The best trip within about five hours of New York City for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend.
6 weekends
2 cities
Closest: 2hLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from New York City. 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.
Trails and bridges link a series of eight waterfalls in the Pocono Mountains, known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania.
Billed as America's Favorite Family Vacation, with a boardwalk along the beach.
A county zoo with free admission and free parking, open every day except Christmas.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of New York City that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in New York City has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of New York City that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in New York City has the local list.
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New York City is our pick for the whole region this weekend. The Holiday Train Show opens Saturday at the New York Botanical Garden, with model trains running past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts.
Opens 11/14; runs through 01/10. Model trains run past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. Evening hours run 5–8pm on Nov 27–29 and select December dates.
Sat Nov 14 · Garden hours; evening hours on select nightsNew York Botanical Garden
Timed tickets; see the event page
2h
about 2 hr from New York City
Christmas Village is free at LOVE Park and City Hall, and Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo runs 5 to 9pm with Santa's Workshop inside.
Leave after lunch, nap in the car, stay until dark.
Opens 11/20; runs through 12/23.
Fri Nov 20 · 5–9pmElmwood Park ZooWith Wild Lights admission (adults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online)Opens 11/20; runs through 12/30. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 24–25. Cookie decorating is $10 on select dates.
Fri Nov 20 · 5–9pm; last entry 8:30pmElmwood Park ZooAdults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online, 0–2 free; $18.95 after 7:30pmOpens 11/20; runs through 01/10.
Fri Nov 20 · Daily 10am–11pmLongwood GardensAdults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under freeOpens 11/21; runs through 12/27. Open 9am–5pm on Thanksgiving and noon–5pm on Christmas Eve. Kids under 12 ride SEPTA free.
Sat Nov 21 · Sun–Thu noon–8pm, Fri–Sat noon–9pmLOVE Park and City HallNo admissionGlow Hartford opens Friday inside the Connecticut Convention Center, an indoor light festival with a trackless train, and kids 3 and under get in free.
2h
about 2 hr from New York City
Jingle and Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square on Friday, 5 to 7pm, and Christmas Village at LOVE Park is open all weekend.
Opens 11/27; runs through 12/19. Santa photos on select evenings during Holidays in Franklin Square.
Fri Nov 27 · 5–7pmFranklin SquareSee the event pageThe Holiday Lights Spectacular opens Friday at Roger Williams Park Zoo, a walk through 40 acres of lights that takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and strollers are welcome.
2h
about 2 hr from New York City
A Longwood Christmas is open daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and kids 4 and under are free.
Leave after lunch, nap in the car, stay until dark.
Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10.
Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · Daily 10am–11pmLongwood GardensAdults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under freePlaces outside the city that are worth the drive on any weekend. Hours and prices are what the official pages showed when we checked.
A small zoo and museums along a paved stretch of the Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain, easy with a stroller.
about 1 hr 15 min from New York City · Fort Montgomery
Daily 10am–4:30pm through Nov 30, 10am–4pm Dec 1–Mar 31; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas$1 per person suggested donation; Bear Mountain State Park parking is $10 per vehicleHarbor seals swim in a big habitat here, and a 110,000-gallon tank holds several kinds of large sharks.
about 1 hr 15 min from New York City · NorwalkDaily 10am–5pm; closes 3pm Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas$39.95 ages 13–64, $29.95 ages 3–12, $34.95 seniors 65+Beluga whales and African penguins are the big draws, and there is a seal pup play space for younger kids.
about 3 hr from New York City · MysticHours change by season and are posted on the aquarium’s siteAdvance tickets required with date-based pricing; prices are on the ticket page
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 New York City are Philadelphia. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Trailside Museums and Zoo in Fort Montgomery (about 1 hr 15 min), Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk (about 1 hr 15 min), Mystic Aquarium in Mystic (about 3 hr). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
Fairfield County (about 1 hr 15 min), Lehigh Valley (about 2 hr), Philadelphia (about 2 hr), Hartford and New Haven (about 2 hr 45 min), Albany (about 3 hr), Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey (about 3 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Bushkill Falls (about 2 hr), Ocean City (about 2 hr 45 min), Cape May County Park & Zoo (about 3 hr). 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.