The best trip within about five hours of Miami and Fort Lauderdale for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Some weekends only have something farther out, and those are marked as a long drive. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend.
6 weekends
2 cities
Closest: 5h 15mLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.
Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.
We don't post event listings for these places, so check the official page for hours and what's on. The numbers match the map.
You can get a close-up look at Space Shuttle Atlantis, the only space shuttle displayed as if in flight.
5h 15m
about 5 hr 15 min from Miami and Fort Lauderdale · long drive
Creatures of the Night, ZooTampa’s family Halloween nights, from 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
This is a long drive, so plan on an overnight.
The zoo’s family Halloween nights.
Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · From 4 p.m.ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Event ticket
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Miami and Fort Lauderdale that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Miami and Fort Lauderdale has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Miami and Fort Lauderdale that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Miami and Fort Lauderdale has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Miami and Fort Lauderdale that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Miami and Fort Lauderdale has the local list.
0 min
Nothing within a few hours beats what's already on in Miami and Fort Lauderdale this weekend.
Opens 11/27; runs through 12/23. Santa makes appearances at Zoo Lights through Dec 23.
Fri Nov 27 · 6:30–10pmZoo MiamiZoo Lights ticket; separate from daytime admissionOpens 11/27; runs through 12/30. Over a million lights and a 26-foot LED tree. Open Nov 27–28 and Dec 4–5, 11–12, 18–23 and 26–30; the tree lighting is opening night at 7pm.
Fri Nov 27 · 6:30–10pmZoo MiamiSeparate ticket; daytime admission doesn’t include it
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Miami and Fort Lauderdale that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Miami and Fort Lauderdale has the local list.
Places outside the city that are worth the drive on any weekend. Hours and prices are what the official pages showed when we checked.
Kids can see tigers at the Tiger Experience, and the zoo runs Zoo Lights in the holiday season.
about 1 hr 30 min from Miami and Fort Lauderdale · West Palm Beach
Daily 9am–5pm, last entry 4:15pm; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas DayPrices are on the ticket pageGlass-bottom boat tours show the reef without getting wet, and the visitor center has big saltwater aquariums.
about 1 hr 30 min from Miami and Fort Lauderdale · Key Largo8am to sunset, 365 days a year$8 per vehicle plus 50 cents per personA drive-through safari where kids watch the animals from the back seat of your own car.
about 1 hr 45 min from Miami and Fort Lauderdale · LoxahatcheeDaily 10am–5pm, last car into the preserve at 4pm; closed Thanksgiving$54.99 plus tax ages 10 and up, $43.99 plus tax ages 3–9, 2 and under free; lower rates Monday–Thursday
Car snacksPack more than you think you’ll need.
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.Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Miami and Fort Lauderdale are Tampa. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach (about 1 hr 30 min), John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo (about 1 hr 30 min), Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee (about 1 hr 45 min). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
Fort Myers–Naples (about 2 hr 45 min), Sarasota–Bradenton (about 4 hr 15 min), Orlando (about 4 hr 30 min), Lakeland (about 4 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (about 4 hr 15 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.
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.
They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.