Halloween isn't just about neighborhood trick-or-treating these days. It's also become a popular time to travel, as people head to seasonal celebrations across the U.S. Demand has been climbing: in 2025, internal Expedia data shared with NerdWallet showed searches for spooky getaways surging, with some destinations seeing lodging increases of up to 50% year over year.
From elaborate theme park events to historic haunted cities, these destinations offer spooky experiences worth planning a trip around.
1. Orlando, Florida
Orlando reigns supreme as the Halloween travel destination, with several major theme parks hosting after-hours events. Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights returns for its 35th year, running select nights — typically Wednesday through Sunday — from Aug. 28 through Nov. 1, 2026. This year's theme is "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares." Universal reveals its haunted houses gradually; the first two announced for 2026 are Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control and a house based on the film "Sinners," with the full lineup, usually around 10 houses, rolled out closer to the event.
Walt Disney World Resort has its own (tamer) after-hours event. Rather than haunted houses, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party offers trick-or-treating stations, parades and shows. It sells out every year, so if it's on your list, buy early. Daytime visitors can still catch Halloween-themed shows, parad
Even the smaller Orlando theme parks have their own Halloween offerings, including SeaWorld's Howl-O-Scream and Brick-or-Treat at Legoland.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas has plenty of costumes and entertainment year-round, but Halloween is a particularly fun time to visit. For people who want the Universal Halloween Horror Nights experience without the rides, Las Vegas has Universal Horror Unleashed — a year-round horror experience with four mazes and themed eateries.
There is also a free annual Rock of Horror Halloween Bash on Fremont Street.
3. Meow Wolf locations
Immersive art collective Meow Wolf throws Cosmic Howl parties on October 31 at its locations in Denver; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Houston; and Grapevine, Texas. These are far from typical Halloween gatherings. Activities range from absinthe tastings and tarot readings to live bands and DJ sets.
4. Salem, Massachusetts
More than a million visitors pour into Salem, Massachusetts, each October for Salem Haunted Happenings, billed as the largest Halloween celebration in the world. The month-long program includes a parade, ghost tours, haunted houses and costume balls.
While many of the festivities are free or cheap, lodging is another story. The city’s Hampton Inn, which typically charges less than $300 a night in November, can exceed $700 per night during October due to demand.
5. Half Moon Bay, California
The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival transforms this coastal Northern California town into a fall wonderland. Beyond the famous Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, which kicks off the festivities Oct. 12, visitors can eat pumpkin-themed foods, browse local art vendors and watch live entertainment, all with scenic coastal views.
6. Gilroy, California
The Great Big Boo at Gilroy Gardens is a prime Halloween destination for families with younger children. The park transforms into a not-too-scary Halloween wonderland with trick-or-treating throughout the grounds, costume contests, pumpkin decorating and gentle Halloween-themed rides. Adults can try Halloween cocktails like Boo Butter Brew and Hocus Pocus Punch. The gardens make a scenic backdrop and a more intimate experience than the bigger parks.
Saving on your Halloween travel
Halloween isn't just one day. It's a monthlong, or longer, stretch of festivities and spending. Americans were projected to spend a record $13.1 billion on Halloween in 2025, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey — up from $11.6 billion the year before. (The 2026 forecast comes out in the fall.)
To keep your own costs down, lean on shoulder-season pricing. You don't have to travel on Oct. 31 itself to get the full experience — and the data shows that waiting for peak Halloween can cost you. Anaheim hotel rates, for instance, jump to an average $239 a night in October, the most expensive month of the year, according to data provided by Kayak to NerdWallet, versus $182 in August. Salem tells a similar story: a Hampton Inn there that runs under $300 a night in November can top $700 in October. Going earlier in the season, or picking a less in-demand town nearby, keeps prices closer to their off-season lows.
Look for what's nearby, too. A day trip to the next town's pumpkin patch, or a street packed with over-the-top home displays, is one of many ways to celebrate the season for less.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
