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

Tennessee Valley weekend getaways with kids

Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham and Huntsville. Chattanooga is the hub, two to two and a half hours from each of the others, and Huntsville is about two hours from Birmingham, Chattanooga and Nashville. 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 weekends5 cities6 of 6 picked

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

Tennessee Valley
Oct 23–25BirminghamHoots & HowlsDino SafariOct 30–Nov 1NashvilleBoo at the ZooNashville Zoo at GrassmereNov 6–8NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"Gaylord Opryland ResortNov 13–15BirminghamDisney On IceLegacy Arena at the BJCCNov 20–22KnoxvilleDisney On IceKnoxville Civic ColiseumNov 27–29ChattanoogaEnchanted Garden of LightsRock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.Friday fun
WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25

The pickWeekend of Oct 23–25: Birmingham

Hoots & Howls is Halloween in daylight, 10 to 4, and Dino Safari's robotic dinosaurs are in their last weeks. You'll be done before nap.

Drive: about 2 hr from Huntsville · about 2 hr 30 min from Chattanooga · about 3 hr 15 min from Nashville · about 4 hr 15 min from Knoxville

Hoots & Howls

Daytime Halloween with candy stations around the zoo. Runs through Oct. 31.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Birmingham Zoo
See the zoo's ticket page
Official page

Dino Safari

Ends Nov. 1.

Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Birmingham Zoo
See the zoo's ticket page
Official page
Birmingham city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Birmingham

Also this weekend in the region

Nashville~3h 15m
  • Boo at the Zoo, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 5–9 p.m., Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. $23 Fri–Sun for ages 2 and up; under 2 free; parking $10. Official page
Chattanooga~2h 30m
  • Boo in the Zoo, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, 4–8 p.m., Chattanooga Zoo. Separate ticket from regular admission. Official page
Huntsville~2h
  • Halloween Bash at EarlyWorks, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, 3–7:30 p.m., EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. $12 ages 4+; 3 and under free. Official page
  • Monster Mash, Sat Oct 24, 10 a.m.–noon, Mark Russell Recreation Center. Free. Official page
WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1

The pickWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Nashville

Boo at the Zoo's final three nights: 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday.

Drive: about 2 hr 15 min from Chattanooga · about 2 hr 15 min from Huntsville · about 3 hr from Knoxville · about 3 hr 15 min from Birmingham

Boo at the Zoo

10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday, Nov. 1. Billed as spooky, not scary.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · 5–9 p.m.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
$23 Fri–Sun for ages 2 and up; under 2 free; parking $10
Official page
Nashville city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Nashville

Also this weekend in the region

Chattanooga~2h 15m
  • Boo in the Zoo, Sat Oct 31, 4–8 p.m., Chattanooga Zoo. Separate ticket from regular admission. Official page
Birmingham~3h 15m
  • Hoots & Howls, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Official page
  • Dino Safari, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Official page
WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8

The pickWeekend of Nov 6–8: Nashville

A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights.

Drive: about 2 hr 15 min from Chattanooga · about 2 hr 15 min from Huntsville · about 3 hr from Knoxville · about 3 hr 15 min from Birmingham

A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"

Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6.

Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · See Gaylord Opryland
Gaylord Opryland Resort
Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately
Official page
Nashville city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Nashville
WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15

The pickWeekend of Nov 13–15: Birmingham

Disney On Ice is at the BJCC's Legacy Arena Thursday through Sunday, the first of three Disney On Ice stops in the region this month.

Drive: about 2 hr from Huntsville · about 2 hr 30 min from Chattanooga · about 3 hr 15 min from Nashville · about 4 hr 15 min from Knoxville

Disney On Ice

In Birmingham Nov. 12–15.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · See the tour page for show times
Legacy Arena at the BJCC
See the tour page
Official page
Birmingham city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Birmingham

Also this weekend in the region

Nashville~3h 15m
  • A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone", Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, See Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Opryland Resort. Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately. Official page
  • Glow Wild, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, 5–9 p.m., Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. $27 per night; under 2 free; parking $10. Official page
Chattanooga~2h 30m
  • Enchanted Garden of Lights, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Nightly, Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.. See Rock City for tickets. Official page
WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22

The pickWeekend of Nov 20–22: Knoxville

Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Chattanooga · about 3 hr from Nashville · about 4 hr from Huntsville · about 4 hr 15 min from Birmingham

Disney On Ice

In Knoxville Nov. 19–22.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · See the tour page for show times
Knoxville Civic Coliseum
See the tour page
Official page
Knoxville city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Knoxville

Also this weekend in the region

Nashville~3h
  • A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone", Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, See Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Opryland Resort. Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately. Official page
  • Glow Wild, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 5–9 p.m., Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. $27 per night; under 2 free; parking $10. Official page
Chattanooga~1h 45m
  • Enchanted Garden of Lights, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Nightly, Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.. See Rock City for tickets. Official page
Birmingham~4h 15m
  • Glow Wild, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 5–9 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Official page
WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29
Friday fun: day-after pickTurkey week: school is out

The pickWeekend of Nov 27–29: Chattanooga

Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights on Lookout Mountain, lit nightly from Nov. 13.

Drive: about 1 hr 45 min from Knoxville · about 2 hr from Huntsville · about 2 hr 15 min from Nashville · about 2 hr 30 min from Birmingham

Enchanted Garden of Lights

Nightly from Nov. 13; closed Dec. 24.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Nightly
Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
See Rock City for tickets
Official page
Chattanooga city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Chattanooga

Also this weekend in the region

Nashville~2h 15m
  • A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone", Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Opryland Resort. Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately. Official page
  • Glow Wild, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 5–9 p.m., Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. $27 per night; under 2 free; parking $10. Official page
Birmingham~2h 30m
  • Glow Wild, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 5–9 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Official page
From your city

Picked for where you start

From NashvilleFrom ChattanoogaFrom KnoxvilleFrom BirminghamFrom HuntsvilleAll 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

Tennessee Valley getaways: the FAQ

Which Tennessee Valley city is best for a weekend with little kids?

It changes every weekend. Over the next 6 weekends our picks are Birmingham, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, 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?

Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham and Huntsville. Chattanooga is the hub, two to two and a half hours from each of the others, and Huntsville is about two hours from Birmingham, Chattanooga and Nashville. 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.