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 Chattanooga with kids

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

6 weekends4 citiesClosest: 1h 45m

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Chattanooga
Oct 23–25BirminghamHoots & Howls · 2h 30mDino SafariNap in the carOct 30–Nov 1NashvilleBoo at the Zoo · 2h 15mNashville Zoo at GrassmereNap in the carNov 6–8NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone" · 2h 15mGaylord Opryland ResortNap in the carNov 13–15BirminghamDisney On Ice · 2h 30mLegacy Arena at the BJCCNap in the carNov 20–22KnoxvilleDisney On Ice · 1h 45mKnoxville Civic ColiseumEasy driveNov 27–29Stay in ChattanoogaEnchanted Garden of LightsStaycation is your best optionStay home
How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

1h2h3h4h5hKnoxvilleHuntsvilleNashvilleBirminghamGreenvilleLouisvilleLexingtonChattanooga
Knoxville1h 45m
Huntsville2h
Nashville2h 15m
Birmingham2h 30m
Greenville3h 30m
Louisville · Lexington4h 45m

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

WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25
2h 30m
Nap in the car: time the drive

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 23–25: Birmingham

about 2 hr 30 min from Chattanooga

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Birmingham

Also within reach

Greenville~3h 30m

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

Nashville~2h 15m

Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9.

WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1
2h 15m
Nap in the car: time the drive

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Nashville

about 2 hr 15 min from Chattanooga

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.

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Nashville

Also within reach

Greenville~3h 30m

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.

Birmingham~2h 30m

Hoots & Howls on Halloween, and Dino Safari's last days.

WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8
2h 15m
Nap in the car: time the drive

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Nashville

about 2 hr 15 min from Chattanooga

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

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Nashville
WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15
2h 30m
Nap in the car: time the drive

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Birmingham

about 2 hr 30 min from Chattanooga

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Birmingham

Also within reach

Nashville~2h 15m

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

WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22
1h 45m
Easy drive: under 2 hoursDay trip: home by bedtime

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Knoxville

about 1 hr 45 min from Chattanooga

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

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Knoxville

Also within reach

Nashville~2h 15m

Glow Wild at the zoo and ice! at Opryland.

WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29
0 min
Stay home: staycation is your best optionFriday fun: day-after pick

Staycation is your best optionWeekend of Nov 27–29: Chattanooga

Chattanooga is our pick for the whole region this weekend. 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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Chattanooga

If you'd rather hit the road

Greenville~3h 30m

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

Nashville~2h 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 weekendsAll regionsThis week in Chattanooga
Good questions

Weekend trips from Chattanooga: the FAQ

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

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

Knoxville (about 1 hr 45 min), Huntsville (about 2 hr), Nashville (about 2 hr 15 min), Birmingham (about 2 hr 30 min), Greenville (about 3 hr 30 min), Louisville (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.