🎃 October is for campfires, candy, and just the right amount of chills. Across the country, campgrounds and theme parks transform into haunted wonderlands full of tricks, treats, and trail rides under the moon. Whether you love family-friendly fun or adult-only thrills, fall is the perfect time to hook up your rig, hit the road, and celebrate Halloween—AdventureGenie style.
This season, we’re following a spook-tacular route down the East Coast, from Delaware’s coastal charm to the Carolinas’ haunted theme park thrills. Along the way, we’re highlighting a few of our favorite Halloween stops and campgrounds—including stays from our trusted partners KOA and Campspot, who really know how to bring the fall magic to life.
Stop 1: Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay – Delaware’s Beach Fun Frights
👻 Kick off your Halloween adventure at Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay nestled in the heart of the popular Delaware beaches. The last two weekends in October are designed around good time thrills. First is Boo’s At The Bay Weekend, where everyone can experience a ghostly good time with themed games, spooky decorations, and plenty of thrills during this hauntingly fun event. Halloween weekend, which the campground has themed Festival of Fright Weekend, is a weekend honoring all things transportation and industry. Enjoy engaging exhibits, interactive displays, and activities for the whole family!
If you want to explore beyond the campground, Rehoboth Beach also hosts a Sea Witch Festival filled with costume parades, broom-toss contests, and sand-sculpting fun—proof that the Halloween spirit stretches from the campfire to the coastline.
🗺️ AdventureGenie Tip: Start your route here, then head northwest toward Pennsylvania for chocolate, coasters, and dark nights in Hershey!
Stop 2: KOA & Hersheypark – A Chocolate-filled Halloween, Pennsylvania
🍫 No Halloween road-trip is complete without a little chocolate—and a little scream. In Hershey, PA, Hersheypark transforms into Dark Nights, a blend of haunted houses, trick-or-treat trails, and ride-in-the-dark thrills.
Just minutes away, Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA Holiday offers full-service RV sites and cozy cabins perfect for winding down after a night of spooky fun. Families will love the daylight activities (pumpkin and fall-themed decorations, themed crafts, and s’mores), while thrill-seekers can brave the park’s nighttime attractions like “Haunted Coal Mine” and “The Descent.”
Bonus: The park also suggests taking the family to Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm to explore their 5-acre corn maze and pumpkin patch.
🍂 Why We Love It: It’s the ultimate mix of nostalgia and fright—campfire cocoa by day, haunted coasters by night.
Stop 3: Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort – Virginia’s Haunted Harbor
🕯️ Next, cruise south to coastal Virginia for a stop at Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort, another KOA partner that brings the Halloween spirit to the waterfront. Throughout October, this resort hosts multiple Halloween weekends featuring costume parades, campsite decorating contests, trick-or-treating, and their signature “Monster Mash” beach party.
While it’s perfect for families, adults will also find plenty to do—local breweries and historic ghost tours in Cape Charles make this an excellent couples’ getaway. There’s nothing like hearing a ghost story beside the bay as the waves roll in.
🗺️ Adventure Genie Tip: Take a detour through Virginia’s scenic Blue Ridge on your way south—fall foliage peaks mid-to-late October, and it is pure magic from behind the RV windshield.
Stop 4: Natural Bridge / Lexington KOA – Blue Ridge Haunts & Autumn Beauty
🦇 Nestled in the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley, Natural Bridge / Lexington KOA Holiday hosts classic Halloween weekends all October long. Expect everything from costume contests and hayrides to a haunted glow-wagon ride through the woods.
During the day, explore Natural Bridge State Park, one of Virginia’s most stunning natural wonders, or take a ghost tour through nearby Lexington—a town known for its Civil War-era spirits and eerie folklore.
🔥 KOA Delivers: AdventureGenie is proud to partner with KOA => themed weekends, family-safe activities, full-service sites, and amenities such as firewood delivery and propane refill, KOA makes Halloween camping easy to plan and hard to forget.
Stop 5: KOA & Scarowinds – Carolina Frights and Screams
🎢 Ready for the grand finale? Head to the North Carolina / South Carolina border for Scarowinds, the Halloween transformation of the beloved Carowinds theme park. By day, it’s all fun and roller coasters; by night, it becomes a horror-themed labyrinth with haunted mazes, scare zones, and eerie street performers.
Luckily, you don’t have to go far to rest your weary bones, less than two miles away is the Charlotte / Fort Mill KOA Journey. Since Scarowinds is the main Halloween attraction, the campground does not plan many events during this season. However, with free mini-golf and a playground, as well as an on-site food truck and bar, KOA offers a respite from the fright-filled activities nearby.
For those that must stay right in the middle of all the action, the park’s onsite Camp Wilderness Resort is just steps away, offering spacious RV sites, cabins, and a shuttle straight to the park gates. Consider making an entire day of it. Carowinds also has Oktoberfest and Tricks & Treats going on during the Fall Holiday season – both are great family-friendly events! Families can enjoy daylight thrills, take a mid-afternoon break back at the campsite, then allow teens. tweens, and adult campers to dive into the late-night frights—complete with craft brews, live shows, and plenty of jump scares.
🗺️ Adventure Genie Tip: If you’re traveling with friends, book neighboring RV sites and decorate together—Camp Wilderness holds an annual Halloween site contest that gets seriously competitive!
Bonus Stop: Campspot’s Halloween Highlights
🏕️ Our partner, Campspot, also showcases dozens of campgrounds with Halloween fun nationwide—from haunted hayrides in Michigan to spooky glamping weekends in Texas. A few standout spots include:
- Elk Crossing 555 Campground, PA: Costume contests and trick-or-treat trails (October 24–26).
- Dancing Fire Glamping & RV Resort, MI: Haunted trail and site-decorating competition.
Check out Campspot’s full Halloween event list for more ideas or build your own AdventureGenie route using Personal Genie and type ‘fall’ and ‘holiday themes’ to help filter your preferences.
🚐 AdventureGenie Halloween Road Trip Route
| Stop | Destination | Highlight | Partner |
| 1 | Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay, DE | Family fun & Sea Witch Festival | Campspot |
| 2 | Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA Holiday, PA | Dark Nights & sweet treats | KOA |
| 3 | Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA, VA | Coastal Halloween & Monster Mash | KOA |
| 4 | Natural Bridge / Lexington KOA, VA | Haunted hayrides & foliage | KOA |
| 5 | Scarowinds / Charlotte KOA, Camp Wilderness, NC | Theme Park thrills | KOA |
| Bonus | Elk Crossing 555, PA | Campsite contests & trick-or-treat | Campspot |
| Bonus | Dancing Fire Glamping & RV Resort, MI | Haunted trail & site-decorating | Campspot |
🧞Final Thoughts
Whether you crave jump scares or jack-o’-lanterns, Halloween camping has something for everyone. Between our partners KOA, Campspot, and countless regional favorites, the season’s best memories are waiting at the next campsite down the road.
So, pack your costumes, prep your rig, and let AdventureGenie lead the way to your next spooky stay or haunting getaway—before the witching hour strikes!
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