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 Detroit with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Detroit 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

5 cities

Closest: 2h 45m

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

Departures

From Detroit

Oct 23–25CincinnatiHallZOOween · 4h 30mTricks and Treats at Kings IslandOvernight Oct 30–Nov 1IndianapolisZooBoo · 4h 45mIndianapolis ZooOvernight Nov 6–8DaytonOriginal Dayton Train Show · 3h 30mMontgomery County FairgroundsOvernight Nov 13–15ClevelandNorth Pole Adventure · 2h 45mCuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, IndependenceBest at dusk Nov 20–22Stay in DetroitWild LightsStaycation is your best optionStay home Nov 27–29CincinnatiHoliday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains · 4h 30mPNC Festival of Lights · WinterFest at Kings IslandOvernight

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

Toledo1h 15m

Grand Rapids2h 30m

Cleveland2h 45m

Fort Wayne · Columbus3h 15m

Dayton3h 30m

Cincinnati · Buffalo4h 30m

Indianapolis · Pittsburgh4h 45m

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

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

4h 30m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 23–25: Cincinnati

about 4 hr 30 min from Detroit

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.

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

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~4h 45m

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.

Toledo~1h 15m

Harvest Fest at the Toledo Zoo, with Pumpkin Stomp and Chomp on Saturday.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

4h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Indianapolis

about 4 hr 45 min from Detroit

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

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

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~4h 45m

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~4h 30m

HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

3h 30m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton

about 3 hr 30 min from Detroit

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.

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

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

Buffalo~4h 30m

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.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Cleveland

about 2 hr 45 min from Detroit

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

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

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

Also within reach

Cincinnati~4h 30m

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

Toledo~1h 15m

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

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

0 min

Stay home: staycation is your best option

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

Detroit is our pick for the whole region this weekend. Wild Lights' opening weekend: more than 500 animal and nature displays, and Santa every night.

Wild Lights

500-plus animal and nature displays, and Santa every night until Dec. 23.

Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · Gates open 5 p.m.

Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

From $17

Official page

Detroit city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Detroit

If you'd rather hit the road

Columbus~3h 15m

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

Cincinnati~4h 30m

The zoo's Festival of Lights and Holiday Junction.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

4h 30m

Destination · 3 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Cincinnati

about 4 hr 30 min from Detroit

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.

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

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~4h 45m

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

Columbus~3h 15m

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 Detroit

Good questions

Weekend trips from Detroit: the FAQ

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

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

Toledo (about 1 hr 15 min), Grand Rapids (about 2 hr 30 min), Cleveland (about 2 hr 45 min), Fort Wayne (about 3 hr 15 min), Columbus (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.