Four Fall-Worthy New England Road Trips that Aren’t Salem

Because we are just about officially in October, a.k.a Spooky Season, you might be looking for some places to go that aren't the old stand-by. 

We loooove Salem. It's one of my favorite places to go and I would go every weekend in the fall if I could. But Salem is super popular, sometimes crowded, and sometimes, depending on what's going on, just a little too scary for little kids. So we found a few other places around New England that make great little road trips and you won't miss out on the "Halloween-y" stuff that you get in Salem.

Chatham, MA - About an hour from the SouthCoast 

Since Chatham is close to home, it's great for a day trip and not necessarily a road trip. Chatham hosts it's own Pumpkin People in Park event each year and hosts a full day of Halloween activities the Saturday before Halloween that are family-friendly. Pumpkin People in the Park kicks off on October 12 and continues through Halloween.

Putnam, CT - Roughly an hour and a half from the SouthCoast 

Putnam hosts a bunch of cool events during October like their Zombie fashion show, Great Pumpkin Festival, and they do trick-or-treating in their downtown area the Friday before Halloween. The best part? If you don't want to drive in Connecticut traffic, you can take the train in from Providence.

Portsmouth, NH - Just over 2 hours from the SouthCoast

Once October hits, the town of Portsmouth turns into a Halloween dream. You can visit the Haunted Barn, go trick-or-treating at historic houses, and there is a giant Halloween parade where everyone dresses in costume.

Laconia, NH - 2.5 hour drive from the SouthCoast 

Not only can you get some last-season leaf peeping in on the drive, but Laconia is also famed for their Halloween activities and events. The weekend of October 12, they will host the NH Pumpkin Festival that includes horse-drawn hayrides, pancake breakfasts, and a 34-foot pumpkin tower!