The northern camping season doesn’t end when the pools close. Fall camping might be the best-kept stretch of the year: the crowds thin out, the bugs quit, the nights get good for a campfire, and the hardwoods light up. The catch is that the window is short, since a lot of northern parks close by late October or the first hard freeze. Here’s how to squeeze one more season out of it, and 6 northern parks worth pointing the rig toward.
Why fall is the RVer’s best-kept season
Summer gets the reservations, but fall gets the good camping. A few reasons the shoulder weeks are worth planning around:
- Fewer people: once school starts, the family rush ends and the parks breathe again
- Cool nights, warm days: crisp mornings and 60s or 70s afternoons make for ideal hiking and campfire weather
- The bugs are gone: the first cold snaps knock back the mosquitoes and gnats for good
- Fall color: the northern hardwoods turn from late September into October, and camping puts you right in it
- Shoulder-season value: ask about lower fall rates and open sites that were booked solid in July
Camping in the fall with kids
The camping year keeps going after the first school bell. Camping in the fall runs on a weekend rhythm: roll in Friday evening, get 2 full days of bikes, fishing, and campfires, and be home in time for the Monday bus. Parks quiet down once the summer rush ends, so the playgrounds and ponds are mostly yours.
October is also event season. Several RJourney parks run Halloween weekends with trick-or-treat loops and site-decorating contests. Our campgrounds with Halloween events roundup covers who’s doing what this year.
Best fall camping destinations in the North
6 RJourney parks sit in prime fall-color country and stay open into the shoulder weeks. Here’s what each one puts you next to.
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Baraboo sits next to Devil’s Lake State Park, where quartzite bluffs wrapped in sugar maple and oak make one of the best fall shows in the Midwest. Wisconsin Dells is 20 minutes up the road for the off-season crowds. Baraboo RV Resort gives you a full-hookup base in the middle of it. Call (608) 716-4993 or check availability at Baraboo RV Resort.
Redgranite, Wisconsin
In central Wisconsin’s lake country, Pearl Lake RV Campground has been a family camping spot since 1969, with quiet water and hardwoods that turn in early October. It’s an easy base for the Wautoma and Green Lake area. Call (608) 690-5396 or check availability at Pearl Lake RV Campground.
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart calls itself the RV Capital of the World, and it sits in real fall country: northern Indiana hardwoods, Amish Country back roads through Shipshewana and Middlebury, and Notre Dame football Saturdays in nearby South Bend. Elkhart RV Resort gives you a full-hookup base for all of it. Call (574) 800-2069 or check availability at Elkhart RV Resort.
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Where the two branches of the Susquehanna meet, Splash Magic RV Resort sits in the Susquehanna River Valley, close to Shikellamy State Park overlooks and the river-town foliage drives of central PA. Call (412) 730-2170 or check availability at Splash Magic RV Resort.
James Creek, Pennsylvania
James Creek RV Resort sits minutes from Raystown Lake, where 8,300 acres of water ringed by ridgeline hardwoods put on a foliage display you can see from a boat or a bluff. Mid-October is usually peak here. Call (878) 978-2531 or check availability at James Creek RV Resort.
Fair Haven, New York
On the south shore of Lake Ontario at the edge of the Finger Lakes, Shady Shores RV Resort & Campground pairs lake breezes with wine-country color and apple-harvest season. Late September into mid-October is the sweet spot. Call (315) 216-7331 or check availability at Shady Shores.
Fall foliage road trips from these bases
Half the fun of fall RVing is chasing the color as it moves south and downhill. Rough peak windows for these regions, so you can time a trip:
- Central and northern Wisconsin: late September through mid-October
- Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario, NY: late September through mid-October
- Central Pennsylvania (Raystown, Susquehanna Valley): early to late October, with a mid-month peak
Color runs about a week or two later as you drop in latitude and elevation, so if you miss peak up north, chase it south and you can often catch it twice.
Chasing color out West instead? Bryce Canyon RV Resort sits just outside Bryce Canyon National Park, where the high-country aspens turn gold from late September into early October. Call (435) 523-4109 to check fall availability.
Planning for fall RVing
Fall camping asks for a little more prep than a July weekend. A short checklist:
- Pack for 30-degree nights: a working furnace or a safe space heater, warm bedding, and layers
- Watch closing dates. Many northern parks wind down in late October, so confirm the season when you book
- Plan for shorter days. Sunset comes early by October, so set up camp with daylight to spare
- Mind your water lines on the coldest nights if you’re stretching into November
Fall camping bases at a glance
| Park | Region | Fall highlight | Typical peak color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo RV Resort | Baraboo, WI | Devil’s Lake bluffs, the Dells off-season | Early to mid-October |
| Pearl Lake RV Campground | Redgranite, WI | Central WI lake country | Early October |
| Elkhart RV Resort | Elkhart, IN | Amish Country drives, Notre Dame weekends | Mid-October |
| Splash Magic RV Resort | Northumberland, PA | Susquehanna Valley drives | Mid-October |
| James Creek RV Resort | James Creek, PA | Raystown Lake foliage | Mid-October |
| Shady Shores | Fair Haven, NY | Finger Lakes, apple harvest | Late Sept to mid-October |
Frequently asked questions
When do northern RV parks close for the season?
Most northern parks stay open into October and close around the end of the month or with the first hard freeze. Exact dates vary by park and by year, so confirm the closing date when you reserve, especially for a late-October or November trip.
Where is the best fall foliage for RV camping?
The Upper Midwest and the Northeast lead the show. Wisconsin’s lake country, New York’s Finger Lakes, and central Pennsylvania’s ridge-and-valley country all peak from late September through October, and all three have full-hookup parks to base from.
Is fall camping good for kids?
Fall camping fits the school calendar better than summer does. Weekend trips work around Monday classes, the parks are quieter, and October brings Halloween events at many campgrounds. Pack warm sleep layers and the rest takes care of itself.
Is fall RV camping too cold?
Fall camping runs cold at night and mild by day, which most RVers consider ideal. With a working furnace, warm bedding, and layers, nights in the 30s and 40s are comfortable. The reward is empty trails, no bugs, and the best color of the year.
Catch the last good weeks
Fall RV camping is a short season with a big payoff, and the best sites go to the people who book the shoulder weeks early. Pick a northern base, time it to the color, and pack for cool nights. Check availability at Baraboo, Pearl Lake, Elkhart, Splash Magic, James Creek, or Shady Shores before the season closes.
Park details and phone numbers verified against live park pages on August 7, 2026.
