While it'south dandy to programme and save upwards for a large, weeklong family vacation, sometimes it'south just as good to become away for a long weekend with the kids. And weekend trips can often exist cheaper—depending where yous go, that is. Programme your next escape with 1 of these cheap family weekend getaways.
oxford Mississippi rowan oak home; Courtesy Visit Oxford Mississippi

1. Oxford, Mississippi

Known as the "Cultural Mecca of the S," Oxford, Mississippi, is a bang-up alternative to pricier destinations similar Charleston and Savannah. Average daily hotel rates can start as low as the $75-range, and it's within a few hours by car from cities similar Memphis (where y'all would fly to if traveling by aeroplane); Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama. Access is costless at the University of Mississippi Museum, whose collection includes everything from 19th-century scientific instruments to artwork by Georgia O'Keeffe and Man Ray and which offers a diverseness of kid-friendly events and programs. William Faulkner's home Rowan Oak is likewise nether the museum's umbrella, where information technology's free to roam the grounds and only $5 to tour the house. Head to the historic boondocks foursquare to find Neilson's Department Store (the oldest continuously running department store in the Southward) and legendary Square Books, where the whole family tin can detect good reads and nourish free live tapings of the Thacker Mount Radio Hour.

Recommended Hotel: Tru by Hilton Oxford

Washington, D.C. National Zoo; Courtesy of Washington.org

2. Washington, D.C.

If you live close enough to either drive or take a train into Washington, D.C., you tin have an affordable weekend getaway here. That'due south because admission is free at the 17 DC-area Smithsonian museums, where the kids can check out everything from dinosaur fossils to an Apollo Lunar Landing Module, and the National Zoo, where you can find resident pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. At that place'south also no cost to visit major city landmarks like the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, or to take a tour of the U.S. Capitol. It's easy and affordable to become around by human foot or via the metropolis's Metro subway and bus organisation. And at that place are lots of good, cheap eats to be found, from the legendary half-smokes at local institution Ben's Chili Bowl to the crab cake sandwiches at Market Lunch in Eastern Market place. Tip: To potentially salve even more coin, check out hotels near Metro stops simply beyond the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, which can often exist cheaper and are simply a curt subway ride away.

Recommended Hotel: Hyatt Place Washington DC / National Mall

Related: Cheap Weekend Getaways from 9 Major U.S. Cities
Scranton, Pennsylvania Steamtown; Courtesy of TripAdvisor Traveler/Tony J

three. Scranton, Pennsylvania

Nearly two hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, Scranton is a cheap weekend getaway that ticks a lot of boxes—particularly if yous've got tweens and teens who've been binging The Part. There'south a free, self-guided walking tour that will accept you to spots around the urban center made famous by the bear witness. Piffling train lovers volition want to visit the Steamtown National Historic Site (free admission, extra fees for train rides), while the whole family will enjoy spending fourth dimension at Nay Aug Park, dwelling to an oh-so-cool treehouse, two playgrounds, walking trails, and two pools plus a waterside complex ($5 for pools and waterslides, costless for everything else). The park also sits along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, a more than-70-mile stretch for hiking and biking that travels alongside its namesake river. Average daily hotel rates in the city can offset as low every bit $75.

Recommended Hotel: Hampton Inn Scranton at Montage Mountain

Rockford, Illinois Rock Cut State Park; Courtesy of TripAdvisor Traveler/150177hamidha

four. Rockford, Illinois

Less than ii hours from Chicago and Milwaukee, Rockford is a city on the rise. This "Amateur Sports Capital of the Midwest" is habitation to spots like the new Atwood Park Silent Sports Trail Organisation, whose first five miles are open for hiking and biking, and the site of free shows put on by the Ski Broncs water-skiing squad during the summer. Go line-fishing, ice skating, hiking, or cross-country skiing at Stone Cut Country Park (costless admission) or effort to spot some paranormal activeness at the supposedly haunted Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum ($8 for adults, $5 for kids). The Burpee Museum of Natural History ($x adults, $8 kids) features the world'south most-consummate and best-preserved juvenile T. rex skeleton (named Jane), while the Rockford Art Museum offers free access for kids ($7 adults), equally well as gratis family unit-friendly programming. The kids can also burn down off some energy at the Grove Nature Playscape, a playground made with materials similar fallen logs and tree stumps at Severson Dells Nature Middle (free).

