Weekend Trips in the USA for Busy Families

Are you looking for a weekend trip to take with your kids? You’re in the right place! I’m a mom of 4, my kids attend regular school and play plenty of sports among the 4 of them, so our schedule is suddenly jam packed.

I miss the days when the kids were little and we had absolutely nothing on the schedule besides my husband’s job.

But at the same time, travel has become so much easier now that the kids are older! We don’t need to think about cribs, diapers and wipes, or multiple car seats. We’re down to just one travel booster seat, and we occasionally still bring our travel stroller if we plan to do a lot of walking.

So in this new stage of life with a busy schedule but very capable big kids, weekend getaways are starting to look MUCH more enticing.

A weekend getaway is just a small taste of a destination, and it’s enough to break up the monotony of chores, basketball tournaments, and schoolwork to give everyone the refresh they need.

But not every place we’re visited is a good destination for a weekend getaway. South Dakota, for example, is a vacation I think every family should add to their bucket list, but it would NOT make for a good weekend getaway because it’s somewhat hard to get to, there’s a lot of driving, and it would be hard to pack everything into 2 short days.

So my criteria for a weekend getaway is that it’s somewhat easy to get to, you can pack a lot into 2-3 days, and it’s a special or unique place that will feel different from your hometown.

I’ve broken my list up into categories, so it’s easier to find the type of getaway you’re looking for, although some trips could fit into multiple categories, or they don’t fit neatly into any category at all.

So without further ado, here are my picks as a family travel content creator and a mom of 4 for the best weekend getaways for families in the United States.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Beachy Weekend Trips

Just a heads up that most of my weekend getaway ideas are located in Florida. Although in summer there are many more options for a weekend beach getaway, these destinations I picked here are warm pretty much year-round. Plus we lived in Florida for 5 years so that’s where most of my experience is!

Key West

I feel like not many people consider Key West as a weekend getaway, but I think it’s the PERFECT place to go for 2-3 days of sun, sand, and island vibes.

There’s an airport in Key West, so if you can find a reasonable flight into Key West International Airport, you can really maximize your time in the destination!

I would recommend the Margaritaville Beach House Key West for families since they have 2 bedroom suites with bunk beds that were a perfect fit for our family of 6. It’s also right across the street from Smathers Beach, one of the best beaches in Key West!

A few spots to consider hitting on your weekend getaway:

Mallory Square for the sunset celebration
Southernmost Point Buoy
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
Old Town Trolley Tour
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

Here are 19 Fun Things to Do in Key West with Kids!

San Diego

San Diego is a great year-round destination for a quick weekend trip. The weather is comfortable if not downright warm any time of year, which means you can hit the beach even in the dead of winter.

Fly into San Diego International Airport (or LAX, rent a car, and enjoy the scenic drive if LAX is cheaper to fly into).

If you fly into LAX and it’s spring, be sure to stop at Carlsbad Flower Fields on the way down to San Diego to see millions of colorful blooms. They have a great scavenger hunt for kids, which makes it a fun activity for the entire family.

We stayed at Hyatt Regency La Jolla which we booked on points by transferring our Chase Ultimate Reward Points earned through my Chase Sapphire Preferred card to Hyatt.

This hotel was great with kids! They had tons of yard games outside, a huge pool, and s’more kits you could purchase to enjoy outside when the evening gets cooler.

San Diego is wonderful because it combines a beachy destination with the perks of a big city with great hiking, beautiful beaches, and plenty of museums, theme parks, and kid-friendly attractions nearby.

You could easily spend the entire weekend at the beach in San Diego, but if the weather is cooler than you’d like, here are a few things to do in San Diego with kids on a weekend trip:

San Diego Zoo
Balboa Park
USS Midway Museum
La Jolla Cove to see the sea lions
Birch Aquarium

Here are 30 Fun Things to do in San Diego with Kids, and here’s our entire Southern California Road Trip Itinerary (yes, we stayed longer than a weekend, but I still think San Diego makes a perfect weekend trip).

San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico often gets overlooked as a beachy destination because people might forget that it’s a territory of the United States, and therefore US citizens don’t need a passport to visit!

