Best Quick and Affordable Family Trips From Illinois
Wondering where to go on a family weekend getaway in the Midwest? In that location are tons of fun family unit road trips from the Chicago area. Yous'll love exploring all the great cities, small towns, beaches, state parks & more on family unit vacations for spring intermission, summer vacation, or quick weekend getaways.
My family and I accept enjoyed visiting all the cool weekend getaways from Chicago and are excited to share which destinations you should visit adjacent. It's amazing how many awesome travel destinations are merely a brusque bulldoze from Chicago.
Later reading this you're sure to detect the perfect weekend getaways from Chicago right hither in the Midwest. So, keep reading to get inspired by our updated listing of the 11 best family weekend getaways in the Midwest.
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Best Family unit Weekend Getaways from Chicago in the Midwest
Let's start planning where to become on your next weekend getaway in the Midwest. Employ this guide to determine on your next fun family unit getaway from Chicago whether it exist a urban center, national park, or modest embankment town. Then get planning and create your family road trip bucket list.
Map of the Midwest
Use this map to discover the locations in this commodity to get a better idea of the distance you'll need to travel.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is located just 3 hours from Chicago and offers one of the best Children'south museums in the country. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is worth the drive down in itself! It hosts amazing exhibits for all ages of children with hands-on activities they will dearest.
While there, visit the great Indianapolis Zoo which houses Elephants (our favorite), dolphins, orangutans, and more. Then cheque out the super cool Conner Prairie, a historical museum with live people acting out the prairie life. Kids volition love seeing how people lived years ago on the prairie and immerse themselves in that fourth dimension period.
If the conditions is nice, head to the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, a 100-acre outdoor sanctuary. Information technology'due south gratis and the kids tin can run around, hike, and become some energy out while you look at cool outdoor art.
Where to Stay in Indianapolis
Michigan – New Buffalo & St. Joseph
What I love nearly going to southwest Michigan is how close it is to the metropolis. It'due south only 1 1/2 hours to New Buffalo from Chicago and is hands accessible by train for a quick weekend getaway from Chicago. Y'all'll find cute little towns dotting the coast and great beaches.
New Buffalo has a pocket-sized downtown with several fun restaurants and a big public embankment surface area. It'southward a little quieter and laid back than St. Joseph. There are great wineries and huckleberry picking in season too.
Desire more than action? Caput a little further upward north to St. Joseph. This town has the Curious Kids Museum and a pretty lighthouse you tin walk out to and have pictures.
As y'all head to the beach at Silverish Beach Canton Park, you will laissez passer the Silver Beach Carousel and h2o pad area for picayune kids. There is also a great playground on the beach.
When visiting this area, brand sure to check out the Warren Dunes Country Park and try to climb the huge sand dunes.
Before you go read our cool Beach Hacks with clever ways to make a beach mean solar day with kids less stressful and more fun.
If you want an like shooting fish in a barrel family hike, check out Galien River County Park and take a walk upward into the treetops for bang-up views or walk down a low boardwalk to the marsh.
There is then much to do and explore in western Michigan, your sure to have a great time.
Where to Stay in New Buffalo, MI
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Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
You couldn't get much closer than heading to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for a weekend getaway from Chicago. This cute boondocks offers tons of fun activities for families yr-circular.
Take a hike on the Geneva Lake Shore path and gawk at the beautiful homes. And then head into the celebrated boondocks of Lake Geneva to store, have some lunch, and ice cream. Y'all'll love all the succulent restaurants in downtown.
While in downtown, check out the Geneva Lake Museum and the displays on the history of Lake Geneva. Inside, you'll walk downward a re-created street displaying how people lived in the area. Information technology'due south a fun way to go far some history and entertain the kiddos at the same time.
If visiting in warmer months, head to the embankment or take a guided boat ride on the lake. Kids will dearest visiting Safari Lake Geneva a conservation ranch with over 50 animals from five continents.
In the wintertime months, try skiing at Thousand Geneva Resort and visit Winterfest including Water ice Castles in downtown.
