Looking for haunted houses in Minneapolis? The Twin Cities metro has the biggest and most competitive haunt market in the Upper Midwest, but almost every major attraction sits on farmland or wooded property on the edge of the metro rather than downtown. This guide covers the marquee haunts around Minneapolis and St. Paul, what each one is like, and how to plan a night. For the rest of the state, see our ranked guide to the best haunted houses across Minnesota, or browse every listing in the Minnesota directory.

What are the best haunted houses in Minneapolis–St. Paul?

Scream Town (Chaska)

Multi-attraction haunt and hayride · southwest metro
Scream Town is the Twin Cities’ best-known haunt, tucked at the end of a secluded road just past Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. The site groups several haunted attractions together with its Abandoned Hayride, which visits a series of staged scenes with live actors. It is a full-evening destination, so budget time for lines on peak weekends. Check dates, ticket tiers, and any fast-pass options on the official Scream Town site.

The Haunting Experience (Cottage Grove)

Haunted house, hayride and cornfield · east metro
Founded by the Zywiec family in 1986, The Haunting Experience on Highway 61 bills itself as Minnesota’s longest-running haunted attraction and marks its 40th anniversary season this year. The night centers on a walkthrough haunted house, a long-running haunted hayride through the woods, and a cornfield attraction, and select daytime family dates add lights-on tours without actors. Confirm the current schedule on the official site.

The Dead End Hayride (Wyoming)

Haunted hayride and scare zones · north metro
About 40 minutes north of downtown at Pinehaven Farm, The Dead End Hayride starts with a hayride deep into the woods and follows it with walkthrough scare zones and cinematic sets. It is one of the more intense options in the metro, and reduced-wait ticket tiers are typically offered on the busiest nights. See the official site for the current calendar and ticket options.

Bahr’s Haunted Acres (Big Lake)

Wooded haunted trail · northwest metro
On the northwest edge of the metro, Bahr’s Haunted Acres is a walk through several acres of heavily wooded trail, run on Friday and Saturday nights in October. It supports youth organizations and local nonprofits, making it a good pick if you want a community haunt with a real outdoor atmosphere. Check hours and tickets on the official site.

ValleyScare at Valleyfair (Shakopee)

Theme-park Halloween event · southwest metro
If you want haunts plus roller coasters, Valleyfair’s ValleyScare runs on select Friday and Saturday nights through the fall, with haunted attractions and scare zones across the park after dark. It is a different experience from the dedicated haunts above — better for groups who want rides too. Confirm nights and pricing on the official ValleyScare calendar.

What to know before visiting Twin Cities haunted houses

• Buy tickets online in advance. The biggest metro haunts sell out the October weekends closest to Halloween, and reduced-wait tiers save a lot of standing in the cold.
• Dress for Minnesota nights. Nearly every top Twin Cities haunt is partly or fully outdoors — our what to wear to a haunted house guide helps you plan.
• Budget the drive. Chaska, Cottage Grove, Wyoming, and Big Lake are all 30 to 50 minutes from downtown Minneapolis depending on traffic.
• First time? Our what to bring to a haunted house checklist and first-timer’s complete guide cover exactly what to expect, and always confirm age guidance on each official site.

Ready to plan your night? Compare the best haunted houses across Minnesota, browse the full Minnesota directory, or find haunted houses near you.