Summer road trip season is on the horizon, and it's time to start planning one of these summer day trips from NYC. We're itching to get out and explore, from beaches and water parks to cool nature spots and pick-your-own fruit farms, we’ve rounded up three dozen of our favorite summer day trips from NYC. All of these summer day trip destinations are less than two hours away because, well, who wants to drive longer than that with kids in the backseat?

Find more ideas in our full Day Trips and Getaways Guide, or try checking something off our list of 100 things to do with kids in New York State.

The Atlanta pickleball craze offers families an awesome and healthy way to interact. Often compared to a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, this relatively new sport is easy to learn and only requires a paddle and ball. Plus, it's great for kids! Pickleball develops hand-eye coordination; uses math and memory for scoring; encourages sportsmanship; and facilitates social interaction. The equipment is inexpensive (often provided at facilities) and there’s not a huge time commitment as games run 15-30 minutes.

Atlanta families can play pickleball at indoor and outdoor courts. We’ve rounded up the best places to play, from public parks with nearby playgrounds and pools to pickleball clubs with indoor courts, shuffleboard, and restaurants.

Our fabulous weather means you can go camping near Los Angeles any time of year! These campgrounds offer something extra, making it even more enticing to head into nature with your amusement-addicted kids.

Camping near Los Angeles is a smorgasbord of sights and sounds and offers plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors. Hiking, biking, singing campfire songs at night, and unplugging from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives is good for the soul; but let’s face it, even with the whole of Mother Nature at their fingertips, kids sometimes get bored.

It’s time to up the ante on family camping. Southern California is home to family campgrounds that offer kids exciting activities and entertainment when they tire of forest tag. Zip lining, anyone? Fishing? Rock climbing? Water parks? Movies? Even ghost tours? All these and more are offered at these campgrounds near Los Angeles. We dare your kids to get bored.

Outdoor water parks abound in New Jersey, and several of them are right on the beach! From big-name parks like Six Flags to boardwalk attractions, we've rounded up the top ones open for splashing this summer.

If you're looking for ways to cool off that are slightly cheaper, check out our roundup of water playgrounds and splash pads, most of which are FREE. For more summer fun, bookmark our Summer Guide for New Jersey Families.

Orlando themed restaurants and dinner shows offer a memorable dining experience, especially when kids can let loose! Enjoy a meal and entertainment at these family-friendly Orlando themed restaurants and dinner shows. From jousting knights to magic tricks, there are a variety of restaurants offering dinner and a show in Orlando that will keep kids (and adults) smiling throughout the meal.

For more fun restaurants to try out with your kiddos, check out our Orlando Restaurant Guide for resources on local restaurants with play spaces, ice cream shops, character meals, and more.

Splash pads in Chicago ensure that there's always something fun to do no matter how hot the weather. Smart Chicago parents make sure that every summer they've got a sprinkler "go bag" packed and ready in the trunk, stroller, or tote: towel, sunscreen, water shoes, swim diaper (if you've got a really little mermaid), and spare clothes. Because with so many awesome splash pads in Chicago, it pays to be prepared.

We've rounded up our favorite spots with interactive sprinklers, sprayers, cannons, and gushers so everybody can get good and soaked. If you need more places to get wet in Chicago, be sure to check out our list of the very best beaches for families and our favorite indoor pools, too. You'll find all this and much more summer fun in our Ultimate Chicago Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Water parks are a great way to beat the heat in the summer, and the Philadelphia area has so many awesome places to make a splash. From water slides to lazy rivers to tubing thrill rides and surf simulators to toddler splash areas and even swim-up bars for the adults—we've got you covered with all the best water park attractions near Philadelphia. So grab your swimsuit, towels, and sunscreen, and get ready to keep cool and carry on.

For more ways to water-play with less of a plunge and more of a spritz, check out our favorite local splash pads and spraygrounds, or browse our roundup of free swimming pools in Philly, both of which you'll find in our Philadelphia Guide to Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks.

These hotels are as fun as the beach.