# Weekend getaways from Hartford and New Haven with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Hartford and New Haven for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.

Last checked: 2026-10-29.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: New York City (about 2 hr 45 min)

The Holiday Train Show opens Saturday at the New York Botanical Garden, with model trains running past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts.

- **Holiday Train Show at NYBG**, Sat Nov 14, Garden hours; evening hours on select nights, New York Botanical Garden. Timed tickets; see the event page. Opens 11/14; runs through 01/10. Model trains run past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. Evening hours run 5–8pm on Nov 27–29 and select December dates. Official page: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2026/

## Weekend of Nov 20–22

Staycation is your best option: Hartford and New Haven is the regional pick this weekend. Glow Hartford opens Friday inside the Connecticut Convention Center, an indoor light festival with a trackless train, and kids 3 and under get in free. If you'd rather go somewhere: Philadelphia (about 4 hr 30 min): Christmas Village is free at LOVE Park and City Hall, and Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo runs 5 to 9pm with Santa's Workshop inside.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Providence (about 1 hr 45 min)

The Holiday Lights Spectacular opens Friday at Roger Williams Park Zoo, a walk through 40 acres of lights that takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and strollers are welcome.

- **Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo**, Fri Nov 27, 5–9:30pm, Roger Williams Park Zoo. $13–$15; buy online ahead. Opens 11/27; runs through 01/03. A walk through 40 acres of lights. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Strollers are allowed, and rentals are at the entrance. Official page: https://www.rwpzoo.org/event/holiday-lights-spectacular/
- **Rhode Island Lights Festival**, Fri Nov 27, See the ticket page, Centreville Bank Stadium. Tickets on sale Nov 10. Opens 11/27; runs through 01/03. A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa. Official page: https://centrevillebankstadium.com/pages/rhodeislandlights

Also within reach: Philadelphia (about 4 hr 30 min): Jingle and Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square on Friday, 5 to 7pm, and Christmas Village at LOVE Park is open all weekend.

## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Philadelphia (about 4 hr 30 min)

A Longwood Christmas is open daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and kids 4 and under are free.

- **A Longwood Christmas**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, Daily 10am–11pm, Longwood Gardens. Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Official page: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit

## Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on.

- **Mystic Aquarium**, Mystic, CT (about 1 hr 15 min from Hartford and New Haven). Beluga whales are the stars here, and the aquarium also keeps African penguins and California sea lions. Official page: https://www.mysticaquarium.org/
- **Plimoth Patuxet Museums**, Plymouth, MA (about 2 hr 45 min from Hartford and New Haven). An open-air museum in Plymouth that tells the stories of the Wampanoag and English people who met on this shore. Official page: https://plimoth.org/
- **Bushkill Falls**, Bushkill, PA (about 3 hr 30 min from Hartford and New Haven). Trails and bridges link a series of eight waterfalls in the Pocono Mountains, known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania. Official page: https://www.visitbushkillfalls.com/
- **Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine**, Portland, ME (about 4 hr from Hartford and New Haven). Three floors of hands-on exhibits plus Maddy's Theatre, which the museum calls the longest-running children's theatre in the nation. Official page: https://www.kitetails.org/

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Hartford and New Haven with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Hartford and New Haven are New York City, Providence, Philadelphia. 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 Hartford and New Haven?**
Worcester (about 1 hr 15 min), Fairfield County (about 1 hr 15 min), Providence (about 1 hr 45 min), Boston (about 2 hr), Albany (about 2 hr 15 min), New York City (about 2 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

**What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Hartford and New Haven?**
Mystic Aquarium (about 1 hr 15 min), Plimoth Patuxet Museums (about 2 hr 45 min), Bushkill Falls (about 3 hr 30 min), Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine (about 4 hr). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.

**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 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.