Halloween Road Trip! My favorite words put together! Halloween is the perfect time of year to hit the road in your RV. Get ready to explore some of the spookiest destinations across the country. This year, we explore spooky destinations along the U.S. Southern border.
Start in New Orleans and travel all the way to San Diego. Or spend a week or two in the city or town that captures your imagination. Whether you’re drawn to ghost towns, historic battlefields, or cities rich with legends of witches and haunted houses, eerie places abound. Traveling by RV lets you fully immerse yourself in these chilling locales while enjoying the comfort and flexibility of your own home on wheels. We’ll take you through haunted small towns and eerie big-city attractions. Here are some of the best Southern destinations to visit in your RV this Halloween season for a thrilling, unforgettable adventure.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
Why is it spooky?
New Orleans is a city steeped in mystery, legends, and a rich history of the supernatural. This makes it one of the best places for a spooky Halloween adventure. It has a unique blend of French, Spanish, and African influences. This has created a culture deeply intertwined with voodoo, folklore, and ghost stories. New Orleans is known for its above-ground cemeteries, often called “cities of the dead,”. You can book chilling tours through historic graveyards like St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau lies buried. The distinctive white tombs, which often appear eerie in the moonlight, have long elicited ghost sightings and strange occurrences.
The city’s French Quarter, with its cobblestone streets, wrought-iron balconies, and centuries-old buildings, is another hub of paranormal activity. Ghost tours through haunted bars, hotels, and alleyways reveal stories of restless spirits. The infamous LaLaurie Mansion, once home to a notorious socialite with a dark secret included. People widely regard this mansion as one of the most haunted buildings in the city. The legends say tortured souls still linger inside.
Must do!
A Halloween Road Trip to New Orleans is not just about the ghosts; it’s also about celebration. The city’s vibrant Halloween festivities include extravagant costume parades, street parties, and haunted houses. Krewe of Boo, the city’s official Halloween parade, is a highlight. With floats, spooky decorations, and costumed revelers, this parade creates a lively, eerie atmosphere. This year The Krewe of BOO! 2024 parade rolls on Saturday, October 19th @ 6:30 pm.
After the parade there is lots more Halloween fun. Explore the haunted history of New Orleans by taking a guided ghost, voodoo or vampire tour. Can’t decide? You’re in luck, there’s a tour that covers all three! The Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walking tour through the French Quarter. If you’re looking for something more hands on, visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo or Reverend Zombie’s Voodoo Shop. There you can learn about voodoo culture and even participate in rituals. If parties are more your vibe, there’s plenty of those too! Check out the Frenchman Street Halloween Block Party. Frenchmen Street comes alive on Halloween night with costumed revelers, live music, and street performers. This lively, open-air party is a must for anyone looking to soak up the Halloween spirit.
RV Camping: Formerly Ponchartrain Landing, The New Orleans RV Resort and Marina is just 12 minutes from the French Quarter.
2. Lafayette, Louisiana
Why is it spooky?
Lafayette, Louisiana, is spooky due to its rich history rooted in Cajun and Creole cultures. Lafayette is marked by tragedy, folklore, and a deep connection to the supernatural. Founded in the early 19th century as Vermilionville, Lafayette became a hub for Cajun culture, and attracted settlers from France as well as Acadian refugees expelled from Canada. The city’s history is intertwined with disease, slavery, and natural disasters, which left a lasting mark on its folklore.
Vermilionville Historic Village, is a living history museum with restored buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Locals and visitors alike swear that spirits of former residents haunt it to this day. Stories of eerie apparitions, phantom footsteps, and voices add to the atmosphere, especially among the ancient oak trees and misty bayou. Lafayette’s oldest cemetery is St. John’s Cemetery . It well is known for its above-ground tombs and ghostly legends. Restless spirits are said to wander the grounds, especially on hot, humid nights. Lafayette’s deep connection to the supernatural makes it one of the spookiest places in Louisiana, where the past continues to haunt the present.
Must do!
So many fun and spooky activities, blend Lafayette’s cultural traditions with eerie entertainment. One of the top events is Vermilionville’s Boo Bayou, a family-friendly experience where the historic village is transformed with Halloween games, trick-or-treating, and spooky storytelling. For those seeking a ghostly adventure, a guided tour of St. John’s Cemetery. For thrill-seekers, haunted attractions like The Haunted Sanitarium or The Fright Trail offer professional scares, creepy sets, and heart-pounding thrills. The newest attraction, Monster Mash on the Wabash happens from October 25th to the 26th with a long list of activities starting with The Tour of Terror taking you through the spooky history of Lafayette and ending with the Zombie crawl.
