# Weekend getaways from Nashville with kids

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

> The best trip within about five hours of Nashville 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: Birmingham (about 3 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.

- **Hoots & Howls**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Daytime Halloween with candy stations around the zoo. Runs through Oct. 31. Official page: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/events/
- **Dino Safari**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Ends Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/events/

Also within reach: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 30 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. Louisville (about 3 hr): Boo at the Zoo, nightly 5 to 9.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Staycation is your best option: Nashville is the regional pick this weekend. 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. If you'd rather go somewhere: Indianapolis (about 4 hr 45 min): ZooBoo's final weekend, with Halloween fun at the zoo from 2 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1. Birmingham (about 3 hr 15 min): Hoots & Howls on Halloween, and Dino Safari's last days.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8

Staycation is your best option: Nashville is the regional pick this weekend. A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights.

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Birmingham (about 3 hr 15 min)

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.

- **Disney On Ice**, 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. In Birmingham Nov. 12–15. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

Also within reach: Chattanooga (about 2 hr 15 min): Rock City's lights open Friday. Cincinnati (about 4 hr 30 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: Knoxville (about 3 hr)

Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday.

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, See the tour page for show times, Knoxville Civic Coliseum. See the tour page. In Knoxville Nov. 19–22. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

Also within reach: Louisville (about 3 hr): Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Chattanooga (about 2 hr 15 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: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 30 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. Louisville (about 3 hr): Lights Under Louisville in the Mega Cavern.

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Nashville with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Nashville are Birmingham, Knoxville, 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 Nashville?**
Chattanooga (about 2 hr 15 min), Huntsville (about 2 hr 15 min), Louisville (about 3 hr), Knoxville (about 3 hr), Birmingham (about 3 hr 15 min), Lexington (about 3 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.