Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC. Baltimore and DC are about an hour apart, and Philadelphia is about two hours from Baltimore and three from DC. Richmond is about two hours south of DC and Pittsburgh about five hours west. The Lehigh Valley is about an hour and a half from Philadelphia. Lancaster and Harrisburg are about two hours from Philadelphia and a little less from Baltimore. 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 weekends
5 cities
3 of 6 pickedLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Lehigh Valley, Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.
Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Lehigh Valley, Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.
Nothing we could verify in the region this weekend is worth a drive on its own. The weekly lists for Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Lehigh Valley, Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey are a better bet, and we'll check again on Thursday.
Christmas Village is free at LOVE Park and City Hall, and Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo runs 5 to 9pm with Santa's Workshop inside.
Drive: about 1 hr 30 min from Lehigh Valley · about 2 hr from Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey · about 2 hr 15 min from Baltimore · about 3 hr from Washington, DC
Opens 11/20; runs through 12/23.
Fri Nov 20 · 5–9pmElmwood Park Zoo
With Wild Lights admission (adults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online)Opens 11/20; runs through 12/30. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 24–25. Cookie decorating is $10 on select dates.
Fri Nov 20 · 5–9pm; last entry 8:30pmElmwood Park ZooAdults $27.95 online, kids 3–12 $24.95 online, 0–2 free; $18.95 after 7:30pmOpens 11/20; runs through 01/10.
Fri Nov 20 · Daily 10am–11pmLongwood GardensAdults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under freeOpens 11/21; runs through 12/27. Open 9am–5pm on Thanksgiving and noon–5pm on Christmas Eve. Kids under 12 ride SEPTA free.
Sat Nov 21 · Sun–Thu noon–8pm, Fri–Sat noon–9pmLOVE Park and City HallNo admission
Jingle and Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square on Friday, 5 to 7pm, and Christmas Village at LOVE Park is open all weekend.
Drive: about 1 hr 30 min from Lehigh Valley · about 2 hr from Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey · about 2 hr 15 min from Baltimore · about 3 hr from Washington, DC
Opens 11/27; runs through 12/19. Santa photos on select evenings during Holidays in Franklin Square.
Fri Nov 27 · 5–7pmFranklin SquareSee the event page
A Longwood Christmas is open daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and kids 4 and under are free.
Drive: about 1 hr 30 min from Lehigh Valley · about 2 hr from Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey · about 2 hr 15 min from Baltimore · about 3 hr from Washington, DC
Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10.
Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · Daily 10am–11pmLongwood GardensAdults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free
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.It changes every weekend. Over the next 6 weekends our picks are Philadelphia, chosen for what's on: zoo events, holiday lights and shows with dates we checked on the official pages.
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC. Baltimore and DC are about an hour apart, and Philadelphia is about two hours from Baltimore and three from DC. Richmond is about two hours south of DC and Pittsburgh about five hours west. The Lehigh Valley is about an hour and a half from Philadelphia. Lancaster and Harrisburg are about two hours from Philadelphia and a little less from Baltimore. Drive times on this page are normal driving times without traffic.
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.
They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap the official link before you buy, since venues change hours and prices.