Cartoon family car on a winding road, pumpkin-patch road trip scene

Next 6 weekends · Oct 23–25 to Nov 27–29

Weekend getaways from Wichita with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Wichita for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.

6 weekends

2 cities

Closest: 2h 45m

Last checked Oct 18, 2026 against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Wichita

Oct 23–25Oklahoma CityHaunt the Zoo · 2h 45mOklahoma City ZooNap in the car Oct 30–Nov 1TulsaHallowZOOeen · 3hTulsa ZooOvernight Nov 6–8Oklahoma CityOKC Renaissance and Scottish Festival · 2h 45mOKC Fair Park, between Gates 1 and 2Nap in the car Nov 13–15Oklahoma CityDevon Ice Rink · 2h 45mSafari LightsNap in the car Nov 20–22Oklahoma CityDevon Ice Rink · 2h 45mSafari LightsNap in the car Nov 27–29TulsaRhema Christmas Lights · 3hBotanic Garden of LightsOvernight

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

Each ring is one hour of driving from Wichita. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.

Oklahoma City2h 45m

Tulsa3h

Kansas City3h 30m

Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.

WEEKEND 1

Oct 23–25

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 23–25: Oklahoma City

about 2 hr 45 min from Wichita

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

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 guide Visiting with little kids This week in Oklahoma City

Also within reach

Kansas City~3h 30m

Boo at the Zoo both days from 9:30 to 5, included with admission, then GloWild's giant lanterns after dark if anyone's still awake.

Tulsa~3h

HallowZOOeen, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

WEEKEND 2

Oct 30–Nov 1

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Tulsa

about 3 hr from Wichita

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

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

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 guide Visiting with little kids This week in Tulsa

Also within reach

Kansas City~3h 30m

Penguin March at the zoo on Saturday and Sunday, plus GloWild's lanterns in the evening.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 6–8

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Oklahoma City

about 2 hr 45 min from Wichita

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.

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 guide Visiting with little kids This week in Oklahoma City

Also within reach

Kansas City~3h 30m

The Crown Center Ice Terrace opens Friday with a free skate, and GloWild's lanterns are lit Friday to Sunday evenings.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 13–15

2h 45m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 13–15: Oklahoma City

about 2 hr 45 min from Wichita

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.

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 guide Visiting with little kids This week in Oklahoma City

Also within reach

Kansas City~3h 30m

GloWild lanterns, Wednesday to Sunday evenings.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 20–22

2h 45m

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 20–22: Oklahoma City

about 2 hr 45 min from Wichita

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

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 guide Visiting with little kids This week in Oklahoma City

Also within reach

Kansas City~3h 30m

GloWild at the zoo, the Pigeon's holiday show at Crown Center and the Ice Terrace next door. Do one before nap and one after.

WEEKEND 6

Nov 27–29

Destination · 2 picksWeekend of Nov 27–29: Tulsa

about 3 hr from Wichita

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.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

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 guide Visiting with little kids This week in Tulsa

Also within reach

Oklahoma City~2h 45m

Safari Lights and the Devon Ice Rink.

Kansas City~3h 30m

The Crown Center tree lighting and Santa's arrival on Friday, plus GloWild.

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.

More trips

Every region, every weekend

Plains weekends

All regions

This week in Wichita

Good questions

Weekend trips from Wichita: the FAQ

Where can we go for a weekend from Wichita with little kids?

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Wichita are Oklahoma City, Tulsa. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

Which cities are within an easy drive of Wichita?

Oklahoma City (about 2 hr 45 min), Tulsa (about 3 hr), Kansas City (about 3 hr 30 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

Why is the same city picked more than once?

Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

Are the times and prices current?

They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.