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 Savannah with kids

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

6 weekends4 citiesClosest: 2h 30m

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Savannah
Oct 23–25GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 4h 45mGreenville ZooOvernightOct 30–Nov 1GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 4h 45mGreenville ZooOvernightNov 6–8CharlotteTricks and Treats at Carowinds · 4h 45mCarolina Renaissance FestivalOvernightNov 13–15CharlestonHoliday Festival of Lights · 2h 30mJames Island County ParkBest at duskNov 20–22ColumbiaFireflies Holiday Lights · 3hWild LightsOvernightNov 27–29GreenvilleDisney On Ice · 4h 45mBon Secours Wellness ArenaOvernight
How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

1h2h3h4h5hCharlestonJacksonvilleColumbiaGreenvilleCharlotteSavannah
Charleston · Jacksonville2h 30m
Columbia3h
Greenville · Charlotte4h 45m

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

WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25
4h 45m
Overnight: pack the PJs

DestinationWeekend of Oct 23–25: Greenville

about 4 hr 45 min from Savannah

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Greenville

Also within reach

Columbia~3h

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

Charleston~2h 30m

Free Boo at the Zoo in Mixson on Saturday, 4 to 8.

WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1
4h 45m
Overnight: pack the PJs

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville

about 4 hr 45 min from Savannah

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Greenville
WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8
4h 45m
Overnight: pack the PJs

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 6–8: Charlotte

about 4 hr 45 min from Savannah

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.

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

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Charlotte
WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15
2h 30m
Best at dusk: lights after darkNap in the car: time the drive

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Charleston

about 2 hr 30 min from Savannah

Opening weekend of the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park.

Leave after lunch, nap in the car, stay until dark.

Holiday Festival of Lights

More than 750 light displays to drive through, nightly Nov. 13–Dec. 31.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · 5:30–10 p.m.
James Island County Park
Per car
Official page
Charleston city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Charleston

Also within reach

Charlotte~4h 45m

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.

WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22
3h
Overnight: pack the PJsBest at dusk: lights after dark

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 20–22: Columbia

about 3 hr from Savannah

Opening weekend for Fireflies Holiday Lights and Riverbanks Wild Lights.

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

Fireflies Holiday Lights

More than 2 million lights, with Santa nightly.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 6–9pm
Segra Park
See tickets online
Official page

Wild Lights

Wildlife lanterns, nightly snowfall and Santa.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 5–9pm
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Tickets on sale Nov 2
Official page
Columbia city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Columbia

Also within reach

Charleston~2h 30m

The Holiday Festival of Lights, nightly 5:30 to 10.

WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29
4h 45m
Overnight: pack the PJsFriday fun: day-after pick

DestinationWeekend of Nov 27–29: Greenville

about 4 hr 45 min from Savannah

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 guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Greenville

Also within reach

Columbia~3h

Fireflies Holiday Lights and Wild Lights, with Santa.

Charleston~2h 30m

The Holiday Festival of Lights over the holiday weekend.

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

Georgia coast and Florida weekendsAll regionsThis week in Savannah
Good questions

Weekend trips from Savannah: the FAQ

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

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Savannah are Greenville, Charlotte, Charleston, Columbia. 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 Savannah?

Charleston (about 2 hr 30 min), Jacksonville (about 2 hr 30 min), Columbia (about 3 hr), Greenville (about 4 hr 45 min), Charlotte (about 4 hr 45 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.