Kearney, NE

Travel Guide

Photo provided by Nebraska Tourism
Great Platte River Road Archway showing interior views
Photo provided by Nebraska Tourism
Photo provided by Nebraska Tourism
Photo provided by Nebraska Tourism

From sandhill cranes to a museum above the highway, discover Nebraska at its finest in the seat of Buffalo County.

Kearney is one of many Nebraska towns developed during the westward railroad expansion after the Civil War. Visit today and find the town more modernized, but no less bustling, than it was in the 1800s.

Kearney is known as the Sandhill Crane Capital of the World. Between late February and early April over 500,000 sandhill cranes stop on the Platte River along their migration path. Wear dark clothes and bring binoculars and high-powered cameras to see these elegant birds. Enjoy some of the best viewing at Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary.

Travel through 170 years of transportation history as you walk over Interstate 80 at The ArchwayOpens in a new window. Learn about Nebraska’s settlers at this iconic monument and museum, which spans the highway and offers a giant maze.

Stroll the sprawling green campus of the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK), with over 7,000 students. Stop at the Frank House, an architecturally unique brick mansion built in 1889. Walk through the museum inside, to see original furniture and stunning Tiffany stained-glass windows.

View the state through its artists’ eyes at UNK’s Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA). Explore 175 years of Nebraskan artists, from classic painters such as Robert Henri and Alice Cleaver to modern artists including Jun Kaneko and Jane Golding Marie. Also see art portraying early Native Americans and the Midwest’s wildlife.

Attend a concert or performance in the large Viaero Event Center or cheer on the Tri-City Storm at a home game of hockey. See a play at the Merryman Performing Arts Center or the Kearney Community Theatre.

Explore downtown Kearney on a historic walking tour. Go shopping at The Bricks or Hilltop Mall. Enjoy a variety of dining options, from famous Nebraska beef at small restaurants to national chains. Sample Kearney’s burgeoning craft microbrewery scene.

Walk, bike or skate your way along Kearney’s trails. Relax in Fort Kearny State Recreation Area and over a dozen parks, which offer everything from golf courses to sports complexes.

Where to stay in Kearney

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Kearney Downtown Historic District

If you're spending some time in Kearney Downtown Historic District, The World Theatre and Museum of Nebraska Art are top sights worth seeing.

Kearney Downtown Historic District
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kearney
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kearney
2 out of 5
104 Talmadge Rd, Kearney, NE
$84 nightly
The price is $96 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$96 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Kearney. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,002 reviews)
"Great hotel. Very clean and quiet. A good stay for our dog also."

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2025

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kearney
New Victorian Inn and Suites
New Victorian Inn and Suites
2.5 out of 5
903 2nd Ave, Kearney, NE
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$92 nightly
The price is $105 total per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
$105 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Kearney. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
Love staying here
"I loved when I walked in and out of nowhere. They were easily available to accommodate me to a ground floor with a single Queen bed instead of a king bed in case somebody else needed it very helpful."

Reviewed on Jul 4, 2025

New Victorian Inn and Suites
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kearney
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kearney
3 out of 5
108 3rd Ave, Kearney, NE
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$121 nightly
The price is $139 total per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
$139 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Kearney. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"Motel was nice. Breakfast good. Love that they had a pop machine. I don’t get the point of asking me to check in on line only to wait in line 20 minutes to get key. I don’t mind waiting but I dont see how on line helped me or the check in clerk."

Reviewed on Jul 1, 2025

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kearney
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Peaceful neighborhood OUTSIDE of Kearney and one of the LARGEST homes available.
Peaceful neighborhood OUTSIDE of Kearney and one of the LARGEST homes available.
Kearney
Stay at this vacation home in Kearney. Enjoy laundry facilities and air conditioning. Popular attractions Hilltop Mall and Bumblebees are located nearby.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
AWSOME for Golf Trip
"Had 13 guys golf trip and found this place to stay. The golf wasn’t good but the house was awsome. House has 15 beds, huge open eating area and the basement is set up perfectly for hanging out. Poker table, pool table, TV, everything needed for a guys hang out. Everyone in the group said they would ..."

Reviewed on Jun 29, 2025

Peaceful neighborhood OUTSIDE of Kearney and one of the LARGEST homes available.
Rustic Cottage Retreat
Rustic Cottage Retreat
Kearney
Stay at this vacation home in Kearney. Enjoy laundry facilities, patios, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions East Odessa State Wildlife Management ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (100 reviews)
Perfect summer retreat
"Amazing location for a trip with our dog. Beautiful property with plenty of space to run around. Cute garden and pond on site. Rustic and charming."

Reviewed on Jul 1, 2025

Rustic Cottage Retreat
Charming 4-bedroom house in Kearney.
Charming 4-bedroom house in Kearney.
Kearney
Stay at this vacation home in Kearney. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Museum of Nebraska Art and The ...
10/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
Lovely house
"It was a beautiful home stocked with all of the necessities. The hosts were super responsive with any questions and the cleaning/closing list was super minimal. Would highly recommend!"

Reviewed on Jun 29, 2025

Charming 4-bedroom house in Kearney.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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