The Best Midwest Family Vacation Ideas — A Mom Explores | Family Travel Tips, Destination Guides with Kids, Family Vacation Ideas, and more!

Some of the best family vacation destinations can be found in the Midwest! Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, theme parks, small towns, or big cities, you’re sure to find the perfect place somewhere in the Midwest.

I’m a family travel blogger and a mom of 4, and our family loves to road trip around the Midwest in search of the best experiences for the whole family.

After living in Florida for 5 years, we were pleasantly surprised to find so many midwest family vacation spots! From historical sites in Springfield, IL to beaches along the Great Lakes, and beautiful places and outdoor activities in the Black Hills of South Dakota, we’ve enjoyed discovering this region of the United States.

Now that we’ve been back in the Midwest for 3 years and have visited many unique destinations, I want to share my favorite midwest vacation spots and midwest weekend getaway ideas for families.

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What is the Best Time of Year to Visit the Midwest?

It's beautiful any time of year, but unless you're really into winter sports like sledding, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing, you might want to visit during summertime. Everyone comes out to enjoy the gorgeous weather, and the weather is often warm and sunny, but not too hot.

The foliage in autumn in the midwest is gorgeous, and I think it's a truly underrated fall destination in the USA.

Spring can be lovely, but a chill definitely lingers in the air until June.

Best Midwest Family Vacations

Follow my vacation planning guide, and be sure to check out my Family Travel Planner!

Black Hills, South Dakota

A family road trip through the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota is the quintessential midwest vacation spot.

Our family drove from Wisconsin to South Dakota for a summer trip to explore the state parks, national parks, and monuments. We found a vacation rental home in Rapid City and used that as our base for short drives around the region.

Be sure to include Custer State Park in your itinerary to see wildlife and the iconic Sylvan Lake. Plan a day to see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments.

Drive down to Hot Springs, SD for the Mammoth Dig Site, which is an incredibly kid-friendly activity where kids can get dirty digging up replica mammoth bones at a realistic dig site. Pair that activity with Wind Cave National Park which is located nearby.

And, of course, don’t forget to spend plenty of time hiking and driving through Badlands National Park!

Our kids loved: plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, and digging up mammoth bones! After that experience, they started borrowing books from the library about paleontology!

The grown-ups loved: the insane views and unique geography. I’m the first to admit that the midwest landscape can be a bit flat and boring at times. South Dakota shows off with peaks and spires and rock formations that will take your breath away!

>> Check out all of our South Dakota family vacation posts here!

Chicago, Illinois

Windy City is one of the top vacation destinations in the midwest for myriad reasons. Of course, there are plenty of museums to choose from, along with aquariums, zoos, and parks.

But another major reason to visit Chicago is its location on Lake Michigan. You’ll find family-friendly beaches and gorgeous lakefront views.

Don’t forget to stop by Millennium Park where you can pose for a picture in front of the Cloud Gate sculpture, more popularly known as the Bean. You can also visit Navy Pier to ride a Ferris wheel or do some shopping.

On our most recent trip to Chicago with all 4 kids, we picked up a Chicago CityPass in order to visit the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Chicago 360 Observation Deck where we enjoyed panoramic views of the city. Strolling the Riverwalk was a fun and free activity that allowed us to just relax and enjoy the gorgeous architecture of the city.

We stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, which was one of the most luxurious and kid-friendly hotels located right on the Magnificent Mile and very close to the lakefront. You can find our full hotel review here!

Our Kids Loved: seeing Sue the T-Rex at the Field Museum and petting stingrays at Shedd Aquarium.

The Grown-Ups Loved: Sipping our coffee with a view of the city in our Four Seasons robes.

>> Read our full guide to Chicago here!

Holland, Michigan

Looking for a taste of the Netherlands right here in the Midwest? Try visiting Holland, MI for their annual Tulip Time Festival in spring! It’s a celebration of the city’s Dutch Heritage and gorgeous tulip blooms.

Holland is located in the southwest area of the lower peninsula in Michigan, about 30 minutes from Grand Rapids.

