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 Columbus with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Columbus 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: 1h 15m

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

Departures

From Columbus

Oct 23–25CincinnatiHallZOOween · 1h 45mTricks and Treats at Kings IslandEasy drive Oct 30–Nov 1IndianapolisZooBoo · 3hIndianapolis ZooNap in the car Nov 6–8DaytonOriginal Dayton Train Show · 1h 15mMontgomery County FairgroundsIndoors Nov 13–15CincinnatiHoliday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains · 1h 45mCincinnati Museum Center at Union TerminalEasy drive Nov 20–22Stay in ColumbusWildlightsStaycation is your best optionStay home Nov 27–29CincinnatiHoliday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains · 1h 45mPNC Festival of Lights · WinterFest at Kings IslandClosed Thu

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

Dayton1h 15m

Cincinnati1h 45m

Cleveland2h 30m

Toledo · Indianapolis · Pittsburgh3h

Lexington · Fort Wayne · Detroit3h 15m

Louisville3h 30m

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

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

1h 45m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 23–25: Cincinnati

about 1 hr 45 min from Columbus

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.

HallZOOween

Trick-or-treat stations from noon to 5, with a short costume parade at noon. Bring your own treat bag.

Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 12–5 p.m.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Included with zoo admission

Official page

Tricks and Treats at Kings Island

The daytime, no-scares side of Halloween at the park, with a costume contest, treats and family rides. Planet Snoopy closes at 6 p.m. on these days.

Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Kings Island, Mason

Included with park admission

Official page

Cincinnati city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cincinnati

Also within reach

Pittsburgh~3h

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.

Detroit~3h 15m

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

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Indianapolis

about 3 hr from Columbus

ZooBoo's final weekend, with Halloween fun at the zoo from 2 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1.

ZooBoo

Runs Wednesdays to Sundays through Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · Festivities from 2 p.m.

Indianapolis Zoo

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Indianapolis city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Indianapolis

Also within reach

Pittsburgh~3h

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.

Cincinnati~1h 45m

HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

1h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton

about 1 hr 15 min from Columbus

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

The 50th year of this show, with more than 20 operating layouts in HO, N and LEGO plus trains of every scale for sale.

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

Official page

Dayton city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Dayton

Also within reach

Detroit~3h 15m

Sesame Street Live at the Fox Theatre on Sunday.

Cincinnati~1h 45m

Bonus Weekend at Kings Island, 11 to 7.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

1h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Cincinnati

about 1 hr 45 min from Columbus

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

Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains

Santa arrives Friday, Nov. 27.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · Museum hours

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Included with museum admission

Official page

Cincinnati city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cincinnati

Also within reach

Cleveland~2h 30m

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30.

Louisville~3h 30m

Lights Under Louisville opens Friday in the Mega Cavern.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

0 min

Stay home: staycation is your best option

Staycation is your best optionWeekend of Nov 20–22: Columbus

Columbus is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and 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

If you'd rather hit the road

Detroit~3h 15m

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

Cincinnati~1h 45m

The zoo's Festival of Lights and Holiday Junction.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

1h 45m

Destination · 3 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Cincinnati

about 1 hr 45 min from Columbus

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.

Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains

Santa arrives Friday, Nov. 27.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Museum hours

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Included with museum admission

Official page

PNC Festival of Lights

Closed Thanksgiving Day. Train and carousel rides start at 2:30 p.m.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Lights activities from 4 p.m.; zoo open until 10 p.m. Fri–Sat, 9 p.m. Sun

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Included with zoo admission

Official page

WinterFest at Kings Island

Opening weekend. WinterFest then runs select nights through Dec. 31; check the park calendar before you go.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Fri 5–10 p.m.; Sat 4–10 p.m.; Sun 5–10 p.m.

Kings Island, Mason

See the park's ticket page

Official page

Cincinnati city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cincinnati

Also within reach

Pittsburgh~3h

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

Indianapolis~3h

Christmas at the Zoo, from 5 p.m.

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

Ohio Valley weekends

All regions

This week in Columbus

Good questions

Weekend trips from Columbus: the FAQ

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

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Columbus are Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton. 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 Columbus?

Dayton (about 1 hr 15 min), Cincinnati (about 1 hr 45 min), Cleveland (about 2 hr 30 min), Toledo (about 3 hr), Indianapolis (about 3 hr), Pittsburgh (about 3 hr). 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.