RV Camping: Camp Margaritaville RV Resort, a full resort with water amenities available until October 26th.
3. San Antonio, Texas
Why is it spooky?
Stop number three on your Halloween road trip is San Antonio, Texas. Considered spooky due to its long, turbulent history marked by battles, tragedy, and the blending of different cultures. The city’s most famous haunted connection is to the Battle of the Alamo. In 1836, a small group of Texan defenders were overwhelmed by Mexican forces. Hundreds of people died on both sides. The brutal nature of the conflict left an indelible mark on the area. Many believe that the spirits of the soldiers who fought and died at the Alamo still linger. Especially those who perished defending the mission. This is a deep historical trauma and a status symbol of Texan resilience. The combination of which has fostered ghost stories about apparitions, strange sounds, and inexplicable occurrences in and around the Alamo.
San Antonio’s haunted history also stems from its role as a frontier town. As a key stop on trade routes, the city saw its share of violence, lawlessness, and hardship. The Spanish colonial period contributed to the city’s spooky reputation, with tales of hauntings in the city’s early missions and historic structures. Tragedies such as floods, fires, and disease outbreaks further contributed to the city’s haunted past.
Must-Do!
San Antonio offers a variety of spooky activities that highlight its haunted history, making a must stop on your Halloween road trip. A tour of the Alamo is essential, as the site is famous for paranormal activity linked to the soldiers who perished during the Battle of the Alamo. Although the Alamo itself is closed at night, private after-hours tours are available!
The San Antonio Ghost Walk, just one of the amazing ghost tours offered by Sister’s Grimm Ghost Tours, takes you through the city’s most haunted spots, including the Spanish Governor’s Palace and the Menger Hotel. Another eerie location is San Fernando Cathedral, known for unmarked graves and ghostly apparitions linked to its 1731 origins. The last we will mention is Mission San José, one of San Antonio’s historic missions, has its own paranormal stories, with reports of ghostly monks and eerie voices echoing through the old church. Unfortunately, the Museum and Church are closed for renovations until Christmas, but guided tours are still available!
RV Camping: Travelers World RV Resort is located close to downtown San Antonio.
4. El Paso, Texas
Why is it spooky?
El Paso, Texas, has a reputation for being one of the spookiest cities in the Southwest due to its long, turbulent history that has left behind tales of tragedy, violence, and hauntings. Founded in the 17th century as a Spanish settlement, El Paso became a vital stop along trade routes between Mexico and the U.S. Its violent frontier past has contributed to its haunted lore. One of the city’s most infamous haunted sites is Concordia Cemetery. Often called “El Paso’s Boot Hill,” thousands of people, including gunfighters, war heroes, and victims of epidemics, are buried. The cemetery is associated with ghost sightings, mysterious lights, and paranormal activity. The spirits of gunfighter John Wesley Hardin and other notorious figures still roam its grounds.
El Paso’s haunted history also extends to its Plaza Theatre, which opened in 1930 and has its own share of ghost stories. Reports of strange noises and apparitions lead some say the spirit of a maintenance worker who died in the building haunts the theater. Another historically haunted site is the Magoffin Home, built in the late 19th century. The home’s residents played key roles in the city’s early development. Visitors report sightings of ghostly figures and strange occurrences, suggesting that their spirits still linger. El Paso is in close proximity to the border giving it a rich blend of Spanish, Mexican, and Indigenous cultures. This has contributed to folklore about spirits and the afterlife, making it a city deeply connected to the supernatural.
Must-Do!
Take a nighttime ghost tour of the Concordia Cemetery and tours of the Plaza Theater and Magoffin Home. Additionally, El Paso’s downtown ghost tours meet every Friday starting at 8pm. This tour offers a chance to explore various haunted buildings and hear chilling stories of the city’s frontier days. Whether it’s ghost hunting in cemeteries or exploring haunted historical sites, El Paso’s spooky activities provide a thrilling experience for your Halloween road trip.
RV Camping: Hide Away Lakes in Tornillo is just 15 mins from the city’s haunted attractions.
