101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Houston
Looking for a new place to explore that's still close to home? Kids Out And About has tons of staycation ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun! We've collected the coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Houston, Cypress, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Pearland, Galveston, Missouri City, and Katy.
Below you'll see both free activities and splurges that are worth it. KidsOutAndAbout has tons of ideas for places around Houston to explore, learn, and have fun! If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for the Houston area, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you!
Explore Gardens and Sculpture Gardens 
All Aboard! Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 
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Rosenberg Railroad Museum |
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Texas State Railroad |
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Galveston Railroad Museum |
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Houston Art Car Museum (and Parade!) |
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1940 Air Terminal Museum |
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Houston Area Live Steamers |
Amuse Yourself 
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Galveston Island Pleasure Pier |
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Kemah Boardwalk |
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Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast |
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Moody Gardens |
Sand and Sea 
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Galveston Island State Park |
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Houston Maritime Museum |
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Port Arthur |
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Port Houston/Houston Ship Channel |
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Surfside Beach |
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Stewart Beach Park |
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Sylvan Beach Park |
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Texas Seaport Museum |
Cities to Explore 
Brainy Activities 
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Houston Museum of Natural Science |
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Space Center Houston |
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US National Weather Service |
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Houston Public Library |
Day at the Museum 
Get Outdoors & Take a Hike 
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Galveston Island State Park |
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Nature Discovery Center |
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Houston Arboretum |
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Buffalo Bayou |
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Geronimo Adventure Park |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm 
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Dewberry Farm |
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Froberg's Farm |
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Oil Ranch |
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P-6 Farm |
Parks and Rec 
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Brazos Bend State Park |
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Discovery Green |
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Memorial Park Conservancy |
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Miller Outdoor Theatre |
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Riva Row Boathouse |
Sports and More! 
Shop Your Heart Out 
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Houston Premium Outlets |
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Rice Village |
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The Downtown Tunnel System |
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The Galleria |
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The Woodlands Mall |
Splash into Fun 
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Lake Conroe |
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Lake Houston |
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Lake Livingston |
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Pirate's Bay Waterpark |
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Schlitterbahn Galveston |
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Splashway Family Waterpark |
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Hurricane Harbor |
Talk to the Animals 
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7 Acre Wood |
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Crocodile Encounter |
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Downtown Aquarium |
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Houston Zoo |
Time Travel 
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Gator Country Wildlife Adventure Park |
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San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Park and Battleship Texas |
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The Grand 1894 Opera House |
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George Ranch Historical Park |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Houston. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away