Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is Omaha's best free landmark. Opened in 2008, it is a graceful S-shaped, cable-stayed walkway that spans the Missouri River from the Omaha riverfront to Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is about 3,000 feet long, and a marker at the middle shows the state line, so a short walk lets you stand with one foot in Nebraska and the other in Iowa. The bridge is for walkers, runners and cyclists only, with no cars, and its wide deck and gentle curves make it comfortable for strollers, wheelchairs and slow wanderers. It has become a favorite for photographs, with the downtown skyline on one side and the river and open farmland on the other. The bridge also helps explain why the riverfront matters. It links two cities and two state parks systems, and it connects a network of trails on both sides of the river. On the Omaha side you arrive near the RiverFront parks and the Kiewit Luminarium, and on the Iowa side you reach a park and trail system that continues along the water. Because the span is high above the river, you get a sense of how big the Missouri is and how the city turns to face it.

Plan about an hour for a round trip at a relaxed pace, longer if you stop for photos or walk further on the Iowa side. The bridge is open for walking in daylight and into the evening, and it is lit at night, which makes a sunset or after-dinner stroll especially appealing. Check the city's current notices for closures related to maintenance or weather, and be careful on windy days when gusts can be strong over open water. In winter, ice or snow can make the deck slick, so wear boots.

Bring a camera and plan for the light. Late afternoon gives warm skyline views, and evening brings the lights and the reflections on the river. If you are running or biking, remember the bridge is shared with walkers, so keep to the right and keep a moderate speed. It is free and open to everyone, with no tickets required, which makes it a perfect addition to a budget itinerary.

The bridge fits neatly between other downtown activities. Start with lunch in the Old Market, walk through the RiverFront parks and the Gene Leahy Mall, cross the bridge for views, and return for a museum at the Durham or an evening trolley tour. Families can combine it with the Kiewit Luminarium, and couples can make it the prelude to a patio dinner. For many visitors it is the single most photographed moment of a first trip to Omaha.

The bridge is well lit and generally busy in the evening, but use normal city sense and walk with a companion late at night. For a different perspective, cross at sunrise, when the river is quiet and the light is soft.