Recommended Hotel: Hampton Inn Rockford

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina boardwalk; Courtesy of Myrtle Beach CVB

5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

This perennial family fave for a beach trip as well makes for a cheap weekend getaway, with the average nightly hotel rate coming in at effectually $110. In improver to lx miles of gratuitous beaches, the area besides offers a slew of no- or low-cost activities for the whole family. In that location's free admission at spots like the Franklin 1000. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum and Vereen Memorial Gardens, and free amusement at locations similar the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Broadway at the Embankment during the summer months. Myrtle Beach is as well home to more than than 35 mini-golf courses and a land park ($8 adults, $four kids) that's great for surf fishing, bird watching, and shelling. Tickets to the Brookgreen Gardens complex aren't super cheap ($18 adults, $x kids), but they're practiced for up to seven consecutive days, which means you can spend some time at its Botanical Gardens one day and then come dorsum to visit its Lowcountry Zoo another.

Recommended Hotel: Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark

Murrieta, California Oaks sports park; Courtesy of TripAdvisor Traveler/SoCalOregonian

6. Murrieta, California

An easy getaway from Los Angeles or San Diego, Murrieta offers activities for all kinds of interests. The city is home to more than 50 free parks including California Oaks Sports Park, which has lawn tennis and basketball game courts, a skateboard park, and a playground. Information technology'southward also a great place for hiking and biking at spots like the Sylvan Meadows Multi-Utilise Area, where yous might see poppies and other wildflowers in bloom during the spring. Have the mile-plus trail to Tenaja Falls or bring a picnic to Lake Skinner Recreation Area ($half dozen adults, $iii kids), where there's also a splash pad for the little ones. Kid hotspot Mulligan Family Fun Centre has mini-golf, go-karts, arcade games, and rides. The Murrieta expanse is domicile to family-friendly breweries like 8 Bit Brewing Visitor and is also a jumping-off point for Temecula Wine State. Boilerplate hotel rates are in the $75 to $115 a night range.

Recommended Hotel: Condolement Inn & Suites Murrieta Temecula Vino Land

Dublin, Ohio giant dancing rabbit sculpture; Courtesy TripAdvisor Traveler/mitsugirly

7. Dublin, Ohio

Get a gustation of Ireland without having to travel across the Atlantic in Dublin, Ohio. An easy drive from cities similar Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis (and non far from Columbus, Ohio), Dublin offers authentic Irish pubs and Celtic kid-friendly treats like the Shamrock Sundae at Graeter'due south Ice Cream. The whole family tin can search for the xi magical spots on the gratis Irish gaelic Fairy Door Trail and check out the sculptures that are part of the Dublin Art in Public Places program, which include the striking Field of Corn honoring the area's farming history. Dublin offers more than 100 miles of wheel trails and threescore parks; don't miss Ballantrae Community Park and its free splash pad, located behind a statue of dancing hares, or the waterfalls located around the urban center at spots similar Indian Run Falls Park. Hotels in Dublin average around $125 a nighttime.

Recommended Hotel: Staybridge Suites – Columbus / Dublin

Pensacola, Florida Bay Bluffs Park; Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

8. Pensacola, Florida

Home to award-winning, carbohydrate-sand beaches, the Pensacola Bay surface area makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to watch your budget and still have a great weekend getaway. Hotel rates can get-go as low as $69 a night in the off-season and at that place's a range of options for every toll point. In addition to spending time on the sand, families can look for winged creatures of all kinds at spots along the Pensacola Birding Trail; the area is a major stopping betoken for birds migrating northward in the spring. The free Pensacola Beach Eco-Trail features 29 stops offering info about the plants and animals in the surface area, while Bay Bluffs Park lets visitors travel by boardwalk along its namesake geologic characteristic. Set the teens and their phones loose on the Pensacola Photograph Trail and take the whole fam back to the by at Celebrated Pensacola, where tickets ($eight adults, $4 kids) are expert for seven days and offering access to several unlike sites.

