Best Halloween Travel Destinations In The US | 5 Bucket List Trips

New Orleans, Louisiana : #1 of the Best Halloween Travel Destinations In The US

New Orleans is my choice for the best of the best Halloween travel destinations in the US. It’s got a spooky atmosphere all year long, beautiful city but during Halloween season it’s the perfect time to visit as the city shines and it all just ties together.

I was lucky enough to spend all of Halloween season last year in New Orleans and I miss it so much!

First of all, New Orleans is one of the most haunted places in the United States and best destinations to experience paranormal activity at any time of year. This is a result of the city’s tradition of unusual burials, often tragic history, historical culture of voodoo, ancient architecture, rich history of the pirate kingdom in NOLA, etc. You get the point!

From touring one of the above-ground cemeteries, to taking one of the many city voodoo tours or ghost tours, and even eating at a vampire apothecary, there are a ton of spooky things to do in the Big Easy.

Fall is also one of the best times to visit New Orleans in general in terms of weather, so you can’t go wrong visiting during Halloween season. Block after block is decorated for Halloween, especially in the Garden District but also throughout the French Quarter and beyond. The Halloween decorations fit in very well with the French Quarter and beautiful city.

There is a growing list of Halloween-specific special events that seems to be growing each year. The main event is the massive Krewe of Boo parade that rivals the world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. There’s also the before & after parties for the parade, and the annual Vampire Ball.

You can find a full event line up at the New Orleans official website, which includes family-friendly events like Ghosts in the Oaks, street fairs, more than one haunted house to check out, medium demonstrations and so much more.

Make sure to visit one of the many voodoo or costume shops in the French Quarter at some point during your trip, which gives you an idea of the city’s spooky history year-round.

On actual Halloween weekend you’ll see plenty of people dressed up in elaborate costumes on Bourbon Street. On Halloween night, October 31st, Frenchman Street is the place to be.

To give you just one more reason to visit New Orleans during October and beyond, there are a bunch of great hostels in New Orleans. I stayed at Auberge NOLA and loved it – probably my second favorite hostel experience ever in the US.

If you’re looking for a more traditional hotel, brave the haunted Andrew Jackson hotel or the iconic Hotel Monteleone (where there’s also the famous New Orleans carousel bar!). Also, make sure to check out my 2 days in New Orleans itinerary if you’re thinking of coming here – although it isn’t created for visiting during Halloween time.

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem may be the most obvious choice of the best Halloween travel destinations in the US, but that’s for good reason. New England is absolutely beautiful during the Fall and the small town of Salem is at the center of the action, both with historical significance and Halloween events going on starting at the end of September through Halloween.

I did a weekend trip to Salem with my husband a few years ago and we had so much fun. It actually wasn’t quite as crowded as I thought it would be, so that was an added bonus. We got to town early and checked into our Harry Potter themed Airbnb, which was SO cool!

The Airbnb is still available to rent but it looks like it is no longer Harry Potter themed, and has more of a wizard theme. Still awesome, the owner was so nice AND it’s in a great central location. I highly recommend!

Salem is haunted at all times of the year, with lots of spooky things to check out due to its history of the tragic Salem Witch Trials and ghostly legends. A few of the best are the House of the Seven Gables, the Salem Witch Museum, the Salem Witch House and Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery wax museum.

Also – many different ghost tours you can opt into, and witch shops along Essex street.

There are also of course tons of Halloween specific events that take place all of spooky season. For example, the Haunted Happenings Marketplace at the gorgeous Salem Commons, Festival of the Dead street fair & witches market, the Witches Ball and more.

Head to the Halloween in Salem website to find out everything you should know and even order an activities pamphlet for your trip. I LOVE a printed map or guidebook.

When it comes to where to stay in Salem there are a bunch of fun options, but you’ll need to book far in advance when visiting for Halloween. Some of the favorites are the classic Hawthorne Hotel, Daniel’s House Inn and the Cove at Salem, which has a bunch of really cool themed rooms.

If all the most popular options are already booked up, try either the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, the romantic Harbor Light Inn, or head to the next town over to save money at the Comfort Inn Danvers or the Hampton Inn Peabody. If you aren’t able to find a hotel to rent, check Airbnb and VRBO for more great options.

Savannah, Georgia : Most Lowkey of the Best Halloween Travel Destinations In The US

Savannah, Georgia on the South Carolina border is another one of the best Halloween travel destinations in the US that is haunted all year long. It’s truly the perfect destination during the fall when the weather is turning, especially for those looking for a more relaxed trip. Savannah is definitely the most lowkey of the destinations on the list.

Savannah’s haunted history comes from its long and often tragic history, during the slave trade, Civil War and other events like the fire of 1796. I stayed in a vacation rental in Savannah once that had a long, creepy set of servant steps. Eek!

You have to take a ghost tour if you’re visiting Savannah during Halloween time. There are lots and lots of options, but this spooky candlelit tour is a great choice.

