The best trip within about five hours of Fort Myers–Naples 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
1 city
Closest: 2h 45mLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Fort Myers–Naples. 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.
You drive your own car through more than 300 acres where big herds roam open habitats, then park for the animal encounters.
Crystal River has the only national wildlife refuge created specifically to protect habitat for the Florida manatee.
You can get a close-up look at Space Shuttle Atlantis, the only space shuttle displayed as if in flight.
2h 45m
about 2 hr 45 min from Fort Myers–Naples
Creatures of the Night, ZooTampa’s family Halloween nights, from 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The zoo’s family Halloween nights.
Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · From 4 p.m.ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Event ticket
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Fort Myers–Naples that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Fort Myers–Naples has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Fort Myers–Naples that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Fort Myers–Naples has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Fort Myers–Naples that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Fort Myers–Naples has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Fort Myers–Naples that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Fort Myers–Naples has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Fort Myers–Naples that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Fort Myers–Naples has the local list.
Places outside the city that are worth the drive on any weekend. Hours and prices are what the official pages showed when we checked.
An Audubon sanctuary northeast of Naples with a 2.25-mile wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through old-growth bald cypress. Kids can pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the admissions desk.
about 45 min from Fort Myers–Naples · Naples
Admission 8am–1pm through Dec 15, then 8am–3pm Dec 16–Apr 30$17 adults, $6 ages 6–14, free under 6The park’s gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands, with a kayak launch and wildlife watching at the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center. Boat tours into the islands leave daily from Everglades City.
about 1 hr 15 min from Fort Myers–Naples · Everglades CityVisitor center open daily 9am–5pmPark entrance pass $20–$35; buy it online, since the visitor center doesn’t sell passesA visitor center on the Tamiami Trail with exhibits on the Big Cypress Swamp and Junior Ranger books for kids.
about 1 hr 45 min from Fort Myers–Naples · OchopeeOpen year-round except Dec 25Free; the preserve charges no entrance fee
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 Fort Myers–Naples are Tampa. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples (about 45 min), Everglades National Park, Gulf Coast area in Everglades City (about 1 hr 15 min), Big Cypress National Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center in Ochopee (about 1 hr 45 min). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
Sarasota–Bradenton (about 2 hr), Tampa (about 2 hr 45 min), Miami and Fort Lauderdale (about 2 hr 45 min), Lakeland (about 2 hr 45 min), Orlando (about 3 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Lion Country Safari (about 3 hr), Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (about 4 hr 15 min), Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (about 4 hr 45 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.