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Highest-rated free things to do in Nebraska by visitors

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r.classen // Shutterstock
r.classen // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Nebraska.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Nebraska using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

You may also like: As more states adopt traffic enforcement cameras, here's where Nebraska stands

#30. Father Flanagan's Historic House

Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. Father Flanagan's Historic House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (38 reviews)
- City: Omaha
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Lewis & Clark Landing and Riverfront Park

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Lewis & Clark Landing and Riverfront Park

- Rating: 4.2/5 (157 reviews)
- City: Omaha
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Mormon Trail Center At Winter Quarters

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Mormon Trail Center At Winter Quarters

- Rating: 4.4/5 (160 reviews)
- City: Omaha
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Zorinsky Lake and Recreation Area

Tripadvisor

13 / 30

#18. Zorinsky Lake and Recreation Area

- Rating: 4.4/5 (137 reviews)
- City: Omaha
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

- Rating: 4.5/5 (190 reviews)
- City: Harrison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Homestead National Historical Park

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Homestead National Historical Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (227 reviews)
- City: Beatrice
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront

- Rating: 4.1/5 (269 reviews)
- City: Omaha
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,497 reviews)
- City: Omaha
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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