Family-Friendly Day Trips from Memphis

Even though there is a lot to do here in Memphis with kids (don’t believe me? check out this list) it’s still nice to get away sometimes.  Here are spots the moms recommend for day trips. All of them are under a 4 hour drive, and you won’t have to spend money on a hotel!

Tennessee Safari Park
Alamo, TN
EMM Review

• TN Safari Park. Our kids beg to go back all the time.
• We went to the TN Safari park. You’ll probably spend an 1-1.5 hours there. 20 minutes south of the park is a wildlife bird sanctuary. My 3, 6, & 9 yr old had a blast watching wildlife around the lake and trails. I suggest bringing cameras and letting them take pictures of their favorite stuff!

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Millington, TN
Trails, nature center, campgrounds, cabins, disc golf, fishing, horseback riding, boating, biking

Chickasaw State Park
Henderson, TN
Trails, fishing, horseback riding, biking

Fort Pillow State Park
Henning, TN
Trails, fishing, campgrounds, Civil War commemorative events, special holiday events

Discovery Park of America
Union City, TN
Huge indoor and outdoor park covering dinosaurs, transportation, military history, TN history, science and more.  EMM Review

Blanchard Springs Caverns
Mountain View, AR

Village Creek State Park
Wynne, AR
Village Creek State Park in Arkansas is about 45 min away. We went for the day with our 2 yo & 3 mo old and had a blast. Playgrounds, boat rentals, swimming, lots of fun for a day trip not too far from Memphis. Village Creek State Park/Crawley’s Ridge is great

Shiloh National Military Park
Shiloh, TN
Shiloh Battlefield Visitors Center, special program on Memorial Day, ranger led programs on the battlefield sites Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Mississippi Children’s Museum
Jackson, MS
It’s 3 hrs, but our fave short trip is to Jackson, Mississippi. The Mississippi Natural Science Museum and the PHENOMENAL Children’s Museum are right next to each other right off I-55. Also in the same general area is Sal and Mookie’s pizza and ice cream. You can’t beat it. We do an overnight trip with one museum each day, but you could do a day trip and only do one museum.

Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Jackson, TN
We just went to Jackson to the Casey Jones Museum and had a great time. There is also the wildlife park near there, but we haven’t made it there yet.

Wild River Country
North Little Rock, AR
Water park outside Little Rock- Wild River Country.  Water park in Nashville is nicer, but Wild River Country is a great day trip. 

Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo
Tupelo, MS
Tupelo Buffalo Park is great! Open air trolley or the Bison Bus take you on a ride through the park with bison, zebras and other animals . Giraffe feeding. Nice covered picnic area.  

Tunica Aquatic Center
Tunica, MS

Geyser Falls Water Theme Park
Choctaw, MS

Cedar Hills Farm
Hernando MS 

Sardis Lake
John W. Kyle State Park
Sardis, MS
Swimming, biking, boating, cabins, fishing, golfing, playgrounds and more.