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 Charleston with kids

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

6 weekends3 citiesClosest: 2h 15m

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Charleston
Oct 23–25GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 4hGreenville ZooOvernightOct 30–Nov 1GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 4hGreenville ZooOvernightNov 6–8CharlotteTricks and Treats at Carowinds · 4hCarolina Renaissance FestivalOvernightNov 13–15CharlotteCarolina Renaissance Festival · 4h16445 Poplar Tent Road, HuntersvilleOvernightNov 20–22ColumbiaFireflies Holiday Lights · 2h 15mWild LightsBest at duskNov 27–29GreenvilleDisney On Ice · 4hBon Secours Wellness ArenaOvernight
How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

1h2h3h4h5hColumbiaSavannahGreenvilleCharlotteJacksonvilleCharleston
Columbia2h 15m
Savannah2h 30m
Greenville · Charlotte4h
Jacksonville4h 45m

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

WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25
4h
Overnight: pack the PJs

DestinationWeekend of Oct 23–25: Greenville

about 4 hr from Charleston

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

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

Boo in the Zoo

Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.
Greenville Zoo
$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on
Official page
Greenville city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Greenville

Also within reach

Columbia~2h 15m

Boo at the Zoo at Riverbanks, 6 to 9 nightly.

Savannah~2h 30m

Trick-or-Treat on River Street, Saturday 2 to 5.

WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1
4h
Overnight: pack the PJs

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville

about 4 hr from Charleston

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.

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

Boo in the Zoo

Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.
Greenville Zoo
$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on
Official page
Greenville city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Greenville

Also within reach

Charlotte~4h

Renaissance Festival weekend and Tricks and Treats at Carowinds.

Columbia~2h 15m

The last night of Boo at the Zoo is Friday.

WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8
4h
Overnight: pack the PJs

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 6–8: Charlotte

about 4 hr from Charleston

Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.

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

Tricks and Treats at Carowinds

The park's daytime, no-scares Halloween, with a costume contest, candy and family rides before the evening haunt takes over.

Sat Nov 7 · 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Nov. 7 closes at 5:30 p.m.
Carowinds
Included with park admission
Official page

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22.

Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville
4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices
Official page
Charlotte city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Charlotte
WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15
4h
Overnight: pack the PJs

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Charlotte

about 4 hr from Charleston

Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too.

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

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22.

Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville
4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices
Official page
Charlotte city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Charlotte
WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22
2h 15m
Best at dusk: lights after darkNap in the car: time the drive

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 20–22: Columbia

about 2 hr 15 min from Charleston

Opening weekend for Fireflies Holiday Lights and Riverbanks Wild Lights.

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

Fireflies Holiday Lights

More than 2 million lights, with Santa nightly.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 6–9pm
Segra Park
See tickets online
Official page

Wild Lights

Wildlife lanterns, nightly snowfall and Santa.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 5–9pm
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Tickets on sale Nov 2
Official page
Columbia city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Columbia

Also within reach

Charlotte~4h

Speedway Christmas lights open, and it's the Renaissance Festival's final weekend.

WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29
4h
Overnight: pack the PJsFriday fun: day-after pick

DestinationWeekend of Nov 27–29: Greenville

about 4 hr from Charleston

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

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

Disney On Ice

In Greenville Nov. 25–29.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · See the tour page for show times
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
See the tour page
Official page
Greenville city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Greenville

Also within reach

Columbia~2h 15m

Fireflies Holiday Lights and Wild Lights, with Santa.

Charlotte~4h

WinterFest opens at Carowinds, plus Speedway Christmas.

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

Carolinas and Virginia weekendsAll regionsThis week in Charleston
Good questions

Weekend trips from Charleston: the FAQ

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

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Charleston are Greenville, Charlotte, Columbia. 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 Charleston?

Columbia (about 2 hr 15 min), Savannah (about 2 hr 30 min), Greenville (about 4 hr), Charlotte (about 4 hr), Jacksonville (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.