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 Toledo with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Toledo 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

4 cities

Closest: 1h 15m

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

Departures

From Toledo

Oct 23–25DetroitZoo Boo · 1h 15mDetroit Zoo, Royal OakEasy drive Oct 30–Nov 1PittsburghFall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn · 4h 15mJack O'Lantern ExtravaganzaOvernight Nov 6–8DaytonOriginal Dayton Train Show · 2h 45mMontgomery County FairgroundsIndoors Nov 13–15ClevelandNorth Pole Adventure · 2h 15mCuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, IndependenceBest at dusk Nov 20–22DetroitWild Lights · 1h 15mDetroit Zoo, Royal OakBest at dusk Nov 27–29DetroitWild Lights · 1h 15mDetroit Zoo, Royal OakFriday fun

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

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

Detroit1h 15m

Fort Wayne · Cleveland2h 15m

Dayton2h 45m

Columbus3h

Grand Rapids3h 30m

Cincinnati3h 45m

Pittsburgh4h 15m

Indianapolis4h 30m

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

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

1h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 23–25: Detroit

about 1 hr 15 min from Toledo

The last Zoo Boo weekend, 3 to 8:30 p.m.

Zoo Boo

Last weekend of the season. Full zoo access before dusk.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 3–8:30 p.m.

Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

From $21; separate Zoo Boo ticket

Official page

Detroit city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Detroit

Also within reach

Cincinnati~3h 45m

HallZOOween is daytime trick-or-treating, noon to 5 on Saturday and Sunday, included with a regular zoo ticket. Kings Island's no-scares Tricks and Treats runs 11 to 5 the same days.

Pittsburgh~4h 15m

Daytime ZooBoo on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 3, the Alice in Wonderland flower show at Phipps, and costume activities at Phipps on Friday evening. Most of it fits between breakfast and nap.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

4h 15m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Pittsburgh

about 4 hr 15 min from Toledo

The last weekend for both the Alice flower show at Phipps, which is warm and indoors, and the zoo's Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza, which starts at 6 if you want one late night.

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

Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn

Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · Conservatory hours

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Included with admission

Official page

Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza

Runs nightly through Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · 6–11 p.m.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

See the zoo's ticket page

Official page

Pittsburgh city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Pittsburgh

Also within reach

Indianapolis~4h 30m

ZooBoo's final weekend, with Halloween fun at the zoo from 2 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Cincinnati~3h 45m

HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Dayton

about 2 hr 45 min from Toledo

The 50th Original Dayton Train Show fills the fairgrounds with more than 20 running layouts, LEGO trains included, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Kings Island's Bonus Weekend of rides is in Mason if you want to add a second stop.

Original Dayton Train Show

The 50th year of this show, with more than 20 operating layouts in HO, N and LEGO plus trains of every scale for sale.

Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · Sat 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Montgomery County Fairgrounds

$10 per adult; kids 12 and under free with a paying adult

Official page

Dayton city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Dayton

Also within reach

Detroit~1h 15m

Sesame Street Live at the Fox Theatre on Sunday.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

2h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Cleveland

about 2 hr 15 min from Toledo

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30.

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

North Pole Adventure

Runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 22. The 5 p.m. train is back by 6:30.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · 5 p.m. (back 6:30) or 7:55 p.m. (back 9:25)

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, Independence

$60–$110 per person, depending on seat class and date

Official page

Cleveland city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Cleveland

Also within reach

Cincinnati~3h 45m

Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors.

Detroit~1h 15m

Blippi at the Fisher Theatre on Saturday.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

1h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Detroit

about 1 hr 15 min from Toledo

Wild Lights' opening weekend: more than 500 animal and nature displays, and Santa every night.

Wild Lights

500-plus animal and nature displays, and Santa every night until Dec. 23.

Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · Gates open 5 p.m.

Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

From $17

Official page

Detroit city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Detroit

Also within reach

Columbus~3h

Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and stay until dark.

Cincinnati~3h 45m

The zoo's Festival of Lights and Holiday Junction.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

1h 15m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 27–29: Detroit

about 1 hr 15 min from Toledo

Wild Lights, Friday through Sunday.

Wild Lights

500-plus animal and nature displays, and Santa every night until Dec. 23.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Gates open 5 p.m.

Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak

From $17

Official page

Detroit city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Detroit

Also within reach

Cincinnati~3h 45m

Thanksgiving weekend has the most going on here: the zoo's Festival of Lights, Holiday Junction (Santa arrives Friday) and WinterFest opening at Kings Island.

Pittsburgh~4h 15m

The zoo's drive-thru lights open Friday at $45 a car, and Phipps Holiday Magic is warm and indoors.

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

Lake Erie and Michigan weekends

All regions

This week in Toledo

Good questions

Weekend trips from Toledo: the FAQ

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

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Toledo are Detroit, Pittsburgh, Dayton, Cleveland. 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 Toledo?

Detroit (about 1 hr 15 min), Fort Wayne (about 2 hr 15 min), Cleveland (about 2 hr 15 min), Dayton (about 2 hr 45 min), Columbus (about 3 hr), Grand Rapids (about 3 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.