This is the perfect weekend road trip to take in early May to eat some sweet treats like Stroopwafel, visit Nelis’ Dutch VIllage where kids can go on rides, and see a real Dutch windmill at Windmill Island Gardens!

We found an Airbnb 20 minutes outside of town and enjoyed the festival so much, as well as just strolling Holland’s Main Street and climbing a sand dune on Lake Michigan.

Our Kids Loved: eating endless amounts of Stroopwafel and riding the chair swing ride at Nelis’ Dutch Village.

The Grown-Ups Loved: learning about the history of Holland, Michigan, and their Dutch Heritage! Also Stroopwafel. Who are we kidding?

>> Read our full guide to visiting the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan with Kids!

Door County, Wisconsin

Door County is known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest, and it really lives up to that name! The Door Peninsula extends into Lake Michigan just north of Green Bay, its many miles of shoreline playing host to small towns, fabulous beaches, and scenic state parks.

This is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a slower pace of life. Stop at a winery, wander in and out of charming shops, or explore one of several state or county parks.

Our favorite experience was camping on Washington Island, a small island off the tip of Door County that requires a ferry to get there.

Visiting Schoolhouse Beach with its smooth limestone rocks instead of sand was the highlight of the trip for my kids. The island is also home to 2 lavender farms which smell amazing and offer myriad lavender-scented or flavored products in their shops.

On other trips, we’ve enjoyed Cave Point County Park, where the stunning lakeside cliffs make you forget you’re in the midwest.

Peninsula State Park is another gem with a kid-friendly observation tower with a ramp, so you can even take your stroller to the top.

There’s so much of Door County that we haven’t even had the chance to explore yet, but thankfully we live close, so I plan to discover more in the future!

Our Kids Loved: playing with the smooth stones at Washington Island’s Schoolhouse Beach.

The Grown-Ups Loved: the views at Cave Point County Park

>> Read our full guide to Washington Island here!

Indiana Dunes, Indiana

Did you know there’s a national park in Indiana? Indiana Dunes National Park is located in Northern Indiana, and it’s a really easy drive from Milwaukee, Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Indianapolis.

We loved climbing the sand dunes on the West Beach Trail, which led us to a gorgeous little beach where we could see the Chicago Skyline across Lake Michigan.

On the day we visited it was a little chilly and windy, as the Midwest likes to do from time to time in June, so we didn’t swim or hang out at the beach at all, but we did enjoy the hiking and the views.

We planned this as part of a longer National Parks road trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia, so we didn’t stay long, but you could easily combine this with Chicago for a fun getaway with city and beach time!

Our Kids Loved: playing in the sand!

The Grown-Ups Loved: learning about sand dunes as part of the larger ecosystem.

Springfield, Illinois

Our family’s trip to Springfield, IL was one of the most surprising and educational trips we’ve taken so far.

We took a summer road trip involving St. Louis, Springfield, and Chicago, and I’m so glad we added Springfield to the itinerary!

The Lincoln Museum was unlike any museum I’ve visited. There are journeys you walk through that take you through different stages of Lincoln’s life, from his childhood to his presidency.

There are also shows that you absolutely cannot miss, and I say this as someone who almost skipped them because we had 4 little kids with us. Trust me on this one, the shows were so worth it. One even brought me to tears.

We also go to visit the Lincoln Home, and I cannot believe how much my kids just soaked in all of the information about our 16th president because it was really brought to life by walking through the house where he once lived. The stories told by the tour guide brought out the human side of Lincoln. He became the father who wrestled on the floor with his unruly sons, the cat lover, and the husband rather than just the legend of Honest Abe.

Absolutely be sure to add Springfield to your next Midwest Road Trip! You will not regret it.

Our Kids Loved: walking through the Lincoln Home.

The Grown-Ups Loved: every part of the Lincoln Museum.

>> Read our full Springfield with Kids guide here!

St. Louis, Missouri

Who knew there was so much to do in St. Louis, Missouri with kids?

We planned 3 days and 2 nights on our trip to St. Louis, and it definitely was not enough time.