Recommended Hotel: Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach

San Antonio, Texas Enchanted Rock; Courtesy of Visit San Antonio

ix. San Antonio, Texas

For a budget-friendly weekend getaway in a bigger city, try San Antonio, where average hotel rates are under $200 a dark (and sometimes mode under). It's free to visit San Antonio's most famous landmark, the Alamo, along with the city's four other missions. You tin can stroll along the San Antonio River Walk for no charge, or hike or cycle along the River Walk Mission Reach trail. Other admission-gratis spots to explore include the tranquil Japanese Tea Garden and San Pedro Creek Civilisation Park, where the kids tin can splash around in the water while also learning a little well-nigh the city's history and civilization. Head to Historic Market Square for shopping and adept eats, or stop by Yanaguana Garden, an uber-cool free kids' play space at the Hemisfair site that features a splash pad, climbing structures, sand play area, and giant chess and checker boards. End the twenty-four hour period by attending a free showing of "San Antonio – The Saga," a video art project displayed several nights a week on the façade of the urban center's San Fernando Cathedral.

Recommended Hotel: Courtyard past Marriott San Antonio Downtown/Market Square

Kansas City, Missouri children's fountain; Courtesy of Visit Kansas City

10. Kansas City, Missouri

Visit this middle of America city known for barbecue and jazz for some wallet-friendly family fun. It's totally free to ride the KC Streetcar around the city's downtown area; the route travels between River Marketplace, home to the City Market farmers' market and all kinds of nutrient vendors, and historic Union Station, where you'll find a planetarium and the Science Urban center museum. Access is free at the Peace Pavilion, which features 25 interactive exhibits to help teach kids virtually concepts like self-acceptance and cooperation, and the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas Metropolis, where you lot tin learn all about how currency is made. Await for the more than than 200 watery wonders in the City of Fountains and check out the Hallmark Visitors Center (free), where you can learn virtually the history of the greeting card visitor and fifty-fifty make a star-shaped bow to take home as a gift.

Recommended Hotel: The Fontaine

Clear Lake, Iowa

11. Articulate Lake, IA

For a smashing selection of family unit-friendly activities and events, book a cheap family weekend getaway in Clear Lake, Iowa, says Sara Broers of Travel with Sara. "Located two hours south of Minneapolis and two hours north of Des Moines, right off of Interstate 35 in North Iowa, this town of well-nigh 8,000 people is filled with affordable family unit experiences," she says. These include a family-friendly beach, gunkhole tours on the historic Lady of the Lake, water sports galore, holiday events and even a kite festival on the lake in the middle of wintertime.

Recommended Hotel: All-time WESTERN Vacation Social club

Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Courtesy of DnDavis/Shutterstock

12. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

National and state parks are wonderful, budget-friendly destinations that every family should explore, with a wealth of free or low-cost activities ranging from hiking and canoeing to wildlife classes and ranger-led talks. A great example is Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, which is within a one-half-twenty-four hours'southward drive of approximately half the nation'south population. Admission is complimentary, and there are numerous campgrounds throughout the park. Not a camping family? Head to nearby Gatlinburg, which overflows with family-friendly accommodations for all budgets and styles.

Recommended Hotel: Zoder'due south Inn and Suites

Helen, Georgia; Courtesy of Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com

13. Helen, GA

Just an hour and one-half north of Atlanta in the North Georgia Mountains, Helen, Georgia, welcomes families to experience all this German boondocks has to offer. "There is inexpensive river tubing, hiking, biking, golf game and a fun, walkable downtown in Helen," says Becky Beall of The Travel Voice by Becky. In fact, floating down the Chattahoochee through the eye of downtown Helen is one of the boondocks's most pop summertime activities. Visitors also honey shopping in the eclectic stores, sampling sweetness treats at the Hansel & Gretal Processed Company, and touring the surface area's wineries.

Recommended Hotel: Heidi Motel

What to Pack for Your Side by side Trip

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