# Weekend getaways from Kansas City with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/kansas-city/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Kansas City 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: 2026-10-18.

## Weekend of Oct 23–25

Staycation is your best option: Kansas City is the regional pick this weekend. Boo at the Zoo both days from 9:30 to 5, included with admission, then GloWild's giant lanterns after dark if anyone's still awake. If you'd rather go somewhere: Tulsa (about 4 hr): HallowZOOeen, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Staycation is your best option: Kansas City is the regional pick this weekend. Penguin March at the zoo on Saturday and Sunday, plus GloWild's lanterns in the evening. If you'd rather go somewhere: Tulsa (about 4 hr): HallowZOOeen has a Halloween afternoon session from 2 to 5, with Goblin Stops and carnival games. It aims for spooky but not too scary.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8

Staycation is your best option: Kansas City is the regional pick this weekend. The Crown Center Ice Terrace opens Friday with a free skate, and GloWild's lanterns are lit Friday to Sunday evenings.

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: St. Louis (about 4 hr 15 min)

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

- **Garden Glow**, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Evenings with timed entry; see the garden for times, Missouri Botanical Garden. Prices vary by date; $2 more for same-night tickets bought after 4:30 p.m.. More than two million lights, plus the Holiday Flower and Train Show, which is included. Closed Nov. 16–19 and 26; Nov. 20 is an adults-only night. Official page: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/events-classes/signature-events/garden-glow

## Weekend of Nov 20–22

Staycation is your best option: Kansas City is the regional pick this weekend. GloWild at the zoo, the Pigeon's holiday show at Crown Center and the Ice Terrace next door. Do one before nap and one after.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Des Moines (about 3 hr 15 min)

Disney On Ice is at Casey's Center over the holiday weekend.

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See the tour page for show times, Casey's Center. See the tour page. In Des Moines Nov. 26–29. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

Also within reach: Tulsa (about 4 hr): Two kinds of lights: Rhema's are free to walk, with a $5 kids' train, and the Botanic Garden has s'mores and Santa every night. St. Louis (about 4 hr 15 min): Wild Lights opens Friday at the zoo, and Garden Glow is on.

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Kansas City with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Kansas City are St. Louis, Des Moines. 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 Kansas City?**
Omaha (about 3 hr), Des Moines (about 3 hr 15 min), Wichita (about 3 hr 30 min), Tulsa (about 4 hr), St. Louis (about 4 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.