Naturally, you’ll want to visit Gateway Arch National Park, including the museum at the bottom, and taking the tram ride to the top. Be sure to read my full blog post to find the best spot for photos with the Gateway Arch in the background!

Be sure to add the many free activities to your lists like the Science Center, the Zoo, and Grant’s Farm. We didn’t get around to visiting City Museum this time, but everyone says it’s a must-do! Ballpark Village was a fun and low-key spot to visit with kids, too.

Our stay at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis was wonderful, and we especially enjoyed a sunset swim in the rooftop pool overlooking the Gateway Arch. It was the perfect end to a long day of exploring the city.

The Kids Loved: taking the tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch. They were fascinated by how it worked after learning about it in the museum and loved trying to find landmarks from the windows on top.

The Grown-Ups Loved: that so many of the attractions were free!

>> Read my St. Louis Travel Guide for Families!

La Crosse, Wisconsin

La Crosse, WI an adorable city perched on the Mississippi River in the western part of the state bordering Minnesota. It’s surrounded by bluffs, and offers impressive views and lots of family-friendly activities!

We visited in the fall and the colors were just spectacular! There were plenty of scenic drives to keep us busy, and of course, we had to visit Grandad Bluff - a scenic overlook with no hiking required!

This city also has a historic downtown area with shopping, ice cream, and restaurants.

The Kids Loved: Seeing Sunny the Sunfish in nearby Onalaska

The Grown-Ups Loved: Taking in the view from Grandad Bluff

>> Check out my 11 Things to Do in La Crosse with Kids here!

Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater is a charming city on the shores of the St. Croix River and just a short drive from Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

While you’re there you must check out the Historic Lift Bridge. We actually used to live in Stillwater, and during that time it was for cars. Nowadays it’s a pedestrian-only bridge, so it’s really fun to walk across the bridge to Hudson, Wisconsin. You’ll also have great views of Stillwater nestled in the bluffs.

There are several kid-friendly parks, including our family favorite, Teddy Bear Park.

Walk through the delightful downtown area for unique restaurants, local shops, and candy stores the kids will love.

Nearby there are lots of outdoor activities in and around the St. Croix River including hiking, biking, kayaking, and more.

The Kids Loved: playing at Teddy Bear Park for hours on end and getting GIANT ice cream cones at Nelson’s Ice Cream.

The Grown-Ups Loved: picnicking in Centennial Park with amazing views of the river and lift bridge.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Even though I grew up in the midwest, I had somehow never heard of Cuyahoga Valley National Park until I became a travel writer.

Boy was I missing out! This beautiful spot in Ohio has so many scenic and kid-friendly hiking trails, waterfalls, AND the only train allowed inside a national park in the United States! Plus its natural beauty is undeniable.

Our favorite spots in Cuyahoga were Brandywine Falls and the Ledges Trail, a 2.2-mile loop trail with giant rock ledges that are so fun for kids to explore.

The scenic railroad was fine, but honestly not as scenic or exciting as we were expecting.

We stayed at the Springhill Suites in Independence, Ohio, and the 2 queen bed suite easily fit 6 of us.

The Kids Loved: exploring the Ledges Trail and splashing in the stream on the Brandywine Gorge Trail.

The Grown-Ups Loved: The Ledges Trail.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is a big city with a small-town feel, and I truly believe it’s so underrated as a travel destination for families!

I grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee, so I know there’s so much to do for families. The Milwaukee County Zoo is so well done, and the updated hippo exhibit is incredible.

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is amazing, and you have to see the Milwaukee Art Museum designed by Santiago Calatrava! The architecture is so unique that when I was visiting Rio de Janeiro and saw the Museum of Tomorrow also designed by Calatrava I instantly recognized it!

Stop by the Fonze sculpture for a thumbs-up picture, or stroll the Milwaukee Riverwalk district!

When I worked at a pub in downtown Milwaukee in college, I loved heading over to Public Market for lunch. It’s full of fresh food made by local vendors.

All of this is just scratching the surface of things you can do in Milwaukee with kids!

