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Surprising fact: in October, haunted tours and events in the U.S. sell out up to 70% faster than other months, making late planning a real risk for travelers.
This guide pulls together the best spots and seasonal programming across the country. From Salem and Sleepy Hollow to New Orleans and Eastern State Penitentiary, these cities blend eerie stories with real history.
Expect ticketed tours, themed events, and after-dark options that change the way you experience a place. Many sites add limited runs around halloween, so plan for time slots and capacity limits.
Whether you want family-friendly outings or intense night investigations, this list helps you pick a city, lock in tours early, and choose the best time to explore. For context, global legends like bran castle show why haunted travel draws people from around world each year.
1. Salem, Massachusetts: Witch Trials lore, Haunted Happenings, and night walking tours
Salem turns into a monthlong showcase of witch trials lore, street fairs, and after-dark walking tours. The city runs Haunted Happenings throughout October with parades, street fairs, haunted houses, and multiple evening tour options.
Book early for signature experiences like Black Cat Tours’ Moonlight Prowl, a night tour that shares true stories of murder and mystery (recommended 16+). First-time visitors should step inside The Witch House—the only house with direct ties to the 1692 trials—for a tangible look at local history.
Families can choose gentler options such as Hocus Pocus filming-location walks so children and sensitive people enjoy seasonal charm. The compact center makes it easy for visitors to hit museums, ghost tours, and outdoor events in a single day.
Salem balances educational exhibits and ghost stories, giving different visitors the experience they want. Events occur every year in October and sell out fast, so plan earlier in the month for more availability and lighter crowds. Respect memorials and historic sites while enjoying the festive side of the season.
2. Sleepy Hollow, New York: Jack O’Lantern Blaze, cemetery nights, and Headless Horseman legends
This Hudson Valley village pairs colonial graves and Gothic architecture with one of the region’s most dazzling pumpkin displays. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze lines the grounds with over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins, a night spectacle that sells out months ahead.
“Come early and plan your timing,” is sound advice here. Guided tours run most weekends and cemetery nights let visitors stand by the graves of Washington Irving and Andrew Carnegie. These programs weave local stories with tasteful chills.
Walking is the best way to savor illuminated trails, compact village attractions, and the photogenic Dutch Reformed Church and 18-foot Headless Horseman statue on Route 9. A stop at the octagonal Armour-Stiner house delivers Victorian flair and themed interiors.
Many events welcome children, while later tours suit those who prefer darker lore. If you want deeper encounters with local ghosts and ghost-adjacent narratives, book evening cemetery walks and arrive early to secure parking and your place on the schedule.
“Plan for both an early family-friendly run and a later, spookier walk to get the full Sleepy Hollow experience.”
3. New Orleans, Louisiana: French Quarter ghost tours, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, and Krewe of BOO!
New Orleans pulses with music, ritual, and ghostly lore every night, and October simply amplifies the city’s energy.
Plan for parade day: The Krewe of BOO! rolls through the French Quarter the Saturday before the weekend, a full-on festival with floats, costumes, and Mardi Gras-style flair.
Book licensed guided tours of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to learn about Marie Laveau, the above-ground tombs, and decades of local history. Tours run at set times with strict rules, so reserve early.
After dark, take a French Quarter ghost tour to hear stories about the LaLaurie house, voodoo lore, and notorious figures. During daylight, families and children can enjoy the Voodoo Museum and the riverfront.
Tip: Pair a cemetery guided tour with an evening walking tours experience through historic streets. Check local listings for pop-up events and live music, then pace your day: museums and houses by day, ghost tour after sunset.
“Halloween in New Orleans delivers on spectacle, stories, and guided tours in a way few cities can match.”
4. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia: castle-like cells, Al Capone’s room, and Terror Behind the Walls
The prison’s radial design and crumbling façade feel like a Gothic castle, with long corridors and solitary rooms that unsettle many visitors even in daylight.
