Planning for a Halloween camping trip? October is a wonderful time for an RV camping trip. In many areas, this is the off-season, so you’ll avoid the crowds and cost of summer. The weather is mild – the heat of summer has passed, but the frigid winter hasn’t yet set in.
And if you plan a trip to a famous Halloween destination during spooky season, you can add to the fun of a fall road trip!
- The Best Places to Travel During Spooky Season
- Farms and Orchards
- Theme Parks
- Other Festive Options
- Ideas for Spooky Camping Fun
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Best Places to Travel During Spooky Season
There are lots of frightening places around the U.S. that make great options for Halloween camping! Many of them are creepy year-round, but mot of them really lean in to spooky season to attract people who like to get a little scared. Here are a few places to lay your head … if you dare.
Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
Fans of Stephen King or horror films will want to head to Colorado, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, to the Stanley Hotel. Overlooking the town of Estes Park, this historic hotel opened in the early 1900s. It’s also where Stephen King, on a visit to the hotel, was inspired to write “The Shining.”
The historic hotel is also rumored to be haunted. You can try investigating for yourself on a nighttime tour, try a “The Shining” tour, or opt for a tamer daytime tour of the grand hotel. The gift shop has lots of nods to the novel and movie, as well as trinkets featuring the hotel itself.
The hotel is about a 90-minute drive from Denver, and between the national park and the quaint town of Estes Park, you can easily spend several days in the area.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts is probably one of the best-known spooky American cities. The site of the 1692 Witch Trials, this town goes all out for Halloween (and embraces their macabre reputation most of the year). Many sites around Salem provide history and stories about the witch trials, from the Witch House to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, to the wax museum. This was also the filming location for the 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus,” and you can see several of these iconic filming spots around town. There are several walking tours offered by different companies in town that will take you to all the historic and haunted spots and explain more about the town’s past.
If you visit during October, get ready for a month of spooky celebration. From parades to street fairs to costume contests and ghost tours, fall really is the best time to visit Salem. Take your pick of haunted houses, music and theater performances, and an extra dose of haunted everything.
Salem is about 16 miles north of Boston and is an easy day (or night!) trip from the city.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
At one time, this prison was the most expensive and famous prison in the world. It once held prisoners like “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone. Today, it’s a haunted ruin that offers some spooky tours.
The prison shut down in 1971 and has since become a National Historic Landmark. The prison offers several tours, including daytime tours that talk about the history of the prison. For an extra terrifying experience, visit during the fall when they have their Halloween Nights. During October, this creepy prison features five different haunted houses, scary flashlight tours, and Halloween-themed immersive experiences.
Even if you’re not visiting during the fall, the prison is a museum and historic site throughout the year, with self-guided tours and exhibits that explain the history of the site. You can also spend a few days exploring the historic city of Philadelphia.
Jerome, Arizona
What better place to scare yourself silly than in an actual ghost town? Jerome, perched precariously on a mountainside just outside of Sedona, goes all out for Halloween.
In the 1800s, Jerome was a booming copper mining town that was known as “The Wickedest town in the West.” In the 1950s the mines closed and the town was all but abandoned. Today it’s full of art galleries, local wine-tasting rooms, and ghosts of the dead miners that locals say still linger about. Take one of the daytime walking/ghost tours to see the abandoned buildings and search for spirits. Or take a Halloween nighttime ghost tour with ghost-hunting equipment. You can even stay at the Jerome Grand Hotel, which used to be a hospital and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Arizona.
October is the best time to visit as the entire town is decked out in decorations and there are events throughout the month. Jerome is about 110 miles from Phoenix, and it takes about 2 hours to get there. Jerome is also about two and a half hours from Grand Canyon National Park, if you want to visit the park during the off-season.
Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, California
The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California is a sprawling Victorian mansion that took more than 36 years to build. From 1886-1922, Sarah Pardee Winchester oversaw construction of the house and had carpenters working 24 hours a day, every day. The house has stairs to nowhere and doors opening onto … nothing.
Legend says that Winchester was told by a medium in Boston that she was cursed by the souls of those killed with the Winchester rifles that provided her fortune. The nonstop noise of hammers from construction was meant to keep evil spirits out.
The house has long been considered a hotspot for paranormal activity. This beautiful, spooky mansion is open for tours year-round, but there are special Halloween tours that embrace the home’s creepy past.
Visit during October to participate in the Lost in the House Tour which mixes a paranormal investigation with theater. The house has many fall and Halloween themed activities, but even if you’re visiting during the rest of the year, a tour of this magnificent mansion is a fascinating glimpse into history.
