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 Indianapolis with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Indianapolis 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 45m

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

Departures

From Indy

Oct 23–25CincinnatiHallZOOween · 1h 45mTricks and Treats at Kings IslandEasy drive Oct 30–Nov 1Stay in IndyZooBooStaycation is your best optionStay home Nov 6–8DaytonOriginal Dayton Train Show · 2hMontgomery County FairgroundsIndoors Nov 13–15CincinnatiHoliday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains · 1h 45mCincinnati Museum Center at Union TerminalEasy drive Nov 20–22ColumbusWildlights · 3hColumbus Zoo and AquariumBest at dusk 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 Indianapolis. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.

Cincinnati1h 45m

Louisville · Dayton2h

Fort Wayne2h 30m

Columbus3h

Lexington3h 15m

St. Louis4h

Grand Rapids · Toledo4h 30m

Milwaukee · Detroit · Nashville4h 45m

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 Indianapolis

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

Louisville~2h

Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9.

Milwaukee~4h 45m

Boo at the Zoo runs all day Saturday this year, 9:30 to 9, so little ones can trick-or-treat in daylight.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

0 min

Stay home: staycation is your best option

Staycation is your best optionWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Indianapolis

Indianapolis is our pick for the whole region this weekend. 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

If you'd rather hit the road

Cincinnati~1h 45m

HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5.

Nashville~4h 45m

Boo at the Zoo's final three nights: 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton

about 2 hr from Indianapolis

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

Milwaukee~4h 45m

Family Free Day: everyone gets into the Milwaukee County Zoo free on Saturday, Nov. 7. Parking and ride fees still apply.

Nashville~4h 45m

A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

1h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Cincinnati

about 1 hr 45 min from Indianapolis

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

Louisville~2h

Lights Under Louisville opens Friday in the Mega Cavern.

St. Louis~4h

Garden Glow opens Saturday at the Missouri Botanical Garden, with more than two million lights.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Columbus

about 3 hr from Indianapolis

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

Leave after lunch, nap in the car, 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

Also within reach

Cincinnati~1h 45m

The zoo's Festival of Lights and Holiday Junction.

Louisville~2h

Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

1h 45m

Destination · 3 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Cincinnati

about 1 hr 45 min from Indianapolis

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

Louisville~2h

Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern.

Milwaukee~4h 45m

Wild Lights is open Friday and Saturday, with parking included. It's closed Sunday.

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 Indianapolis

Good questions

Weekend trips from Indianapolis: the FAQ

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

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

Cincinnati (about 1 hr 45 min), Louisville (about 2 hr), Dayton (about 2 hr), Fort Wayne (about 2 hr 30 min), Columbus (about 3 hr), Lexington (about 3 hr 15 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.