You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.
6 Halloween Destinations to Treat Yourself to in 2025
Theme parks, big cities and small towns put their own spin on the usual haunted houses and fall festivals.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Published Oct 1, 2025 3:38 p.m. PDT · 2 min read
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet’s content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and complete as possible.
Written by
Lead Writer/Spokesperson
17 years of experience
Expertise
Travel
credit cards
Sally French is co-host of the Smart Travel podcast and a writer on NerdWallet’s travel team. Before joining NerdWallet as a travel rewards expert in 2020, she wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.
Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy’s Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.
She lives in San Francisco.
Published in
Lead Writer/Spokesperson
+ more
Edited by
Editor & Content Strategist
6 years of experience
Expertise
Travel rewards
Credit cards
Meghan Coyle is an editor on the Travel Rewards team and the co-host of the Smart Travel podcast. She covers travel credit cards, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. Meghan is based in Los Angeles and has a love-hate relationship with LAX.
Published in
Editor & Content Strategist
+ more
Halloween isn’t just about neighborhood trick-or-treating these days. It’s also becoming a popular time to travel, with people heading to seasonal celebrations across the U.S.
From elaborate theme park events to historic haunted cities, these destinations offer unforgettable spooky experiences worth planning a trip around.
In this article
1. Orlando, Florida
Orlando reigns supreme as the Halloween travel destination, with several major theme parks hosting special after-hours events. Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights runs Wednesday to Sunday through early November. The main draw is the 10 new haunted houses built inside the theme park, including experiences inspired by “Terrifier” and “Friday the 13th.”
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, but it’s already sold out for 2025. Still, daytime Disney World visitors will have a chance to see Halloween-themed shows and parades or buy seasonal food and merchandise.
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 on Oct. 18 and 19 in Northern California transforms this charming coastal town into a fall wonderland each October. Beyond the famous giant pumpkin weigh-off competition, visitors can eat pumpkin-themed foods, peruse local art vendors and watch live entertainment — all while taking in scenic coastal views.
6. Gilroy, California
The Great Big Boo at Gilroy Gardens is a prime Halloween destination for families with younger children. This family theme park transforms into a not-too-scary Halloween wonderland with trick-or-treating throughout the park, costume contests, pumpkin decorating and gentle Halloween-themed rides. Adults can enjoy Halloween-themed cocktails like Boo Butter Brew and Hocus Pocus Punch. The park’s beautiful gardens provide a scenic backdrop for Halloween festivities, offering a more intimate experience than larger theme parks.
Saving on your Halloween travel
Halloween is not just one day. It’s an entire month (or more) of festivities and spending. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey, Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $13.1 billion this year.
To keep costs down for your Halloween travel, take advantage of shoulder season prices during the long holiday window that’s already in full swing. You might not have to go to the events on Oct. 31st exactly to get your fill.
And find out what other Halloween destinations are nearby. Traveling could mean taking a day trip to another town with a giant pumpkin patch or finding a street with incredible displays of home decorations.
After all, it’s just one of many ways to celebrate spooky season.
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 2025:
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: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
More like this