5. Tombstone, Arizona
Why is it spooky?
Tombstone, Arizona, is one of the most famous and notoriously haunted towns in the American West. Due to its violent and lawless history during the late 19th century, this 5th stop on your Halloween road is a must see. Tombstone was founded in 1877 after silver was discovered in the area. It quickly became a booming mining town, attracting prospectors, gamblers, lawmen, and outlaws. Its most infamous event was the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881, where lawmen Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holliday faced off against the Clanton and McLaury families in a bloody shootout that left three men dead. This violent encounter is just one of many tragic events that marked the town’s turbulent past.
Tombstone was a frontier town with frequent gunfights, murders, and violent disputes. As such, it became known for its lawlessness and high death toll. Many of the town’s buildings, including saloons and brothels, were the sites of deadly altercations. The Boothill Graveyard, where many of Tombstone’s outlaws and victims of violence were buried, is said to be haunted by the restless spirits of those who met untimely deaths. Visitors often report seeing apparitions and experiencing strange, unexplained occurrences.
Must-Do!
Of course, a visit to the O.K. Corral is a must, and the Boothill Graveyard, where you can visit Lester Moore’s tombstone which perhaps the most famous epitaph in the cemetery, reading “Here lies Lester Moore. Four slugs from a 44. No Les. No More”. Another haunted hotspot is The Bird Cage Theatre. Once a saloon and brothel, it was the site of numerous deaths during the town’s lawless years. Today, it is still haunted by the ghosts of former patrons. This is evidenced by reports of ghostly apparitions, shadowy figures, and unexplained sounds. For a comprehensive experience, Tombstone Ghost Tours offers a walking tour through the town’s most haunted locations, sharing tales of murder, tragedy, and the supernatural. These activities give visitors a thrilling way to connect with Tombstone’s violent, haunted past.
RV Camping: Tombstone RV Park and Campground offers get you right up close to the haunted sites.
6. San Diego, California (Final Destination)
Why is it spooky?
Make San Diego the final stop on your Halloween road trip. San Diego’s spooky reputation stems from its long and colorful history, dating back to its founding as part of Spanish California in the 18th century. The Whaley House, often considered one of the most haunted houses in the U.S., plays a key role in solidifying its eerie status. Thomas Whaley built the house in 1857 on the site of San Diego’s first public gallows, giving it a chilling connection to death. The land had been used for executions. Notably the execution of Yankee Jim Robinson, a convicted thief, hanged there in 1852. After the Whaley family moved into the home, they reported hearing heavy footsteps, which they believed belonged to Yankee Jim.
Tragic events continued within the Whaley family, including the suicide of Violet Whaley. Many believe the spirits of Thomas, Anna, and other family members still haunt the house, with reports of apparitions, strange sounds, and unexplained occurrences. Learn more about the Whaley House here.
Old Town San Diego, home to the Whaley House, adds to the city’s paranormal lore. Old Town was the original site of San Diego’s settlement. Its historic buildings, like El Campo Santo Cemetery and Casa de Estudillo, are said to be haunted by the spirits of early settlers and soldiers. The cemetery dates back to 1849. It has several graves partially paved over by roads, and many believe this disturbance causes restless spirits to haunt the area.
Must Do!
Ghost tours are available for all of the haunted locations listed above. The most exciting spooky activity, and the perfect way to cap off your trip, is Dia de los Muertos. This year it is happening on November 2nd in Old Town, San Diego. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a vibrant cultural event. People display altars (ofrendas) to honor deceased loved ones. The celebration includes traditional music, folkloric dances, and face painting, with colorful parades and processions through the historic streets. Visitors can also enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine while participating in the rich traditions that pay tribute to ancestors and embrace the cycle of life and death.
RV Camping: Campland on the Bay, located close to Old Town
The Southern border is filled with haunted, mysterious, and spooky destinations. Perfect for an unforgettable Halloween adventure. Whether you explore the bloody history of San Antonio, delve into ghost towns like Tombstone and Jerome. Or, embrace the supernatural in San Diego and New Orleans, each location brings a unique blend of history, folklore, and paranormal intrigue. Traveling by RV lets you visit these spine-chilling spots, while giving you the flexibility to fully immerse yourself in the experience. So, pack your bags, map your route, and get ready for a thrilling Halloween road trip that will leave you with ghost stories and memories to last a lifetime!
