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

Upper Midwest weekend getaways with kids

Milwaukee and Madison are an hour and a half apart. The Twin Cities are a longer haul, about four and a half hours from Madison. 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 weekends3 cities6 of 6 picked

Last checked against official pages. How we choose

Departures

Upper Midwest
Oct 23–25MilwaukeeBoo at the ZooMilwaukee County ZooOct 30–Nov 1Minneapolis–St. PaulTwelve Kinds of IceJack-O-Lantern Spectacular · Howl-O-Ween at the ZooNov 6–8MilwaukeeFamily Free DayMilwaukee County ZooFree dayNov 13–15MilwaukeeWild Kratts LIVE! 2.0BrainExpoNov 20–22Minneapolis–St. PaulDisney On IceDr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! · Twelve Kinds of IceNov 27–29MilwaukeeWild LightsMilwaukee County ZooFriday fun
WEEKEND 1
Oct 23–25

The pickWeekend of Oct 23–25: Milwaukee

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

Drive: about 1 hr 15 min from Madison · about 5 hr 30 min from Minneapolis–St. Paul

Boo at the Zoo

New this year: daytime hours on Saturday.

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
Official page
Milwaukee city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Milwaukee

Also this weekend in the region

Minneapolis–St. Paul~5h 30m
  • Twelve Kinds of Ice, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Fridays at 7 p.m.; weekend shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (2 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 25), Children's Theatre Company, Cargill Stage, Minneapolis. See CTC for tickets. Official page
  • Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Fri–Sat 5:30 p.m.–midnight; Sun 5:30–11 p.m.; timed entry, Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley. $23–$30 adults, $19–$26 kids; 2 and under free; parking $10 for non-members. Official page
WEEKEND 2
Oct 30–Nov 1

The pickWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Minneapolis–St. Paul

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.

Drive: about 4 hr 30 min from Madison · about 5 hr 30 min from Milwaukee

Twelve Kinds of Ice

A new one-hour musical about a girl and her dad building an ice rink, with ice that freezes right on stage. Best for ages 7 and up.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1 · Fridays at 7 p.m.; weekend shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (2 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 25)
Children's Theatre Company, Cargill Stage, Minneapolis
See CTC for tickets
Official page

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

A wooded trail of more than 5,000 carved, glowing pumpkins with a trivia game built into the carvings. Oct. 31 is an adults-only night, and tickets are online only and usually sell out.

Fri Oct 30, Sun Nov 1 · Fri–Sat 5:30 p.m.–midnight; Sun 5:30–11 p.m.; timed entry
Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
$23–$30 adults, $19–$26 kids; 2 and under free; parking $10 for non-members
Official page

Howl-O-Ween at the Zoo

Daytime Halloween with a costume dance party and animals getting pumpkin treats.

Sat Oct 31 · 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Central Plaza, Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
See the zoo for daytime admission
Official page
Minneapolis–St. Paul city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Minneapolis–St. Paul
WEEKEND 3
Nov 6–8
Free day: no admission

The pickWeekend of Nov 6–8: Milwaukee

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

Drive: about 1 hr 15 min from Madison · about 5 hr 30 min from Minneapolis–St. Paul

Family Free Day

Everyone gets in free on the first Saturday in November.

Sat Nov 7 · Zoo hours
Milwaukee County Zoo
Free admission; parking and attraction fees still apply
Official page
Milwaukee city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Milwaukee

Also this weekend in the region

Minneapolis–St. Paul~5h 30m
  • Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Fridays at 7 p.m. (2 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27); weekend matinees between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Children's Theatre Company, UnitedHealth Group Stage, Minneapolis. See CTC for tickets; lap passes $5 for kids 3 and under. Official page
  • Twelve Kinds of Ice, Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Fridays at 7 p.m.; weekend shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (2 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 25), Children's Theatre Company, Cargill Stage, Minneapolis. See CTC for tickets. Official page
WEEKEND 4
Nov 13–15

The pickWeekend of Nov 13–15: Milwaukee

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.

Drive: about 1 hr 15 min from Madison · about 5 hr 30 min from Minneapolis–St. Paul

Wild Kratts LIVE! 2.0

Martin and Chris Kratt on stage with the rest of the team on screen, in an all-new creature-power adventure.

