If you crave the thrill of a good scare, Halloween season is your perfect excuse to pack your bags and chase the shadows. Across America, haunted houses, ghostly landmarks, and cursed hotels wait to test your courage. Whether you’re drawn to paranormal legends or cinematic terror, these spine-chilling spots promise a Halloween you’ll never forget.
Scariest Places in America for Halloween
(credit: 13th Gate)
The 13th Gate – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Step through the 13th Gate and let darkness swallow you whole. You crawl through underground tunnels, wade through foggy swamps, and wander a cemetery so realistic you question if it’s all a set. Every room feels alive — or at least occupied by something that once was. Between the actors, the animatronics, and the eerily convincing atmosphere, you’ll lose track of what’s real and what’s waiting for you in the next shadow. The 13th Gate attraction operates on Fridays to Sundays through November 8.
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream – Tampa, Florida & Williamsburg, Virginia
When Busch Gardens transforms for Howl-O-Scream, you step into a maze of pure terror. Masked creatures lunge from the dark, haunted houses twist your sense of direction, and roller coasters plunge you into nightmarish blackness. Between the scare zones, themed bars, and chilling live shows, every corner hides a new reason to scream — and you’ll love every horrifying second. Howl-O-Scream operates on select nights at both locations through November 2.
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Cutting Edge Haunted House – Fort Worth, Texas
You push open the heavy doors of a century-old meatpacking plant, and the smell of iron and fear fills the air. Inside, flashing lights, pounding drums, and relentless zombies close in around you. Cutting Edge feels endless — each corridor louder and darker than the last. By the time you escape, your pulse is racing, your voice is gone, and you realize you’ve survived one of the most intense haunted houses in America. The Cutting Edge Haunted House is known as the World’s Largest Haunted House Attraction by the Guinness Book of Records. Of course, it’s also one of the scariest places to visit in America. The last day to visit during the 2025 Halloween season is on November 1.
Eastern State Penitentiary Halloween Nights – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The moment you step inside Eastern State Penitentiary, the air turns cold. The crumbling cellblocks echo with distant footsteps, and every shadow feels alive. Once home to infamous inmates, this gothic prison now lures thrill-seekers with its ghost tours and haunted events. You swear you hear whispers, but when you turn — there’s no one there. Halloween Nights at one of America’s scariest places is open on select nights through November 8.
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Factory of Terror – Canton, Ohio
You don’t just walk through Factory of Terror — it swallows you whole. Set inside an old industrial complex, this attraction stretches across multiple haunted houses, each one more chaotic than the last. Machines clank in the dark, lights flicker, and fog creeps across the floor. Between screams, you catch your breath at a themed bar, knowing the nightmare isn’t over yet. The Factory of Terror is open on Fridays through Sundays throughout the 2025 Halloween season.
HellsGate Haunted House – Lockport, Illinois
Your journey begins in the woods, where the trees seem to lean closer the farther you walk. A shuttle whisks you to HellsGate, a haunted mansion bursting with hidden rooms, live actors, and the legendary “find the key” challenge. Each scream echoes through the house as you push forward, testing your courage one step at a time. When you finally make it out, the bonfires outside feel like salvation. HellsGate is open during the Halloween season on select dates through November 2.
Knott’s Scary Farm – Buena Park, California
Every autumn, Knott’s Berry Farm sheds its friendly charm and becomes a nightmare. Fog rolls across the park, creatures stalk you through mazes, and the screams of strangers blend with carnival music. With decades of haunted history, Knott’s Scary Farm knows exactly how to get under your skin — and keep you coming back for more. Knott’s Scary Farm operates on select days through November 1. As for the kids, Knott’s Spooky Farm operates on Thursdays to Sundays through Halloween. The Spooky Farm is also open on October 13, Columbus Day.
LaLaurie Mansion – New Orleans, Louisiana
In the heart of NOLA’s French Quarter stands a mansion so steeped in horror that locals still whisper its name. The LaLaurie House radiates dread — its balconies seem to watch you as you pass. Its gruesome history has become legend, and even those who don’t believe in ghosts feel the weight of something dark within those walls. Whether you join a tour or simply walk by, you’ll feel the chill crawl up your spine. If you wish to visit LaLaurie Mansion, you can book a ghost tour through providers like Ghost City Tours.
Lizzie Borden House – Fall River, Massachusetts
cold. You tour the rooms, study the evidence, and feel the tension that never left. The floorboards creak under your feet, and whispers drift through the air. If you stay the night, don’t expect to sleep — some stories refuse to rest. While you may not be able to find reservations this month, the Lizzie Borden House does offer several tours daily.
