Overview
Norfolk is a city in Eastern Nebraska with a population of 24,500 in 2019.
2 sights · 4 things to do · 1 places to eat · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Norfolk
Elkhorn Valley Museum
Closed for renovations, will reopen June 2021. Local museum focusing on the history of the town and the surrounding region. Hosts an entire exhibit on the late great Johnny Carson, who grew up in the town. Verges Park, l…
Norfolk Arts Center
A community art center. Showcasing art by local artists and creators. Hosts events as well. Call in advance to schedule a tour.
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park
Named after the Omaha word for Elk's Horn, this 180 acre park offers multiple activities. Softball, sand volleyball, and disc golf are available to visitors. The park is also the eastern point of the Cowboy Trail, a hiki…
Off Road Ranch
Host of the Midwest Quad Racing championship. This site offers a looped raceway and an off-road course for ATV and motorbikes. Day passes are available. RV parking is available on site at Off Road Ranch (see Sleep). Tick…
Poppy's Pumpkin Patch
A locally run gourd farm offering family friendly activities. An onsite cafe available weekends.
AquaVenture Water Park
A local waterpark featuring water slides, a zero-entry wave pool, and a water playground. Concessions stand on site as well.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 10°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Sioux City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SUX Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field, Sioux City — 60 mi away. Directions
- GRI Central Nebraska Regional Airport, Grand Island — 86 mi away. Directions
- OMA Eppley Airfield, Omaha — 94 mi away (major hub). Directions
Norfolk is located at the intersection of US Highway 275 and US Highway 81, both of which go through the town. Nebraska Highways 35 and 24 also lead to the town. Driving into the town is the easiest way to get there.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Elkhorn Valley Museum, Norfolk Arts Center, AquaVenture Water Park
- Lunch Smokin Stan's BBQ
- Afternoon Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Poppy's Pumpkin Patch
Day 2
- Morning Off Road Ranch
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Norfolk is located in Northeast Nebraska in Madison County in the Elkhorn River Valley.
Norfolk is the economic center for an area encompassing six counties. Basic economic activities of Norfolk are manufacturing, farming (both livestock and grain), education, retailing, and wholesaling. Norfolk is the major retail trade center for Northeast Nebraska.
Get in
By car
Norfolk is located at the intersection of US Highway 275 and US Highway 81, both of which go through the town. Nebraska Highways 35 and 24 also lead to the town. Driving into the town is the easiest way to get there.
By bus
By plane
A regional airport is south of the city, off US Highway 81.
Get around
The city is laid out in a grid-like pattern. Numbered streets go north-south, which increase as they go further west, and named streets go east-west. This holds true until 1st St. East of 1st, both types of roads become named. This is only a small area of the city and should not pose too much of a problem for visitors. The downtown region is along Norfolk Ave between 1st and 7th Street.
While public transportation is available, it is much easier to drive around the city.
See
See Elkhorn Valley Museum
Closed for renovations, will reopen June 2021. Local museum focusing on the history of the town and the surrounding region. Hosts an entire exhibit on the late great Johnny Carson, who grew up in the town. Verges Park, located directly behind, is owned by the museum and has three historic buildings, including a cabin constructed in the 1860s. The Lueshen Bird Library hosts a huge collection of books relating to ornithology and the study of nature. A children's zone as well.
Do
Do Ta-Ha-Zouka Park
Named after the Omaha word for Elk's Horn, this 180 acre park offers multiple activities. Softball, sand volleyball, and disc golf are available to visitors. The park is also the eastern point of the Cowboy Trail, a hiking/biking trail stretching over 300 miles from Norfolk to Valentine, Nebraska. Camping sites and RV sites are available as well. No reservations and a 7 day maximum stay. No sewer or water hookups available.
Do Off Road Ranch
Host of the Midwest Quad Racing championship. This site offers a looped raceway and an off-road course for ATV and motorbikes. Day passes are available. RV parking is available on site at Off Road Ranch (see Sleep). Tickets are only available at the box office on the day of races.
Buy
Eat
Sleep
Stay Eco-Lux Inn
Stay New Victorian Inns
Nearby
Antelope County
Rural area · 3 listings · 34 mi away
Columbus
City / town · 12 listings · 41 mi away
Vermillion
City / town · 14 listings · 58 mi away
Yankton
City / town · 5 listings · 59 mi away
Sioux City
City / town · 40 listings · 62 mi away
Fremont
City / town · 3 listings · 63 mi away
O'Neill
City / town · 69 mi away
Monowi
City / town · 1 listings · 72 mi away
My experience
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