifully. Part of the building is housed in a former post office, and the other half feels brand new and modern. This melding of modern and historic elements is also felt through the various art selections and exhibits throughout the museum.
One highlight for me was the Song Quilts by Eliza Hardy Jones. Jones is both a musician and a quiltmaker, and each quilt is stitched to represent a song. You can scan a QR code and listen to the songs associated with each quilt. It’s a fun way to interact with the art and engage another one of your senses!
One area of the museum that might be easy to overlook is the basement, but it’s worth a look. You can actually see exactly how they store some of their art collection, which is a neat way to peak behind the curtain.
MONA also hosts tons of community events, classes, school field trips and more. Be sure to check out their upcoming events, which include open studio time, yoga, collage workshops, natural dying and so much more.
Whether you’re a huge fan of art or not, I think the MONA is worth a stop. The museum is free to visit and is easily one of the best things to do in Kearney.
Journey Back in Time inside The Archway
You can’t miss The Archway while you’re driving on I-80. In fact, maybe it’s the reason that you first considered stopping in Kearney! This is a museum that extends over the entire highway.
While you could make a quick stop and just visit the gift shop, it’s worth spending an hour or two to walk through the museum. This isn’t your typical museum - instead of just reading displays, you’ll be taken on a journey with an audio guide that sets the scene.
As you make your way through, you’ll pass through 180 years of history. You’ll start on a covered wagon and learn about what it was like for early pioneers to travel west on the Oregon Trail. Soon, you’ll see how the first railroad was built to connect the country. And as you complete your adventure, you’ll see how the highways were built and travelers crossed Nebraska to visit iconic places like Yellowstone.
At the end of the exhibits, there is a window where you can look out above the highway (there’s even a speedometer to see how fast the cars below are driving). It’s a full circle moment as you see today’s modern day highways, and reflect on how covered wagons were once crossing this vast part of the US.
The museum cost $15 per adult and $7 for children (5 and under are free). You can also take a walk outside on the Great Plains Cultural Learning Trail, which has interpretive displays, sculptures and native vegetation along the water.
See the Sandhill Crane Migration
If you’re a birder, you’ve probably heard of the sandhill crane migration in Nebraska. If you’re not, let me tell you why it’s special. Each spring, over a million sandhill cranes make a stop in the Nebraska Platte River Valley as they make their way north into Canada and Alaska.
This occurs between mid-February to mid-April, and Kearney is one of the best places to witness this phenomenon. The Rowe Sanctuary, located about 20 minutes from Kearney, is a great place to see the migration, and guided tours are offered at sunrise and sunset. Make sure to plan ahead if you want to see the crane migration, as tours and hotels can sell out quickly.
I was not in Kearney during the right time for this, but am hoping to see the migration in the future!
Explore The Bricks Creative District
Make sure to take a walk around The Bricks during your visit to Kearney! This area has been designated an official Nebraska Creative District, in part for its Art Alleyways. You’ll find colorful murals and other installations lining the alleys and streets as you walk around the area.
One place to stop as you explore downtown is Central Mercantile, which has all kinds of home decor and kitchen items, plus Ktown Cakery inside.
Also be sure to check what’s playing at The World Theatre, which shows movies, hosts comedians, and has a range of other events.
The theatre was built as a vaudeville theatre in 1927 and was housed inside of a historic Masonic Temple building. After renovations, the theatre reopened in 2012 and was restored to feel like the original 1920s plans. This is the perfect place to spend an evening in Kearney!
Take a Walk Around Yanney Heritage Park
If you enjoy spending time in nature, make sure to leave time in your Kearney itinerary to take a walk through Yanney Heritage Park. The park has lovely gardens with sculptures intermixed among the flowers. In June, the roses and several other flowers were blooming with vibrant colors.
The park also has a playground, an observation tower, a pond where you can rent kayaks or a swan boat. The observation tower offers amazing birds-eye views of the park and the surrounding area.
This is a great place to have a picnic, watch the sunset or go for a run.
Fold a Crane at the Kearney Welcome Center
Another great stop to make in Kearney is at the Kearney Welcome Center. There are helpful people to give travel advice, plus displays about the crane migration and other things in the area. Plus, you can make your own paper crane!
Pro Tip: If you visit Kearney between May and September, make sure to request a Nebraska passport or download the app! Each year, 70 stops are selected around Nebraska to be on the passport. There are fun prizes for completing a certain number of stops and this is a great way to find a new place to stop on a Nebraska road trip! The stops change each year, but in 2025, both the MONA and Kearney Welcome Center are on the passport.
Eat Great Food in Kearney
After all of these activities, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite!
I had a great meal at Fyre Modern Grill, which is one of the best places to eat in Kearney. It’s an elevated American restaurant with items such as prime rib, burgers and flatbreads. My favorite part was easily the brussel sprouts appetizer, which was served with beet hummus and pickled onions.
Other places to eat and drink in Kearney include Kitt's for brunch, Upper Room Brewery for local brews and Cunningham's Journal On The Lake for nice views.
More Things To Do in Kearney
- Paddle on the Kearney Water Trail, which features several unique whitewater features.
- Try your hand at Axe Throwing at Axe Holes.
- Go horseback riding at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area with Christie’s Horseback Riding.
- Visit the Trails and Rails Museum.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you plan a fun trip to Kearney! From world class art to the sandhill cranes, there is so much to do in this underrated Nebraska town. Whether you’re taking a Nebraska road trip or are looking for more weekend getaway ideas in the midwest, you can’t go wrong with Kearney.
For more Midwest Travel Guides, check out these guides:
- The Best Things To Do in Northwest Nebraska
- 12 Outdoorsy Road Trip Ideas in the Midwest
- The Perfect Badlands and Black Hills South Dakota Itinerary
- A Guide to Badlands National Park in October
- 10+ Unique Things To Do in Kansas
- How to Spend 3 Days in Madison, Wisconsin
- The Best Things To Do in Cedar Rapids, IA
- How to Spend 3 Days on the Minnesota North Shore
- An Epic Michigan UP Road Trip
- The Best Hikes in Indiana
Thanks for Reading!
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