Fall is already one of my favorite times to travel. There are colorful leaves, pumpkin everything, cooler temperatures, and plenty of reasons to get out and explore. But if you love the spooky side of the season, Halloween gives you another excuse to hit the road.

Some travelers are looking for family-friendly pumpkin festivals and parades. Others want haunted houses, ghost stories, and historic cemeteries. And then there are those who are perfectly happy spending Halloween looking over their shoulder wondering if that noise was actually a ghost.

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Whatever your Halloween style, these are some of the best Halloween towns and destinations in the U.S. for a spooky fall getaway.

Spooky Halloween Towns and Cities

Salem, Massachusetts

If there’s one place that seems destined for a Halloween Road Trip, it’s Salem.

Known as “Witch City,” Salem embraces its spooky history every fall with its annual Haunted Happenings celebration. Events throughout October include ghost tours, Halloween markets, psychic fairs, rides, costume events, and plenty of spooky entertainment.

You can spend your day exploring Salem’s history before diving into the Halloween festivities. Visit the historic Witch House and the House of the Seven Gables, tour the Salem Witch Museum, explore the many witchcraft and occult shops along Essex Street, or visit locations associated with movies such as Hocus Pocus and Bewitched.

And don’t be surprised if some of the homes around town go all out with Halloween decorations. Some displays are definitely not designed for little kids!

Travel Tip: October is extremely popular in Salem, so book your hotel and tours well in advance. Check the website for updated activities.

Sleepy Hollow, New York

Few towns have a Halloween reputation quite like Sleepy Hollow.

The town became famous thanks to Washington Irving’s 1820 story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which introduced generations of readers to the Headless Horseman.

Today, Sleepy Hollow completely embraces its spooky reputation during October. You can explore the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, tour the Gothic Lyndhurst Mansion, hear dramatic retellings of Washington Irving’s famous story, and attend Halloween events throughout the town.

One of the biggest attractions is the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, where thousands of intricately carved pumpkins light up the night. You can also visit Philipsburg Manor for a spooky twist on local history or head downtown for Halloween markets, costume contests, folklore events, and seasonal entertainment.

Travel Tip: Popular Halloween events can sell out quickly, so purchase tickets as early as possible. Visit the website for show dates and tickets.

Pro Tip: Bring night vision glasses for not only great pictures but great video. Perfect for the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans may be famous for Mardi Gras, but Halloween is another great excuse to visit this wonderfully unusual city.

With its centuries-old buildings, historic cemeteries, French Quarter legends, and fascinating mix of cultures, New Orleans already feels like it has one foot in the supernatural.

Halloween celebrations range from massive parties and costume events to haunted history tours and haunted attractions. Frenchmen Street near the French Quarter becomes a huge Halloween party, while the Krewe of Boo brings a Halloween parade to the streets.

For something a little scarier, take a haunted history or ghost tour. You can even spend the night at one of the city’s famously haunted hotels. The historic Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter is one option for travelers who like their accommodations with a side of ghost stories.

Travel Tip: New Orleans Halloween celebrations can get crowded, so plan your transportation and accommodations ahead of time.

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah has long been considered one of the most haunted cities in America, making it a natural choice for a Halloween getaway.

The city is beautiful any time of year, with historic mansions, picturesque squares, Spanish moss-covered live oaks, and fountains throughout the historic district. Add a little Halloween atmosphere and things get even more interesting.

A candlelit nighttime ghost tour is one of the best ways to experience Savannah after dark. You can also take a trolley ghost tour, explore historic buildings, or seek out some of the city’s most famous haunted locations.

For more Halloween entertainment, check out seasonal events around Savannah and nearby Tybee Island. Enjoy the Tybee Island Lighthouse Halloween Bash and Vampire Ball or for spooky events head to the Wicked South Haunted Forest.

Travel Tip: Savannah’s historic district is very walkable, but a ghost tour at night gives you a completely different perspective of the city.

Family-Friendly Halloween Destinations

Not everyone wants to spend Halloween hiding from ghosts and goblins. Thankfully, there are plenty of destinations where families can enjoy the season without quite so many nightmares.

Anoka, Minnesota

Anoka was a surprise when I started researching Halloween destinations, but once I discovered that it calls itself the “Halloween Capital of the World,” I had to include it. And Anoka takes that title seriously.

