Turn on the lights and tour Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights house
USA TODAY’s Eve Chen took a not-so-spooky look inside some haunted houses at Universal Studios Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights.
Spooky season is in full swing. For travelers who love ghouls, horror, and anything pumpkin spice, it’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in one of America’s real-life Halloween cities.
These destinations come to life around Halloween, when the air turns chilly and the atmosphere gets a little spooky. With more than 97,000 posts tagged #hauntedplaces on TikTok, the U.S. is home to many destinations that showcase some of the spookiest lore, from legendary ghost stories to fall festival activities.
From spooky cemetery tours in New Orleans to haunted battlefields in Gettysburg, here are some of the top Halloween cities for travelers, according to TikTok.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Sleepy Hollow in upstate New York is full of Halloween legends. This charming town is where Washington Irving wrote his famous short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” about the ghost of the Headless Horseman. Travelers can enjoy a variety of spooky experiences, including witnessing the vibrant glow of more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins at the Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze, and taking tours of Gothic mansions and historic cemeteries.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah’s dark history, which includes bloody Civil War battles, deadly disease, and murder, to name a few, has made it considered one of the most haunted places among American TikTok creators, highlighting several haunted hotels in the southern city, including the Marshall House, which was once a hospital for wounded soldiers. Explore all the haunted locations on one of several walking ghost tours.
Salem, Massachusetts
One of the most famous Halloween destinations in the country, Salem is steeped in the history of the 17th century Salem Witch Trials, which fascinates and amazes visitors. (It’s also a filming location for “Hocus Pocus,” so if you’re a Halloween fan, it’s worth a visit in its own right.) Visits to the Salem Witch Trials Monument and Salem Witch Museum are must-sees, but the town also hosts one of the world’s largest Halloween celebrations.
new orleans louisiana
With its voodoo culture, historic cemeteries, and tragic past, New Orleans is a bucket list destination for travelers who love to experience fear. From the moment you arrive in the historic French Quarter, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Many hotels and bars, such as Muriel’s Jackson Square restaurant, are said to be haunted by ghosts. You’ll meet many other legendary ghouls and hear their skin-crawling stories on a walking tour of the city.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Some say Gettysburg is full of ghosts and paranormal sightings, as it was the site of some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. There are many haunted locations associated with the battlefield, including Devil’s Den, a rock formation used as a nest for Confederate snipers. Soldiers aren’t the only ghosts travelers can encounter. You can also visit the home of a young girl named Tillie Pierce and Mary Virginia “Jenny” Wade, the only civilian killed in the Battle of Gettysburg.
portland oregon
Portland offers visitors year-round spooky activities, from visiting the famous Voodoo Donut chain for a sweet treat to visiting a quirky museum called Skeleton Key Oditorium. If you’re looking for a real haunted spot, Oregon City has it too. The Shanghai Tunnel, a labyrinth located beneath Old Chinatown, is said to be haunted by people who were once kidnapped and trafficked in the underground maze.
