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

Next 6 weekends · Oct 23–25 to Nov 27–29

Weekend getaways from Birmingham with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Birmingham 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

4 cities

Closest: 2h 30m

Last checked Oct 18, 2026 against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Birmingham

Oct 23–25Stay in BirminghamHoots & HowlsStaycation is your best optionStay home Oct 30–Nov 1NashvilleBoo at the Zoo · 3h 15mNashville Zoo at GrassmereOvernight Nov 6–8NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone" · 3h 15mGaylord Opryland ResortOvernight Nov 13–15Stay in BirminghamDisney On IceStaycation is your best optionStay home Nov 20–22KnoxvilleDisney On Ice · 4h 15mKnoxville Civic ColiseumOvernight Nov 27–29ChattanoogaEnchanted Garden of Lights · 2h 30mRock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.Friday fun

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

Huntsville2h

Chattanooga2h 30m

Nashville3h 15m

Knoxville · Memphis4h 15m

Greenville4h 45m

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

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

0 min

Stay home: staycation is your best option

Staycation is your best optionWeekend of Oct 23–25: Birmingham

Birmingham is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Hoots & Howls is Halloween in daylight, 10 to 4, and Dino Safari's robotic dinosaurs are in their last weeks. You'll be done before nap.

Hoots & Howls

Daytime Halloween with candy stations around the zoo. Runs through Oct. 31.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Birmingham Zoo

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Dino Safari

Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Birmingham Zoo

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Birmingham city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Birmingham

If you'd rather hit the road

Greenville~4h 45m

Boo in the Zoo with timed tickets, which keeps the paths from getting packed. Bring your own treat bag.

Nashville~3h 15m

Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

3h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Nashville

about 3 hr 15 min from Birmingham

Boo at the Zoo's final three nights: 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday.

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

Boo at the Zoo

10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday, Nov. 1. Billed as spooky, not scary.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · 5–9 p.m.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

$23 Fri–Sun for ages 2 and up; under 2 free; parking $10

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

Also within reach

Greenville~4h 45m

Boo in the Zoo has its last evening on Friday, and new this year is a Halloween afternoon session from 1 to 4, which works well for little kids.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

3h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Nashville

about 3 hr 15 min from Birmingham

A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights.

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

A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"

Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6.

Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · See Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

0 min

Staycation is your best optionWeekend of Nov 13–15: Birmingham

Birmingham is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Disney On Ice is at the BJCC's Legacy Arena Thursday through Sunday, the first of three Disney On Ice stops in the region this month.

Disney On Ice

In Birmingham Nov. 12–15.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · See the tour page for show times

Legacy Arena at the BJCC

See the tour page

Official page

Birmingham city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Birmingham

If you'd rather hit the road

Chattanooga~2h 30m

Rock City's lights open Friday.

Nashville~3h 15m

Glow Wild opens at the zoo, plus Opryland's ice!

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

4h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Knoxville

about 4 hr 15 min from Birmingham

Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday.

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

Disney On Ice

In Knoxville Nov. 19–22.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · See the tour page for show times

Knoxville Civic Coliseum

See the tour page

Official page

Knoxville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Knoxville

Also within reach

Nashville~3h 15m

Glow Wild at the zoo and ice! at Opryland.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

2h 30m

Beat traffic: leave Tuesday or early Wednesday

DestinationWeekend of Nov 27–29: Chattanooga

about 2 hr 30 min from Birmingham

Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights on Lookout Mountain, lit nightly from Nov. 13.

Enchanted Garden of Lights

Nightly from Nov. 13; closed Dec. 24.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Nightly

Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.

See Rock City for tickets

Official page

Chattanooga city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Chattanooga

Also within reach

Greenville~4h 45m

Disney On Ice is at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena over Thanksgiving weekend.

Nashville~3h 15m

Glow Wild and ice!

Little-traveler checklist

Pack it before you go

Car snacksMore than you think. Then a few more.

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

Tennessee Valley weekends

All regions

This week in Birmingham

Good questions

Weekend trips from Birmingham: the FAQ

Where can we go for a weekend from Birmingham with little kids?

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Birmingham are Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga. 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 Birmingham?

Huntsville (about 2 hr), Chattanooga (about 2 hr 30 min), Nashville (about 3 hr 15 min), Knoxville (about 4 hr 15 min), Memphis (about 4 hr 15 min), Greenville (about 4 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

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 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.