# Weekend getaways from Sacramento with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/sacramento/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Sacramento 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 Stay close to home: nothing within a few hours beats what's on in Sacramento. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Fri Nov 13, 3:30, 5, 6:30 and 8pm (no 8pm on Dec 21), Central Pacific Passenger Station, Old Sacramento; https://www.californiarailroad.museum/events/polar-express/) ## Weekend of Nov 20–22 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 27–29 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Dec 4–6 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## 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. - **Railtown 1897 State Historic Park**, Jamestown, CA (about 2 hr 15 min from Sacramento). Steam trains and an old roundhouse in Gold Country, open 9:30 to 4:30 daily. The Polar Express train ride runs here November 27 to December 20. Official page: https://www.railtown1897.org/ - **Yosemite Valley**, Yosemite Valley, CA (about 4 hr from Sacramento). Granite cliffs, waterfalls and flat valley-floor walks that work with a stroller. The park is open around the clock all year, and entry is $35 per car for seven days. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/yose/ ## Day trips any weekend - **Micke Grove Zoo**, Lodi (about 1 hr from Sacramento). A small county zoo off Highway 99 with golden lion tamarins, ruffed lemurs and other animals on short, shady paths. It's an easy size for toddlers, and kids 2 and under get in free. Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 10am–5pm, last entry 4:30pm. Cost: $5 ages 14+, $3 ages 3–13, free for 2 and under. Official page: https://mgzoo.com/visit/hours-and-admission - **Gold Bug Park & Mine**, Placerville (about 1 hr from Sacramento). A city park in the foothills where you can walk into a real hard-rock gold mine with a hard hat, then see the stamp mill and blacksmith shop. Bring a jacket because the mine stays cold. Hours: Nov 1–Mar 31 weekends only, 10am–4pm (mine tours close 3:30pm); daily Apr–Oct. Cost: Park and trails free; mine $12 adults, $8 ages 6–17, free for 5 and under. Official page: https://www.goldbugpark.org/visitor-info/ - **Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park**, Coloma (about 1 hr from Sacramento). The spot on the American River where James Marshall found gold in 1848, with a replica of Sutter's sawmill and old buildings to wander between. Gold panning lessons run most days, and the riverside picnic areas are shaded by oaks. Hours: Grounds 8am–5pm Nov–Feb; museum 9am–4pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cost: $10 per car; gold panning lessons and guided tours cost extra. Official page: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484 ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Sacramento with little kids?** None of our other cities are close enough for a weekend pick yet, so start with a day trip: Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi (about 1 hr), Gold Bug Park & Mine in Placerville (about 1 hr), Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma (about 1 hr). **Which cities are within an easy drive of Sacramento?** Stockton–Modesto (about 1 hr), San Francisco Bay Area (about 2 hr 15 min), Reno (about 2 hr 30 min), Fresno (about 3 hr 15 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic. **What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Sacramento?** Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (about 2 hr 15 min), Yosemite Valley (about 4 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.