If you want to spend several days in the area, San Francisco is just an hour’s drive away, while Santa Cruz and other beautiful beaches are about 40 minutes away. Pinnacles National Park is an hour and a half south of the city.
Ohio State Reformatory – Mansfield, Ohio
The Ohio State Reformatory is another historic prison with plenty of spooky appeal. This prison was built in the late 1800s and was in use until 1990. Today it offers tours and was the set of the movie “The Shawshank Redemption.” Ohio State Reformatory offers several different tours, including options that teach you how to hunt ghosts. These tours guiding you through the prison describe the paranormal history while you search for spirits.
If you visit during the fall, this prison also turns into a haunted house, with a 45-minute walk through the frightening building. The Ohio State Reformatory is located 79 miles from Cleveland and 69 miles from Columbus, making it an easy drive from either city.
The Bell Witch Cave and Cabin – Adams, Tennessee
The Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee is a highly documented haunting from the early 1800s. The cave is home to the Bell Witch, thought to be the spirit of Kate Batts who tormented the Bell family in the 1800s. Paranormal fans can tour the cave itself as well as a reconstructed cabin of John Bell and his family with artifacts and news articles from the time period.
The Bell Witch Cave is a 40 minute drive from Nashville and hosts events throughout October. They have cave and cabin tours, along with haunted hayrides at night and events during the days.
Haunted Trail – Normal, Illinois
The Haunted Trail is a Normal, Illinois tradition that brings thousands of visitors to the trail over two October weekends each year.
Haunted Trail participants can anticipate spooky sounds and lighting effects on this one-of-a-kind Halloween adventure. If you’re traveling with kids (or the faint of heart), never fear — literally. There’s a not-so-scary version alongside the full-fear version.
No matter which Haunted Trail experience strikes your fancy, be sure to snag your tickets early. This attraction sells out nearly every year, and staff strictly limits the number of participants.
Farms and Orchards
If you’re looking for some less-scary ways to celebrate the season, orchards and farms are wonderful Halloween destinations. There are hayrides, corn mazes, food, and hot drinks. And, of course, picking a pumpkin…or a bushel of apples…are classic fall experiences.
Cool Patch Pumpkins
Dixon, CA
Home to the world’s largest corn maze, Cool Patch Pumpkins is sure to please every member of your family. Be sure to check out their pedal cars, hayride, and pumpkin patch as well!
Carter Mountain Orchard
Charlottesville, VA
Carter Mountain Orchard grows a variety of delicious apples for guests to pick. Additionally, they sell some of the best apple cider donuts on the planet, which can be enjoyed with live music on weekends.
Craven Farm
Snohomish, WA
Measuring a full 20 acres, the pumpkin patch here is quite impressive. We also love the I-Spy Mini Barn, which is perfect for kids. Other great activities found at Craven Farm include a fantastic hayride, fun corn mazes, and a beer garden.
Linvilla Orchards
Media, PA
Offering fabulous hayrides, mini golf, a playground, and their adorable Pumpkinland, Linvilla Orchards is a wonderful place to visit with kids. Our favorite ride here takes passengers to a witch’s house where they hear a fun story and receive a treat!
Theme Parks
Theme parks make excellent Halloween destinations. They tend to be heavily decorated, and many of them have fright nights or other special Halloween events. Here are a few great options that are just right for kids.
Seaworld’s Spooktacular
Multiple Locations
A super fun event that is geared specifically to toddlers and preschool-aged kids, Seaworld’s Spooktacular features a fantastic trick-or-treat trail. It happens on Saturdays and Sundays and is included with park admission. For an additional fee, guests can join their favorite Sesame Street pals for a not-so-spooky breakfast or cookie-decorating session.
LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat
Winter Haven, FL
Another great theme park event for young children is LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat. This event is perfect for kids ages 4–10. Brick-or-Treat is included with park admission on Saturdays and Sundays in October and features trick-or-treating as well as special performances and character experiences.
Hersheypark in the Dark
Hershey, PA
Looking for something that slightly older kids can enjoy alongside the little ones? Hersheypark in the Dark is just the thing. This park has both thrill rides and kiddie rides, to satisfy all ages. During the Halloween season you can expect trick-or-treating and plenty of sweets. This event happens on select dates in October.
Other Festive Options
If you can’t make it to a farm or theme park, there are plenty of other options. Try traveling to one of these fabulous events!
The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
An absolutely spectacular sight, The Great Jack-O-Latern Blaze is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. This event has thousands of carved pumpkins on display. See famous works of art made using pumpkins, witness 3D works created entirely from gourds, and see stars twinkle from above in a jack-o-lantern planetarium.
