It’s that time of year when the leaves turn shades of crimson and gold. The air becomes crisp and the nights turn cold. The month of October ushers in the spooky season of Halloween. And while many celebrate this spooktacular holiday with traditional trick-or-treating and haunted house tours, there’s a unique and adventurous way to dive into the Halloween spirit: Halloween camping! So let the spooktacular Halloween season begin and check out these uniquely fun Halloween camping ideas!
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Imagine a Halloween camping trip filled with pumpkin carving by the campfire, costume contests in the great outdoors, and spooky stories beneath the starlit sky. In this guide, we’ll explore a myriad of Halloween camping ideas that are bound to create lasting memories for the whole family.
So, pack your campers and tents, grab your costumes and glow sticks, and let’s embark on a Halloween camping adventure like no other!
25 Spooktacular Halloween Camping Ideas
1. Pumpkin Carving by Moonlight
Pumpkin carving is a classic Halloween tradition, and doing it under the moonlight in the wilderness adds an extra layer of spooky excitement. So make sure to pack your pumpkin carving kits and mini pumpkins for the kids.
And when you’re done carving the best jack o’ lanterns your campground has ever seen, you can use them for your campsite decorations.
2. Costume Contest in the Wilderness
Host a costume contest right at your campsite. Encourage nearby campers of all ages to partake and dress up in their best Halloween costumes. Afterwards, everyone can parade around the campground in a “costume parade contest.”
You can have the non-participating campers vote for the scariest, funniest, or most creative costumes. And beforehand make some homemade awards and trophies and pass out to the winners.
3. Spooky Stories Around the Campfire
Gather everyone around the campfire and share scary stories. From classic tales to your own ghostly encounters, spooky storytelling is an essential part of any Halloween camping trip. So think up a scary story you can share by the fire, regardless if it’s true, false or make believe.
4. Glow Stick Scavenger Hunt
A fun way to explore the campground after sunset is having a glow stick scavenger hunt. You can use glow sticks to mark clues or hidden treasures that campers must find in the dark. With a little planing this is a great way to have some nighttime Halloween fun!
5. Haunted Trail Adventure
If your campground has a nature trail, see if you can turn it into a haunted trail for the Halloween weekend. Decorate it with spooky decorations, faux spider webs, purple lights, and even eerie sound effects for an unforgettable Halloween hike.
6. Pumpkin Patch Halloween Weekends
Many campgrounds host special Halloween celebrations the last weekends in October. They often feature pumpkin patches, costume parades, themed costume contests, and other Halloween activities. So check with your local RV parks or campgrounds to see if they have any Halloween events planned.
7. Campground Trick-or-Treating
If you’re camping over Halloween night, then coordinate with other campers to set up a campground trick-or-treating event. Campers can decorate their RVs or campsites and hand out treats for little kids. It’s a safe and enjoyable way for children to enjoy the Halloween festivities.
8. Campsite Halloween Decorations
Get creative with Halloween decorations for your campsite. This is a fun activity the entire family can enjoy. With a little Halloween spirit, you can easily transform your campsite into a spooky haven. From store bought items to DIY Halloween crafts, it’s so much fun to decorate for Halloween.
You can pick up some great inexpensive items at local Dollar Stores and they have plenty of options to choose from.
Looking for Halloween camping ideas for decorating, this post should inspire you:
Camper Halloween Decoration Ideas Both Spooky and Fun
9. Themed Costume Night
Choose a theme for your Halloween camping trip, like famous TV shows, classic horror movies, or even camping themed Halloween costumes. Then encourage everyone to come dressed in costumes that fit the theme. It’s a unique way to add an extra layer of fun to your camping adventure. And it will be so much fun to see everyones costume!
10. Spooktacular Campfire
Decorate your campfire area with themed decorations and create a spooky campfire setting. You can use decorations like faux spiderwebs, glow sticks, and spooky signs. Or add some faux tombstones, plastic skeletons and body parts. This will make a great area to tell ghost stories and enjoy some classic Halloween treats like s’mores and hot dogs.
11. Pumpkin Painting
There are so many fun ways to decorate with pumpkins. And with that being said, for a mess-free alternative to pumpkin carving, why not try pumpkin painting? All you need is a variety of sized pumpkins, paint colors and brushes.
It’s a great activity for younger children who may not be ready for carving yet. And it’s also fun for the older kids too. Paint them pretty and classic or spooky and crazy. You can also bring stickers and googly eyes to add to the fun.