Sun Nov 15 · 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Miller High Life Theatre
See the Pabst Theater Group for tickets
Official page

BrainExpo

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.

Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
MCW Alumni Center
Free admission and parking; RSVP requested
Official page
Milwaukee city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Milwaukee

Also this weekend in the region

Minneapolis–St. Paul~5h 30m
  • Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Fridays at 7 p.m. (2 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27); weekend matinees between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Children's Theatre Company, UnitedHealth Group Stage, Minneapolis. See CTC for tickets; lap passes $5 for kids 3 and under. Official page
  • Twelve Kinds of Ice, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Fridays at 7 p.m.; weekend shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (2 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 25), Children's Theatre Company, Cargill Stage, Minneapolis. See CTC for tickets. Official page
WEEKEND 5
Nov 20–22

The pickWeekend of Nov 20–22: Minneapolis–St. Paul

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.

Drive: about 4 hr 30 min from Madison · about 5 hr 30 min from Milwaukee

Disney On Ice

In St. Paul Nov. 19–22.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · See the tour page for show times
Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul
See the tour page
Official page

Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

CTC's own Grinch musical, back for the holidays with Reed Sigmund in the green fur for a ninth year. About 1 hour 50 minutes with an intermission.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · Fridays at 7 p.m. (2 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27); weekend matinees between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Children's Theatre Company, UnitedHealth Group Stage, Minneapolis
See CTC for tickets; lap passes $5 for kids 3 and under
Official page

Twelve Kinds of Ice

A new one-hour musical about a girl and her dad building an ice rink, with ice that freezes right on stage. Best for ages 7 and up.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · Fridays at 7 p.m.; weekend shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (2 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 25)
Children's Theatre Company, Cargill Stage, Minneapolis
See CTC for tickets
Official page
Minneapolis–St. Paul city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Minneapolis–St. Paul

Also this weekend in the region

Milwaukee~5h 30m
  • Wild Lights, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 5:30–9 p.m. (gates close 8:15), Milwaukee County Zoo. $15 adults and kids 3–12 (early-bird online price through Nov. 8); 2 and under free; parking included. Official page
  • Holiday Folk Fair International, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri 2–9 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis. $13 in advance for ages 8 and up. Official page
Madison~4h 30m
  • Zoo Lights, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Henry Vilas Zoo. $12; four-pack $40; 3 and under free, no ticket needed. Official page
WEEKEND 6
Nov 27–29
Friday fun: day-after pickTurkey week: school is out

The pickWeekend of Nov 27–29: Milwaukee

Wild Lights is open Friday and Saturday, with parking included. It's closed Sunday.

Drive: about 1 hr 15 min from Madison · about 5 hr 30 min from Minneapolis–St. Paul

Wild Lights

Closed Nov. 23–26 and Nov. 29–30. Sunday, Nov. 22 is a drive-thru night.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28 · 5:30–9 p.m. (gates close 8:15)
Milwaukee County Zoo
$15 adults and kids 3–12 (early-bird online price through Nov. 8); 2 and under free; parking included
Official page
Milwaukee city guideVisiting with little kidsThis week in Milwaukee

Also this weekend in the region

Madison~1h 15m
  • Zoo Lights, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Henry Vilas Zoo. $12; four-pack $40; 3 and under free, no ticket needed. Official page
Minneapolis–St. Paul~5h 30m
  • Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fridays at 7 p.m. (2 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27); weekend matinees between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Children's Theatre Company, UnitedHealth Group Stage, Minneapolis. See CTC for tickets; lap passes $5 for kids 3 and under. Official page
From your city

Picked for where you start

From MilwaukeeFrom MadisonFrom Minneapolis–St. PaulAll 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

Upper Midwest getaways: the FAQ

Which Upper Midwest city is best for a weekend with little kids?

It changes every weekend. Over the next 6 weekends our picks are Milwaukee, Minneapolis–St. Paul, 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?

Milwaukee and Madison are an hour and a half apart. The Twin Cities are a longer haul, about four and a half hours from Madison. 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.