Spring Break is right around the corner, and I don’t know how you feel, but for me, it can feel like a long stretch between Christmas and Spring Break. What better time to take a fun little family getaway than right now?! Or maybe you have to work all Spring Break but still want to take the kids somewhere for a short little trip. I am sharing my favorite 5 places below that are all within driving distance between 3-7 hours. Keep reading for my favorites!
1.) Smoky Mountains, Tennessee – Y’all know how much we love the Smoky Mountains! Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg – we love it all! The kids love vacationing here and being in the outdoors. There is just so much to do here too. Our favorite resorts here are Margaritaville Resort and Wilderness at the Smokies. You can read more about our last trips here and here.
2.) Asheville, North Carolina – Last year was our first time to finally go as a family, and we 100% fell in love with Asheville and The Glamping Collective. Our stay there was incredible! The views were amazing both inside and out. We hiked everyday, played in the hot tub and rode bikes together. If you are a lover of the outdoors, this is a great vacation spot with the family!
3.) Branson, Missouri – Y’all know that Big Cedar Lodge is a favorite spot of ours. We got married here 5 years ago, and we’ve been bringing the kids here for the past 6 years. We all love it! There is so much to do there (like Gatlinburg), but you can also just stay in your cabin and enjoy the outdoors with boating, swimming, hiking, etc. I love that you can totally tailor the trip depending on what all you do. You can get a hotel room there or even a cabin with a full kitchen, which is just perfect for large families. You can read about our last trip here.
4.) Nashville, Tennessee – This is another favorite place of ours to visit. It’s only a short 3 hour drive away and perfect for a weekend getaway. Our favorite hotel to stay at while in town is Gaylord Opryland. It is just SO family friendly. You never even have to leave the hotel. They have tons of dining options including restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee shops, pizza places and more. And depending on the time of year, they always have seasonal activities. They have an indoor/outdoor water attraction, an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub. They also have a riverboat ride through the hotel and have live music often. You can easily find something to do for everyone in the family!
5.) Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia – This was our first time to visit this area. It had been on my list for a while, and wow it was even more gorgeous than I ever could have imagined! Though there are several different Airbnb cabin options you can stay at in this area, I 100% recommend Selah Ridge Treesort. They have a handful of accommodations there, but we loved the Shiloh. It is a unique little cabin built into the side of a hill that has gorgeous mountain views. There are hiking trails nearby, a hidden room inside, and a pool, hot tub and outdoor shower all just right outside. It would be so much fun and special for the entire family!
6.) St. Louis, Missouri – Growing up, this was our vacation spot of choice for our family. It’s only a short 4 hour drive, but the rolling hills lend some gorgeous views. With Six Flags and Cardinals games, there was always something fun to do here for the entire family. There are several great hotels, but The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is my favorite. They also have some great dining options in St. Louis. Make sure you check out the City Museum while there too.
7.) Birmingham, Alabama – Another favorite of ours, and it’s only a few hours away. It is a hidden gem in my opinion. We love staying at Renaissance Ross Bridge while here. They have everything you need and more! An indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub, restaurants, a great coffee shop, golf, tennis courts and plenty of trails nearby for bike riding. It’s such a family friendly hotel too.
8.) Grapevine, Texas – This one is slightly further at 7 hours, but it is 100% worth it! There are endless possibilities of things to do here. Grapevine is just right outside of Dallas. Here you have 2 of my favorite huge family friendly resort hotels, Great Wolf Lodge and Gaylord Texan. You will never get bored here, I promise! Great Wolf Lodge has an indoor waterpark, and Gaylord Texan has an outdoor waterpark. And since it’s a short drive from Dallas, the dining and shopping options are endless. There is something for everyone here, but you never even have to leave the hotel.
9.) Hot Springs, Arkansas – Only a few hours away, we love Hot Springs for a quick outdoorsy trip. We love staying at the Waters Hotel, but there are also tons of great Airbnb options here. Get a house on the lake and have some fun in the sun. They also have some fun trails, shopping, dining and museums you can visit in town while there. The kids always love visiting here, and we especially love staying at a spot on the water or with a hot tub so we can enjoy some time outside. They also have the Mountain Tower, Garvan Gardens and some great hiking.
What are your favorite weekend destinations from Memphis? Where will you be going for Spring Break?
