Believe it or not, Spring Break is almost upon us! Do you have your week of fun planned out for the family? If not, we are here to help you come up with activities and places you and the kids can venture to this year! These tried-and-true selections are a few of our countless favorites. We’ve also provided you with some helpful tips on planning your outing with ease. Don’t fret over forgetting to check this and check that; we’ve given you everything you need. Be sure to check out the ideas for car-ride games to keep the kids entertained along with the list of local spots to please their sweet tooth, or yours.
How To Plan Your Day trip Outing
Plan Ahead for a Smooth Day trip
Before you head out on your next spring break day trip, be sure to call ahead or check the official website of your destination. While we’ve carefully selected and researched these seven great Virginia day trip ideas, hours, admission fees, and activities can change—especially due to weather or seasonal events.
We’ve included website links and phone numbers for each location to make planning easier. You won’t find specific hours listed here—because we want to make sure you check directly with the venue before your visit. It’s the best way to avoid surprises and make the most of your adventure!
Make the Most of Your Route
Once you’ve picked your destination, take a few minutes to research points of interest along the way. Virginia is filled with historic battlefields, scenic parks, and charming small towns that make excellent stops for stretching your legs or enjoying a quick picnic.
Instead of pulling off at a highway rest stop, consider packing lunch and visiting a nearby state park, lake, or historic landmark. These hidden gems can add fun and learning to your day without adding much travel time. One of our favorites is to add a stop for a favorite ice cream treat!
Be prepared.
Before setting out, take a few minutes to make sure your identification and paperwork is up to date (driver’s license, registration, insurance). We know this may sound tedious, but there’s nothing like getting a ticket to really put a damper on the day. Try to get a good night’s sleep the night before leaving and have your kids do the same, so everyone is well-rested and ready to enjoy the day. And don’t forget to check the weather, too! If it’s supposed to rain and you’re planning on visiting an outdoor attraction, it might be best to save it for another (not rainy!) day.
Also consider packing a bag with toys that will encourage your kids to burn off excess energy such as a jump rope, a few pieces of sidewalk chalk or a couple of inflatable beach balls…
Pack Smart the Night Before
A little preparation goes a long way. Packing your day trip bag the night before helps reduce stress and ensures you don’t forget anything important. Use a sturdy backpack and include essentials like:
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Granola bars and individually packed snacks
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Bottled water
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Diapers and wipes (if needed)
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Sunscreen and bug spray
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A small first aid kit
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Crayons and a notebook for quiet entertainment
You might also pack a small activity bag with toys that encourage movement, like a jump rope, sidewalk chalk, or inflatable balls—great for burning off energy at a rest stop or park.
Make the Car Ride Part of the Fun
Even if your destination is over an hour away, the drive doesn’t have to be dull. With a little creativity, the ride itself can be a fun part of the day.
Here are some great car ride entertainment ideas:
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Activity books with word searches, mazes, or Sudoku
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Crayons and coloring books
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Portable DVD players or in-car entertainment systems (check out free DVDs from the library!)
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Audiobooks or free children’s audio stories from Storynory or your favorite podcast app
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Loaded tablets with educational games or music playlists
For older kids, add an element of responsibility by giving them a role for the day:
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The Navigator helps with directions
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The Banker keeps track of spending or snacks
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The Photographer documents the day’s highlights
These roles not only keep children engaged but also help teach valuable life skills like budgeting, planning, and teamwork.
Spring Break Day trip Ideas
Day 1: Amazement Square, Lynchburg
Looking for an exciting Spring Break day trip the whole family will love? Head to Amazement Square, an award-winning children’s museum located in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia. This hands-on, interactive museum is designed to make learning fun for kids of all ages.
From climbing walls and colorful slides to creative art stations and science exhibits, there’s something new to discover around every corner. Kids can explore four full floors of educational play—including a giant indoor play structure called The Amazement Tower.
The museum also offers seasonal exhibits, sensory-friendly programs, and art workshops that make every visit feel special.
Have a skateboarder in the family? Bring along their board and let them practice their ollies and nollies at the adjacent 14,000-square-foot Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark. Helmets, pads and skateboards are available for rent if you don’t want to bring along your own. For even more adventures to fill the day, stop by nearby attractions, including the LOVEwork sculpture, Riverfront Park and Blackwater Creek Bikeway. For a bite to eat on Lynchburg’s historic waterfront, you can stop by the Depot Grille or Waterstone Pizza.
amazementsquare.org • (434) 845-1888
Day 2: American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse, Staunton
Travel back in time to the 16th century at The American Shakespeare Center, located in Staunton, less than one hour away. Here, you will find an internationally acclaimed theater company that performs Shakespeare’s works—among others—under their original staging conditions. This stunning 300-seat theater is the world’s only recreation of Shakespeare’s original indoor theater. On a simple stage, without elaborate sets, you will feel like you are a part of the play—and if you are lucky, you might even be chosen to sit on stage with the actors and actresses. Regardless, you’ll be close to the action wherever you are seated. Plays are typically performed Wednesday through Sunday. The main floor is reserved seating, while the second floor is general seating, so arrive early as seats are first-come, first-served.
americanshakespearecenter.com • (540) 851-1733
Day 3. Busch Gardens and/or Water Country USA, Williamsburg
Looking for an exciting Spring Break day trip? Just about two hours from Charlottesville, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA offer nonstop family fun with thrilling rides, live shows, and splash-worthy water attractions.
