9 best haunted houses near Boston

Short but sweet (or should we say scary), this intense, old-school scare attraction is labeled as the “scariest seven minutes in Salem.” Movie-quality walk-throughs and performances feature demons, ghouls, psychos and creatures of the dark. There are two ways to scream in October: the Halloween Horror show and the daytime Haunted House Terror Tour (don’t trust your live Ghoulish Guide). If you would rather keep your experiences intimate, check out Ed Gannon’s Fireside Ghost Stories, an evening of scary stories told by candlelight for up to 16 daring guests.

What it is: Celebrating its 22th season this year, Fright Kingdom in Nashua, N.H., features five haunted experiences sure to scare up some amazing Halloween entertainment. It’s immersive and terrifying.

Why we love it: Scares run the gamut. Amongst the hair-raising scenarios you’ll encounter here: Hiding from the gruesome family at the Bloodmare Manor; avoiding contamination in Apocalypse Z; finding your way out of the old farmhouse that is The Abandoned; running from crazed clowns in the Psycho Circus; and surviving a walk through a labyrinth of pure darkness within Grim.

Address: 12 Simon St., Nashua, NH 03060

What it is: This year’s Fright Fest lineup at Six Flags New England includes more than 20 experiences, including live shows, haunted mazes and rides in the dark.

Why we love it: Daytimes through November 1 bring family-friendly thrills like the Spooktacular Street Party and Trick or Treat Trail, while nights get spooky with fan-favorite haunted houses like Midnight Mansion, Nightmares, Terror Tales, and Camp Killamore. There’s a new Carnival of Chaos, along with the favorite Sinister Scare Zones of Wasteland, Necropolis, Soul Harvest, Slaughter Hollow, ScreamPunk, and Demon District. Live shows stir up all the season’s spooks, with The Awakening, Midnight Uprising, Love at First Fright, Mort’s Used Coffins, and Creepshow Freakshow. Check out the Haunted Mazes with jump-scares around every corner of the pitch-black corridors.

Address: 623 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001

What it is: Enter the woods of the Nashoba Valley Ski Area and hope that you make it out alive after enduring this haunted hay ride and Halloween theme park.

Why we love it: Witch’s Woods in Nashoba Valley Ski Area is open every Friday through Sunday in October, October 31 and November 1 and 2 for several different attractions such as Haunted Hayride, Castle Morbid, 3D Keeper’s Crypt, Horrorwood Chamber of Chills, Jack O'Lantern Jamboree—full of hundreds of carved pumpkins—and Vampire Passage.

Address: 79 Powers Rd., Westford, MA 01886

What it is: Head out to Palmer to experience four terrifying attractions at 13th World Fright Park, from haunted houses to an entire area dedicated to horror experiences (yes, there's a game you can throw severed heads).

Why we love it: Returning haunted houses include Moonlight, a town full of monsters; North Pole Nightmare, where evil South Pole clowns do their worst; and Hell Fire House, a maze of smoke and flames, while the new installations is Alone, where you can use every sense but your sight to get out. For extreme scares, $10 gets you an add-on of an accompanying monsters. Need to come down from all the intensity? Head to the Midway for photo ops, character meets, horror-themed games, drinks, and snacks.

Address: 1701 Park St., Palmer, MA 01069

What it is: Running weekends beginning October 2 through 31, the amusement park in Salem, N.H., gets into the spirit with Screeemfest, an installation of terrifying haunted houses, roaming “creepy characters,” monster parades, music and Halloween-themed games.

Why we love it: Among the returning haunted houses are Mars-centric TerrorForm, moviehouse Carnivus 2, Pinecrest Sanitarium, Haven, and Cargo set in an old fishing town; while 2026 updates include Slaughter Camp, campers must work their way through 1985’s Camp Eibonac campgrounds, narrowly escaping the killer at every turn.

Address: 85 N. Policy St., Salem, NH 03079

What it is: Located in Fall River and housed within a factory building that's more than 125 years old, this haunted house has a legit decrepit ambiance. 

Why we love it: Before entering the now deserted building, you’ll be briefed on the tale that was the impetus for today’s haunted scene. We don’t want to spoil any of the frightening fun, but expect an experience sure to scare, complete with plenty of amazing detail and smoke and strobe effects. It also has a lengthy run, through November 14.

Address: 120 Pearl St., Fall River, MA 02721

What it is: This Salem attraction takes you underground, where you'll wander through haunted rooms and past cursed artifacts, ghosts, monsters and more.

Why we love it: It’s part haunted house and part escape room, so expect it to be interactive. Bring your friends and figure out all of the clues to free yourself—all while battling blood-curdling special effects in one of Massachusetts' most notoriously haunted towns.

Address: 7 Lynde St, Salem, MA 01970