Need more fun ideas? Visit my Top Things to Do in Lake Geneva Wisconsin.
Desire somewhere fun to stay with the kids? Attempt Timber Ridge Resort with its own indoor water park and ski hill in the wintertime. Information technology offers nice rooms for various sizes of families and fun family activities.
We as well beloved to visit the Lake Lawn Resort located about ten minutes from Lake Geneva on Lake Delavan. It's been around for 140 years and has a dandy history in the area.
Manifestly updated over the years, it offers a big indoor pool (kids love information technology), daily kids activities similar laser tag & art projects, golf courses, spa, and restaurants. You'll actually savour their wonderful family unit-friendly temper.
Where to Stay in Lake Geneva
Door Canton, Wisconsin
We about recently visited this area for a fun weekend getaway from Chicago. I'll acknowledge it'south a little longer of a drive but so worth information technology to run across this beautiful area packed with then many things to do for families.
Door County is not just one town but a collection of 15 beautiful towns on a peninsula in Wisconsin. You volition notice Lake Michigan on ane side and Green Bay on the other giving yous spectacular views of the lake.
Some of our favorite activities are visiting the State Parks, hanging out at the beach in Sis Bay, going to a fish boil (a must-do), wine tasting, visiting local museums, and checking out the small towns.
There is so much to see and do you lot could easily spend a full week up here and not come across it all.
Want to learn more? Read Top x Things to Do in Door County Wisconsin with Kids to go more fun ideas for your visit.
Where to Stay in Door County
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
The Water Park Capital of the Globe is Wisconsin Dells. I am gonna be honest, the area is very touristy and a little cheesy simply your kids are gonna beloved it!
Yous will find tons of astonishing h2o park resorts in the surface area, each one filled with pools, slides, arcades, family activities, then much more.
Our personal favorites are the Peachy Wolf Gild for their MagiQuest adventures, Chula Vista for the swell rooms' & more relaxed experience, and Wilderness Resort because of all the additional activities like light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation tag, Go-Karts, ropes form, bumper boats, and a huge climbing playhouse.
If y'all are not looking for a water park resort, there are tons of smaller hotels and condos to rent, too. Accept a await at all your Hotel Options to get a improve idea.
Wisconsin Dells is a nifty weekend getaway at whatsoever time of year. You could stroll Downtown Wisconsin Dells to visit restaurants, shops, arcades, and museums all year long.
In the winter months, savor the indoor water parks, entertainment parks, skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. In the warmer months, y'all will find an unending list of things to do. Endeavor out their famous Duck gunkhole Tours, zip-lining, horseback riding, Ripley'south Believe Information technology or Not Museum, h2o skiing shows, and so much more.
It's a perfect family getaway for a weekend or even a total week. Go more ideas in my 30 Best Things to Practise In Wisconsin Dells All Year Long.
Where to Stay in Wisconsin Dells
Starved Rock State Park
Located on the Illinois River Barefaced in LaSalle Canton IL it's only 1 1/2 hours from Chicago. But when you get to Starved Rock State Park you'll feel like you're in a different world with beautiful bluffs, canyons, and waterfalls. The cool canyons which you can hike downwardly to were formed from glacial meltwater and wait stunning. In the springtime, you will see waterfalls flowing over the coulee walls.
The park has 13 miles of trails to hike with many easy trails for children to hike with you. All the same, there are some steep drops and then be conscientious with younger children. The park also offers camping, picnicking, fishing, and boating. Plan at least a one-half-mean solar day here to do 1-two trails. If y'all accept more time or a weekend y'all can explore the whole park.
Plough your state park visit into a weekend getaway by staying at the Starved Rock Club. The gild is from the 1930'due south era and is located in the park with cabins and hotel rooms. It would be fun to just wake up and head out to explore the woods together in this pretty setting.
Another option is to stay at the local h2o park resort Grand Bear Resort. It boasts a 24,000 sq. ft. indoor waterpark and has family suites and villas. The waterpark is not huge like in Wisconsin Dells but still fun. With the addition of a waterpark, y'all can hike in the day and let the kids swim at night.