The Anoka Halloween Festival has been celebrated for more than 100 years and includes events throughout October. Families can enjoy costume contests, pumpkin carving, parades, pumpkin displays, hayrides, and decorated homes.

There are also activities for older kids and adults, including haunted walking tours, a medallion hunt, and the Gray Ghost 5K. The Big Parade of Little People is particularly fun for families with young children.

If you want a Halloween destination where the whole town gets involved, Anoka is definitely worth a look.

Travel Tip: The town of Anoka has lots of great things to explore while you’re here from a nature preserve and historical buildings to unique shops and restaurants.

St. Helens, Oregon

If you grew up watching Disney’s “Halloweentown”, you may recognize St. Helens. The Oregon town was used as a filming location for the movie and now celebrates its connection with an annual Spirit of Halloweentown festival.

The event runs from September into October, with most activities taking place on weekends. Visitors can see the giant illuminated pumpkin, meet Halloween-themed characters, enjoy haunted attractions, and take part in special events.

St. Helens also has another famous connection; it was used as a filming location for “Twilight”. If you’re a fan of either franchise, this makes for a fun movie-themed fall road trip.

Travel Tip: If seeing the giant pumpkin lit is on your bucket list, check the event schedule carefully because its lighting is tied to a specific date. The pumpkin lighting is on September 27^th in 2026. Click here for more information.

Forks, Washington

Speaking of “Twilight”, fans of the vampire saga will want to add Forks to their Halloween travel list.

This Washington town was immortalized in Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” books and the movies that followed. Fans can create their own self-guided Twilight tour around town, visiting locations connected to Bella, Edward, and the rest of the characters.

You can visit Bella Italia, see the Treaty Line, check out the Forks Community Hospital location, and stop at the Forever Twilight Collection at the Rainforest Arts Center.

 The annual Forever Twilight in Forks Festival takes place around Bella’s birthday (September 13^th) and features actors, panels, cosplay, parties, and themed events.

Travel Tip: If your main goal is the Twilight festival, plan your trip for September rather than waiting until Halloween. For more information, check the website.

Independence, Kansas

Independence takes a different approach to Halloween. Its annual Neewollah Festival, that’s Halloween spelled backward, dates back to 1919 and is one of Kansas’s biggest annual festivals.

Rather than focusing on ghosts and haunted houses, Neewollah is packed with family-friendly entertainment. Expect parades, carnival activities, live music, craft shows, food vendors, fun runs, a pageant, and the annual Medallion Hunt.

It feels more like a giant fall festival than a traditional Halloween celebration, making it a good option for travelers who want seasonal fun without the scares.

Travel Tip: This is an 11-day event so be sure to plan accordingly for specific events you want to attend. Check the website for information and dates.

San Diego, California

Warm weather and Halloween? Absolutely. San Diego celebrates Halloween with haunted attractions, costume parties, ghost tours, haunted cruises, and family-friendly events throughout the city.

Old Town and the Gaslamp Quarter are especially interesting for travelers who enjoy history along with their Halloween fun. San Diego’s long history also means there are plenty of stories and locations associated with the supernatural. You can even stay at a haunted hotel.

For family fun, check out Seaworld’s Howl-O-Scream and the famous Haunted Trail at Balboa Park. For more family fun, check out the Haunted Amusement Park at Marshal Scotty’s Playland and visit the pumpkin patches.

San Diego also celebrates Día de los Muertos, giving visitors another opportunity to experience traditional cultural celebrations honoring deceased loved ones.

Travel Tip: Halloween events can change from year to year, so check current schedules before planning your itinerary.

Pro Tip: Be sure to take your camera, you don’t want to miss those special moments. Our favorite travel camera is a Kodak PixPro. It not only takes great pictures, but the videos are a nice quality.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City has something for both serious Halloween fans and families looking for fall fun.

For those who want to be scared, Nightmare on 13th is a longtime Utah Halloween attraction, while other haunted houses and ghost tours provide additional spooky entertainment.

Families can head to Wheeler Historic Farm for pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes, and seasonal activities. The city also hosts events featuring giant pumpkins, Halloween markets, and other fall entertainment.

Whether you’re looking for haunted houses or pumpkin-filled family fun, Salt Lake City offers plenty of choices.

Travel Tip: Salt Lake City also has Día de los Muertos activities through Nov. 2^nd, if you can stay a few extra days its worth it.

Portland, Oregon

Portland knows how to have fun with Halloween.