But if you live on the east coast or in the Southeast United States, it’s a very quick plane ride to San Juan, the weather is warm all year round, and there are stunning beaches and fun things to do!

Fly into San Juan International Airport, and rent a car to get to your hotel. We stayed at the Hyatt Place San Juan, also booked on points, and we loved it because a standard hotel room can fit 6 people. We have 4 kids so this worked perfectly for us. By the way, if you’re booking a family of 5 or 6 and the website isn’t letting you enter that many guests, just email the hotel and ask them what the best room is for your family of 5 or 6. That’s what I did, and they had me book for a party of 4, then they added my other 2 kids manually to the reservation.

Hyatt Place San Juan has a great pool with a play area and small water slide for kids, plus a free shuttle to Old San Juan.

Another great option is Caribe Hilton San Juan. This hotel has more of a resort feel with multiple pools, including a specific kids pool, a beach on property, and several restaurants.

A few things to do in San Juan for just a quick weekend getaway with kids:

Visit Old San Juan
Feed the pigeons at Parque de Las Palomas
Try piña coladas (they have non-alcoholic options for kids) at Barrachina where they were invented
Escambrón Beach
Spend ½ a day at El Yunque National Forest
Visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Here’s a full guide to San Juan with Kids.

St. Augustine

We lived 30 minutes south of St. Augustine for 5 years, and to this day it remains one of my favorite destinations with kids.

You can fly into Daytona Beach or Jacksonville for your weekend trip, and there are lots of great hotel options, though we’ve never stayed at a hotel in St. Augustine since we lived so close!

I would say renting a car is your best bet if you want to go to the beach and enjoy the pedestrian only area of St. Augustine as they’re a bit far apart.

A few things to do in St. Augustine on a weekend trip:

Visit St. Augustine Beach - a very wide beach with sugary soft sand, plus a splash pad nearby if you have toddlers and preschoolers!
Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park (remember learning about Ponce de Leon in school?)
Castillo de San Marcos
Colonial Quarter
Historic District + St. George Street

Side note: this would make a VERY fun Christmas weekend getaway since St. Augustine puts on Nights of Lights from November to early January. It’s one of the top 10 lights displays in the world with millions of white lights strung up around the history city. They even have trolley rides with 3D glasses that play Christmas carols and bring the lights to life. We took our kids a few times and it was magical.

Destin

Destin is a perfect beach destination for families thanks to the calm Gulf Coast waters and sugar sand beaches. And it’s great if you only have a few days because the main focus of this area is the beautiful beaches!

I think Destin works best for families who are looking to relax in the sun and the sand, as well as the hotel pool.

You can fly directly into Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, otherwise there are airports not too far away in Panama City Beach or Pensacola.

Stay at the Hilton Sandestin (I haven’t stayed there myself, but I’ve heard it’s a great option for families), or try the Hampton Inn & Suites Destin for a more budget-friendly spot! We stayed here and the kids loved the pool, the free breakfast, and it was within walking distance of the beach.

Our favorite thing to do in Destin besides swimming was the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise! It was right around sunset and we got to see so many dolphins - plus they let the kids help steer the ship.

Here are 8 Great Things to do in Destin with Kids!

City Weekend Trips

Washington DC

Washington DC is a perfect place for a weekend escape with kids. It’s walkable, and there’s public transportation from the airport to city center so you don’t need to pack a carseat, plus all of the main museums, monuments, and memorials are free and within walking distance of each other.

You can pack so much into a short period of time.

Fly into DCA Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport and take the Dulles Airport Metro Line into the city. We stayed at Hyatt Place Washington DC/White House which you can easily book on points, it has free breakfast, plus it’s within walking distance of everything you’ll want to see.

Check out the White House, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and so much more.

Here’s the perfect 2-day itinerary for visiting Washington DC with Kids.

Seattle

Seattle is such a unique city, and I think you can really get a taste of it on a quick weekend visit. We found direct flights from Milwaukee into Seattle on Delta, and because of the time change, our early morning flight got us into Seattle by 10:00 a.m! We had so much time to explore.

We stayed at the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle by IHG since it was one of the few hotels I could find that fit a family of 6 (plus I love IHG hotels).

