Halloween holds great importance in America due to its rich cultural tradition, blending elements of community, creativity and fun. It’s a celebration that allows people of all ages to engage in dressing up, trick-or-treating and decorating their homes, creating a sense of togetherness. The holiday also offers a significant economic boost, with Americans spending billions annually on costumes, candy and decorations.
According to USNews.com, over 78% of Americans are planning to take part in Halloween this year. With that in mind, we decided to analyze data related to haunted houses and attractions in each state to reveal which is the spookiest in America.
To do this, we carried out some research into all 50 states and how good they are for Halloween based on the number of haunted attractions, horror-themed escape rooms, ghost sightings, and the average haunted house rating. So, if you want to be seriously spooked this October, these are the states to visit!
America’s spookiest states
Ever wondered which US states have the most haunted attractions, or how many ghost sightings there have been? Let’s take a look at the spookiest states in America!
#10: Tennessee
Tennessee is a great Halloween destination, featuring haunted attractions like the Nashville Nightmare and the eerie Bell Witch Cave. The annual Jack O’ Lantern World in Memphis showcases thousands of creatively carved pumpkins, making it a must-see event.
The state has 71 haunted attractions, 24 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.18 out of 10, and there have been five ghost sightings. This gives Tennessee a total score of 4.42 out of 10, making it a pretty spooky place to celebrate Halloween.
#9: Kentucky
Kentucky has plenty of haunted houses, historic ghost tours and unique events like the Louisville Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular, offering tons of spooky festivities.
The state has 76 haunted attractions, 11 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.31 out of 10, and there have been 11 ghost sightings. This gives Kentucky a total score of 4.82 out of 10.
#8: Michigan
Michigan is a Halloween paradise, featuring attractions like the HalloWeekends at Cedar Point and spooky ghost tours in Detroit. The Great Lakes Pumpkin Patch in Traverse City adds seasonal charm, making it perfect for family-friendly celebrations.
The state has 74 haunted attractions, 44 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.25 out of 10, and there have been two ghost sightings. This gives Michigan a total score of 5.02 out of 10.
#7: Texas
Texas is the perfect place to dress as a cowboy for Halloween. There’s also events like the Six Flags Mountain Magic Fright Fest and the terrifying Night Creatures Haunted Trails in San Antonio. The State Fair of Texas also offers thrilling attractions and Halloween-themed festivities, making it a fun-filled time of year.
The state has 98 haunted attractions, 22 horror-themed escape rooms and an average haunted house rating of 9.63 out of 10 (the highest out of all 50 states). No ghost sightings have been recorded but Texas still gets a total score of 5.25 out of 10.
#6: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a brilliant place for ghost towns, haunted attractions and spooky events, such as Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary, creating thrilling and immersive experiences. The fact that Pennsylvania is a name that reminds you of Dracula’s home is pretty spooky, too.
The state has 97 haunted attractions, 22 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.23 out of 10, and there have been seven ghost sightings. This gives Pennsylvania a total score of 5.30 out of 10.
#5: Florida
With its warm weather and famous spine-tingling attractions like Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights and haunted houses, Florida draws thrill-seekers from all over the world.
The state has 92 haunted attractions, 57 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.46 out of 10, and there have been a whopping 57 ghost sightings (more than any other state). This gives Florida a total score of 6.11 out of 10.
#4: Indiana
Indiana offers unique Halloween experiences with events like the Headless Horseman Festival at Conner Prairie and haunted tales from French Lick Springs Hotel. Indiana’s rich history adds an extra thrill to the frighteningly good celebrations.
The state has 86 haunted attractions, 19 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.07 out of 10, and there have been 18 ghost sightings. This gives Indiana a total score of 6.11 out of 10 (the same as Florida).
#3: California
California is a Halloween haven, featuring attractions like Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. The vibrant festivities in towns like San Francisco and Los Angeles make for unforgettable celebrations. With year-round pleasant weather, Californians can enjoy outdoor haunted houses and creepy street fairs, enhancing the Halloween spirit. (As an added bonus, California also has the most UFO sightings – 16,440 since 1995!)
The state has 128 haunted attractions, 51 horror-themed escape rooms (the most out of all 50 states), an average haunted house rating of 8.40 out of 10, and there have been five ghost sightings. This gives California a total score of 6.48 out of 10.
#2: Illinois
Illinois boasts Halloween attractions like the haunted streets of Chicago and the Night of 1000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at the Botanic Garden. Families flock to pumpkin patches while thrill-seekers enjoy scary events at local haunted houses. The blend of urban and rural festivities makes Illinois a diverse Halloween experience.
The state has 106 haunted attractions, 28 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.88 out of 10, and there have been two ghost sightings. This gives Illinois a total score of 6.96 out of 10.
#1: Ohio
Ohio offers thrilling Halloween experiences, including the many haunted trails of the Cuyahoga Valley. Families enjoy events like the Circleville Pumpkin Show, making Ohio a prime Halloween destination. The mix of amusement parks, festivals and haunted attractions ensures fun for everyone.
The state has 134 haunted attractions (the top scorer in the US), 32 horror-themed escape rooms, an average haunted house rating of 8.42 out of 10, and there have been 19 ghost sightings. This gives Ohio a total score of 8.00 out of 10, making it the spookiest state in America by far.
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Methodology
The data ranks 50 US states on how good they are for Halloween based on four factors:
- Haunted Attractions – The number of haunted attractions per state as recorded on thescarefactor.com
- Horror-Themed Escape Rooms – The number of horror-themed escape rooms in each state as recorded on thescarefactor.com
- Ghost Sightings – The number of paranormal ghost sightings in each state in the past year, as recorded on thescarefactor.com
- Average Haunted House Rating – The average rating of all haunted house attractions listed on the thescarefactor.com, per state.
Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalized to provide each one with a score of between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalized values were then added together, giving each state a total score. The states were then ranked from high to low based on their total score.