Thrill Rides for Big Kids and Teens
Busch Gardens is home to some of the best roller coasters on the East Coast. Popular rides include:
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Alpengeist, an inverted coaster that reaches speeds up to 67 mph and climbs over 195 feet
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Apollo’s Chariot, Griffon, and Tempesto, which are all high-speed favorites
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Mach Tower, a dramatic 240-foot drop for families who love a challenge
Kid-Friendly Attractions
For younger children, the park’s KIDsiderate® attractions are perfect. Don’t miss:
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Land of Dragons
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Sesame Street Forest of Fun
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Prince Elmo’s Spire and other age-appropriate rides
Right next door, Water Country USA opens each spring with family-friendly water fun. Highlights include:
Whether your family loves water slides, coasters, or character-themed areas for little ones, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA deliver a full day of Spring Break excitement. buschgardens.com • watercountryusa.com • (800) 343-7946
Day 4. Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton
Visiting the Frontier Culture Museum is a bit like a whirlwind tour of Old Europe and America. Located in Staunton, just under an hour from Charlottesville, this Virginia history museum tells the story of the people who migrated from the Old World to America and of their life in the Shenandoah Valley. Come explore a 1600s English Farm, meander on over to a 1700s Irish Forge, and wander through an Early American Schoolhouse. The outdoor exhibits are located in two separate areas: The Old World and America. The Old World exhibits show rural life and culture in four homelands of early migrants to the American colonies—England, Germany, Ireland and West Africa—while the American exhibits show the life these colonists and their descendents created in the colonial backcountry. Here are more fun family day trips to Virginia historic attractions.
Self-guided tours utilize walking paths and trails—complete with water and shady rest areas—to allow visitors to visit all 11 permanent exhibits. If walking isn’t your style, that’s no problem because shuttle carts run continuously and mobility scooters and golf carts can be rented for a nominal fee. Guided tours are also available. Hands-on exhibits and experiences, costumed interpreters and real working farms make this a great time for the whole family. In addition, the museum offers special events such as demonstrations on historic clothing, domestic tools and traditional music, so be sure to check the website for the most up to date schedule. www.frontiermuseum.org • (540) 332-7850
Day 5. Henricus Historical Park, Chester VA
A one to two hour drive to Chester, VA, will lead the family to Henricus Historical Park—home to a re-creation of an actual English settlement circa 1611. With costumed interpreters, you will be able to experience what life was like for the first English settlers living along the James River. The land, which had been inhabited by the Native Americans known as the Arrohateck, was also the place where Pocahontas resided at Rocke Hall and was later courted by John Rolfe.
The park preserves the colony’s legacy, which included many New World firsts: the first hospital (Mt. Malady), the first college, the first tobacco fields and the first privately owned land. Visit the re-created Indian village located directly on the riverbank, and then enter the Citie of Henricus filled with several buildings, gardens and a visitor’s center. The park is also home to hiking trails; for an additional fee, you can take a James River boat tour aboard the Discovery Barge II. To get the kids in the English mindset, watch the Disney favorite, Pocahontas, on the drive or the night before. It not only will enhance the experience but also will help the family be more in-tune while there, allowing for more learning opportunities. henricus.org • (804) 748-1611
Day 6. Luray Caverns
Are they calling for one of our beautiful Virginia spring days over break? Why not take advantage of the time outdoors and plan a day under the blue sky. Just one to two hours away in Luray, VA, the family can explore the Luray Caverns, the largest eastern U.S. cavern and a National Landmark. The Caverns have some of the most spectacular formations you can imagine. Here are some more amazing destinations for family fun in the Shenandoah Valley.
Remember to bring a light jacket for that cooler breeze and be sure to rub the “fried eggs” on your way out! Outside the Caverns, you can also explore the garden maze. Be sure to check the schedule of the Singing Tower’s carillon of bells recitals and escort any car buffs to the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum.
The museum covers the evolution of transportation from 1725 to 1941 with jewels such as an 1892 Benz, an 1840 Conestoga Wagon, a 1908 Baker Electric, a 1913 Stanley Steamer and the 1925 Rolls Royce that belonged to one-time Hollywood heartthrob Rudolph Valentino. For a tasty treat, a cafe and coffee shop are onsite. Fresh air will do the kids good before having to head back into the classroom for the final push of the school year.
luraycaverns.com • (540) 743-6551
Day 7. Metro Richmond Zoo
Just 1–2 hours from Charlottesville, the Metro Richmond Zoo is a great Spring Break day trip for families. Kids can feed giraffes, barnyard animals, deer, and birds in the Budgie Aviary and petting barn. Stroll along the boardwalk trail to see zebras, camels, and the world’s fastest antelope, the pronghorn.
For extra fun, ride the Jungle Carousel or Safari Train, or let kids run wild on the playground. Older children and teens will love the Junior Explorer and Treetop Zoofari Courses, with zip lines and climbing obstacles—even over the creek.
Don’t miss a visit with Kumbali the cheetah and his best friend Kago the rescue dog, who make occasional appearances near the kangaroos. Find wonderful aquariums and zoos all over Virginia and learn science at these great educational day trips!
metrorichmondzoo.com • (804) 739-5666