The best trip within about five hours of Portland 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
1 city
Closest: 3h 30mLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Portland. 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.
Paradise is known for its wildflower meadows and gets about 640 inches of snow in an average year.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Portland that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Portland has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Portland that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Portland has the local list.
3h 30m
about 3 hr 30 min from Portland
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo, 4 to 9pm with last entry at 8:30. Tickets are dated, so pick your night before you drive over.
Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.
Opens 11/13; runs through 01/17. Low Sensory Nights are Nov 15, Dec 1 and Jan 10.
Fri Nov 13 · 4–9pm (last entry 8:30pm)Woodland Park Zoo
Dated tickets; price on the ticket page
3h 30m
about 3 hr 30 min from Portland
Santa is at the Seattle Christmas Market in Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. Weekend hours run from 11:30am, so you can go before nap.
Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.
Opens 11/20; runs through 12/24.
Fri Nov 20 · Weekdays 4–9pm and weekends 11:30am–9pm through Dec 13; Dec 24 10am–7pmSeattle Center, Fisher PavilionMarket ticket required; price on the ticket page3h 30m
about 3 hr 30 min from Portland
The Winterfest train and village at the Seattle Center Armory is free, 10am to 6pm, and Snowflake Lane runs in Bellevue at 7pm.
Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.
Opens 11/27; runs through 12/23. Kids on 2pm sailings get cookies with Santa. Every sailing has a choir and Santa reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Fri Nov 27 · 2pm sailingsArgosy Cruises Christmas ShipCruise ticket; price on the booking pageOpens 11/27; runs through 12/24. A free holiday show on Bellevue Way every night at 7. On Friday through Sunday, get there about an hour early.
Fri Nov 27 · 7pm (about 25 minutes)Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 8th
Free; parking is free in Bellevue Collection garagesOpens 11/27; runs through 12/31. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm.
Fri Nov 27 · 10am–6pmSeattle Center ArmoryFree; donations accepted3h 30m
about 3 hr 30 min from Portland
Seattle Center's Winterfest Winter Train and Village is free and open 10 a.m.–6 p.m., a daytime outing that fits around naps.
Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.
Opens 11/27; runs through 12/31. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm.
Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · 10am–6pmSeattle Center ArmoryFree; donations acceptedPlaces outside the city that are worth the drive on any weekend. Hours and prices are what the official pages showed when we checked.
The Spruce Goose, Howard Hughes’s giant wooden flying boat, is on display here along with hangars full of other planes.
about 1 hr from Portland · McMinnville
Daily 9am–5pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day$26 adults, $14 youth 9–13, under 3 free; the full price list is on the admissions pageA small, old aquarium by the beach where kids can feed the harbor seals.
about 1 hr 45 min from Portland · SeasideOpens daily at 9am, closing time varies by season; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas DayPrices are on the aquarium’s admission pageKids can watch the sea otters at feeding time and reach into the touch pool.
about 3 hr from Portland · NewportDaily 10am–5pm from Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend, 10am–6pm in summer; closes at 3pm Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, closed Christmas DayWeekdays $29.95 adults and $19.95 ages 3–12; Fridays and weekends $34.95 adults and $24.95 ages 3–12; 2 and under free
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 Portland are Seattle. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
North American Aerospace Museum (formerly Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum) in McMinnville (about 1 hr), Seaside Aquarium in Seaside (about 1 hr 45 min), Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport (about 3 hr). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
Seattle (about 3 hr 30 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Mount Rainier National Park (about 3 hr 30 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.