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

Oklahoma weekend getaways with kids

Oklahoma City and Tulsa are under two hours apart on the turnpike, so either one makes an easy overnight. 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 weekends2 cities6 of 6 picked

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

Oklahoma
Oct 23–25Oklahoma CityHaunt the ZooOklahoma City ZooOct 30–Nov 1TulsaHallowZOOeenTulsa ZooNov 6–8Oklahoma CityOKC Renaissance and Scottish FestivalOKC Fair Park, between Gates 1 and 2Nov 13–15Oklahoma CityDevon Ice RinkSafari LightsNov 20–22Oklahoma CityDevon Ice RinkSafari LightsNov 27–29TulsaRhema Christmas LightsBotanic Garden of LightsFriday fun
WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25

The pickWeekend of Oct 23–25: Oklahoma City

It's the last weekend of daytime Haunt the Zoo. Treat bags are capped at 2,500 a day, so buy yours ahead.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Tulsa

Haunt the Zoo

Daytime trick-or-treat trail, final weekend. Bags are capped at 2,500 a day, so buy ahead.

Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · Zoo hours
Oklahoma City Zoo
Zoo admission plus a $10 treat bag
Official page
Oklahoma City city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Oklahoma City

Also this weekend in the region

Tulsa~1h 45m
  • HallowZOOeen, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Day sessions 2–5 p.m. (Oct. 25, 31); night sessions 6–9 p.m. (Oct. 24, 25, 30), Tulsa Zoo. $19.99; members $14.99; 2 and under free with a ticket. Official page
WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1

The pickWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Tulsa

HallowZOOeen has a Halloween afternoon session from 2 to 5, with Goblin Stops and carnival games. It aims for spooky but not too scary.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Oklahoma City

HallowZOOeen

Goblin Stops for treats and carnival games. Spooky but not too scary. Online reservations required.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · Day sessions 2–5 p.m. (Oct. 25, 31); night sessions 6–9 p.m. (Oct. 24, 25, 30)
Tulsa Zoo
$19.99; members $14.99; 2 and under free with a ticket
Official page
Tulsa city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Tulsa

Also this weekend in the region

Oklahoma City~1h 45m
  • Evening Haunt the Zoo, Fri Oct 30, 5:30–9 p.m., Oklahoma City Zoo. $32; members $15. Official page
WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8

The pickWeekend of Nov 6–8: Oklahoma City

The OKC Renaissance and Scottish Festival at Fair Park has jousting, falconry and fire breathers. Kids are $5, and every advance adult ticket comes with a free kid ticket.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Tulsa

OKC Renaissance and Scottish Festival

Jousting, falconry, fire breathers, magicians, pirates and fairies, and turkey legs.

Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
OKC Fair Park, between Gates 1 and 2
Adults $13 in advance, $17 at the gate; kids $5; 2 and under free; one free kid ticket (12 and under) with each advance adult ticket
Official page
Oklahoma City city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Oklahoma City
WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15

The pickWeekend of Nov 13–15: Oklahoma City

The Devon Ice Rink opens Friday, and Safari Lights opens at the zoo on Saturday. Little skaters can rent a penguin helper for $10 an hour.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Tulsa

Devon Ice Rink

Outdoor rink downtown. Opens Nov. 13.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · Fri 3–11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Myriad Botanical Gardens
$15 with skate rental; penguin skate helper $10 an hour
Official page

Safari Lights

Wildlife lanterns by car or on foot, nightly from Nov. 14. Timed tickets in advance.

Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · 5:30–11 p.m.
Oklahoma City Zoo
Walk-thru from $14; drive-thru combo from $60 per vehicle
Official page
Oklahoma City city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Oklahoma City
WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22

The pickWeekend of Nov 20–22: Oklahoma City

Safari Lights at the zoo in the evening, and the downtown ice rink opens at 11 on Saturday, before nap.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Tulsa

Devon Ice Rink

Outdoor rink downtown. Opens Nov. 13.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · Fri 3–11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Myriad Botanical Gardens
$15 with skate rental; penguin skate helper $10 an hour
Official page

Safari Lights

Wildlife lanterns by car or on foot, nightly from Nov. 14. Timed tickets in advance.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 5:30–11 p.m.
Oklahoma City Zoo
Walk-thru from $14; drive-thru combo from $60 per vehicle
Official page
Oklahoma City city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Oklahoma City
WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29
Friday fun: day-after pickTurkey week: school is out

The pickWeekend of Nov 27–29: Tulsa

Two kinds of lights: Rhema's are free to walk, with a $5 kids' train, and the Botanic Garden has s'mores and Santa every night.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Oklahoma City

Rhema Christmas Lights

Millions of lights on the campus, free to walk or drive. The train runs nightly, first come, first served.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · 5:30–11:30 p.m.
Rhema campus, Broken Arrow
Free; train rides $5 kids 4–12, $10 adults
Official page

Botanic Garden of Lights

S'mores over fire pits and Santa every night from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23. Timed tickets.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · 5–9 p.m.
Tulsa Botanic Garden
$20 adults, $9 ages 3–15, 2 and under free
Official page
Tulsa city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Tulsa

Also this weekend in the region

Oklahoma City~1h 45m
  • Devon Ice Rink, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri 3–11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Myriad Botanical Gardens. $15 with skate rental; penguin skate helper $10 an hour. Official page
  • Safari Lights, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 5:30–11 p.m., Oklahoma City Zoo. Walk-thru from $14; drive-thru combo from $60 per vehicle. Official page
From your city

Picked for where you start

From Oklahoma CityFrom TulsaAll 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

Oklahoma getaways: the FAQ

Which Oklahoma city is best for a weekend with little kids?

It changes every weekend. Over the next 6 weekends our picks are Oklahoma City, Tulsa, chosen for what's actually on: zoo events, holiday lights and shows with dates we checked on the official pages.

How long are the drives?

Oklahoma City and Tulsa are under two hours apart on the turnpike, so either one makes an easy overnight. 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.