Start with a guided tour or a self-guided option during the day to learn the site’s history, see Al Capone’s preserved room, and understand the “separate system” of solitary confinement.
The harsh regimes of the past are often cited in modern ghost lore, which helps explain why the location ranks among America’s most talked-about haunted places.
After you absorb the exhibits, return after sunset for Terror Behind the Walls. That seasonal set of multi-attraction events uses the prison’s layout to stage immersive horror experiences on select nights.
The Fairmount area location makes it easy to pair with nearby Philadelphia attractions. Expect specific time slots during peak season and book early for preferred dates.
“Daytime tours ground you in facts; the evening attractions deliver the shocks.”
Plan: take a history-focused walk by day, then opt into the darker, interactive tours at night for a balanced visit that appeals to both curious travelers and horror fans.
5. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado: The Shining inspiration and room-with-a-ghost stays
If a single overnight can feel like stepping into a novel, the Stanley Hotel is that place—it famously inspired Stephen King’s The Shining after his stay in Room 217.
Book a Night Spirit tour to hear focused ghost stories tied to specific rooms and long-running reports of activity over the years. Guides point out tales of footsteps, moving objects, and odd noises that many people still report.
Daily history tours trace the hotel’s 1909 origins and explain how the grand Georgian architecture and mountain views amplify the mood.
Room 217 is the most requested, but rooms like 413 have strong reputations too. Be flexible when choosing rooms; any night here can become memorable.
Special seasonal events sometimes run in October, so check schedules. Pair a day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park with an evening tour for balance.
Whether you meet spirits or not, the hotel’s stories and tours deliver palpable atmosphere.
Plan to respect quiet hours and house rules—they keep the stay pleasant even for guests seeking a little extra horror.
6. The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana: Chloe’s tale, daily mystery tours, and B&B chills
A long driveway leads to a 1796 house that mixes Southern charm with persistent, unexplained reports.
The Myrtles is often called one of the most haunted places in the U.S., with staff and guests reporting strange photos, footsteps, and other signs of ghosts.
The most famous stories center on Chloe, a slave said to have been executed after an alleged poisoning. That tale sits atop a complex, often painful past, so treat the history with respect.
Book a Daily Mystery Tour for a fact-forward visit. Choose an Evening Mystery Tour if you want more intensity after dark.
Many travelers stay in the B&B; some rooms become part of the lore when guests capture odd images or hear unexplained sounds.
People report phenomena over the years, which keeps the plantation in conversation among curious visitors and historians alike.
“Combine a daytime history visit with a night tour for the fullest arc of the experience.”
Practical tips: reserve tours and stays early—October fills fast. Arrive with time for parking, and plan a short drive to nearby St. Francisville or Baton Rouge for dining and other sites.
Be courteous on guided walks: many come for the eerie stories, and some come to reflect on the site’s legacy.
7. Portland Underground, Oregon: Shanghai Tunnels, vanished souls, and guided ghost tours
Beneath Portland’s busy streets lies a network of tunnels that tell a raw, often grim chapter of the city’s history.
The old Shanghai Tunnels link basements and vaults under Old Town. A guided walking ghost tour explains shanghaiing and the stories of vanished souls.
Operators balance facts and lore so history lovers and thrill-seekers both get what they came for. Guides keep groups safe and legal, especially at night when atmosphere peaks.
Some tours reward guests who try to capture paranormal evidence. Come with a charged phone and an open mind. Wear sturdy shoes for uneven surfaces and follow your guide closely in this area.
This below-the-street story makes the Portland Underground one of the most unique places on our list. Pair a tunnel tour with nearby Old Town stops for local flavor.
“A night slot often adds the chills many visitors want—and ghost or not, the history is unforgettable.”
8. St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida: Dark of the Moon tours and echoes of the keeper’s cottage
By day the St. Augustine Lighthouse reads like a maritime museum; by night it becomes a slow-burn mystery that draws curious travelers.
