The best trip within about five hours of Denver for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend.
6 weekends
2 cities
Closest: 1h 15mLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Denver. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.
Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.
We don't post event listings for these places, so check the official page for hours and what's on. The numbers match the map.
A narrow gauge train ride out of Georgetown, and kids can pan for gold after a silver mine tour.
The free BreckConnect Gondola floats from town over Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve, and kids can look for elk and moose below.
A walkable European-style village along Gore Creek, with one of the largest free year-round bus systems in the country.
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool calls itself the world's largest hot springs pool, and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has cave tours and an alpine coaster.
Old Town Hot Springs has mineral pools right downtown, and the aqua climbing wall over the big pool comes with admission.
1h 15m
about 1 hr 15 min from Denver
Boo at the Zoo is Friday and Saturday evening at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4 to 8:30pm. Kids 2 and under get in for 75 cents.
More than 25 treat stations; advance timed tickets only. The zoo lists Sat., Oct. 24 as sold out.
Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · 4–8:30pmCheyenne Mountain Zoo
$24.75 ages 3–64; 75¢ ages 2 and under
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Denver is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Santa arrives at FlatIron Crossing on Saturday morning with a free breakfast from 9:30 to 11, and Santa photo visits start that weekend.
Opens 11/06; runs through 12/24. Closed Thanksgiving. Book ahead to skip the wait.
Fri Nov 6 · Varies by week (Nov 6–22: weekdays 2–7pm, Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm)FlatIron Crossing, base of the Grand StaircaseVisits free; photo packages for saleSat Nov 7 · 9:30–11amFlatIron Crossing, entrance by Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn
Free breakfast
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Denver that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Denver has the local list.
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Denver is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Blossoms of Light lights up Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street, and the free Mile High Tree on the Auraria campus is lit every night from 5 to 10.
Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9.
Fri Nov 20 · 4:30–9pmDenver Botanic Gardens, York StreetTimed tickets for everyone over 2Opens 11/21; runs through 01/03. Closed Nov 26, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 25.
Sat Nov 21 · 5–8:30pmDenver Botanic Gardens Chatfield FarmsTimed ticketsOpens 11/20; runs through 12/31. A 110-foot tree of LED lights with nightly light and music shows. Drone shows at 7pm.
Fri Nov 20 · 5–10pm nightlyTivoli Quad, Auraria CampusFree0 min
Denver is our pick for the whole region this weekend. The free Candlelight Walk fills Main Street in downtown Littleton on Friday evening, and McGregor Square lights its tree during the Broncos game.
Performers and a tree lighting with Santa, then a drone show.
Fri Nov 27 · 5–8pmMain Street, Downtown LittletonFreePhotos with Dinger in a Santa suit 2–4pm; Elf on the big screen after the game.
Fri Nov 27 · 1–8pm (tree lit at halftime of the 1pm Broncos game)McGregor SquareFree0 min
Denver is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens runs all three evenings.
Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Sensory-friendly night Tue, Dec 1, 5–8pm. Public tickets go on sale Nov 9.
Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · 4:30–9pmDenver Botanic Gardens, York StreetTimed tickets for everyone over 2Places outside the city that are worth the drive on any weekend. Hours and prices are what the official pages showed when we checked.
Elk wander through the meadows near Estes Park most of the year, and short flat trails like the one around Bear Lake work for little legs.
about 1 hr 45 min from Denver · Estes Park
Park open all day; Beaver Meadows office in winter is open 8am–4pm weekdays and 8am–noon on weekends$30 per private vehicle for one dayGiant petrified redwood stumps sit right beside an easy trail, and the visitor center has fossil insects and leaves found on site.
about 2 hr 15 min from Denver · FlorissantVisitor center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays in winter; trails stay open$10 per adult for a 7-day pass, kids 15 and under freeThe tallest dunes in North America, and kids can climb and slide on them as far as they like. It is a long drive, so plan a full day.
about 4 hr 30 min from Denver · MoscaVisitor center open daily 9am–4:30pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day$25 per private vehicle
Car snacksPack more than you think you’ll need.
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.Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Denver are Colorado Springs. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park (about 1 hr 45 min), Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant (about 2 hr 15 min), Great Sand Dunes National Park in Mosca (about 4 hr 30 min). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
Colorado Springs (about 1 hr 15 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Georgetown Loop Railroad (about 1 hr), Breckenridge (about 1 hr 45 min), Vail (about 2 hr), Glenwood Springs (about 3 hr), Steamboat Springs (about 3 hr 30 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.
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.
They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.