Why visit Kearney
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 28 parks and trails, 79 places to eat, 23 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include University of Nebraska at Kearney, Hilltop 4, Museum of Nebraska Art and Dobytown.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Kearney
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Kearney
Kearney is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 33,790 in the 2020 census, making it the 5th most populous city in Nebraska. It is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The westward push of the railroad as the Civil War ended gave new birth to the community.
From the Wikipedia article Kearney, Nebraska (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
University of Nebraska at Kearney
School · 1.0 mi
Campus of the University of Nebraska
2504 9th Avenue, Kearney
Museums and landmarks18
Museum of Nebraska Art
Museum · National Register of Historic Places
Art museum in Kearney, Nebraska
2401 Central Avenue, Kearney
Dobytown
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Human settlement in Nebraska, United States of America
Dr. A.O. Thomas House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
House in Kearney, Nebraska
Fort Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Former movie theater in Kearney, Nebraska, United States
George W. Frank House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house in Nebraska, United States
Hanson-Downing House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
House in Kearney, Nebraska
John Barnd House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
House in Kearney, Nebraska
John J. and Lenora Bartlett House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Kearney, Nebraska, USA
Klehm House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
House in Kearney, Nebraska
World Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Movie theater in Kearney, Nebraska, United States
The Great Platte River Road Archway
Monument and historic site · 3.2 mi
3060 East 1st Street, Kearney
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds28
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16 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes79
Nebraska Ale Works
Diner · American · 1.9 mi
The food style is similar to Old Chicago.
115 2nd Avenue E, Kearney
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
Gourmet House Japanese Cuisine
Restaurant · Japanese, Chinese, Sushi · 1.0 mi
1325 2nd Avenue, Kearney
Mo,We,Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:30; Tu closed
King's Buffet
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.1 mi
1115 2nd Avenue, Kearney
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.2 mi
1104 2nd Avenue, Kearney
Mo-Su 05:00-21:00
Flippin Sweet Burger Joint
Restaurant · Burger · 0.9 mi
3905 North 2nd Avenue, Kearney
Perkins
Diner · American · 1.5 mi
609 South 2nd Avenue, Kearney
67 more on the map.
History
In the late 1840s, American settlers traveling westward arrived in significant numbers along the Mormon Trail and Overland Trails. This marked the beginning of Kearney's role as a crossroads on major east-west transportation arteries. In 1848, to safeguard westward migrants traveling through the region, the US Army established a military fort several miles southeast of the present city. Named after famed frontier military officer Stephen W. Kearny, Fort Kearny would become the namesake of the present city and serve as a stopping-point for gold prospectors, Pony Express riders, and Union Pacific Railroad workers until 1871.
The first permanent settlement in the area was called Dobytown, located 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of the present-day Kearney. The "e" in Kearney was added by mistake sometime afterwards by postmen who consistently misspelled the town name; eventually the spelling became nomenclature.
From the History section of Kearney, Nebraska on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay23
AmericInn by Wyndham Kearney
Motel and hotel · 1.9 mi
215 West Talmadge Road, Kearney
Churches and places of worship38
Saint Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.3 mi
517 East 46th Street, Kearney
United Campus Ministry at Kearney
Church · Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church Of Christ, Disciples Of Christ · 0.6 mi
811 West 26th Street, Kearney
Holy Cross Campus Ministry
Church · Lutheran · 1.2 mi
1814 West 24th Street, Kearney
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.1 mi
3908 Avenue I, Kearney
Shopping21
Gas and EV charging18
Schools, colleges and libraries28
Healthcare10
New West Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
2810 West 35th Street, Kearney
Map of Kearney
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 14°F | 0.5 in | 3.7 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 16°F | 0.6 in | 5.6 in |
| Mar | 51°F | 25°F | 1.5 in | 3.5 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 36°F | 2.7 in | 1.9 in |
| May | 72°F | 47°F | 4.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 58°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 63°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 51°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 38°F | 2.1 in | 0.8 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 25°F | 1.0 in | 2.8 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 17°F | 0.7 in | 3.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kearney 4 Ne (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Buffalo County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-08-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2022-02-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-21: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-08-12: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kearney Regional Airport (EAR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Glenwood 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Riverdale 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Gibbon 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Minden 15 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Elm Creek 15 mi west, about 25 min by car
- Axtell 16 mi south, about 25 min by car
- Shelton 19 mi east, about 31 min by car
- Pleasanton 19 mi north, about 30 min by car
- Hastings 37 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Grand Island 41 mi east, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- GPRRAMKearney, MMarshall at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Greetings from Kearney, Nebraska - Large Letter Postcard (5326337453), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Museum of Nebraska Art lobby interior, Kearney NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kearney Public Schools Administration building, Paul2520, CC BY 4.0
- John Barnd House, Kearney, NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harmon Park Kearney, Smallbones, CC0
- Harmon Park Garden fountain, Kearney, NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- View of Rock Garden from Lighthouse, Harmon Park, Kearney NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harmon Park Garden fountain detail, Kearney, NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harmon Park Garden and fountain, Kearney, NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harmon Park Sonotorium, Kearney NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harmon Park Garden fountain (detail of base), Kearney, NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rock Garden Lighthouse, Harmon Park, Kearney, NE, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kearney Catholic High School, Paul2520, CC BY 4.0
- Kearney Dam, Kearney, Nebraska, USA, Hanyou23, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Brookestone Kearney, WiinterU, CC0
- Museum of Nebraska Art 1, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Dr. A. O. Thomas House 1, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Dobytown, Nebraska 2, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Fort Theater 2, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Klehm House 3, Ammodramus, Public domain
- St. Luke's (Kearney, Nebraska) 1, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Bartlett House (Kearney, Nebraska) 2, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Downing House (Kearney, Nebraska) from SE 1, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Barnd House 4, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Frank House (Kearney, Nebraska) from NE 1, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Thomas House (Kearney, Nebraska) from NE, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Museum of Nebraska Art, Tidal401, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South facing side of Museum of Nebraska Art, C. S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), Thomas Bragg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- World Theater renovated marquee, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- World Theater with renovated marquee, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masonic Temple and World Theater Building (cropped), C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masonic Temple entrance, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masonic Temple and World Theater Building, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort Theater--Doors, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flock Safety ALPR Camera (Automated License Plate Reader) (54490802773), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- 20211017-FS-AHM-001, Forest Service, USDA, Public domain
- Rock Garden stream, C. S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rock Garden Entrance--northwest corner of Harman Park, C.S. Imming, CC BY-SA 3.0
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