The 15 Best Halloween Destinations in the U.S.

Ready for a spooky getaway? Discover the top U.S. spots to celebrate Halloween in style.

Attraction list · 15 titles Moderate scares

Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at marthastewart.com.

About this

A ranked roundup of 15 top Halloween destinations across the United States, from haunted theme parks and film festivals to parades, historic cemeteries, and town-wide celebrations. Each entry explains what makes the spot notable, including founding dates, attendance figures, signature events, and family-friendly options. It serves as a travel guide for people who want to celebrate the holiday for a night or an entire season.

The list

Screams Halloween Theme Park in Dallas, Texas

Five haunted attractions, Scary-Oke karaoke, paintball and skill games outside Dallas

Neewollah in Independence, Kansas

Halloween spelled backward; since 1919; nine days, 75,000 visitors, parades, chili contest, musical, pageant

Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park, California

Southern California's largest; nearly 50 years; 15 haunted attractions, scare zones, mazes, rides

Kersey Valley Spookywoods Haunted Attraction in Archdale, North Carolina

Nearly 40 years of haunts; new annual theme; funeral home, butcher shop, pumpkin patch; town from 1881

Village Halloween Parade in New York, N.Y.

Created 1973 by puppeteer Ralph Lee; world's largest; two million spectators, 60,000 costumed participants; free

Spirit of Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon

Filming site of 1998 Halloweentown; month-long; Lighting of Great Pumpkin, haunted tours, costume contests

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval in Los Angeles, California

First held 1987; free one-mile Santa Monica Boulevard event; 150,000-200,000 attended 2018; adults advised

Halloween Capital of the World in Anoka, Minnesota

Formed 1920 to deter pranks; WWII canceled 1942-43; centennial 2020; parades, bonfire, pumpkin contests

Telluride Horror Show in Telluride, Colorado

Founded 2010; Colorado's first, longest-running horror film festival; 20+ features, 60+ shorts annually

The Louisville Zoo Halloween Party in Louisville, Kentucky

World's Largest Halloween Party; kid-friendly; Mumpkin pumpkin, hay maze, spider house, allergy-friendly night

Haunted Happenings in Salem, Massachusetts

Salem's October peak; Salem Horror Fest, Festival of the Dead, Haunted Happenings Grand Parade

A Colonial Halloween in Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, Virginia

Historic Triangle events; Family Frights, Haunting on D.O.G. Street, Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream

Halloween at the Theme Park in Orlando, Florida

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and Disney's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, family-friendly options

Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Nightfall: films on mausoleums, Victorian circus; resting place of Basquiat and Leonard Bernstein

Famous Haunts in South Dakota

Hotel Alex Johnson ghost packages, Deadwood spirits, night hikes, ZooBoo, Spooky Science, Harvest Halloween