While in the area you can also hike at Matthiessen State Park located across the river from Starved Rock. This is a smaller park but also has pretty hikes through caverns, streams, forest, and prairie. You will also become a better view of the locks driving into this land park.
A fun second day in the area could be a morn hike at Starved Rock then lunch in downtown Utica followed by some other hike at Matthiessen State Park. Yous volition also detect several touristy restaurants exterior of Starved Rock and in that location is an area to become sandwiches in the Visitor Middle.
Utica and Oglesby are the closest towns to Starved Stone if you are looking for other hotel options and restaurants.
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is filled with tons of history and fun for your family to explore. Outset out past visiting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Adjacent, get a feel for how Abraham Lincoln lived by visiting the only house he ever endemic at Lincoln Home National Historic site. From there, stroll through the Bicentennial Plaza to the Illinois Governors Mansion and Illinois State Capitol.
In downtown Springfield, you will also notice a neat kids museum called Kidzeum of Wellness and Science Children'south Museum. It offers three floors of fun for the kids to get some energy out and explore.
Lastly, pace dorsum 200 years and walk the streets of a reconstructed pioneer village in Lincoln's New Salem.
If you are looking for more museums in the surface area, there are tons. To name a few, the Illinois State Armed forces Museum, Illinois State Museum (has a hands-on play area), Illinois State Constabulary Heritage Foundation Museum, and 1000 Army of the Commonwealth Memorial Museum (civil war museum).
Want to explore the outdoors? Check out Henson Robinson Zoo, stroll through nature trails at Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, and Knights Action Park which has a h2o park, arcade, miniature golf game, and get-karts.
I honestly was surprised how much in that location was for families to do while visiting Springfield. Turns out it is a great weekend getaway to keep the whole family busy and excited.
Where to Stay in Springfield
The Great Smoky Mountains
The Groovy Smoky Mountains
Visit America'southward nigh popular National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and y'all will exist in awe of the beauty. Your family will love hiking throughout the Smoky Mountain National Park and the Appalachian Trail.
At that place are perfect hikes and walks for all ages plus find smashing ranger-led nature and history walks for the whole family. The best part is that entrance into the National Park is free!
There is fifty-fifty a swell scenic drive called Cades Cove which is an 11-mile loop tour where you visit restored log cabins, churches, a working mill, and beautiful scenery. This is a great choice when the kiddos are as well tired to hike only you lot want to see more.
Observe a total list of Things to Practice in the Smoky Mountains with Kids Here. Plus go tips on how to plan your trip.
Related Article – 15 Screen-Free Travel Games for Kids at Dollar Tree
Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge TN
The two biggest towns by the National Park are Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Gatlinburg is pretty touristy and the abode to Ripley'due south Aquarium, shops, and restaurants. You lot will also detect Ober Gatlinburg, a iv-season Mountain play area with an entertainment park and ski surface area.
We went in the summertime and the kids had a blast! Read 7 Fun Things to Do in Gatlinburg to learn more.
Pigeon Forge is the home to Dollywood and more touristy shops and restaurants. This is also a cracking identify to finish while in the Smoky Mountains.
Looking for places to stay? We rented a motel in the woods and really enjoyed being outside of the touristy town expanse. However, there are also tons of condos and hotels in town to rent. Plus at that place is always camping as an option.
Where to Stay in Gatlinburg, TN
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Did you know there was a beautiful National Park in Ohio? Nosotros recently discovered Cuyahoga Valley National Park and loved it. The national park is located between Cleveland and Akron Ohio and is perfect for weekend getaways from Chicago.
It is one of the newest National Parks in the U.s.a. and was created to save the history of the lock organization forth the Cuyahoga River.
Some highlights of the park are an piece of cake family unit hike to the scenic Brandywine Falls. Visiting two dandy company centers that explain the history of how the lock systems worked in the 1800s and the people who lived in the area.