The 1870s tower is one of the city’s signature places for daytime maritime history and nighttime chills. The Dark of the Moon paranormal tour moves through the keeper’s house and up the tower in near-total darkness with only a glow stick to guide guests.
Longstanding reports of children’s laughter, moving doors, and shifting shadows make this a favorite for spirits-focused seekers. Start with a day climb to get your bearings, then return for the night tour to feel the full effect.
Night tours run at set times and have limited capacity—book well ahead, especially in October. Dress for stairs and coastal breezes; the way up the tower is part of the adventure.
Tip: Keep your phone on airplane mode to save battery for photos and audio. Respect the historic site; staff protect both safety and preservation.
“Few places match the lighthouse’s drama after dark.”
9. Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania: Civil War spirits, Devil’s Den, and after-dark walks
Gettysburg’s fields hold a heavy quiet where Civil War history meets modern accounts of lingering souls. The three-day battle in July 1863 left roughly 50,000 casualties, and today the landscape of rock walls, ridges, and bridges carries both recorded facts and whispered stories.
Start your day at the Visitor Center to orient yourself, then walk key area sites like Devil’s Den and Little Round Top. These stops give context before you join a guided night ghost tour or an evening walking tours option.
Reported hot spots include Sachs Covered Bridge, Jennie Wade House, and the National Cemetery. Many stories center on soldiers’ souls, field hospitals, and civilians whose homes became part of the fighting.
Operators run a range of tours—from family-friendly walks to extended investigations—so choose a tour that suits your comfort level. Bring sturdy shoes for uneven ground and plan for cool evenings.
Respect matters: Gettysburg is hallowed ground, not a festival setting, even when October brings higher visitor numbers each year. Book ahead for weekend slots and leave time to visit the cemetery for full historical context.
“Few places match Gettysburg’s powerful blend of American history and haunting memory.”
10. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia: overnight hunts, shock therapy history, and roaming corridors
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum looms like a stone fortress where medical practice and human tragedy meet in long, echoing halls. Opened in 1864 and closed in 1994, the site records decades of treatments, including controversial shock therapy and lobotomies.
Start with a day tour to learn how care changed over the years before you try a longer stay. Staff-led day history tours give context that deepens any later investigation.
After dark, operators run three-hour guided investigations and six-hour overnight hunts (often 11:59 p.m.–6:00 a.m.). The format pairs guided segments with room-by-room roaming so teams can focus on reported hotspots.
Many visitors report encounters tied to former patients’ life and lingering souls, which adds gravity beyond mere horror thrills. October brings special events, and popular night hunts fill fast—book early.
Bring layers, flashlights, and spare batteries. Nights can get cold and long inside the building. Follow safety rules and your guide’s directions; some areas remain off-limits to protect people and the historic fabric.
“Respectful conduct matters here—this is a place of real history and real lives.”
Between the castle-like exterior and the hushed wards, plan recovery time the next day after an overnight. That rest makes the visit safer and more meaningful.
Your map to the Scariest 10 Places To Visit This Halloween
Start planning now: anchor your trip with ticketed festivals and guided tours, then fill in calmer daytime stops and museum visits.
Map nearby cities together so travel is efficient. Prioritize headline events—Blaze nights, the Krewe parade in new orleans, and signature prison or lighthouse programs—then add flexible walks for the day.
Pack layers, comfy shoes, and a small flashlight for ghost tour moments. Book haunted hotels early; reserve specific rooms when you can and choose refundable rates if plans may change.
For safety, stay with your group, confirm meeting points, and have a backup ride. Mix festival nights and live music with historic houses for balance in travel and life on the road.
Flexible template: base your first night in new orleans or Salem, anchor a major event, add evening ghost tours, then customize the rest of your trip. Think of icons like Bran Castle when you dream of the world—but keep this map focused on U.S. scheduling and ticket windows.
