Travel Guides
Travel Guides
Go RVing to These Christmas Light Displays
On an RV trip for the holidays? Make sure to check out these festive light displays!
Overview
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 a few that offer drive-through holiday light tours:
1
Crossville / I-40 KOA Holiday
Crossville / I-40 KOA Holiday in Crossville, TN: This campground will have a 50-foot Christmas tree and Christmas light display throughout the holiday season.
2
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort in Orlando, FL: While Disney World is a top attraction in itself, its campground is also famous for the quality of its Christmas lights and decorations in campsites and common areas. Guests also bring their Christmas lights, inflatables, and other decorations to further decorate their campsites.
3
Mystic KOA Holiday
Mystic KOA Holiday in North Stoningham, CT: This campground, which is open year-round, is hosting its first-ever Mystic Holiday Light Show, a dazzling drive-through experience that turns over a mile of the campground into a glowing winter wonderland.
Through December 31, guests can enjoy hundreds of larger-than-life light displays perfectly synchronized to festive holiday music—all from the comfort of their vehicles. Campers staying at the campground also receive one complimentary admission to the light show per vehicle.
4
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina in Newport Beach, CA: This resort will host its 35th annual Lighting of the Bay and Fire & Lights Festival, featuring more than 50 Christmas trees and other decorations that float on the serene, waveless bay.
The Lighting of the Bay will continue Thursday through Sunday evenings from late November through January 4, 2025, 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. Evening entertainment includes exciting fire dancing shows.
Photo courtesy of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina.
5
Sun Outdoors Coos Bay
Sun Outdoors Coos Bay, OR: This resort is right next door to a major holiday lights display at Shore Acres State Park.
6
Sun Outdoors Sarasota
Sun Outdoors Sarasota in Sarasota, FL: This resort has a significant holiday lights display that continues through the holiday season, along with a number of organized holiday activities.
7
Temecula KOA at Vail Lake
Temecula KOA at Vail Lake in Temecula, CA: This park will have its sixth annual “Light up the Park” ceremony on Thanksgiving Weekend, when holiday light displays throughout the park will be turned on. The light displays will be on every night during the holiday season.
8
Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph (Drive-Thru)
Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph in Santa Claus, IN: 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 through December 7 and nightly from December 12 to 23. Car passes can be purchased in advance online or at the gate. For more information, including light schedules, visit Santa Claus Land of Lights.
Photo courtesy of Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph.
9
Midwest Old Threshers Campground (Drive-Thru)
Midwest Old Threshers Campground in Mount Pleasant, IA: This campground is the setting for a 2-mile-long drive-through Christmas Festival of Lights display, one of the largest in Iowa. The display is open from November 26 to December 31.
10
Jellystone Park (Drive-Thru)
Jellystone Park in Caledonia, WI: This park offers a 1.6-mile drive-through Christmas Carnival of Lights with colorful illuminated tunnels and displays with over 3 million lights, which the park considers to be the largest drive-through display of Christmas lights in the Midwest. The light show is open until December 31, with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Photo courtesy of Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Caledonia, WI.
Final Thoughts
Christmas is a magical time of year in campgrounds, particularly those with festive light displays. Even in snow country, some campgrounds have created incredible drive-through Christmas light displays that keep families coming back every year as part of their annual Christmas traditions. So this holiday season, hit the road in your RV and join the outdoor festivities!
