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 Cleveland with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Cleveland 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 15m

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

Departures

From Cleveland

Oct 23–25PittsburghZooBoo · 2h 15mHalloween Happenings at Phipps · Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn · Jack O'Lantern ExtravaganzaNap in the car Oct 30–Nov 1PittsburghFall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn · 2h 15mJack O'Lantern ExtravaganzaIndoors Nov 6–8BuffaloDinoFEST: Roar & Explore Weekend · 3h 15mBuffalo Museum of ScienceOvernight Nov 13–15Stay in ClevelandNorth Pole AdventureStaycation is your best optionStay home Nov 20–22ColumbusWildlights · 2h 30mColumbus Zoo and AquariumBest at dusk Nov 27–29PittsburghPhipps Holiday Magic · 2h 15mZoo Lights Drive-ThruFriday fun

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

Pittsburgh · Toledo2h 15m

Columbus2h 30m

Detroit2h 45m

Buffalo3h 15m

Dayton3h 30m

Fort Wayne · Cincinnati4h 15m

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

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

2h 15m

Destination · 4 picksWeekend of Oct 23–25: Pittsburgh

about 2 hr 15 min from Cleveland

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.

ZooBoo

Daytime trick-or-treating, last weekend of the season. A Halloween parade starts at 11:30 a.m.

Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Halloween Happenings at Phipps

Kids can come in costume for festive activities.

Fri Oct 23 · 5–8 p.m.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Free with regular admission

Official page

Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn

Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · Conservatory hours

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Included with admission

Official page

Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza

Runs nightly through Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 6–11 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Pittsburgh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Pittsburgh

Also within reach

Cincinnati~4h 15m

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.

Detroit~2h 45m

The last Zoo Boo weekend, 3 to 8:30 p.m.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

2h 15m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Pittsburgh

about 2 hr 15 min from Cleveland

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.

Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn

Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · Conservatory hours

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Included with admission

Official page

Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza

Runs nightly through Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · 6–11 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Pittsburgh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Pittsburgh

Also within reach

Cincinnati~4h 15m

HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

3h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Buffalo

about 3 hr 15 min from Cleveland

DinoFEST takes over the Buffalo Museum of Science both days: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex films and a dinosaur stage show on Sunday afternoon.

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

DinoFEST: Roar & Explore Weekend

A whole weekend of dinosaurs: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex film showings, meet-the-scientists on Saturday and a dino stage show on Sunday.

Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Buffalo Museum of Science

$29; members $5; sluice bags and some crafts extra

Official page

Buffalo city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Buffalo

Also within reach

Dayton~3h 30m

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.

Detroit~2h 45m

Sesame Street Live at the Fox Theatre on Sunday.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

0 min

Stay home: staycation is your best option

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

Cleveland is our pick for the whole region this weekend. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30.

North Pole Adventure

Runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 22. The 5 p.m. train is back by 6:30.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · 5 p.m. (back 6:30) or 7:55 p.m. (back 9:25)

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, Independence

$60–$110 per person, depending on seat class and date

Official page

Cleveland city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cleveland

If you'd rather hit the road

Cincinnati~4h 15m

Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors.

Toledo~2h 15m

The Blade Holiday Parade and Santa’s debut, Saturday at 10.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

2h 30m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Columbus

about 2 hr 30 min from Cleveland

Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and stay until dark.

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

Wildlights

Your daytime ticket covers the lights, so you can arrive at noon and stay for dark.

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

Official page

Columbus city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Columbus

Also within reach

Detroit~2h 45m

Wild Lights' opening weekend: more than 500 animal and nature displays, and Santa every night.

Pittsburgh~2h 15m

Phipps Holiday Magic opens Friday, and Light Up Night is Saturday.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

2h 15m

Beat traffic: leave Tuesday or early Wednesday

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Pittsburgh

about 2 hr 15 min from Cleveland

The zoo's drive-thru lights open Friday at $45 a car, and Phipps Holiday Magic is warm and indoors.

Phipps Holiday Magic

Opens Friday, Nov. 20.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · See Phipps for hours

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

See Phipps for tickets

Official page

Zoo Lights Drive-Thru

Select nights. You stay in your car the whole way, and one price covers everyone in it.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · 5–10 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

$45 per vehicle ($40 members)

Official page

Pittsburgh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Pittsburgh

Also within reach

Cincinnati~4h 15m

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.

Columbus~2h 30m

Wildlights, covered by your daytime zoo ticket.

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

Lake Erie and Michigan weekends

All regions

This week in Cleveland

Good questions

Weekend trips from Cleveland: the FAQ

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

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Cleveland are Pittsburgh, Buffalo, 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 Cleveland?

Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min), Toledo (about 2 hr 15 min), Columbus (about 2 hr 30 min), Detroit (about 2 hr 45 min), Buffalo (about 3 hr 15 min), Dayton (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.