Myrtles Plantation – St. Francisville, Louisiana
The Myrtles Plantation looks peaceful at first glance, but you sense the sorrow in the stillness. Known as one of America’s most haunted homes, it’s said to be alive with the spirits of its tragic past. Visitors often report the sound of children playing, footsteps in empty rooms, and a woman named Chloe wandering the halls. Stay overnight, and you’ll understand why the living rarely stay calm here. Daily house tours are offered throughout the Halloween season and into the holiday season.
Netherworld Haunted House – Stone Mountain, Georgia
Netherworld doesn’t just scare you — it consumes you. The towering sets, monstrous creatures, and movie-level effects hit you all at once. Each year brings new horrors, but the fear stays the same. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, Netherworld proves you wrong. Netherworld Haunted House operates on select days through November 8.
Preston Castle The Haunt -Ione, California
You step through Preston Castle’s towering archways, and time seems to stop. The former reform school hums with energy — whispers in the halls, shadows that move where no one stands. Its decaying beauty hides a restless past, and when night falls, the temperature drops. You’re not alone, and deep down, you know it. The Haunt at Preston Castle runs on select days during the 2025 Halloween season through October 25.
The Queen Mary Paranormal Attractions – Long Beach, California
The Queen Mary may look elegant from the shore, but once you’re aboard, the ship tells a darker story. After all, there are cold drafts that sweep through the corridors, and footsteps echo when no one’s there. Once a luxury liner, now a haunted relic, the Queen Mary’s Paranormal Attractions let you explore her eerie decks. Just don’t wander too far from the group! Among your options to visit during the Halloween season are Haunted Encounters and the Paranormal Ship Walk. On the other hand, the Haunted Encounters Tour with General Admission operates through the 2025 holiday season!
Salem Haunted Happenings, Massachusetts
No town wears Halloween like Salem’s Haunted Happenings. Its cobblestone streets and candlelit cemeteries carry the memory of the witch trials that made it infamous. In October, you join thousands of visitors dressed in costume, chasing ghost tours through centuries-old neighborhoods. The past clings to the air here — and sometimes, it feels like it’s watching you. Among the attractions to visit during Halloween are Frankenstein’s Castle, Witch Mansion Haunted House and Haunted Witch Village.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah drips with southern charm — and ghosts. Under its moss-covered oaks, spirits linger in every shadow. Haunted inns, foggy graveyards, and whispered tales make this city one long ghost story. Stay at the Marshall House or take a midnight tour if you dare — but don’t be surprised if something unseen follows you home. Among the ideas to consider to your Halloween visit are Bonaventure Cemetery, Ghost City Tours and the Haunted Moose Lodge Forest.
The Darkness – St. Louis, Missouri
In The Darkness Haunted Screampark, every step feels like a dare. You navigate three haunted mazes, stumble through horror museums, and fight your way out of mini escape rooms that test your nerves. Even the line outside feels like part of the show. It’s the kind of haunted attractions that leaves you breathless — and begging for more. In all, there are eight different attractions at Screampark, including The Darkness Haunted House and Creepy World. The Darkness operates on multiple days throughout the 2025 Halloween season and concludes November.
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights – Universal City, California
Here, your favorite horror movies come alive — and come for you. Universal Studios transforms into a landscape of monsters, slashers, and undead nightmares. Each haunted house drags you into a different film, filled with cinematic detail and jump scares that hit with perfect timing. You’ll scream, laugh, and question why you ever thought this was a good idea. After all, you may encounter creepy characters like Art the Clown, Jason and Freddy and his other animatronic friends. Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights operates on select nights through November 2.
Whaley House – San Diego, California
Built on the site of old gallows, the Whaley House carries the weight of every tragic story tied to its foundation. Visitors report cold spots, moving curtains, and ghostly figures watching from upstairs windows. Tour guides whisper about the Whaley family — and the others who never left. Step inside, and you’ll understand why it’s called “America’s Most Haunted House.” If you want to visit the Whaley House during the Halloween season, make sure to book tickets for the After Hours Paranormal Investigation.
Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, California
At the Winchester Mystery House, the building itself feels alive. Staircases rise into ceilings, doors open into walls, and hallways twist into dead ends. Legend says Sarah Winchester built endlessly to confuse the spirits that haunted her. When you tour by candlelight, you’ll feel their presence in every echoing step — and wonder if the house really ever ended. For the Halloween season, the Winchester Mystery House is hosting Festival Fright Nights on select dates through November 1.
Ready for a Scare?
From haunted prisons to cursed mansions, these destinations prove that America is built on more than history — it’s built on ghosts. If you’re ready to explore the scariest places in America, grab your flashlight, your courage, and maybe a friend to hold onto. Because once you step inside, there’s no turning back!
Related: Halloween at California Amusement Parks
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University and is a Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW) member.
