Cartoon family car on a winding road, pumpkin-patch road trip scene

Next 6 weekends · Oct 30–Nov 1 to Dec 4–6

Weekend getaways from Akron–Canton with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Akron–Canton for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.

6 weekends

5 cities

Closest: 1h

Last checked Oct 29, 2026 against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Akron–Canton

Oct 30–Nov 1PittsburghFall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn · 2h 15mJack O'Lantern ExtravaganzaIndoors Nov 6–8DaytonOriginal Dayton Train Show · 3h 45mMontgomery County FairgroundsOvernight Nov 13–15ClevelandNorth Pole Adventure · 1hCuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, IndependenceBest at dusk Nov 20–22ColumbusWildlights · 2h 30mColumbus Zoo and AquariumBest at dusk Nov 27–29PittsburghPhipps Holiday Magic · 2h 15mZoo Lights Drive-ThruFriday fun Dec 4–6CincinnatiHoliday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains · 4h 45mCincinnati Museum Center at Union TerminalOvernight

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

Each ring is one hour of driving from Akron–Canton. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.

Cities we cover (weekly updates)Other family getaways (no event listings)

Cleveland1h

Pittsburgh2h 15m

Columbus2h 30m

Toledo2h 45m

Dayton · Detroit3h 45m

Fort Wayne4h 15m

Buffalo4h 30m

Cincinnati4h 45m

Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.

Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places, so check the official page for hours and what's on. The numbers match the map.

Cedar Point Sandusky, OH · about 2 hr from Akron–Canton
Cedar Point in Sandusky bills itself as the roller coaster capital of the world.
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial Put-in-Bay, OH · about 2 hr 30 min from Akron–Canton
A 352-foot Doric column rises over Lake Erie to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.
Hocking Hills State Park Logan, OH · about 3 hr 30 min from Akron–Canton
Waterfalls spill into deep, hemlock-shaded gorges here, and the Old Man's Cave trail is a moderate 1-mile hike.
Ohiopyle State Park Ohiopyle, PA · about 3 hr 30 min from Akron–Canton
Kids can sit in the creek bed and ride the water down two natural waterslides in Meadow Run.

WEEKEND 1

Oct 30–Nov 1

2h 15m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Pittsburgh

about 2 hr 15 min from Akron–Canton

The last weekend for both the Alice flower show at Phipps, which is warm and indoors, and the zoo's Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza, which starts at 6 if you want one late night.

Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn

Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · Conservatory hours

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Included with admission

Official page

Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza

Runs nightly through Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · 6–11 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Pittsburgh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Pittsburgh

WEEKEND 2

Nov 6–8

3h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton

about 3 hr 45 min from Akron–Canton

The 50th Original Dayton Train Show fills the fairgrounds with more than 20 running layouts, LEGO trains included, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Kings Island's Bonus Weekend of rides is in Mason if you want to add a second stop.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Original Dayton Train Show

The 50th year of this show, with more than 20 operating layouts in HO, N and LEGO plus trains of every scale for sale.

Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · Sat 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Montgomery County Fairgrounds

$10 per adult; kids 12 and under free with a paying adult

Official page

Dayton city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Dayton

Also within reach

Buffalo~4h 30m

DinoFEST takes over the Buffalo Museum of Science both days: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex films and a dinosaur stage show on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit~3h 45m

Sesame Street Live at the Fox Theatre on Sunday.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 13–15

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Cleveland

about 1 hr from Akron–Canton

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30.

North Pole Adventure

Runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 22. The 5 p.m. train is back by 6:30.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · 5 p.m. (back 6:30) or 7:55 p.m. (back 9:25)

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, Independence

$60–$110 per person, depending on seat class and date

Official page

Cleveland city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cleveland

Also within reach

Cincinnati~4h 45m

Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 20–22

2h 30m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Columbus

about 2 hr 30 min from Akron–Canton

Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and stay until dark.

Leave after lunch, nap in the car, stay until dark.

Wildlights

Your daytime ticket covers the lights, so you can arrive at noon and stay for dark.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 12–10 p.m. Fri–Sat; 12–9 p.m. Sun

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Included with zoo admission

Official page

Columbus city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Columbus

Also within reach

Detroit~3h 45m

Wild Lights' opening weekend: more than 500 animal and nature displays, and Santa every night.

Pittsburgh~2h 15m

Phipps Holiday Magic opens Friday, and Light Up Night is Saturday.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 27–29

2h 15m

Beat traffic: leave Tuesday or early Wednesday

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Pittsburgh

about 2 hr 15 min from Akron–Canton

The zoo's drive-thru lights open Friday at $45 a car, and Phipps Holiday Magic is warm and indoors.

Phipps Holiday Magic

Opens Friday, Nov. 20.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · See Phipps for hours

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

See Phipps for tickets

Official page

Zoo Lights Drive-Thru

Select nights. You stay in your car the whole way, and one price covers everyone in it.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · 5–10 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

$45 per vehicle ($40 members)

Official page

Pittsburgh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Pittsburgh

Also within reach

Columbus~2h 30m

Wildlights, covered by your daytime zoo ticket.

Cincinnati~4h 45m

Thanksgiving weekend has the most going on here: the zoo's Festival of Lights, Holiday Junction (Santa arrives Friday) and WinterFest opening at Kings Island.

WEEKEND 6

Dec 4–6

4h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Dec 4–6: Cincinnati

about 4 hr 45 min from Akron–Canton

Holiday Junction's holiday model trains run during museum hours and are included with museum admission, an easy daytime outing indoors.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains

Santa arrives Friday, Nov. 27.

Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · Museum hours

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Included with museum admission

Official page

Cincinnati city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cincinnati

Little-traveler checklist

Pack it before you go

Car snacksPack more than you think you’ll need.

StrollerZoo paths and light trails are long for little legs.

Time the napLeave right before nap so the drive does double duty.

Overnight bagPast three hours, pajamas beat a 9pm drive home.

Parking cashFree admission days often still charge for parking.

Rain planPick one indoor backup, like a museum, before you leave.

More trips

Every region, every weekend

Lake Erie and Michigan weekends

All regions

This week in Akron–Canton

Good questions

Weekend trips from Akron–Canton: the FAQ

Where can we go for a weekend from Akron–Canton with little kids?

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Akron–Canton are Pittsburgh, Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

Which cities are within an easy drive of Akron–Canton?

Cleveland (about 1 hr), Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min), Columbus (about 2 hr 30 min), Toledo (about 2 hr 45 min), Dayton (about 3 hr 45 min), Detroit (about 3 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Akron–Canton?

Cedar Point (about 2 hr), Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial (about 2 hr 30 min), Hocking Hills State Park (about 3 hr 30 min), Ohiopyle State Park (about 3 hr 30 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.

Why is the same city picked more than once?

Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

Are the times and prices current?

They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.