The best Christmas vacations for families in the US are Disney World and Universal in Orlando, Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains, New York City, the Biltmore estate in North Carolina and a Polar Express train ride in Arizona. These Christmas vacation ideas cover every budget, from affordable Christmas vacations for families in Branson and the Smokies to luxury trips to Hawaii.
Most holiday events run from early November to early January, so you can go before Christmas week, when prices and crowds are lower.
The best places to go for Christmas with kids at a glance
| Destination | Why go | 2026 dates | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney World, Florida | Christmas parties, EPCOT festival, warm weather | November 8 – early January | High |
| Universal Orlando, Florida | Harry Potter Christmas, Grinchmas | November 14 – January 3 | High |
| New York City | The Rockefeller tree, the Rockettes | November – early January | High |
| Dollywood, Tennessee | Over 6 million lights, snow at night | November 6 – January 3 | Medium |
| Biltmore, North Carolina | A decorated mansion by candlelight | Early November – January 9 | Medium to high |
| Gaylord ICE! resorts | Ice sculptures and ice slides | Mid November – early January | Medium to high |
| Polar Express, Arizona | A night train to “the North Pole” | Early November – early January | Low to medium |
| Silver Dollar City, Missouri | 6.5 million lights in the Ozarks | November 7 – January 2 | Low to medium |
| Colorado ski towns | Snow, ski school, sledding | December – April | High |
| Hawaii | Beaches and a warm Christmas | All year | High |
| San Diego | Mild weather and a new ICE! resort | All year | Medium to high |
| San Antonio, Texas | Free River Walk lights | Late November – early January | Low |
Best Christmas vacations for families in the US
1. Disney World, Orlando
Disney World is the classic Christmas vacation for families with young kids. Magic Kingdom’s Christmas party runs on 25 nights from November 8 to December 22, EPCOT’s holiday food festival opens the day after Thanksgiving, and Florida’s December days are usually in the 70s. Our guide to Disney World Christmas 2026 has the party dates and prices.
2. Universal Orlando
Universal’s holidays run from November 14, 2026, to January 3, 2027, and they’re included with a regular park ticket. Hogsmeade’s castle lights up every night with a Christmas projection show based on the Harry Potter films, Seuss Landing turns into Grinchmas, and a holiday parade runs at Universal Studios Florida. It’s the best pick for older kids and teens.
3. New York City
A New York Christmas is all about the big sights: the Rockefeller Center tree, lit on December 2, the Radio City Rockettes, the Fifth Avenue windows and skating in Bryant Park. It’s cold and expensive, but kids remember it for years; see our guide to Christmas in New York.
4. Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas runs from November 6, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with more than 6 million lights, holiday shows and nightly snowfall in Wildwood Grove. It’s included with regular admission, and Pigeon Forge cabins with hot tubs make it an easy family Christmas getaway.
5. Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina
The Biltmore estate decorates its 250-room mansion with dozens of Christmas trees, and its Candlelight Christmas Evenings show the house by firelight with live music, from early November to January 9, 2027. Christmas tickets start at $105 per adult, with discounts for kids, and evening visits need a separate ticket.
6. Gaylord ICE! resorts
Gaylord’s ICE! is a giant indoor exhibit of hand-carved ice sculptures with ice slides, shown at 8 resorts this year. Each has its own theme for 2026: Home Alone at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Harry Potter at Gaylord Texan near Dallas, The Polar Express at Gaylord Palms near Orlando, and the Grinch at Gaylord National near Washington, D.C. Most run from mid-November to early January.
7. The Polar Express, Williams, Arizona
The Grand Canyon Railway runs a Polar Express train ride from Williams on select nights from early November to early January, at 5:30 and 7:30 PM. Kids ride in pajamas, drink hot cocoa, listen to the story and meet Santa at “the North Pole” on the 90-minute trip. Last season, tickets started at about $62 per adult, and December weekends sell out early.
8. Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri
Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas runs from November 7, 2026, to January 2, 2027, with 6.5 million lights, holiday musicals and a new, longer Christmas light parade this year. It’s included with regular admission, and Branson’s hotels are some of the cheapest on this list.
9. Colorado ski towns
For a white Christmas, a Colorado ski resort gives families snow, ski schools for kids, sledding and cozy village evenings. It’s 1 of the priciest Christmas vacations for families, so book lodging and lift tickets early, and consider the week before Christmas for lower rates.
10. Hawaii
For a warm Christmas, Hawaii has beaches, snorkeling and the start of humpback whale season in December. Flights and resorts cost the most around Christmas week, so book early and compare islands.
11. San Diego, California
San Diego is mild in December, with highs in the mid-60s, and it has beaches, a famous zoo and, new this year, Gaylord’s ICE! at Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, themed to A Charlie Brown Christmas from November 20, 2026, to January 3, 2027. For more sunny trips, see our list of warm places to visit in December in the USA.
12. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio’s River Walk is lit with thousands of lights from late November into January, and walking it is free. Add river boat rides, the Alamo and the city’s mild weather for 1 of the most affordable Christmas vacations for families.
Affordable Christmas vacations for families in 2026
The cheapest Christmas vacations for families on this list are:
- Silver Dollar City and Branson, with low-cost hotels and holiday shows
- Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains, where a shared cabin can cost less than 2 hotel rooms
- San Antonio, where the River Walk lights are free
- The Polar Express in Arizona, a 90-minute ride you can pair with a day at the Grand Canyon
Travel in the first 2 weeks of December, when prices are lower than Christmas week, and book lodging with a kitchen to save on meals.
Luxury holidays with kids
For a splurge, these work best for families:
- A Disney Deluxe resort, with Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours
- A Universal Premier hotel, which includes Express Unlimited for skipping most ride lines
- A night at Biltmore’s estate inn and a Candlelight Christmas Evening
- A Hawaii beach resort with a kids’ club
- A ski-in, ski-out lodge in Colorado
Christmas getaways for a weekend
Short on time? These Christmas getaways work in 2 or 3 days: the Polar Express in Williams, a Gaylord ICE! resort, Biltmore in Asheville, Dollywood, and Silver Dollar City. Many families also drive to a small town with a big Christmas festival; see our list of the best Christmas towns in the USA.
Tips for a family Christmas vacation
- Book early; Christmas parties, the Polar Express and Candlelight evenings sell out
- Pick dates before December 20 for lower prices and shorter lines
- Plan 1 big event per day with young kids, and keep evenings free for lights
- Pack layers; mountain and desert nights get cold, even when days are mild
FAQ
Disney World for young kids, Universal for older kids and teens, and Dollywood or Silver Dollar City for an affordable trip with millions of lights.
Branson’s Silver Dollar City, Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains, San Antonio’s River Walk and the Polar Express train in Arizona.
A Colorado ski town, New York City, Biltmore in the North Carolina mountains or the Polar Express in snowy northern Arizona.
When should I book a Christmas vacation?
As early as possible: summer is ideal, and by early November the most popular nights and hotels start to sell out.
Final takeaway
The best Christmas vacations for families match your kids’ ages and your budget: Disney and Universal for big theme park magic, Dollywood and Branson for affordable lights, Biltmore for something elegant, and Hawaii or San Diego for a warm Christmas. Pick 1, book this month, and plan around the first 2 weeks of December.
Sources: Universal Orlando holidays 2026 · Laughing Place: Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026 · Biltmore: Christmas ticket options · American-Rails: Arizona Polar Express 2026 · WDWNT: Gaylord ICE! 2026