But the biggest highlight for us was an amazing hike through moss-covered boulders that make you feel like you're in another world. Your kids volition dearest climbing all over these beautiful rocks and exploring the park.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is unlike than most because y'all will notice towns mixed in throughout the park system rather than existence in a more than remote expanse.
The bonus is you have easy admission to lots of hotels and lodging in Akron and Cleveland. Plus you'reo well-nigh restaurants and shops. This would exist a great solar day trip too if y'all're passing through the area.
Larn more about all there is to do and tips for your visit in Best Guide to Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Brandywine Falls.
Where to Stay in Akron and Cleveland
Related Commodity – 20 Tips to Make Traveling with Kids Enjoyable
St. Louis, Missouri
There are tons of attractions to see while visiting St. Louis, Missouri. A favorite of near kids is their crawly 600,000 sf Metropolis Museum, a mixture of playgrounds, funhouse, things created out of plant objects, and architectural marvels. It's a must-come across in St. Louis!
Another great museum is the St. Louis Scientific discipline Center to become your kids curious about atoms, oceans, dinosaurs, and dark matter. Check out the Old Land Capitol and make sure to climb up the stairs to run across the murals. Ask the Park Ranger how to brand your voice ascension to the top.
Want to caput outdoors? Leave and visit some animals at the St. Louis Zoo. There are as well cute gardens and 79 acres to visit at the Missouri Botanical Garden with both indoor and outdoor conservatories.
No trip to St. Louis is consummate without a visit to the Gateway Curvation. Take a tram ride to the top of the curvation for great views, explore the new Arch Museum, and watch a documentary on how it was built. Learn all most the people who passed through St. Louis on their journey out due west.
After visiting the Arch, head over to the river for a riverboat sightseeing cruise. Then head to the heart of downtown to explore the Citygarden filled with fine art and h2o features for the kids.
Lastly, if information technology's baseball game flavour, check out a Cardinals game. Even Cubs fans will have fun.
Where to Stay in St. Louis
Duluth, Minnesota
Have you been to Duluth Minnesota yet? It has been labeled the "Best Outdoor Urban center in America". Hike the outdoors with the kids, visit the cute lake walk and enjoy neat nutrient.
Find out more family unit-friendly outings in my friend Jen of Travelwithaplan.com blog Perfect two Mean solar day Family unit Getaway in Duluth Minnesota.
Where to Stay in Duluth
Family Road Trip Tips
Get set for your road trip with our clever travel tips. Or visit our Travel Tips Page for fifty-fifty more ways to take a stress-free family vacation.
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Exist ready for your Hotel stay with 20 Genius Hotel Hacks for Family Vacation.
Don't leave without reading 15 Road Trips Tips to Survive Family Vacation.
Wondering Where to Stay
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Isn't information technology amazing how many great family unit weekend getaways from Chicago there are? And then, many dissimilar types of options in the midwest to choose from based on what your family unit loves to do.
You lot can't go incorrect with any of these family weekend getaways in the Midwest. So do you know now where to go on your weekend getaway with your family? I promise this has helped you with your planning!
Make sure to visit our Family Travel Destinations to get more than groovy family unit vacation ideas and tips for easier travel with kids.
Practice you accept another slap-up proffer for family weekend getaways from Chicago? Please let me know in the comments or any other questions you take.
Demand a Chicago Staycation Instead?
Feeling like you simply need a Chicago Staycation instead? Here is the Ultimate Guide to Things to Do in Chicago with Kids.
Or get inspired with things to do at home in our xl Staycation Ideas for Families and 60 Fun & Free Things to Do with Kids Screen-Free. All volition continue your family decorated and happy while spending quality fourth dimension together.
If you found this mail helpful become part of the Happy Mom Hacks Customs where nosotros are finding ways to make a mom'southward life easier. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss another crawly family travel destination, household hack, or easy family meal.
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Don't Forget to Pivot this for After
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Source: https://happymomhacks.com/weekend-getaways-from-chicago/
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