Cartoon family car on a winding road, pumpkin-patch road trip scene
Lower Mississippi · next 6 weekends

Lower Mississippi weekend getaways with kids

Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are about an hour and a half apart, and Memphis to Little Rock is about two and a half. Here's the best weekend trip in the region for each of the next 6 weekends, and what to do once you get there.

6 weekends4 cities0 of 6 picked

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

Lower Mississippi
Oct 23–25No standout yetWe check again ThursdayOct 30–Nov 1No standout yetWe check again ThursdayNov 6–8No standout yetWe check again ThursdayNov 13–15No standout yetWe check again ThursdayNov 20–22No standout yetWe check again ThursdayNov 27–29No standout yetWe check again Thursday
WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25

The pickWeekend of Oct 23–25: No standout yet

Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.

Also this weekend in the region

Memphis
  • Halloween Spooktacular, Sat Oct 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Children’s Museum of Memphis. $20 admission plus $5 event fee. Official page
Baton Rouge
  • Boo at the Zoo, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo. Regular zoo admission ($7 ages 2–12, $10 adults). Official page
  • Haints, Haunts & Halloween, Sun Oct 25, 2–4:30 p.m., LSU Rural Life Museum. $6–$12. Official page
New Orleans
  • Boo Carré Halloween Haunt, Sat Oct 24, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., French Market District (Dutch Alley). Free. Official page
WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1

The pickWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: No standout yet

Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.

Also this weekend in the region

Little Rock
  • Howl-O-ween, Sat Oct 31, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Little Rock Zoo. Regular zoo admission ($9.95 ages 3–12, $12.95 adults). Official page
WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8

The pickWeekend of Nov 6–8: No standout yet

Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.

WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15

The pickWeekend of Nov 13–15: No standout yet

Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.

Also this weekend in the region

Memphis
  • Lantern Festival, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Evenings, Memphis Zoo. $25 per person ($23 members). Official page
WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22

The pickWeekend of Nov 20–22: No standout yet

Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.

Also this weekend in the region

Memphis
  • Lantern Festival, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Evenings, Memphis Zoo. $25 per person ($23 members). Official page
  • Starry Nights: Arctic Adventure, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Evenings, Shelby Farms Park. See the ticket page. Official page
WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29

The pickWeekend of Nov 27–29: No standout yet

Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.

Also this weekend in the region

Memphis
  • Lantern Festival, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Evenings, Memphis Zoo. $25 per person ($23 members). Official page
  • Starry Nights: Arctic Adventure, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Evenings, Shelby Farms Park. See the ticket page. Official page
Baton Rouge
  • Louisiana Lights, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, From 5:30 p.m.; final entry 8:30 p.m., LSU Burden Museum & Gardens. Timed tickets. Official page
New Orleans
  • Celebration in the Oaks, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Evenings, New Orleans City Park. See the ticket page. Official page
From your city

Picked for where you start

From MemphisFrom Little RockFrom Baton RougeFrom New OrleansAll regions
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.
Good questions

Lower Mississippi getaways: the FAQ

Which Lower Mississippi city is best for a weekend with little kids?

Nothing in the region stands out over the next 6 weekends yet. We recheck every Thursday.

How long are the drives?

Memphis, Little Rock, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are about an hour and a half apart, and Memphis to Little Rock is about two and a half. Drive times on this page are normal driving times without traffic.

What if a weekend says “No standout yet”?

It means we couldn't confirm anything worth the drive. We'd rather leave the slot empty than fill it with filler. Check back after the Thursday refresh.

Are the prices right?

They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap the official link before you buy, since venues change hours and prices.