The Kids Loved: summer Biergartens by the lakefront! There’s usually lots of space for kids to run and play while the grown-ups enjoy a beverage and some giant pretzels.

The Grown-Ups Loved: Honestly, the same thing!

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Did you know Wisconsin has the Water Park Capital of the World? That’s right! Wisconsin Dells has the most waterparks per capita in the entire world.

This is a popular vacation destination within Wisconsin, but visitors flock from other states, too!

Some of the more popular waterparks include the Great Wolf Lodge, Noah's Ark, Kalahari, and Chula Vista. You'll find lazy rivers, water slides, an indoor pool, and splash pads for kids. Many of the hotels also have an outdoor water park for the summer months!

If you’re not a fan of waterparks (or you don’t want to do that for more than a day or 2), there are so many other activities to make your stay in the Wisconsin Dells a blast. Despite the kitschy tourist attractions, the Dells is actually a beautiful place with sandstone bluffs, rock formations, winding rivers, slot canyons, and forests.

We LOVED the Upper Dells Boat Tour which took us to Witch’s Gulch, an eerily beautiful slot canyon along the Wisconsin River.

The Deer Park is another cool activity where you can feed deer by hand! It’s really fun, and the kids enjoyed it once they got over their reticence to let a deer eat out of their hands.

The Tommy Bartlett Exploratory is a fun hands-on indoor activity with interactive exhibits, and wandering downtown and popping in and out of candy shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants is great, too! Take a quiet stroll along the riverwalk for a break from the crowds.

If you’re outdoorsy, know that the Dells is nestled among some of the most beautiful State Parks Wisconsin has to offer, so head to Mirror Lake State Park or Devils Lake State Park to hike and see some iconic Wisconsin scenery.

The Kids Loved: of course, they loved the waterparks, but the Deer Park was very memorable for them, too!

The Grown-Ups Loved: walking the slot canyon on the Upper Dells Boat Tour.

>> Read my Wisconsin Dells Family Travel Guide here!

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Twin Cities are another great place for families, and there’s SO much to do in these unique Midwestern cities!

We loved living near Minneapolis, and whenever we went into town we enjoyed visiting the Sculpture Garden (especially the Spoonbridge and Cherry), walking the Stone Arch Bridge, and strolling the skywalk system which connects many of the buildings in the downtown area.

A family favorite is the Como Park Zoo which is free and has a great botanical garden (the Conservatory) which is so nice and tropical during the winter months.

Naturally, you must visit the Mall of America while you’re there, with amusement parks with roller coasters inside the mall, and floor after floor of shops, restaurants, and attractions for kids.

Finally, there are some beautiful lakes around Minneapolis with great walking paths, so get out your stroller and walking shoes and enjoy the view.

On our most recent visit, we stayed at the brand-new Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis and the views were incredible!

The Kids Loved: riding the rides at the Mall of America and the Como Park Zoo!

The Grown-Ups Loved: strolling the Stone Arch Bridge with lovely views of the Minneapolis skyline.

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Can you believe I grew up in southeastern Wisconsin and my first visit to Iowa was in 2022? We got to visit Cedar Falls, Iowa in autumn, and it was perfection!

The adorable downtown area has a series of art sculptures, plus you’ll find the cutest coffee shops, boutiques, and stationery stores to browse.

There were some great kid-friendly hikes nearby, such as the Prairie Lakes Trail and the Hartman Reserve Nature Center.

The highlight of our visit was Hansen’s Dairy Farm where we got to feed baby calves with a bottle, milk a cow, AND feed baby kangaroos! The tour was so educational and fun, and my kids will not be forgetting it anytime soon.

We also brought home a whole bag of cupcakes from Scratch Cupcakery because they were so delicious and had a ton of fun flavors to choose from.

Be sure to stay at the Hampton Inn Cedar Falls Downtown which is right on Main Street, so you can walk anywhere! Plus they have free breakfasts, which is always a win in my book.

The Kids Loved: petting the baby kangaroos at Hansen’s Dairy Farm.

The Grown-Ups Loved: a quiet fall hike at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (followed by a cupcake - for nourishment purposes of course).