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 Memphis with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Memphis 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

2 cities

Closest: 4h

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

Departures

From Memphis

Oct 23–25BirminghamHoots & Howls · 4h 15mDino SafariOvernight Oct 30–Nov 1NashvilleBoo at the Zoo · 4hNashville Zoo at GrassmereOvernight Nov 6–8NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone" · 4hGaylord Opryland ResortOvernight Nov 13–15BirminghamDisney On Ice · 4h 15mLegacy Arena at the BJCCOvernight Nov 20–22NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone" · 4hGlow WildOvernight Nov 27–29NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone" · 4hGlow WildOvernight

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

Each ring is one hour of driving from Memphis. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.

Little Rock2h 30m

Nashville4h

Birmingham4h 15m

Huntsville4h 30m

Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

4h 15m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 23–25: Birmingham

about 4 hr 15 min from Memphis

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.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Hoots & Howls

Daytime Halloween with candy stations around the zoo. Runs through Oct. 31.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Birmingham Zoo

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Dino Safari

Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Birmingham Zoo

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Birmingham city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Birmingham

Also within reach

Nashville~4h

Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Nashville

about 4 hr from Memphis

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.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Boo at the Zoo

10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday, Nov. 1. Billed as spooky, not scary.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · 5–9 p.m.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

$23 Fri–Sun for ages 2 and up; under 2 free; parking $10

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

Also within reach

Birmingham~4h 15m

Hoots & Howls on Halloween, and Dino Safari's last days.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Nashville

about 4 hr from Memphis

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

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"

Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6.

Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · See Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

4h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Birmingham

about 4 hr 15 min from Memphis

Disney On Ice is at the BJCC's Legacy Arena Thursday through Sunday, the first of three Disney On Ice stops in the region this month.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Disney On Ice

In Birmingham Nov. 12–15.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · See the tour page for show times

Legacy Arena at the BJCC

See the tour page

Official page

Birmingham city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Birmingham

Also within reach

Nashville~4h

Glow Wild opens at the zoo, plus Opryland's ice!

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 20–22: Nashville

about 4 hr from Memphis

Glow Wild at the zoo and ice! at Opryland.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"

Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · See Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately

Official page

Glow Wild

Glowing wildlife displays and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree. Santa visits nightly from Nov. 27.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 5–9 p.m.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

$27 per night; under 2 free; parking $10

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Nashville

about 4 hr from Memphis

Glow Wild and ice!

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"

Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · See Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately

Official page

Glow Wild

Glowing wildlife displays and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree. Santa visits nightly from Nov. 27.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · 5–9 p.m.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

$27 per night; under 2 free; parking $10

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

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

Lower Mississippi weekends

All regions

This week in Memphis

Good questions

Weekend trips from Memphis: the FAQ

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

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Memphis are Birmingham, Nashville. 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 Memphis?

Little Rock (about 2 hr 30 min), Nashville (about 4 hr), Birmingham (about 4 hr 15 min), Huntsville (about 4 hr 30 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.