Houston is one of the largest metros in the country, and its haunt scene matches that scale — from multi-attraction scream parks to intense outdoor trails in the surrounding suburbs. This guide covers the haunted houses worth knowing about across the greater Houston area, what type of experience each one is, and how to plan a night around a metro that stretches for miles. Always check each attraction’s official site for current dates, hours, and ticket prices, and see our roundup of haunted houses across Texas for options beyond the city.

The best haunted houses in Houston

Purgatory Scream Park — Kingwood

On Northpark Drive in Kingwood, about 30 minutes north of downtown, Purgatory Scream Park is Houston’s highest-rated haunt and is billed as the largest in Texas, with a long walk-through that runs on select nights each fall. Because it opens a limited number of nights, it’s worth booking ahead. Confirm this season’s calendar and tickets at purgatoryscreampark.com.

13th Floor Houston

Located off FM 1960 in northwest Houston, 13th Floor is a large, professionally produced indoor haunt from one of the biggest Halloween-attraction operators in the country, with a fresh theme most seasons. It’s an easy pick if you want a polished, set-heavy production haunt. Check 13thfloorhouston.com for this year’s dates and pricing.

ScreamWorld — North Houston

ScreamWorld is a Houston institution that has run for roughly three decades on a multi-acre site in the north metro, packing several haunted houses, an outdoor maze, and other attractions into one ticket. It’s a good choice if you want variety in a single stop. Confirm dates and tickets at screamworld.com.

Phobia Haunted Houses — Beltway 8 & Kemah

Operating in Houston since the 1990s, Phobia runs a cluster of attractions at its Beltway 8 location in south Houston, plus a smaller footprint at the Kemah Boardwalk. The Beltway 8 site is the one to target if you want to work through several haunts in a night. Details at phobiahauntedhouses.com.

Creepy Hollow Haunted House — Rosharon

About 25 minutes south of downtown in Rosharon, Creepy Hollow bundles several attractions under one ticket and leans into atmospheric, outdoor dread — dense woods, fog, and darkness — rather than jump scares alone. It has a reputation as one of the most intense haunts in the state. Confirm dates and tickets at creepyhollowhaunt.com.

Houston Scream Fest — Kingwood

Houston Scream Fest runs as a haunted amusement park with multiple horror houses on one campus, plus midway-style extras that make it an easy group outing. It typically offers extended dates into early November. Check its official channels for the current season’s schedule and pricing before you go.

What to expect at Houston haunts

Houston’s size means planning matters: an attraction listed as “in Houston” could be 45 minutes from your hotel, so check drive times before you buy. The experiences span production haunts (13th Floor), sprawling scream parks (ScreamWorld, Purgatory), and outdoor trails (Creepy Hollow) — match the attraction to your group. October here can stay warm and humid, so dress in light layers for outdoor queues. Most seasonal haunts run from late September through early November, with the busiest nights around Halloween. If you’re deciding whether a ticket is worth it, our guide on whether haunted houses are worth it can help.

Know before you go

• Buy tickets online in advance. Peak Friday and Saturday nights at top haunts can sell out, and fast-pass upgrades cut the longest waits.
• Check the calendar. Several venues open only on select nights — confirm the date you want is running.
• Plan for the drive. The metro is huge; map your route before buying, especially for suburban haunts like Purgatory and Creepy Hollow.
• Confirm prices and age guidance on each official site — these change season to season and vary by attraction.

Looking beyond the city? Explore haunted houses across Texas or find haunted houses near you.