12. Halloween Crafts
Use your picnic table and set up a crafting station at your campsite with supplies for making Halloween-themed crafts.
Campers of all ages can enjoy creating spooky masterpieces, from paper plate masks to glow-in-the-dark decorations. And this is also the perfect time to make the DIY campsite decorations for your site.
13. Golf Cart Parades
If your campground allows golf carts, consider participating in or organizing a golf cart decorating contest or parade. Deck out your golf cart in spooky decorations, Halloween lights and enjoy a ride through the campground with fellow campers. You can also play scary music and pass out candy along the way.
14. Spooky Scavenger Hunt
Unlike the Glow Stick Scavenger Hunt, this one does not take place at night. The Spooky Scavenger Hunt uses a Halloween twist. You can list items or clues related to Halloween decorations or spooky creatures that campers need to find around the campground. Invite a few other campers to play and enjoy some Halloween fun!
15. Site Decorating Contest
Hold a campsite decorating contest! Get campers to go all out with their Halloween decorations. Let everyone vote for the best-decorated campsite, and offer a small prize to the winner. This is something you might coordinate with the campground or host it on your own.
16. Zombie Apocalypse Survival Game
If you’re a Walking Dead fan, then turn your camping trip into a zombie apocalypse survival game. Create challenges and scenarios that campers must overcome to survive the “zombie attack.” It’s a unique experience that adds an extra thrill to your camping adventure.
17. Glow Stick Parade
When the sun goes down, host a glow stick parade party. Campers can decorate themselves with glow sticks and walk around the campground, creating a mesmerizing and spooky spectacle. Then play spooky music for an added effect and make it a Halloween Spooktacular event.
18. Outdoor Movie Night
I love this idea! It is both an activity and a decoration. Set up an outdoor movie screen and projector at your campsite. Play Halloween-themed movies like “The Blair Witch Project” or classic horror films under the stars.
You can set up a viewing area with inflatable couches or bring your sleeping bag. And also play the films when no one is around watching, which is extra creepy.
19. Pumpkin Seed Roasting
After the pumpkin carving contest, don’t let those pumpkin seeds go to waste! Roast them over the campfire for a delicious and healthy snack. Don’t want to roast them at the campsite. No problem, just save them and roast them once you get back home.
20. Ghostly Decorations
Give your campsite a ghostly appearance. You can set up white sheets or hang them from tree branches to create a ghostly atmosphere. Place glow sticks inside for a hauntingly beautiful effect.
Looking for an easy way to make ghosts for your site? Read this to learn how.
21. Haunted House Adventure
Haunted houses pop up all over the place this time of year. So, if there is a nearby haunted house to visit, you should plan a little side trip. Gather a group of fellow campers and arrange a group visit. It’s a thrilling way to get into the Halloween spirit.
22. Halloween Themed Costume Parade
Grab those decorated golf carts and organize a costume parade through the campground. Campers can strut their stuff and show off their Halloween costumes. This Halloween event is fun for all ages. And its a great way to get everyone involved in some campground fun. You can even go the extra mile and try to organize this with the campground.
23. Faux Spiderwebs and Purple Lights
Purple and orange are the colors of Halloween. So go all out and decorate in purple lights and orange pumpkins. Create a spooky ambiance with faux spiderwebs and purple string lights. This combination is sure to give a spooky effect.
24. Halloween-Themed Meals
While pumpkin spice and everything nice is great for fall. What about some spooky Halloween-themed meals for your camping trip? You can make witches brew served in a black cauldron. Serve mummy hot dogs, spooky strawberries, graveyard bean dip and other fun spooky snacks. This is your Halloween party, so serve your favorite snacks!
25. Pumpkin Carving Contest
Host a pumpkin carving contest for both kids and adults. Pack an extra tablet and get some Halloween disposable tablecloths, provide pumpkin carving kits, and start carving. Afterwards, display all the jack o lanterns to let other campers see your great work!
Conclusion
Halloween camping is a perfect way to celebrate the spooky season with the whole family. And with a little planning, creativity and some Halloween spirit, you can turn your camping trip into a memorable Halloween adventure. From costume contests, pumpkin carving, spooky stories and more, these Halloween camping ideas may turn into your best Halloween camping yet.
So, embrace the Halloween spirit, carry out some of these Halloween camping ideas and head out for a Halloween camping trip that you’ll cherish for years to come!
Happy Halloween Camping!
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