For families who believe Halloween should last more than just one night of trick-or-treating, many campgrounds across the U.S. are extending the spooky season into weekends—or even the entire month of October. This trend has evolved from traditional autumn camping, which typically emphasized cooler weather, stunning fall foliage, and peaceful trails following the summer bustle. Increasingly, campgrounds are integrating festive activities like pumpkin patches, costume contests, haunted hikes, outdoor movie screenings, and trick-or-treating.
The result is a unique getaway that blends camping with Halloween festivities. A roundup of events on Campspot showcases numerous campgrounds nationwide—from New Hampshire to California—offering Halloween programming throughout the month.
### Trick-or-Treating, But Make It Camping
Some campgrounds are transforming into temporary Halloween neighborhoods. At Barefoot RV Resort in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Saturdays in October feature hayrides, pumpkin crafts, a costume parade, and trick-or-treating. In Virginia, Anvil Campground hosts trick-or-treat weekends where campers can vie for prizes in decorated campsite and costume contests.
Jellystone Park locations across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Texas are turning Halloween into a multi-week celebration, with activities ranging from pumpkin carving to haunted experiences.
### Creative Halloween Experiences
Not all Halloween camping experiences follow the same mold. Timber Ridge Horse Campground in Jamestown, Tennessee, even encourages horses to join in the costume contest and hosts a potluck dinner along with a haunted hike. At Old River Road RV Resort in Kerrville, Texas, activities over Halloween weekend include trunk-or-treating, games, a lighted golf-cart parade, haunted hayrides, and live music. Coachella Lakes RV Resort in California adds a resort-style twist with pumpkin bowling, glow putting, and RV trick-or-treating.
For a quieter experience, Cedar Pond Campground in New Hampshire pairs trick-or-treating with cozy beach campfires by a scenic pond.
### A Fun Fall Road Trip Opportunity
The appeal of Halloween camping is enhanced by its compatibility with road trips. Many campgrounds are located near attractions travelers already plan to visit in October. Gateway RV Campground in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood, offers pumpkin decorating and outdoor movies alongside its Halloween programming.
Virginia campers at Luray Jellystone Park can enjoy scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley, while Hickory Hollow Campground in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands hosts Halloween weekends filled with daytime fun and spookier nighttime experiences.
### An Integral Part of the Celebration
Halloween camping sets itself apart from local fall festivals by allowing campers to actively participate in the entertainment. Decorating competitions turn RVs, tents, and golf carts into mini haunted houses, while families come dressed in costumes and distribute candy from their sites. This means activities typically lasting a couple of hours can now span an entire outdoor weekend.
This experience offers families greater flexibility: younger kids can engage in pumpkin painting and daytime events, while older children and adults can explore haunted trails after dark. The benefits of fall camping also include stunning scenery and cooler temperatures.
Halloween may officially occur on October 31, but at campgrounds across the U.S., the spooky season increasingly invites families to pack their cars, bring costumes, and embrace an entire weekend of outdoor celebration.