Families can look for seasonal events such as the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, where costumed participants race giant hollowed-out pumpkins across the water. The Oregon Zoo also hosts Halloween-themed family activities, while pumpkin patches offer traditional fall fun.

If you’re looking for something scarier, Portland has ghost tours, haunted attractions, spirit cruises, and haunted corn mazes.

With its quirky personality, Portland is a natural fit for travelers who like their Halloween celebrations a little different.

Travel Tip: If you forget your costume, Portland has some great costume stores from a warehouse of vintage costumes to a store with wigs of every kind.

Halloween Community Attractions

Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan

Just outside Detroit, Greenfield Village puts a historic spin on Halloween.

During Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village, lantern-lit streets, glowing jack-o’-lanterns, historic buildings, costumed characters, music, seasonal treats, and spooky stories transform the village after dark.

More than 50 costumed characters help bring the event to life, while lighting and sound effects make the historic setting increasingly eerie as the sun goes down.

It’s a fun choice for travelers who want Halloween atmosphere without a traditional haunted house experience.

Travel Tip: This event can sell out, so don’t wait until the last minute for tickets. Visit the website for more information and tickets.

Kersey Valley Spookywoods, Archdale, North Carolina

If your idea of Halloween involves getting thoroughly scared, Kersey Valley Spookywoods belongs on your list.

What began as a teenage dare in 1985 has grown into one of North Carolina’s best-known haunted attractions, covering more than 85 acres. Spookywoods features haunted trails, haunted houses, interactive attractions, and plenty of professional scare actors.

For families traveling with younger kids, nearby Maize Adventure offers a much less terrifying experience with activities such as a corn maze, train ride, jumping pillows, pedal carts, playgrounds, and other attractions.

Travel Tip: It’s a good area to visit if your group has both thrill-seekers and people who would rather not be chased through the woods. Get tickets here.

Halloween Theme Park Destinations

Orlando, Florida

If you’re looking for a Halloween destination with a little bit of everything, Orlando is hard to beat.

At Walt Disney World, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party offers a family-friendly Halloween experience at Magic Kingdom on select nights. Expect costumes, trick-or-treating, seasonal entertainment, special food, decorations, and Halloween-themed shows.

Universal Orlando takes things in the opposite direction with Halloween Horror Nights. This nighttime event is designed for horror fans, with haunted houses, scare zones, performers, and immersive horror experiences.

In other words, Disney is the place to go if you want Halloween magic. Universal is the place to go if you want to question every dark hallway you walk down.

California Theme Parks

California’s theme parks also go all-in for Halloween.

Universal Studios Hollywood hosts Halloween Horror Nights, bringing haunted houses, scare zones, and horror-themed entertainment to the park.

At Disneyland Resort, the family-friendly Oogie Boogie Bash takes place on select nights and features costumes, trick-or-treating, special entertainment, and Halloween-themed experiences.

Over at Knott’s Berry Farm, the park transforms into Knott’s Scary Farm, complete with haunted mazes, scare zones, shows, and roaming monsters.

Six Flags Magic Mountain also gets into the Halloween spirit with its annual Fright Fest celebration, including haunted mazes, scare zones, shows, and roller coasters operating after dark.

Planning Your Halloween Getaway

Halloween is becoming a major travel season, and many of these events are extremely popular. If you’re planning a Halloween Road trip or fall getaway, don’t wait until October to start making reservations.

A little planning can make the difference between a fun spooky vacation and a weekend spent discovering that everything you wanted to do is sold out.

Check event dates before booking your hotel, purchase tickets for popular attractions early, and allow extra time for traffic and crowds. I would get my event tickets before booking your hotel just in case the events you want are sold out.

Most importantly, decide what kind of Halloween experience you want. A family-friendly pumpkin festival is a very different vacation from spending the night walking through a haunted attraction and that’s the beauty of Halloween travel. There really is something for everyone.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to wait until October 31 to celebrate Halloween. Across the country, towns, cities, theme parks, and historic attractions turn the entire fall season into a reason to travel.

Whether you’re looking for the best Halloween towns in the U.S., haunted cities, family-friendly Halloween events, spooky road trips, movie-themed destinations, or seriously scary attractions, these destinations offer plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

So, grab your favorite Halloween sweater, load up the car, and get ready for a fall getaway filled with pumpkins, costumes, ghost stories, and maybe a few things that go bump in the night.

We love sharing tips and information we learn along the way to help you plan your next travel adventure. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.

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