Great Wolf Lodge’s Howl-O-Ween
Multiple Locations
The Great Wolf Lodge’s annual Howl-O-Ween event lets kids trick-or-treat their way through the lodge. They can also create fun Halloween-inspired crafts, listen to spooky tales, visit the Howl-O-Ween house and witch’s lair, and more.
Boo At The Zoo
Multiple Locations
Finally, we absolutely must mention the many Boo at the Zoo events that take place at zoos nationwide. These events feature fun sets, costumed characters, and a whole lot of trick-or-treat fun inside safe and exciting zoos.
These events are perfect for kids and families, and because most major zoos host their own versions of this Halloween celebration, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one near you.
Ideas for Spooky Camping Fun This Fall
Whether you’re looking for festive, not-to-scary crafts and activities for younger kids, or you want to seriously scare the socks off of someone, there are ideas for everyone planning to camp around Halloween!
1.) Find a campground with Halloween celebrations
Many larger, resort-style campgrounds plan their own Halloween festivals for guests. If you’re staying at a bigger campground, check the resort’s events page, or call to see if they’re offering any fall events or Halloween activities. KOA Campgrounds, for example, have a roundup of all their fall events at their different properties.
2.) Find local fall festivities where you’re staying
Even if your campground isn’t doing anything special for Halloween, you may be staying near a town, park, or other area that has its own Halloween activities. Lots of small towns have special trick-or-treat events downtown for kids. Some state parks will have a haunted trail or even offer special nature talks about bats and other traditionally spooky creatures.
3.) Decorate your campsite
From hilarious skeleton tableaus to witches’ feet sticking out from under your RV, the Glamper Life blog has some great suggestions for decorating your RV campsite, and even your golf cart if you bring one on your trips.
You can also stretch fake spider webs across your door or around your campsite. You could even add a few fake spiders!
Halloween luminaria are also beautiful, and a fun craft for kids. Simply get some paper lunch bags, draw or trace Halloween figures like ghosts or pumpkins on them, and prick around the outlines with a pin. Fill the bottom of the bag with a little sand and battery-operated candles and line the path to your RV door with them. The light will shine through the pin-pricks and show the outlines of your festive drawings.
Also, craft and party stores sell fun fairy lights in seasonal shapes like pumpkins and ghosts that you can string up around your campsite.
4.) Camp at a haunted campground
Another way to have an extra-spooky vacation is to plan a trip to a haunted campground. Here are a few camps around the country that are rumored to have guests who checked in…and never checked out.
Camp Roger at Rockford, Michigan
Camp Roger is a Christian youth and family camp and not exactly where you’d expect to encounter a ghost. However, legend has it that a young boy drowned while swimming in the lake, and now comes back to play with other swimmers.
Vallecito County Park, California
This park includes the Butterfield stage station and cemetery right in the Vallecito campground. There have been several tragic stories of stagecoach travelers who met untimely ends and continue to haunt the park. One was the “Lady in White,” a young woman who was headed to meet her new husband but died on the journey and wanders the station waiting for the next stagecoach. You may also see a phantom horse and stagecoach that are tied to a story of a violent robbery in the area.
Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina
This park has beautiful white sandy beaches, a wildlife preserve, and plenty of hiking and other outdoor activities. It also has a haunted lighthouse that was built in 1873. Several ghost hunters say they have evidence the lighthouse is haunted, and many people report having heard ghostly voices and seen ghostly figures in the building. There are stories about the ghosts, including a lighthouse keeper who was unable to save a drowning boy and still wanders the beaches looking for him. Another tale is of a lighthouse keeper’s daughter who jumped from the lighthouse, and her cries can still be heard from the spiral staircase today. Campers say they have also heard bangs or knocks on their RVs in the night, or seen floating lights in the woods and heard eerie singing.
5.) Plan a spooky night hike
Plan a night hike with your group through the woods or other areas where you’re camping. If you want to get really evil, enlist a few people to station themselves along the hike to scare the hikers as they pass through. When you’re in the woods in the dark, it doesn’t take much to get people shrieking in terror.
6.) Eat some spooky snacks
Candy googly eyes, which are available in the baking aisle at most grocery stores, can turn any sugar cookie or cupcake into a funny-looking monster. For more ideas, from pumpkin cookies to Frankenstein pretzels, check out these snacks from Delish.
7.) Tell ghost stories
Telling spooky camp stories is a classic move, but still great Halloween fun. If you can’t remember the ghost stories that kept you from sleeping when you were younger, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark has been terrifying children for several generations now. And who knows? Once you start telling stories, other people in the group may have some to add and may terrify you right back in return.
Happy Halloween and sweet dreams…if you can actually fall asleep.
