# Weekend getaways from New York City with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/weekend-getaways/

> 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.

Last checked: 2026-10-29.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 13–15

Staycation is your best option: New York City is the regional pick 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.

## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Philadelphia (about 2 hr)

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.

- **Santa’s Workshop at Wild Lights**, Fri Nov 20, 5–9pm, Elmwood Park Zoo. With Wild Lights admission (adults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online). Opens 11/20; runs through 12/23. Official page: https://elmwoodparkzoo.org/wildlights/
- **Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo**, Fri Nov 20, 5–9pm; last entry 8:30pm, Elmwood Park Zoo. Adults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online, 0–2 free; $18.95 after 7:30pm. Opens 11/20; runs through 12/30. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 24–25. Cookie decorating is $10 on select dates. Official page: https://elmwoodparkzoo.org/wildlights/
- **A Longwood Christmas**, Fri Nov 20, Daily 10am–11pm, Longwood Gardens. Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Official page: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit
- **Christmas Village in Philadelphia**, Sat Nov 21, Sun–Thu noon–8pm, Fri–Sat noon–9pm, LOVE Park and City Hall. No admission. Opens 11/21; runs through 12/27. Open 9am–5pm on Thanksgiving and noon–5pm on Christmas Eve. Kids under 12 ride SEPTA free. Official page: https://www.philachristmas.com/

Also within reach: Hartford and New Haven (about 2 hr 45 min): Glow Hartford opens Friday inside the Connecticut Convention Center, an indoor light festival with a trackless train, and kids 3 and under get in free.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Philadelphia (about 2 hr)

Jingle and Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square on Friday, 5 to 7pm, and Christmas Village at LOVE Park is open all weekend.

- **Jingle & Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square**, Fri Nov 27, 5–7pm, Franklin Square. See the event page. Opens 11/27; runs through 12/19. Santa photos on select evenings during Holidays in Franklin Square. Official page: https://historicphiladelphia.org/events/holidays-in-franklin-square/

Also within reach: Providence (about 4 hr): The 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.

## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Philadelphia (about 2 hr)

A Longwood Christmas is open daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and kids 4 and under are free.

- **A Longwood Christmas**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, Daily 10am–11pm, Longwood Gardens. Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Official page: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit

## Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on.

- **Bushkill Falls**, Bushkill, PA (about 2 hr from New York City). Trails and bridges link a series of eight waterfalls in the Pocono Mountains, known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania. Official page: https://www.visitbushkillfalls.com/
- **Ocean City**, Ocean City, NJ (about 2 hr 45 min from New York City). Billed as America's Favorite Family Vacation, with a boardwalk along the beach. Official page: https://www.oceancityvacation.com/
- **Cape May County Park & Zoo**, Cape May Court House, NJ (about 3 hr from New York City). A county zoo with free admission and free parking, open every day except Christmas. Official page: https://www.capemaycountynj.gov/352/Cape-May-County-Park-Zoo

## Day trips any weekend

- **Trailside Museums and Zoo**, Fort Montgomery (about 1 hr 15 min from New York City). A small zoo and museums along a paved stretch of the Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain, easy with a stroller. Hours: Daily 10am–4:30pm through Nov 30, 10am–4pm Dec 1–Mar 31; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cost: $1 per person suggested donation; Bear Mountain State Park parking is $10 per vehicle. Official page: https://trailsidemuseumsandzoo.org/visit-trailside/
- **Maritime Aquarium**, Norwalk (about 1 hr 15 min from New York City). Harbor seals swim in a big habitat here, and a 110,000-gallon tank holds several kinds of large sharks. Hours: Daily 10am–5pm; closes 3pm Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cost: $39.95 ages 13–64, $29.95 ages 3–12, $34.95 seniors 65+. Official page: https://www.maritimeaquarium.org/plan-your-visit
- **Mystic Aquarium**, Mystic (about 3 hr from New York City). Beluga whales and African penguins are the big draws, and there is a seal pup play space for younger kids. Hours: Hours change by season and are posted on the aquarium’s site. Cost: Advance tickets required with date-based pricing; prices are on the ticket page. Official page: https://www.mysticaquarium.org/visit/tickets/

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from New York City with little kids?**
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.

**What are good day trips from New York City with kids?**
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.

**Which cities are within an easy drive of New York City?**
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.

**What other family getaways are within 5 hours of New York City?**
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.

**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 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.