Seasonal trips · Halloween and fall trips
Where to go in October: haunted towns, ghost tours and fall color
October is the month for haunted history, ghost tours, pumpkin festivals and peak fall leaves. These towns fill up fast on October weekends, so groups should book hotels early and plan a weekday visit if they can.
Salem · Leavenworth · Cleveland · Sleepy Hollow · New Orleans · Savannah · St. Augustine · Gettysburg · Estes Park · Helen · Stowe
Halloween capital
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem hosts Haunted Happenings all month, with parades, costume events, haunted houses and witch-trial history. It is the most famous Halloween town in the country.
Highlights
- Witch-trial history sites and museums
- Evening ghost and history walking tours
- Haunted Happenings events throughout October
- Pickering Wharf and the historic waterfront
Where to stay: Hotels in Salem sell out early, so many groups stay in Peabody, Danvers or Boston and take the train in.
Getting there: Boston Logan (BOS) is about 30–45 minutes away. The commuter rail runs from Boston's North Station to Salem.
Group tip: October weekends are extremely crowded. Visit on a weekday if you can, and book tours ahead of time.
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Bavarian village Oktoberfest
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth's Bavarian-style village celebrates Oktoberfest on weekends in October, with German music, beer halls and food, surrounded by fall color in the Cascade Mountains.
Highlights
- Oktoberfest weekends in the village
- Fall foliage along Icicle Creek and the Wenatchee River
- Front Street shops and German bakeries
- Nearby orchards and fruit stands
Where to stay: In-town hotels sell out on Oktoberfest weekends. Groups often rent cabins nearby or stay in Wenatchee.
Getting there: Seattle (SEA) is about 2.5 hours away. Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee (EAT) is about 35 minutes.
Group tip: Buy Oktoberfest tickets before you book rooms, and plan a sober driver or shuttle for the group.
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Haunted history and HalloWeekends
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland pairs city ghost tours and historic cemeteries with fall color in the Metroparks. Cedar Point's HalloWeekends, about an hour away in Sandusky, is one of the biggest Halloween events in the Midwest.
Highlights
- Cedar Point HalloWeekends (Sandusky)
- Lake View Cemetery and the Garfield Memorial
- Ghost and history tours downtown
- Fall color in the Cleveland Metroparks
Where to stay: Downtown and the Flats are central. Groups heading to Cedar Point often stay in Sandusky.
Getting there: Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE) is about 20 minutes from downtown.
Group tip: Pair a Cedar Point night with a Cleveland day, and add the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for groups.
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Legend of the Headless Horseman
Sleepy Hollow, New York
The village behind The Legend of Sleepy Hollow leans into the season with lantern tours, legend-themed events and the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze nearby in the Hudson Valley.
Highlights
- Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Old Dutch Church
- Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (Historic Hudson Valley)
- Headless Horseman-themed events
- Hudson River views and fall color
Where to stay: Tarrytown and White Plains have the most hotels. Some groups stay in New York City and day-trip up.
Getting there: Westchester County Airport (HPN) is about 30 minutes away, and the NYC airports are about an hour. Metro-North trains run from Grand Central.
Group tip: Timed tickets for the jack-o'-lantern event sell out. Buy them before you book rooms.
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Ghost tours and cemeteries
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans has some of the best ghost, voodoo and cemetery tours in the country, plus Halloween parties in the French Quarter and great food.
Highlights
- French Quarter ghost and voodoo tours
- Historic above-ground cemeteries
- Halloween events and costume parties
- Live music on Frenchmen Street
Where to stay: The French Quarter and Central Business District are walkable to most tours. The Garden District is quieter.
Getting there: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) is about 25 minutes from downtown.
Group tip: Book a private group tour if you have 10 or more people, so everyone stays together.
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Haunted squares and ghost tours
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah's oak-lined squares, historic homes and cemeteries make it one of the most popular ghost-tour cities in the South, and October weather is mild.
Highlights
- Nighttime ghost tours on foot or by hearse
- Bonaventure Cemetery
- Historic District squares
- River Street
Where to stay: The Historic District is walkable. Hotels near the airport or on the south side cost less.
Getting there: Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) is about 20 minutes from downtown.
Group tip: Trolley tours make it easy to move a big group around the Historic District.
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America's oldest city
St. Augustine, Florida
As the oldest city in the continental US, St. Augustine has centuries of haunted history, ghost tours, a lighthouse and a Spanish fort.
Highlights
- Ghost tours of the old town
- St. Augustine Lighthouse
- Castillo de San Marcos
- St. George Street
Where to stay: The historic district is walkable. St. Augustine Beach has more family-friendly hotels.
Getting there: Jacksonville International (JAX) is about an hour away.
Group tip: Combine it with a beach day for families and school groups.
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Civil War history and ghost walks
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg pairs one of the most important Civil War battlefields with some of the best-known ghost walks in the country. Fall color makes October a great time to visit.
Highlights
- Gettysburg National Military Park
- Evening ghost walks
- Museum and Visitor Center
- Fall orchards in Adams County
Where to stay: Hotels are clustered in town and along the main roads. It is easy to fit a whole group in one place.
Getting there: Harrisburg International (MDT) is about an hour away. Baltimore (BWI) is about 90 minutes.
Group tip: Hire a licensed battlefield guide to ride along on your bus for the best tour.
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The Stanley Hotel and fall elk
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is home to the Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for The Shining, which offers ghost tours. In fall you can see the elk rut and golden aspens at the gate to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Highlights
- Stanley Hotel ghost and history tours
- Elk viewing in town and the park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Mountain-town shopping and dining
Where to stay: Cabins and lodges suit large groups and families. The Stanley books up early in October.
Getting there: Denver International (DEN) is about 90 minutes to 2 hours away.
Group tip: Check Rocky Mountain National Park's timed-entry rules before you go.
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Alpine village Oktoberfest
Helen, Georgia
Helen is a Bavarian-style mountain village in north Georgia. Its long-running Oktoberfest and fall leaves in the Blue Ridge Mountains make it a fun group weekend.
Highlights
- Oktoberfest in the festhalle
- Tubing and river walks (in warm weather)
- Unicoi State Park and Anna Ruby Falls
- Fall foliage drives
Where to stay: Cabin rentals are popular with big groups. In-town hotels are walkable to the festival.
Getting there: Atlanta (ATL) is about 1.5–2 hours away.
Group tip: Rent a large cabin for 10 or more people. It is often cheaper per person than hotel rooms.
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New England fall foliage
Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is a classic New England village with covered bridges, mountain views and some of the best fall color in the country.
Highlights
- Fall foliage drives and gondola rides
- Covered bridges and the village church
- Cider mills and farm stands
- Hiking on Mount Mansfield
Where to stay: Inns and resorts along the Mountain Road suit groups. Book early for peak foliage.
Getting there: Burlington International (BTV) is about 45 minutes away.
Group tip: Peak color usually comes in late September to early October, so book the first half of the month.
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Event dates change each year, so check the official town or event website before you book. GroupVoy may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
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