Posted on Oct 30, 2026
Updated on Oct 30, 2026
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Spooky season is in full swing, making it the perfect time for travelers who love ghouls, frights and all that's pumpkin-spiced to plunge into the atmosphere of one of America's true Halloween towns. These destinations come alive from October through November, sending shivers down your spine with their eerie vibes. From the creepy Gothic mansions to the haunted battlefields, here are some of the top spots in the U.S to visit this fall:
Pennsylvania offers top Halloween attractions, haunted houses, and seasonal festivals across the state. Widely considered one of the most haunted towns, Gettysburg blends its rich Civil War history with year-round ghost tours and paranormal events and late-night paranormal investigations. Being where the bloodiest battle of the Civil War took place, some say Gettysburg is full of roaming spirits.
There's a slew of battlefield-related ghosty sites, like the Devil's Den formation and the Little Round Top, where visitors report phantom gunfire, distant screams, and sightings of barefoot soldiers. However, soldiers aren't the only ghosts that travelers can try to meet - you can also visit the home of civilian casualty Jennie Wade and the historic Tillie Pierce house famous for lingering spectral children and unexplained cold spots.
How to get there: Gettysburg doesn't have a commercial airport, so travelers arriving by air can fly to the nearest Harrisburg International Airport (MTD), located about 45 minutes or an hour away by car and then rent a car or take public transport. Alternatively, you can reach the town by car or a combination of train and bus.
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With its rich Voodoo culture, centuries-old cemeteries and a packed calendar of parades, costume parties, and spooky neighborhood displays, New Orleans is a bucket-list destination for travelers craving to get spooked.
The city's official Halloween parade, Krewe of BOO!, rolls through the French Quarter with massive, terrifyingly creative floats, marching bands, and bead throws. Holiday home decor is another specialty in New Orleans, so be sure to walk around the Garden District to see the stunning St. Charles Avenue mansions with amazing decorations.
From the moment you arrive, it feels like going back in time. Hotels, restaurants, and streets across the city are known to have spirits floating throughout. Consider booking a night in a haunted Hotel Monteleone to get into the spooky spirit this Halloween season. For an extra dose of fright, join a guided walking or boat tour to explore the city's mysterious past and hear skin-crawling ghost stories.
How to get there: You can travel to New Orleans by plane, train, bus, or car. Major and low-cost carriers include Southwest, Delta, American, United, and Spirit.
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Portland city hosts many Halloween-themed attractions and other year-round activities. If you're seeking some real haunts, head to the Amusement Park in Sellwood or visit the Fear PDX Haunted House. You can also explore the city's infamous labyrinth beneath Old Town Chinatown, which is said to be haunted by those who were once kidnapped and trafficked through the underground maze.
Portland also celebrates the spooky season a little differently. Pumpkin freaks can enjoy fun family activities like pumpkin regatta, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, hayrides, and farm animal feeding. One of the city's quirky highlights is a famous West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, where costumed paddlers race giant pumpkins across Tualatin Commons Lake, taking place each October.
Small trick-or-treaters can also visit the Oregon Zoo to celebrate Halloween while learning about wildlife habitats, listening to zookeepers talk about their animals and watching feedings.
How to get there: You can get to Oregon by plane, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), car, or train (Amtrak). Portland International Airport (PDX) is the main air getaway, served by multiple major domestic and international airlines, with Alaska Airlines acting as a primary carrier.
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Halloween in Salem is a month-long spree of haunted happenings, seances, ghouls, ghost stories, witches, pirates, vampires, and the macabre. The entire town turns into a full-scale wonderland with costumed actors, decorations on every stoop, and events hosted through Salem Haunted Happenings.
As one of the most well-known Halloween destinations in the country, Salem enchants and spooks visitors by leaning heavily into its history of the 17th-century Salem witch trials. A visit to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and Salem Witch Museum are must-dos, but the town also hosts one of the largest Halloween celebrations in the world.
How to get there: The closest and most convenient airport to Salem is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), which is about 12 to 14 miles away. However, during Halloween the best and easiest way to reach Salem is by car or public transport.
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Sleepy Hollow (along with neighboring Tarrytown) is one of the most famous Halloween destinations in the United States, steeped in Halloween lore. Travelers can enjoy a wide variety of spooky offerings in Sleepy Hollow: from capturing seven thousand hand-carved pumpkins and ten acres of riverside dark in the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze to a tour at Washington Irving's Sunnyside - the home of the author of one of the most famous American ghost stories, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," about the haunting Headless Horseman.
Halloween in Sleepy Hollow has something for everyone: haunted hayrides, Gothic mansions, blazing pumpkins, farmers markets, live music, street fairs, the famous Halloween 10K run, the Halloween parade, and of course, the Headless Horseman.
How to get there: You can reach Sleepy Hollow by train, car, or plane. Trains leave from New York City's Grand Central Terminal and take about 35 - 50 minutes. Once you arrive, you can walk into town, use local buses (like the Westchester Bee-Line), or grab a local ride share. Travelers coming from another state can fly into a nearby Westchester County Airport (HPN) airport, located about 15 miles (30 minutes) away.
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We're skipping the tricks and focusing on the treats - when traveling across the country for Halloween festivities, consider taking a rewards credit card with you to maximize your spend on flights, spooky themed dining, and hotel bookings while enjoying your fall vacay. Here we've picked credit cards with generous bonuses and high ongoing rewards.
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