The U.S. is full of destinations that have haunted pasts, urban legends, and eerie scenery/landscape? What better way to spend Halloween than immersing yourself in all things scary! Even better, these destinations have boo-tiful campgrounds that host a variety of events and festivities to help you celebrate!
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is home to The Stanley Hotel, the inspiration behind Stephen King’s book, The Shining. The hotel has a very haunting history and certain rooms in the building are famous for their alleged paranormal activity. Recognized as one of the “most spirited hotels,” The Stanley has a variety of Halloween themed parties and events in October.
Booking a room and getting tickets to the events at The Stanley requires planning well in advance. But, no fear, just 10 minutes from The Stanley Hotel is what many would consider the “most spirited campground” in Estes Park. Halloween comes early for them, with celebrations taking place every weekend in September. Campers go all out and decorate their campsites for their annual contest. There’s also plenty of activities and games for kids, a haunted hike with a ranger, and of course trick-or-treating and costumes!
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is known for their eccentric festivals and celebrations, so it’s an obvious choice for Halloween. New Orleanians sure do know how to party and Halloween offers a little of something for everyone. There’s “Boo at the Zoo” and a parade for kids and street parties with outlandish costumes for adults. City Park transforms into Scout Island’s Scream Park with acres of both Halloween tricks and treats. From carnival rides and a pumpkin patch to extra frightfully spooky spaces. It’s fun for all ages! New Orleans, however, is most proud of their Voodoo Festival that takes place every year on Halloween weekend.
The city of New Orleans has many nicknames, such as the “Big Easy,” “NOLA,” and “Crescent City,” but it’s also widely believed to be “The Most Haunted City in America.” With its rich history, voodoo vibes, and world famous cemeteries, it’s really no wonder. There’s an abundance of costume shops, and if you really want a Halloween adventure, book one of the many haunted tours throughout the French Quarter. If you’re looking for the perfect RV park to put you right in the Halloween action, you’ll love Ponchatrain Landing RV Park. Not only do they offer luxury waterfront sites with private outdoor kitchens and hot tubs, but they also have a shuttle service to take you right into the French Quarter.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
We’ve all heard of the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and the Headless Horseman, so there’s no need to explain why this is a popular Halloween destination. In fact, if you’re a Halloween lover, it should be on your bucket list. The town is most known for it’s Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze, which has become one of the biggest Halloween events in the entire country. The popular event features 7,000 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns that illuminate Van Cortlandt Manor for the ultimate spooky setting.
Sleepy Hollow has so many unique Halloween events, but you really can’t miss the opportunity to watch a performance of the legend that takes place in the candlelit Old Dutch Church. Follow the performance with a lantern-lit tour of the historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. If you’re looking for a really terrifying thrill, test your bravery at Horseman’s Hollow. The haunted trail takes the legend to the extreme and visitors must endure a mayhem of scary scenes ruled by the “undead, the evil, and the insane”.
As for RV accommodations that will put you right in the action, look no further than Croton Point Park. The park was listed among the top 15 camping spots in New York and is a 500-acre park on a peninsula overlooking the scenic Hudson River. Croton Point, along with other parks in the area, has a variety of Halloween and fall-themed events and programs for kids and families.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem’s witch trial legacy is honored every year with its Festival of the Dead. This event is truly one-of-a-kind and festivities run daily throughout October in the Salem Witches’ Halloween Ball at Hawthorne Hotel. Be a part of “summoning the spirits” of Halloween at the annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo. You can experience personal interactions with psychics, mediums, crystal balls. There’s also witch doctors, voodoo ceremonies, and ritual drummers.
Winter Island Park is the perfect campground for your Salem Halloween trip. Don’t be fooled by Winter Island’s beautiful waterfront sites and its beach that’s named after Hawaii’s Waikiki. This island has a fort that still stands that once guarded the town that hung 19 people for witchcraft in the 1600s. Your campfires might be a little haunting reminder of this area’s wicked history.
Buena Park, California
Buena Park is most known for Knott’s Berry Farm but in October, it transforms into Knott’s Scary Farm or Knott’s Halloween Haunt. The theme park during fall is described to be “160 acres of horror”. It has mazes, eight haunted houses, five scare zones, a zombie shootout attraction, and two live shows. To add to the scare factor, 1,000 workers dressed as clowns, monsters, and other creatures roam around and lurk in the fog all around the park. It’s been regarded as the largest theme park Halloween event. Along with these seasonal additions to the park, the normal rides and attractions are converted into frightful themes as well.
Anaheim RV Park advertises their park as “camping in Mickey’s backyard”, and what sounds better? Therefore, if you need more scares, you can check out Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, too. The whole park features spooky twists on some of its attractions and characters. You can also enjoy viewing hundreds of hand-carved jack-o-lanterns at the Main Street Pumpkin Festival! Anaheim RV Park offers shuttle services and other family-friendly amenities to make your stay and theme park fun spook-tacular!
Happy Halloween and happy trails! We’d love to hear what other camping destinations and RV parks have tricks and treats. Tell us in the comments below.
