# Weekend getaways from Cincinnati with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/cincinnati/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Cincinnati 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 Staycation is your best option: Cincinnati is the regional pick this weekend. HallZOOween is daytime trick-or-treating, noon to 5 on Saturday and Sunday, included with a regular zoo ticket. Kings Island's no-scares Tricks and Treats runs 11 to 5 the same days. If you'd rather go somewhere: Louisville (about 1 hr 45 min): Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9. Pittsburgh (about 4 hr 45 min): Daytime ZooBoo on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 3, the Alice in Wonderland flower show at Phipps, and costume activities at Phipps on Friday evening. Most of it fits between breakfast and nap. ## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Indianapolis (about 1 hr 45 min) ZooBoo's final weekend, with Halloween fun at the zoo from 2 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1. - **ZooBoo**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, Festivities from 2 p.m., Indianapolis Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Runs Wednesdays to Sundays through Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/events/zooboo/ Also within reach: Nashville (about 4 hr 30 min): 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. Pittsburgh (about 4 hr 45 min): 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. ## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton (about 1 hr) 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. - **Original Dayton Train Show**, 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. The 50th year of this show, with more than 20 operating layouts in HO, N and LEGO plus trains of every scale for sale. Official page: https://www.nmra.org/events/50th-original-dayton-train-show Also within reach: Nashville (about 4 hr 30 min): A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights. Detroit (about 4 hr 30 min): Sesame Street Live at the Fox Theatre on Sunday. ## Weekend of Nov 13–15 Staycation is your best option: Cincinnati is the regional pick this weekend. Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors. If you'd rather go somewhere: Louisville (about 1 hr 45 min): Lights Under Louisville opens Friday in the Mega Cavern. Cleveland (about 4 hr 15 min): The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30. ## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Columbus (about 1 hr 45 min) Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and stay until dark. - **Wildlights**, 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. Your daytime ticket covers the lights, so you can arrive at noon and stay for dark. Official page: https://www.columbuszoo.org/wildlights Also within reach: Louisville (about 1 hr 45 min): Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern. Knoxville (about 4 hr 15 min): Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday. ## Weekend of Nov 27–29 Staycation is your best option: Cincinnati is the regional pick this weekend. 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. If you'd rather go somewhere: Lexington (about 1 hr 30 min): Southern Lights opens Friday at the Horse Park. Louisville (about 1 hr 45 min): Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern. ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Cincinnati with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Cincinnati are Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus. 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 Cincinnati?** Dayton (about 1 hr), Lexington (about 1 hr 30 min), Louisville (about 1 hr 45 min), Columbus (about 1 hr 45 min), Indianapolis (about 1 hr 45 min), Fort Wayne (about 3 hr 30 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.