The best trip within about five hours of Tucson 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.
6 weekends
1 city
Closest: 2hLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Tucson. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.
Orange dots are picks on this page. 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.
Stand where the 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral happened.
The Copper Queen Mine Tour takes families underground into a historic copper mine.
Swim in Oak Creek at Slide Rock State Park, just north of Sedona.
Lowell Observatory on Mars Hill, where Pluto was discovered, runs stargazing for visitors.
The Grand Canyon Railway has left from Williams since 1901, and it runs The Polar Express rides for the holidays.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Tucson that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Tucson has the local list.
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Tucson that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Tucson has the local list.
2h
about 2 hr from Tucson
Santa visits start at Chandler Fashion Center, and they're free.
Opens 11/13; runs through 12/24. Closed Thanksgiving.
Fri Nov 13 · Varies by day; Christmas Eve 9am–6pmChandler Fashion Center, Macy’s Court
Visits free; photo packages for sale
We couldn't verify a dated event within a few hours of Tucson that's worth the trip this weekend. The day trips below work any weekend, and this week in Tucson has the local list.
2h
about 2 hr from Tucson
Las Noches de las Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden, with paths lined in luminarias from 5 to 9:30pm. Kids 2 to 17 are $18.95.
Opens 11/27; runs through 01/03. Nights: Nov 27–29; Dec 4–6, 11–13, 16–23, 26–31; Jan 1–3. The garden closes at 4pm on luminaria days.
Fri Nov 27 · 5–9:30pmDesert Botanical GardenAdults $39.95–$44.95; kids 2–17 $18.95 (members $16.95)2h
about 2 hr from Tucson
Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden runs Friday through Sunday.
Leave after lunch, nap in the car, stay until dark.
Opens 11/27; runs through 01/03. Nights: Nov 27–29; Dec 4–6, 11–13, 16–23, 26–31; Jan 1–3. The garden closes at 4pm on luminaria days.
Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · 5–9:30pmDesert Botanical GardenAdults $39.95–$44.95; kids 2–17 $18.95 (members $16.95)Places outside the city that are worth the drive on any weekend. Hours and prices are what the official pages showed when we checked.
The adobe mission church ruins are easy to walk through, and the Anza trail along the Santa Cruz River is shaded and flat.
about 1 hr from Tucson · Tumacácori
Daily 9am–5pm except Thanksgiving and Christmas$10 per adult 16+ for 7 days, kids freeYou walk through the glass-roofed rainforest, ocean and desert biomes on a self-guided tour that takes a little over an hour.
about 1 hr from Tucson · OracleDaily 9am–4pm, last entry 3:30pm; closed Thanksgiving and ChristmasAdults $29, seniors $27, kids 5–17 $15 at the gate; online adult and senior tickets are $2 lessA living limestone cave you see on a guided tour. The Rotunda/Throne Room tour allows kids under 7, so it suits younger families.
about 1 hr from Tucson · BensonDiscovery Center 8am–5pm; book a tour time in advanceTours $30 adults 14+, $15 youth 7–13, $5 under 7 on the Rotunda/Throne tour; park entry is separate
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 Tucson are Phoenix. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Tumacácori National Historical Park in Tumacácori (about 1 hr), Biosphere 2 in Oracle (about 1 hr), Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson (about 1 hr). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.
Phoenix (about 2 hr). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Tombstone (about 1 hr 30 min), Queen Mine Tour (about 2 hr), Slide Rock State Park (about 4 hr 30 min), Flagstaff (about 4 hr 30 min), Grand Canyon Railway (about 5 hr). 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.