SCarowinds
Haunted attraction · North Carolina
Carowinds turns into a scare park on the South Carolina line, with ambient scare zones threaded through the midways and separate pay-to-enter haunted mazes for anyone who wants a bigger jolt. Coasters like Fury 325 stay open into the night, running select dates from mid-September to Halloween week.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Select nights, September 11 to November 1, 2026
Dates from the official announcement — always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 12–November 16
Color builds from October 30 · mostly bare by December 8
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at SCarowinds’s own coordinates and elevation (185 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
SCarowinds on the map
More things to do in North Carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway (Graveyard Fields)
Scenic drivePeak October 25
The Blue Ridge Parkway's high country near Asheville crosses Graveyard Fields at milepost 418.8, a wind-stunted valley of blueberry shrub and yellow birch that turns scarlet in October, with waterfall trails and overlooks at nearly every mile toward Mount Pisgah.
Don’t miss: Milepost 418.8 waterfall loop · Mount Pisgah overlook · Peak color mid-to-late October
Chimney Rock State Park
State parkPeak November 4
A 315-foot granite spire above Hickory Nut Gorge, reached by elevator or stairs, gives views over Lake Lure and a fall canopy of oak, hickory, and maple across the gorge walls that typically peaks in late October.
Don’t miss: Chimney Rock elevator climb · Hickory Nut Falls trail · Lake Lure overlook
Grandfather Mountain
ViewpointPeak October 27
America's highest suspension footbridge, the 228-foot Mile High Swinging Bridge, crosses to Linville Peak at 5,305 feet, with sweeping Blue Ridge views that turn color at the summit by early October and in the valleys through mid-November.
Don’t miss: Mile High Swinging Bridge · Wildlife habitats · Linville Peak overlook
Biltmore Estate
GardenPeak October 28
George Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre Gilded Age estate outside Asheville pairs its 250-room chateau with Frederick Law Olmsted's gardens, where the Walled Garden and Bass Pond turn gold and crimson through October alongside the estate winery's fall harvest.
Don’t miss: Olmsted-designed gardens · Antler Hill Village winery · Walled Garden color
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is SCarowinds open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 11 – Nov 1. Select nights, September 11 to November 1, 2026. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does SCarowinds peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 12–November 16 (best estimate November 14). Color starts around October 30 and is mostly bare by December 8.
- What is SCarowinds best for?
- A Halloween night of scares and coasters for Charlotte-area teens and adults.
- How do I get to SCarowinds?
- The closest city is Charlotte, about 11 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of North Carolina's fall lineup.
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