Cartoon family car on a winding road, pumpkin-patch road trip scene

Next 6 weekends · Oct 23–25 to Nov 27–29

Weekend getaways from Raleigh with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Raleigh for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.

6 weekends

3 cities

Closest: 2h 45m

Last checked Oct 18, 2026 against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Raleigh

Oct 23–25GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 4h 30mGreenville ZooOvernight Oct 30–Nov 1GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 4h 30mGreenville ZooOvernight Nov 6–8CharlotteTricks and Treats at Carowinds · 2h 45mCarolina Renaissance FestivalNap in the car Nov 13–15CharlotteCarolina Renaissance Festival · 2h 45m16445 Poplar Tent Road, HuntersvilleNap in the car Nov 20–22Stay in RaleighNC Chinese Lantern FestivalStaycation is your best optionStay home Nov 27–29GreenvilleDisney On Ice · 4h 30mBon Secours Wellness ArenaOvernight

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

Each ring is one hour of driving from Raleigh. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.

Charlotte · Richmond2h 45m

Columbia4h 15m

Greenville4h 30m

Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

4h 30m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 23–25: Greenville

about 4 hr 30 min from Raleigh

Boo in the Zoo with timed tickets, which keeps the paths from getting packed. Bring your own treat bag.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Boo in the Zoo

Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.

Greenville Zoo

$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on

Official page

Greenville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Greenville

Also within reach

Charlotte~2h 45m

The Renaissance Festival and Carowinds' Tricks and Treats.

Columbia~4h 15m

Boo at the Zoo at Riverbanks, 6 to 9 nightly.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

4h 30m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville

about 4 hr 30 min from Raleigh

Boo in the Zoo has its last evening on Friday, and new this year is a Halloween afternoon session from 1 to 4, which works well for little kids.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Boo in the Zoo

Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.

Greenville Zoo

$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on

Official page

Greenville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Greenville

Also within reach

Charlotte~2h 45m

Renaissance Festival weekend and Tricks and Treats at Carowinds.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

2h 45m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 6–8: Charlotte

about 2 hr 45 min from Raleigh

Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.

Tricks and Treats at Carowinds

The park's daytime, no-scares Halloween, with a costume contest, candy and family rides before the evening haunt takes over.

Sat Nov 7 · 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Nov. 7 closes at 5:30 p.m.

Carowinds

Included with park admission

Official page

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22.

Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville

4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices

Official page

Charlotte city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Charlotte

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Charlotte

about 2 hr 45 min from Raleigh

Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too.

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville

4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices

Official page

Charlotte city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Charlotte

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

0 min

Stay home: staycation is your best option

Staycation is your best optionWeekend of Nov 20–22: Raleigh

Raleigh is our pick for the whole region this weekend. The NC Chinese Lantern Festival opens Saturday in Cary. The paths are paved and stroller-friendly, and the 4:30 twilight session is less crowded.

NC Chinese Lantern Festival

Paved, stroller-friendly paths. The 4:30 twilight session has smaller crowds. Most people take 45 to 75 minutes.

Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 6–10 p.m.; twilight session gates 4:30 p.m.

Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary

See Koka Booth for prices; 2 and under free

Official page

Raleigh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Raleigh

If you'd rather hit the road

Charlotte~2h 45m

Speedway Christmas lights open, and it's the Renaissance Festival's final weekend.

Columbia~4h 15m

Opening weekend for Fireflies Holiday Lights and Riverbanks Wild Lights.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

4h 30m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 27–29: Greenville

about 4 hr 30 min from Raleigh

Disney On Ice is at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena over Thanksgiving weekend.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Disney On Ice

In Greenville Nov. 25–29.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · See the tour page for show times

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

See the tour page

Official page

Greenville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Greenville

Also within reach

Charlotte~2h 45m

WinterFest opens at Carowinds, plus Speedway Christmas.

Columbia~4h 15m

Fireflies Holiday Lights and Wild Lights, with Santa.

Little-traveler checklist

Pack it before you go

Car snacksMore than you think. Then a few more.

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.

More trips

Every region, every weekend

Carolinas and Virginia weekends

All regions

This week in Raleigh

Good questions

Weekend trips from Raleigh: the FAQ

Where can we go for a weekend from Raleigh with little kids?

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Raleigh are Greenville, Charlotte. 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 Raleigh?

Charlotte (about 2 hr 45 min), Richmond (about 2 hr 45 min), Columbia (about 4 hr 15 min), Greenville (about 4 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.