You rented a car, but we probably didn’t need it in Seattle since we walked to all of the main attractions. A few things to see on a weekend visit include: Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Waterfront.

Chicago

I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee, so we went to Chicago quite often! I loved taking my kids for a quick visit, and what I love about Chicago is that there is so much to do you can always come back and see totally different things!

Fly into Chicago O’Hare Airport. You can rent a car, but parking is so expensive and such a pain you might be better off using public transportation. We were hosted by Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on our visit, which was an incredible experience if you want to splurge! If you’re on more of a budget, I always love a stay at Embassy Suites with kids, so the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile is a great option.

Get the Chicago Go City Pass to save money, and plan to see hte Shedd Aquarium, the 360 Chicago Observation Tower, the Field Museum (to see Sue the TRex), visit Millennium Park where you can see the Cloud Gate Sculpture, otherwise known as The Bean, walk along the Lake Front, visit Navy Pier, see the free Lincoln Park Zoo, and walk along the River Walk.

Read 30 Terrific Things to Do in Chicago with Kids here!

Nashville

Nashville is an excellent destination for a weekend getaway since so many of the unique country music related sights are located within walking distance of each other!

Fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA). We were driving from our home in Florida to visit our relatives in Wisconsin, so we didn’t fly in or rent a car, but whether or not you rent a car will depend on your plans. If you plan to stay in the city center for the weekend, you probably won’t need a car.

We stayed at the Omni Nashville Hotel which was absolutely stunning, and so kid-friendly! They had Omni Kids Crew gift bags for the kids when we arrived, and free milk and cookies delivered to our room on the first night! It was a great location, within walking distance of everything.

If you’re on a smaller budget, 2 hotels I haven’t stayed at in this location, but that I have loved in other locations are Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown and Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown. We love Hyatt Place because they have standard rooms that can fit a family of 6 plus free breakfast! And we love Drury Hotels because they have spacious rooms for big families, a free breakfast, AND a free 5:30 p.m Kickback where they serve a buffet of hot food. You can save so much money on food staying at a Drury Hotel with a family!

Some of our favorite things to do in Nashville with kids are riding the Trolley, stopping at GooGoo to buy some GooGoo Clusters, visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame which has a scavenger hunt for kids, the Ryman, the Grand Ole Opry, having lunch at a honky tonk, and visiting Centennial Park!

Read 22 Fun Things to Do in Nashville with Kids to plan your weekend itinerary!

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is such an underrated city that often gets overshadowed by nearby Chicago, but it’s a fun city with a lot of character.

I grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee, so I know pretty well from my own childhood, but we recently took our kids there for a weekend visit, and had the best time!

Fly into Milwaukee MItchell International Airport (MKE) and rent a car. We stayed at Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown Milwaukee, and the location was excellent! (Plus the free breakfast and kickback? Score).

A few things to add to your weekend itinerary in Milwaukee: the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Milwaukee Art Museum, a tour of AmFam Field where the Milwaukee Brewers play, walking the River Walk and posing with the Bronze Fonz, and stopping at Milwaukee Public Market for snacks.

Read my Milwaukee with Kids Family Travel Guide for more fun ideas!

Charleston

Charleston is a quaint southern city with tons of charm, making it a great weekend destination for families that live somewhere cold.

We flew into Charleston International Airport (CHS) and rented a car. Actually we combined Charleston and Savannah for a 5 day trip, so if you have a longer trip, feel free to use that itinerary, too!

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Charleston Historic District which was within walking distance of everything and had a great free breakfast and evening manager’s reception with light snacks.

There’s so much history in Charleston, so this would make a great short trip for families with history lovers. We took the Ferry to Fort Sumpter where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired. It was fascinating to see it in person.

You can also take a carriage ride through the historic district, visit the Pineapple Statue at Waterfront Park, and see Rainbow Row.

Read my Charleston with Kids Travel Guide to get your planning started!

Savannah

Head to Savannah for a charming weekend getaway, especially when you’re trying to escape the winter weather!

Fly into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and rent a car. We stayed at Hotel Indigo Savannah since I was with my parents and youngest child when we visited, but if you have a family of 5 or 6, I would recommend the Embassy Suites Savannah Historic District.

