Day Trip: Mahoney State Park

If you have a free Saturday and a car full of kids who need to move, few places deliver like Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. It sits on the bluffs above the Platte River, right off Interstate 80 about four miles east of Ashland, which puts it roughly a half-hour from Omaha. That short drive lands you in Nebraska's most popular state park, and once you are inside the gates it is easy to spend an entire day without running out of things to do.

The headliner in summer is the family aquatic center. It features a zero-entry area that is gentle for little swimmers, twisting water slides, a competition pool with diving boards, and a splash pad for the smallest members of the crew. Bring swimsuits, towels, and a plan for lunch, because this is the kind of place where an hour turns into three without anyone noticing.

The park's signature landmark is the 70-foot observation tower overlooking the Platte River Valley. The climb is a hit with kids, and the view from the top gives everyone a sense of just how big and beautiful this stretch of Nebraska is. It is a great first stop, a way to orient yourselves and get the wiggles out before settling into the rest of the day.

Beyond the water and the tower, Mahoney is packed. There are hiking and biking trails, a marina with paddleboat rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, mini-golf, tennis and basketball courts, and pony and trail rides for the horse-loving kids. The year-round Activity Center is a lifesaver in any weather, with a big indoor playground of tubes, slides, and net bridges, plus Venture Climb, a climbing wall for older kids and brave grown-ups. Families also love the melodrama and magic performances at the Kountze Memorial Theater, which invite audience participation and give everyone a laugh.

Make It a Full Day, or a Weekend

Mahoney rewards a little planning. A good rhythm is to arrive when the gates open, climb the tower first, then split the day between the aquatic center and the trails, saving the indoor Activity Center for the hot mid-afternoon stretch. If you fall in love with the place, the Peter Kiewit Lodge offers 40 guest rooms, many with balconies over the river valley, plus cabins and camping. That turns a day trip into an easy overnight without a long drive home.

Entry requires a Nebraska state park permit on your vehicle, which you can buy at the gate or in advance, and some activities like the aquatic center and pony rides carry their own fees. Pack water, sunscreen, and snacks, and know that on peak summer weekends the pool and lots fill up, so earlier is better. For hours, permit details, and the current activity schedule, check the official park page at outdoornebraska.gov before you go.

Pair It With the Drive

Because Mahoney sits between Omaha and Lincoln, it pairs beautifully with other stops in the corridor. On the way out or back, families often add a bite or a little shopping, and our neighboring guide to Gretna and Nebraska Crossing covers a convenient stop just off the same interstate. If you would rather fuel up before the drive, our roundup of family-friendly places to eat will point you to spots the whole crew can agree on.

Mahoney is the rare day trip that works for every age at once, from toddlers at the splash pad to teenagers on the climbing wall to grandparents who just want the view from the tower. For seasonal happenings, including winter sledding, ice skating, and holiday events at the park, keep an eye on our events calendar. Whether you go for an afternoon or a weekend, it is one of the best and easiest escapes the Omaha area has to offer.

(No freely licensed cover photo of the park was available at publication.)

Cover photo: Babymestizo via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).