If riding sounds more appealing to you than walking, this golf cart cemetery tour is a unique option (love it!), and the Ghosts and Graveyards tour is another popular option.

For visitors that would like to experience a haunting or something paranormal, Savannah is a great place to try an investigative ghost hunt. This one is one of the most popular in Savannah.

Something that makes Savannah ghost tours extra fun is that Savannah allows open container on the streets, so you can bring drinks with you to go. This combined haunted pub and ghost tour is perfect for you if you like to sip something to take the edge off of the spooky ghost stories.

There’s a Halloween bar crawl that happens on Halloween weekend named Nightmare on Congress Street, where everyone is dressed up and the Halloween decorations are all out. The annual Vampire Ball is one of the biggest Halloween events that takes place each year in Savannah, a few weeks before actual Halloween in October.

Lastly, don’t miss the well loved Wag-o-Ween event, perfect for people with pups.

There are lots of hotels in Savannah to consider, so I’ve put together a list of the best for a Halloween stay. The Marshall House, the East Bay Inn and the 17Hundred90 are all hotels that are thought to be haunted, in case you want the chance to experience some spooky activity yourself.

The Isetta Inn is a fun option with themed rooms and multiple rooms with swing-style beds.

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California is the perfect destination for Halloween lovers, especially those that love thrills, theme parks and festivals. There’s a ton of Halloween fun to be had for all ages here, not to mention LA is one of the best US travel destinations overall during any season.

Some of the things that make Los Angeles one of the best Halloween travel destinations in the US are the West Hollywood Halloween celebrations, the multiple theme parks close by that put on Halloween festivities, haunted history of Hollywood, beautiful Fall weather and convenience of having Hollywood’s movie props and costumes right nearby. 😉

During the Halloween season, usually September through Halloween, the theme parks in the area transform. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios are legendary and an absolute must for theme park lovers.

Knott’s Scary Farm transforms the well-loved theme park from fun to spooky fun, and is one of the best in the country to visit during Halloween time for roller coasters & rides, a festive atmosphere and spooky walk-throughs. Halloween time at Disneyland is a family-favorite and something I’ve always wanted to experience personally.

Some other spooky festivities to check out is Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary which takes place at the historical Queen Mary in Long Beach, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and the legendary Reign of Terror haunted house with custom-built animatronics.

You can also get into the Halloween spirit and learn about the ghosts of Los Angeles with this Los Angeles ghost tour, which is the best one in town.

Lastly, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is like a giant Halloween party on the streets, which happens each year on October 31st.

The streets shut down and the restaurants and bars host Halloween celebrations, there’s live music, street performers and tons and tons of people in costume.

If you’re actually hoping for a paranormal experience, both the Roosevelt Hotel and the Biltmore Hotel are GORGEOUS and known to be haunted. You could come back with some ghostly stories to brag about.

Los Angeles has some of the U.S.’s best hostels. Two great ones to try is HI Santa Monica or the more intimate ITH Hermosa Beach Surf Hostel. There’s so many places to stay in Los Angeles regardless of what you’re looking for. You can browse some of the best hotel deals here.

New York City (NYC) & Sleepy Hollow, New York

New York City is my #5 choice for the best Halloween travel destinations in the US, and not just because NYC should be at the top of anyone’s list. The annual Halloween parade is NYC is definitely one of the best in the country and Sleepy Hollow, home of the legend of the headless horseman, is just an hour away.

The legendary Village Halloween Parade takes place annually in Greenwich Village. You can watch or dress up yourself and march, making it a super unique, creative event. There’s also an annual costume contest, and you’ll end up seeing tons of decorated bars and restaurants by bar hopping throughout the city – especially in West Village.

A few more Halloween celebrations and events in NYC are the Nightmare before Christmas Light Trail and Boo at the Bronx Zoo.

Year-round you can experience haunted tours, like this popular Gangsters and Ghosts walking tour, or this one through West Village – just don’t do this one on the night of the parade!

Just an hour away, Sleepy Hollow, the small town talked about in Washington Irving’s chilling short story, is one of the most spooky towns in the country and worth the visit. You can even take the train from NYC to get there, making it super convenient.

There are LOTS of Halloween events in Sleepy Hollow, like the legend of Sleepy Hollow Street Fair and the Halloween parade, but the biggest has to be the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. People come from all over to see it.

Also, one of the most well-loved things to do in Sleepy Hollow is the cemetery tour by lantern-light. Consider staying right in Sleepy Hollow if you want a more relaxed trip, at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel right in town.

So where should you stay in NYC? If you have a little more to spend, The Algonquin Times Square and the beautiful Bowery Hotel are known to be haunted & spooky, and are both great options all year long in NYC.

New York City is one of the hostel hotspots in the United States and a fantastic destination for digital nomads. A few of the hostels I recommend are HI NYC and The Local.

These are my choices for the top five best Halloween destinations in the US. Enjoy your haunted travels and have a spooky holiday season! 🎃🔮🕷️

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