# Weekend getaways from Charleston with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/weekend-getaways/

> 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.

Last checked: 2026-10-18.

## Weekend of Oct 23–25: Greenville (about 4 hr)

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

- **Boo in the Zoo**, 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. Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session. Official page: https://www.greenvillezoo.com/boo-in-the-zoo

Also within reach: Columbia (about 2 hr 15 min): Boo at the Zoo at Riverbanks, 6 to 9 nightly. Savannah (about 2 hr 30 min): Trick-or-Treat on River Street, Saturday 2 to 5.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville (about 4 hr)

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.

- **Boo in the Zoo**, 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. Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session. Official page: https://www.greenvillezoo.com/boo-in-the-zoo

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 4 hr): Renaissance Festival weekend and Tricks and Treats at Carowinds. Columbia (about 2 hr 15 min): The last night of Boo at the Zoo is Friday.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Charlotte (about 4 hr)

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.

- **Tricks and Treats at Carowinds**, Sat Nov 7, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Nov. 7 closes at 5:30 p.m., Carowinds. Included with park admission. The park's daytime, no-scares Halloween, with a costume contest, candy and family rides before the evening haunt takes over. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds/events/tricks-and-treats
- **Carolina Renaissance Festival**, 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. 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. Official page: https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/special-event-weekends/timetravelers

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Charlotte (about 4 hr)

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.

- **Carolina Renaissance Festival**, 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. 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. Official page: https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/special-event-weekends/timetravelers

## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Columbia (about 2 hr 15 min)

Opening weekend for Fireflies Holiday Lights and Riverbanks Wild Lights.

- **Fireflies Holiday Lights**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 6–9pm, Segra Park. See tickets online. More than 2 million lights, with Santa nightly. Official page: https://www.firefliesholidaylights.com/
- **Wild Lights**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 5–9pm, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Tickets on sale Nov 2. Wildlife lanterns, nightly snowfall and Santa. Official page: https://www.riverbanks.org/events/wild-lights

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 4 hr): Speedway Christmas lights open, and it's the Renaissance Festival's final weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Greenville (about 4 hr)

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

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See the tour page for show times, Bon Secours Wellness Arena. See the tour page. In Greenville Nov. 25–29. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

Also within reach: Columbia (about 2 hr 15 min): Fireflies Holiday Lights and Wild Lights, with Santa. Charlotte (about 4 hr): WinterFest opens at Carowinds, plus Speedway Christmas.

## 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.