Plan Like a Park Ranger: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail ranger welcome visitors to the Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center, located at the Region 3, 4, 5 (Midwest) Office in Omaha, Nebraska.

NPS Photo

On the banks of the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska, you can visit the headquarters of the 4,900 mile long Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Use the tips below to make the most of your visit.

1. Download the NPS App.

The National Park Service just released a new app that will help you access sites along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and a ton of other great park information! Download the Official NPS Mobile App and get started!

2. Bring your questions.

Our rangers are all equipped with the best answers to your questions. From answering questions about “Where’s the restroom?,” to “Where did Lewis and Clark start?,” we’d be more than happy to help! We can even answer some of your questions before you arrive at our Trail Headquarters Visitor Center; check out our Basic Information Page to get started.

3. Stay informed.

Make sure to check our nps.gov website for new park-specific COVID-19 guidelines, visitor center hours of operation, and even the local forecast. With Nebraska weather, you never know what you’re going to get!

4. Become a Junior Ranger!

Ask about our Junior Ranger Program at the Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center and at sites all along the Trail to experience more Lewis and Clark history and earn an official junior ranger badge! All ages welcome; you’re never too old to be a junior ranger!

5. Bring your Passport to National Parks book.

Do you collect stamps at National Park Service sites? We’ve got you covered with two stamps in one stop! Receive your very own Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and Midwest Regional Office stamps. If you’re traveling the Trail, remember to check the app for sites who offer passport stamps all along the route.

6. Plan like a B.A.R.K Ranger

• Bag your pet’s waste

• Always leash your pet

• Respect wildlife

• Know where you can go

We do not allow animals in the visitor center unless they’re a service animal, but there are plenty of trails for your fur babies accessible right outside our visitor center. Be sure to check different sites along the Trail to see if your pups can experience the trail just like you! Learn more about B.A.R.K. Rangers.

7. Take a stroll.

With the inviting smell of sweetgrass, our outdoor gardens are full of plants native to Nebraska. You can drink them in on your way to the iconic Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge; stand in two states at once!

8. Don't worry about an entrance fee!

Our visitor center in Omaha, Nebraska is free of charge. We also sell the “America the Beautiful” passes that gain you access to other federally managed lands all around the country, so come on down! Before your visit, you can learn more about National Park Service entrance passes including Military Pass, Senior Pass, Access Pass, and 4th Grader Pass.

9. Learn something new.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition was over three years in the making, so you’re bound to learn something you might not have known about before! Look around the visitor center and see what you can find or chat with a ranger. You can spark your curiosity before your visit by exploring Lewis and Clark Trail's Stories Page.

10. Be patient and kind.

Staff at the Lewis and Clark Trail Headquarters Visitor Center and visitor sites across the Trail work extra hard to keep sites safe for your visit. Although we might not have the same services as previous years, we’re still working hard to make your visit one of a kind!