Halloween is the perfect time for RV camping and having spooky, fun-filled adventures. Whether you’re exploring national parks or at an RV campground, Halloween camping offers a unique way to celebrate the holiday in the great outdoors. From eerie decorations and haunted hikes to campground trick-or-treating, there are countless Halloween camping ideas that can get you into the spooky season. You can enjoy autumn foliage, cool evenings by the fire, and the excitement of themed activities with family and friends. Here are the best RV campgrounds to make your Halloween camping trip memorable.
Where to Go Halloween Camping
For A Haunting Halloween Camping Experience
1. Carter Caves State Park
Olive Hill, Kentucky
Carter Caves State Resort Park is one of the best destinations for Halloween camping, offering a blend of natural beauty and spooky fun. Fall is arguably the best time to visit, as the park has a spectacular color change into a coppery orange and flaming red backdrop perfect for Halloween. The park hosts a Spooky Cave-In movie series featuring family-friendly Halloween films with snacks and drinks.
For those looking for a more immersive experience, the park hosts A Night of Legends and Stories. Plus, you can take a lantern-lit walk through the cave for $20. This gives you the chance to meet the two Cherokee lovers who have been rumored to haunt the cave. Carter Caves offers a variety of Halloween attractions and events, from spooky stories to family-friendly trick-or-treating. Route your RV to Olive Hill for an unforgettable Halloween camping experience.
2. Killens Pond State Park
Felton, Delaware
If you are traveling with the kids, Killen’s Pond State Park should be at the top of your list for Halloween camping. Here, you can take hayrides throughout the season. They also have other spooky kid-friendly events for different age groups. Highlights include hayrides through beautifully decorated trails, scavenger hunts for hidden skulls in the woods, and creative Halloween crafts. The annual Harvest Havoc event also allows families to partake in pumpkin carving for a memorable crafting experience. This Halloween campsite has year-round attractions like hiking trails, fishing, boating, and a water park. You can also explore local farms with corn mazes and apple picking nearby, adding to your fall RV adventures.
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3. Lake Rudolph Campground
Santa Claus, Indiana
At Lake Rudolph Campground, the Halloween spirit thrives from late September through early November, making it a premier destination for Halloween camping. Lake Rudolph has a lineup of events that cater to both the young and the young at heart. Highlights include the chilling Bonfire Ghost Stories and Haunted Hayrides, perfect for those who love a good scare. Kids can enjoy Rudy’s Kid’s Carnival, while the entire family can participate in Costume and Site Decorating Contests. The campsite buzzes with excitement as visitors go trick-or-treating from site to site and partake in the ghostly golf car glow parade. There’s even a Hallo-Wheels bike decorating contest and a Halloween dance to keep the festive spirit alive.
4. Island Oaks RV Resort
Glen St Mark, Florida
Island Oaks RV Resort offers a delightful setting for a family-friendly Halloween camping trip. The resort’s Jack O’ Lantern Jubilee is especially popular, filled with activities that cater to both children and adults. Families can participate in decorating cookies, playing Halloween-themed charades, and carving pumpkins. The jubilee also includes a wide range of Halloween crafts, from making ghostly decorations to creating custom trick-or-treat bags. In addition to these activities, the resort hosts a costume contest with prizes and live music to set the festive mood. Safe, organized trick-or-treating allows kids to go from campsite to campsite for treats. Here, Your family will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the spirit of Halloween while in the Sunshine State.
5. Hagerstown KOA
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown KOA has become a Halloween camping hotspot, offering a variety of spooky activities designed to entertain visitors of all ages. The main attraction is its Creekside Manor Haunted House, a chilling attraction for the braver campers. This haunted house is steeped in local lore, claiming real paranormal activity, adding to your Halloween camping experience. However, due to its intense nature, it is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Beyond the haunted house, the campground hosts a range of Halloween camping ideas, including costume contests, pumpkin carving, and campfire ghost stories. This makes it a good choice for RVers looking to enjoy traditional Halloween festivities. Hagerstown KOA ensures a memorable Halloween experience.
6. Death Valley National Park
Death Valley, California
For RVers seeking a spine-tingling destination this Halloween, Death Valley National Park provides an eerie backdrop. It’s perfect for Halloween camping and is filled with ghost towns, mining ruins, and old cabins steeped in legends and lore. RVers can explore the haunting sites near the borders of Death Valley National Park. The Amargosa Opera House, located in the ghost town of Death Valley Junction, hosts a colorful history and ghostly tales. Nearby, the ghost town of Rhyolite is a testament to the Gold Rush era that echoes tales of boom and bust.
Further enhancing the eerie atmosphere is the Tonopah Cemetery, dating back to 1901. This cemetery is known for its century-old graves of miners who died in the mysterious Belmont Mine fire. These haunted sites offer a unique blend of history and horror. All are perfect destinations for RVers looking for an unforgettable Halloween experience in the vast, stark landscapes surrounding Death Valley. We recommend staying at the Furnace Creek Campground or Boondock because it is near all the eerie attractions.
7. Jewel Cave National Monument
Custer, South Dakota
Jewel Cave, a National Monument in South Dakota, offers a unique and thrilling Halloween camping experience. It has an expansive and intimidating cave system, making it a perfect destination for Halloween adventurers. As the third-longest cave in the world, its tight crawlways and narrow cracks are formidable. These features earned it the haunting nickname “the torture chamber” from its first explorers, Jan and Herb Conn. They were the first to extensively explore Jewel Cave, mapping 64 miles of its intricate passages. While exploring the cave’s shadowy depths, visitors can revel in a spine-chilling backdrop for a memorable adventure.
Additionally, RVers can visit the nearby town of Deadwood, known as South Dakota’s most haunted city. Deadwood is steeped in Wild West history, including infamous gunfights and historical figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Many believe spirits from the town’s tumultuous past filled with gunfights, gambling, and gold rush lore still roam its streets. This rich tapestry of history and mystery makes Deadwood an irresistible stop for those on a Halloween camping trip.
Take A Halloween Camping Trip
As the leaves turn and the nights draw in, there’s no better way to embrace the spooky season than by going on a Halloween RV camping trip. From coast to coast, RV campgrounds offer a mix of spooky excitement and family-friendly fun, making them perfect for a Halloween escape. Whether you’re looking to visit haunted towns or campsite trick-or-treating, these destinations appeal to thrill-seekers and families. Make this Halloween memorable by visiting these top picks for Halloween camping.