# Weekend getaways from Philadelphia with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Philadelphia 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: New York City (about 2 hr) 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. - **Holiday Train Show at NYBG**, Sat Nov 14, Garden hours; evening hours on select nights, New York Botanical Garden. Timed tickets; see the event page. 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. Official page: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2026/ ## Weekend of Nov 20–22 Staycation is your best option: Philadelphia is the regional pick this weekend. 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. If you'd rather go somewhere: Hartford and New Haven (about 4 hr 30 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 Staycation is your best option: Philadelphia is the regional pick this weekend. Jingle and Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square on Friday, 5 to 7pm, and Christmas Village at LOVE Park is open all weekend. ## Weekend of Dec 4–6 Staycation is your best option: Philadelphia is the regional pick this weekend. A Longwood Christmas is open daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and kids 4 and under are free. ## 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. - **Ocean City**, Ocean City, NJ (about 1 hr 30 min from Philadelphia). 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 1 hr 45 min from Philadelphia). 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 - **Bushkill Falls**, Bushkill, PA (about 2 hr 45 min from Philadelphia). 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/ - **Shenandoah National Park**, Front Royal, VA (about 4 hr 15 min from Philadelphia). Over 200,000 acres of waterfalls and wooded hollows shelter deer and black bears, just 75 miles from Washington, DC. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm - **Luray Caverns**, Luray, VA (about 5 hr from Philadelphia). Luray Caverns are the largest caverns in the eastern United States. Official page: https://luraycaverns.com/ - **Mystic Aquarium**, Mystic, CT (about 5 hr from Philadelphia). Beluga whales are the stars here, and the aquarium also keeps African penguins and California sea lions. Official page: https://www.mysticaquarium.org/ ## Day trips any weekend - **Strasburg Rail Road**, Ronks (about 1 hr 30 min from Philadelphia). A 45-minute steam train ride through Lancaster County farm country, about nine miles round trip with a narrator along the way. Hours: Departure days and times on the train schedule page. Cost: Kids 2–11 $26.62, adults $32.40. Official page: https://strasburgrailroad.com/event/daily-excursion-train/ - **Crayola Experience**, Easton (about 1 hr 30 min from Philadelphia). Hands-on crayon and color attractions on Centre Square in downtown Easton. Plan on three to four hours. The elevator is out through November 8, so it's stairs only until then. Hours: Fall hours Mon–Fri 10am–4pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm. Cost: $30.99 plus tax at the door, $3 less online; 2 and under free. Official page: https://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton/plan-your-visit/faqs - **Hershey's Chocolate World**, Hershey (about 2 hr from Philadelphia). The free Chocolate Tour ride takes about 30 minutes and ends with a sample. Strollers are parked outside the rides, and Saturdays are the busiest day. Hours: Opens 9am every day; closing times on the Chocolate World calendar. Cost: Free entry and free tour ride; other attractions are ticketed; first two hours of parking free. Official page: https://www.chocolateworld.com/plan-your-visit.html ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Philadelphia with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Philadelphia are New York City. 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 Philadelphia with kids?** Strasburg Rail Road in Ronks (about 1 hr 30 min), Crayola Experience in Easton (about 1 hr 30 min), Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey (about 2 hr). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages. **Which cities are within an easy drive of Philadelphia?** Lehigh Valley (about 1 hr 30 min), Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey (about 2 hr), New York City (about 2 hr), Baltimore (about 2 hr 15 min), Washington, DC (about 3 hr), Fairfield County (about 3 hr 15 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic. **What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Philadelphia?** Ocean City (about 1 hr 30 min), Cape May County Park & Zoo (about 1 hr 45 min), Bushkill Falls (about 2 hr 45 min), Shenandoah National Park (about 4 hr 15 min), Luray Caverns (about 5 hr), Mystic Aquarium (about 5 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.