While in Savannah, take an Old Town Trolley Tour, wander through the historic squares, visit Forsyth Park and let the kids play on the playground, visit Wormsloe Historic Site, and hang out at Plant Riverside District. Also, be sure to stop at Byrd’s Famous Cookies for all the free cookie samples you want!

Read Fun Things to Do In Savannah with Kids to help plan your itinerary!

Boston

Of course Boston is the quintessential weekend getaway destination! I’ve visited several times, both in spring and summer, but I really think it would be so lovely in autumn.

Boston, like Charleston, is full of history, and therefore I think it would be a fun quick trip with older kids that have taken some U.S. History classes.

I haven’t had a chance to visit Boston with my kids yet, so I don’t have a personal recommendation for a hotel, but I would recommend using public transportation to get around or just walking. There’s no need to rent a car for a weekend getaway!

Be sure to walk the Freedom Trail, take a Boston Duck Tour, visit the Public Garden, plus the many museums, aquariums, and more.

Outdoor Weekend Trips

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a great home base for outdoor adventure! So while Las Vegas itself could be a fun weekend getaway, I prefer to use it to explore some beautiful parks nearby.

Fly into Harry Reid International Airport, rent a car, and check into your hotel. We actually chose an Airbnb just off the Strip, but there are plenty of amazing hotels and resorts to choose from in Vegas.

A few spots to consider visiting near Las Vegas include Seven Magic Mountains (a colorful art installation in the desert just 30 minutes outside the city), Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and Valley of Fire State Park.

We visited for a week during spring break one year, but I think you could condense our itinerary down and have a fun weekend trip packed with beautiful scenery.

Read our entire Las Vegas itinerary here!

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is located about 2 and a half hours from SeaTac Airport, so while it would be a lot of driving, I think this national park makes a magical getaway for families.

Fly into Seattle Tacoma International Airport, rent a car, and head out right away for Olympic National Park Visitor Center.

We went in March, so we stayed at Kalaloch Lodge which was one of the few lodges open inside the national park during spring, and they had cabins that fit our family of 6.

Make time for the tide pools in the coastal area (Beach 4 near Kalaloch had amazing tide pooling), hike around Lake Crescent, and walk through one of the temperate rainforests like Hoh Rainforest or Quinault Rainforest. If you’re visiting in summer add some mountain hiking to your itinerary, too!

Read my Tips for Visiting Olympic National Park with Kids to help plan your trip!

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is the perfect place for an outdoorsy weekend adventure. You can fly directly into Colorado Springs Airport and rent a car. A few hotels that have rooms that work for families of 5 or 6 include Best Western Plus, Embassy Suites, or Hyatt Place.

A few places you must visit in Colorado Springs include Pike’s Peak, Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Manitou Springs, and Cave of the Winds Mountain Park.

Sun Valley

Sun Valley, ID is known for its ski resorts, but visiting during the shoulder season is the key to making this spot a magical weekend getaway! We visited in fall one year and there were no crowds, and the trees were shimmering gold.

Fly into Boise International Airport, rent a car, and drive the 2 hours and 45 minutes to Sun Valley. We stayed in nearby Hailey, ID at the Wood River Inn to save money.

Things to do in fall in Sun Valley include walking the Wood River Trail, hiking Adam’s Gulch, take a scenic drive to Galena Summit, explore the town of Ketchum, and visit Draper Wood River Preserve.

Read: A Fall Trip to Sun Valley, Idaho with Kids

Palm Springs

If you’re craving warmth and outdoor adventure in the dead of winter, Palm Springs might be the perfect weekend trip for your family!

Fly into Palm Springs International Airport and rent a car. We stayed at Hyatt Palm Springs and the location was right in the middle of town, which was wonderful! It also had a little putt-putt golf course that the kids loved. If you have kids and you want more of a resort stay I would recommend the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort.

You could use Palm Springs as a home base to visit Joshua Tree National Park, but we decided to stay local and hike Palm Canyon. It was a beautiful oasis in the shade of palm trees, and the perfect easy hike for little kids.

Walk around downtown Palm Springs, visit Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, take the aerial tram to the top of a mountain, or visit the Cabazon Dinosaurs.