# Weekend getaways from Minneapolis–St. Paul with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Minneapolis–St. Paul 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.

Last checked: 2026-10-18.

## Weekend of Oct 23–25: Milwaukee (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

Boo at the Zoo runs all day Saturday this year, 9:30 to 9, so little ones can trick-or-treat in daylight.

- **Boo at the Zoo**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Fri 4:30–9 p.m.; Sat 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Milwaukee County Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. New this year: daytime hours on Saturday. Official page: https://milwaukeezoo.org/visit/upcoming-events/boo-at-the-zoo/

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Staycation is your best option: Minneapolis–St. Paul is the regional pick this weekend. Last weekend for the Minnesota Zoo's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, 5,000 carved pumpkins on a wooded trail. Go Friday or Sunday, since Halloween night is adults only, and catch Howl-O-Ween there Saturday morning.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Milwaukee (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

Family Free Day: everyone gets into the Milwaukee County Zoo free on Saturday, Nov. 7. Parking and ride fees still apply.

- **Family Free Day**, Sat Nov 7, Zoo hours, Milwaukee County Zoo. Free admission; parking and attraction fees still apply. Everyone gets in free on the first Saturday in November. Official page: https://milwaukeezoo.org/visit/upcoming-events/

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Milwaukee (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

Wild Kratts LIVE! plays the Miller High Life Theatre on Sunday at 1 and 5, and BrainExpo, a free hands-on brain science fair for all ages, runs 10 to 5 both days.

- **Wild Kratts LIVE! 2.0**, Sun Nov 15, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Miller High Life Theatre. See the Pabst Theater Group for tickets. Martin and Chris Kratt on stage with the rest of the team on screen, in an all-new creature-power adventure. Official page: https://www.pabsttheatergroup.com/events/detail/wild-kratts-2026
- **BrainExpo**, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., MCW Alumni Center. Free admission and parking; RSVP requested. A free hands-on neuroscience festival built for all ages, with real brain specimens and food trucks 11 a.m.–3 p.m. both days. Official page: https://www.brainexpo-mke.org/

## Weekend of Nov 20–22

Staycation is your best option: Minneapolis–St. Paul is the regional pick this weekend. Disney On Ice is at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul Thursday through Sunday, and the Children's Theatre Company's Grinch is playing in Minneapolis.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Des Moines (about 4 hr)

Disney On Ice is at Casey's Center over the holiday weekend.

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See the tour page for show times, Casey's Center. See the tour page. In Des Moines Nov. 26–29. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Minneapolis–St. Paul with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Minneapolis–St. Paul are Milwaukee, Des Moines. 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 Minneapolis–St. Paul?**
Des Moines (about 4 hr), Madison (about 4 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.