While growing numbers of campgrounds and RV parks organize holiday activities during the weeks leading up to Christmas, some parks have exceptional Christmas light displays. Here’s a sampling of some of the best Christmas light displays in campgrounds and RV parks across the country, including several parks that offer drive-through holiday light tours:
Trip Planning
Explore These Great Christmas Light Displays
On an RV trip for the holidays? Make sure to check out these radiant light displays!
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Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina in Newport Beach: This resort hosts an annual Lighting of the Bay and Fire & Lights Festival. The opening night celebration runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 and features holiday crafts, festive food, and concessions, photos with Santa, and an outdoor screening of a holiday movie on the beach. At 6 p.m., Santa will flip the switch to officially light the bay, marking the start of the holiday season. The resort’s fire dancer will be performing two shows that night. The Lighting of the Bay will continue each evening at dusk through January 5, 2025. Fire & Lights events will take place every Thursday through Sunday evenings through the season, featuring captivating fire dancing performances, a cozy Igloo Bar serving festive snacks and drinks, and fire pit tables for roasting marshmallows for s’mores while relaxing in the picturesque waterfront setting.
Families will find plenty of fun activities for children, allowing parents to unwind and enjoy the holiday spirit. Select evenings will also feature exciting live performances. Enchanting fire dancing shows will take place on Friday and Sunday evenings. Every Saturday, park guests can take with Santa Claus. Wednesday through Sunday, guests can “Elf Themselves” and take photos with an Elf-themed background and fun elf items to wear. Kids and adults are invited to play on the resort’s giant inflatables. -
Temecula KOA at Vail Lake in Temecula: This campground will have its fifth annual “Light up the Park” ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30, when holiday light displays throughout the park will be turned on. The light displays will be on every night during the holiday season.
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Sun Outdoors Sarasota in Sarasota: This resort has a significant holiday lights display that begins in November and continues through the holiday season, along with a number of organized holiday activities.
- Sun Outdoors Coos Bay: This resort is right next door to a major holiday lights display at Shore Acres State Park.
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Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph in Santa Claus: This park offers an outdoor light show that tells the “Shining Story of Rudolph” using storyboards and thousands of bright, energy-efficient LED lights. Now in its 16th year, the light show required an initial investment of $350,000, making it one of the largest outdoor Christmas light shows in the country. Many of the light displays are fully animated and some of the Rudolph story scenes are nearly 30 feet tall and over 100 feet wide.
The 1.2-mile driving route features three light tunnels. The display is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8 and nightly from Dec. 13 to 23. Car passes can be purchased in advance online or at the gate. For more information, including light schedules, visit www.SantaClausLandofLights.com.
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Jellystone Park in Eureka: This park operates Santa's Magical Kingdom, which offers holiday train and wagon rides through millions of shimmering lights from Nov. 15 through Jan. 5, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve to help families create fond holiday memories.
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Camp Cedar Cabin and RV Resort in Mason: This park will have several Christmas-themed activities, including a Festival of Lights celebration, Dec. 12-14, with light-themed crafts, games, and activities. Guests can create their own light displays and participate in a lantern parade. It's a bright and festive weekend that celebrates the beauty of lights.
- Bay Center / Willapa Bay KOA Holiday in South Bend: This park will have a holiday lights weekend on Dec. 13-15. Guests are invited to decorate their RVs and campsites for the holidays. There will also be holiday crafts and games.
- Jellystone Park in Caledonia: This park offers a 1.6 mile drive-through Christmas Carnival of Lights with colorful illuminated tunnels and displays with over 2 million lights, which the park considers to be the largest drive-through display of Christmas lights in the Midwest. The light show is open Nov. 23 to Dec. 31, with the exception of Nov. 28, 29, and Dec. 25.
- Crossville / I-40 KOA Holiday in Crossville: This campground has a 40-foot Christmas tree and Christmas light display.
