The best trip within about five hours of Spokane for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Some weekends only have something farther out, and those are marked as a long drive. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend.
6 weekends
1 city
Closest: 5h 15mLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Spokane. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.
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.
A Bavarian-style village in the Cascades, known for its Village of Lights.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Spokane that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Spokane has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Spokane that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Spokane has the local list.
5h 15m
about 5 hr 15 min from Spokane · long drive
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.
This is a long drive, so plan on an overnight.
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
5h 15m
about 5 hr 15 min from Spokane · long drive
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.
This is a long drive, so plan on an overnight.
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 page5h 15m
about 5 hr 15 min from Spokane · long drive
The Winterfest train and village at the Seattle Center Armory is free, 10am to 6pm, and Snowflake Lane runs in Bellevue at 7pm.
This is a long drive, so plan on an overnight.
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 accepted5h 15m
about 5 hr 15 min from Spokane · long drive
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.
This is a long drive, so plan on an overnight.
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.
Beaches on Lake Pend Oreille, plus an 18-hole putt-putt disc golf course made for beginners and kids.
about 1 hr 15 min from Spokane · Athol
Day use 7am–10pm; visitor center 9am–4pm in winterMotor vehicle entrance fee due on arrival; the amount is on the Idaho State Parks pass pageHands-on exhibits and a short film tell the story of the dam, and the dam itself is right outside.
about 2 hr 15 min from Spokane · Coulee DamDaily 8:30am–5pm Pacific; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s DayFreeThe Palouse River drops 200 feet into a basalt bowl, and kids can watch it from the viewpoint above.
about 3 hr 30 min from Spokane · LaCrosse8am to dusk in winter, 6:30am to dusk in summer; trails into the canyon are permanently closedDiscover Pass required: $10 for one day or $45 for a year
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 Spokane are Seattle. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Farragut State Park in Athol (about 1 hr 15 min), Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center in Coulee Dam (about 2 hr 15 min), Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site in LaCrosse (about 3 hr 30 min). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
None of our other cities are within 5 hours, so we only list longer drives in the same region. The map also shows family getaways closer in that we don't post events for.
Leavenworth (about 3 hr 45 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.