The Best Halloween Decorations for Campers

This post was originally published on October 13, 2020. It has been updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.

Campgrounds celebrate Halloween how your one friend celebrates their birthday month: a bit extra, but absolutely fun. If you read our previous post on 10 Reasons to Love Fall Camping, you know that Halloween is one of the reasons why campers might refrain from putting the trailer in storage for just a bit longer. Many campgrounds host Halloween-themed activities like pumpkin decorating, scavenger hunts, parades, and costume contests, but there are plenty of ways that you can partake in the holiday on your own. One of the easiest and most rewarding ways is to cover your campsite with Halloween decorations for campers. Read on for Halloween camper decorations galore and spooky inspiration!

There is nothing wrong with the extravagance of blowup monsters, a light show, or giant skeletons but another great option when it comes to Halloween decorations for campers is to keep it simple. Plus, simplicity often also means affordability! Our Halloween setup only came out to cost $80! Here are my tips and tricks on how to partake in the fun.

1. Local Pumpkins from a Farm or Orchard

Skip the grocery store when it comes to purchasing your Halloween camper decorations and opt for buying your Halloween or fall-inspired pumpkins and gords from a nearby farm or orchard. Save packing space and purchase them after arriving at your campground. Usually, there’s an orchard of farm stand just around the corner from campgrounds, even if you’re in the sticks. The majority of my budget went to pumpkins and gords because I think natural decorations complement the beauty of a campsite.

2. Halloween Snacks and Treats

Displaying Halloween treats is a multifunctional way to decorate. Set one down, eat one. That’s the rule, right? Candy has flashy wrappers and I guess aren’t the greatest for your health so mix it up with baking your own goodies and including a bowl of apples. Apples have an interesting history with the holiday, so while you’re at the orchard picking up your pumpkins, make sure to snag a bag of apples.

3. Themed Costumes and Decorations

Make your decorations cohesive by focusing on one theme. This year, we went with the theme of a spider infestation. We picked up these spooky spiders and 10′ spider webs at Target. The spiders doubled as costumes as we strapped them onto the cats’ harnesses for a cute little photo opp.

4. Firewood

You’re going to need it to make that cozy campfire anyway, so you might as well use it to beef up your pumpkin displays.

5. Lights!

The best halloween decorations are the ones that set the mood, and what better mood setter than a set of string lights? Lanterns and candles are also great options for providing a spooky touch as the sun sets.

Happy Halloween, Campspotters!

Don’t get caught up in the showiness of it all. If you find yourself looking over your shoulder at a neighbor’s decorations and comparing it to yours, stop and call your therapist. I’m kidding. In the end, it’s really about creating an environment that fosters memories. Your decorations don’t have to be up to Martha Stewart’s caliber. If putting out one small pumpkin on your picnic table gets you in the Halloween mood, then you do you.

Kendra Clapp Olguín is a traveler, writer, content creator, and one-half of one y one, a creative agency whose studio is the great outdoors. This post was originally published on October 13, 2020. It has been updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.

Photo credit: Tyler Way