# Weekend getaways from Knoxville with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/knoxville/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Knoxville 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: Greenville (about 2 hr 45 min)

Boo in the Zoo with timed tickets, which keeps the paths from getting packed. Bring your own treat bag.

- **Boo in the Zoo**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m., Greenville Zoo. $15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on. Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session. Official page: https://www.greenvillezoo.com/boo-in-the-zoo

Also within reach: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): 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. Birmingham (about 4 hr 15 min): Hoots & Howls is Halloween in daylight, 10 to 4, and Dino Safari's robotic dinosaurs are in their last weeks. You'll be done before nap.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville (about 2 hr 45 min)

Boo in the Zoo has its last evening on Friday, and new this year is a Halloween afternoon session from 1 to 4, which works well for little kids.

- **Boo in the Zoo**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m., Greenville Zoo. $15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on. Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session. Official page: https://www.greenvillezoo.com/boo-in-the-zoo

Also within reach: Nashville (about 3 hr): 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. Chattanooga (about 1 hr 45 min): Boo in the Zoo on Halloween, 4 to 8.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Nashville (about 3 hr)

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

- **A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"**, Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, See Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Opryland Resort. Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately. Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6. Official page: https://www.christmasatgaylordopryland.com/

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 4 hr): Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Chattanooga (about 1 hr 45 min)

Rock City's lights open Friday.

- **Enchanted Garden of Lights**, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Nightly, Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.. See Rock City for tickets. Nightly from Nov. 13; closed Dec. 24. Official page: https://www.seerockcity.com/enchanted-garden-of-lights/

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 4 hr): Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too. Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors.

## Weekend of Nov 20–22

Staycation is your best option: Knoxville is the regional pick this weekend. Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday. If you'd rather go somewhere: Nashville (about 3 hr): Glow Wild at the zoo and ice! at Opryland. Charlotte (about 4 hr): Speedway Christmas lights open, and it's the Renaissance Festival's final weekend.

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

Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights on Lookout Mountain, lit nightly from Nov. 13.

- **Enchanted Garden of Lights**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Nightly, Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.. See Rock City for tickets. Nightly from Nov. 13; closed Dec. 24. Official page: https://www.seerockcity.com/enchanted-garden-of-lights/

Also within reach: Greenville (about 2 hr 45 min): Disney On Ice is at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena over Thanksgiving weekend. Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): 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.

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Knoxville with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Knoxville are Greenville, Nashville, Chattanooga. 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 Knoxville?**
Chattanooga (about 1 hr 45 min), Greenville (about 2 hr 45 min), Lexington (about 3 hr), Nashville (about 3 hr), Charlotte (about 4 hr), Huntsville (about 4 hr). 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.