Halloween is getting closer! I’ve made so many DIY costumes over the years! I’ve never attended a trunk or treat event, but it looks so fun! I’ve gathered up 23 super creative trunk or treat decorating ideas to get your brain (& vehicle) in the Halloween spirit!
What is a trunk or treat?
Trunk or treating is as simple as a few families gathering in a parking lot with decorated cars. Trunk or treating usually happens in a parking lot to safely walk from car to car. Kids dress in costumes and run from one car to the next gathering treats from decorated trunks of cars.
Easy Trunk or Treat Ideas
You can easily transform your car into a one of kind Halloween decoration for the annual trunk or treat. Turn your car, truck or SUV into a creative masterpeice with things you likely have on hand or can borrow or buy inexpensively like bean bags, a pop up tent, guitar, sheets, and caution tape.
1. Teeth and tongue
I love how simple, yet awesome this mouth turned out. Red butcher paper and white poster board is all you need to re-create this mouth trunk masterpeice. Image via Manhattan Dental Care.
2. I Spy Game
If you’re looking for the easiest trunk or treat idea out there, I give you “I Spy”! Raid the kiddos rooms and stuff your trunk with dolls, balls, and toys galore. Craft up a fancy sign that says “I Spy” and tape it to the top. Bam. You won trunk or treat! Image via Trunk or Treat.
3. Sleepover trunk or treat
The key elements to an awesome slumber party trunk or treat are bean bags, blankets, pillows, robes, and popcorn!
4. Camp Out
Here is another super simple trunk or treat idea, just add a tent to the back of your van! Then, make a fake fire with sticks and tissue paper and place the bowl of candy in the center of the fire! Find more details over at Jeannie Marie and Company.
5. Crime Scene
The essential ingredient for this trunk or treat is a roll of “Police do not cross tape” and a few orange cones for good measure and this might be the easiest trunk or treat idea ever! Image via Becky Nzeocha.
6. Charlie Brown and the great pumpkin patch
If you have a sleepy newborn, this is the cutest and easiest trunk or treat idea. mage via Rand Adams
7. Treasure chest
Turn the back of your car into an under sea treasure trove with nets, crates, a lantern, shells, and of course a treasure box full of candy and gold!
8. Rock n’ roll
Add records and guitars and blast some music for a dance party at the trunk! Image via trunkortreat.
9. Black cat
This black cat trunk or treat is easy enough to throw together last minute with black sheets or blankets and white poster board. It’s purrr-fect!
10. Mummy
Cover your car in shite sheets and leave a little room on the windshield for giant eyeballs. Easy peasy!
11. Mad Scientist
Decorate your trunk with caution tape, christmas lights, spider webs, and test tubes of potions! Grab a white lab coat at the thrift store and don’t forget your mad scientist googles! More details at Frog Prince Paperie.
Movie Themed Trunk or Treat Ideas
12. Wizard of Oz
Turn a peice of cardboard into the Emerald City and add a yellow brick road for a Wizard of Oz themed trunk or treat! Don’t forget Dorothy, Toto, and a rainbow! Image via nc & beyond.
13. Wizard of Oz
Here is another fun version of a Wizard of Oz themed trunk or treat complete with a scarecrow and Dorothy costume. Check out #9 on this list for more DIY Wizard of Oz costume ideas. Image via buy me love.
14. Sesame Street
This Cookie Monster trunk or treat was built with 1/2 inch PVC pipe and then blue fabric was stretched around the frame with zip ties, velcro and duct tape. It’s adorable! More details at Quotes of a Boy Mom.
15. Aladdin
The tiger on top of the car plus the palm trees and magic carpet really make this Aladdin themed trunk or treat incredible! Details at Satchels of Gold.
16. Little red riding hood
The granny curtain on the tension rod, wooden sign, and awesome granny costume make this Little Red Riding hood trunk or treat set up extra special. Oh and don’t forget the big bad wolf, ha! Image via Christ Place.
Decade themed trunk or treat ideas
Decade dress up days are nostalgic and fun for everyone!
17. Hippies
Turn back time to the 1970’s and tie dye and bell bottoms. The yellow VW bug with colorful flowers and a giant peace sign is pretty awesome too! Image via trunkortreat.
18. 1920’s Decade
Flappers, boas, and tinsel galore make the twenties come alive! Details at Satchels of Gold.
19. Cavemen
This cavemen trunk or treat scene is complete with a stuffed bunny roasting over a fire. For the record, that would likely scare my kids, but it’s a clever addition to say the least. Details at Satchels of Gold.
20. Egyptian
The tiny Egyptian princess and the pumpkin headed Sphinx are adorable. The great pyramid and a mummy are also essential for the Egyptian themed trunk or treat. Image via Stevie Lee.
21. Medieval trunk or treat
A cardboard castle complete with kings, queens, dragons and knight costumes make this trunk or treat scene come to life. Details at Satchels of Gold.
Game themed trunk or treat ideas
Love board games? Turn the trunk of a car into any game with a little creativity. For one more game idea, don’t miss #2 on this list, the “I Spy” game!
22. Candy Land
Go all out for the trunk or treat this year with a Candy Land theme! Image via Pinterest. 
23. Monster toss game
Here’s an interactive trunk or treat the kids are sure to love. Add a board with a face to the trunk of your car and let kids toss bean bags into its mouth. Details at The Hall Whanau.
Have you ever attended a trunk or treat? Or just decorated your car for Halloween for fun? I’d love to hear…
If you’re looking for more Halloween inspiration, don’t miss these posts:
Comments & Reviews
Does anyone know where I could get those giant Hershey bar props in the candy land theme trunk? I’ve been looking everywhere. I was going to have them made but the place I found can’t do it because of licensing reasons.
I did this theme a couple of years ago, and just wrapped cardboard and made my own letters with vinyl. It turned out really cute.
We did Christmas! It was really fun and FREE since I have all my Christmas decor from Christmas. 🙂 We used our artificial Christmas tree by putting the bottom 2 thirds inside our SUV and the top third on the top of the tree. It looked like our tree was through the roof. We decorated the top and bottom and lit the top with a battery pack. We put our electric train set under the tree and wrapped empty boxes for presents.
My family is picture number 20! We also did a pirate theme, and Ghostbusters too with a giant stay puft marshmallow man. Love Trunk Or Treat!
Shawna! How cool is that?! Well, thank you for letting me borrow your picture. Awesome idea! And what super cool trunk or treat are planning this year 😉
Some of these ideas are cute! However 14 and 8 are the same picture. While 11 and 4 are the same theme, they are done differently. Other than that, good post.
I’ve never taken the kids trunk or treating (we do the house to house thing) but those look like so much fun! I guess we’ve been missing out.
We have been doing it for years. It is really a lot of fun and creates a safe enviroment for kids. Instead of running down the street house to house, taking the chance of running out in front of moving vehicles, get treats on a street blocked off to kiddos only.
Thanks for listing our Wizard of Oz trunk or treat! We’ve also done a mermaid themed trunk, which you can find here: http://buymelovestore.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/make-it-monday-a-very-belated-reveal/.
We’ve also decorated my little red car like Lightning McQueen, which is quick and easy. 🙂
We love trunk or treat! Noah’s Ark and Jonah have got to be my favorites on this list! Pinning it! I would love to have you link it up to my Feature Friday Link Palooza!
Danielle @ Blissful & Domestic
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