Nashville is Tennessee’s most active haunt market, pairing big indoor productions inside the city with lantern-lit woods trails in the surrounding counties. The scene runs from a haunt that has been scaring the city since 1986 to a first-year licensed Friday the 13th experience, so there is a good option whether you want a quick indoor walkthrough or a full night out. This guide covers the best haunted houses in Nashville for 2026, what each one offers, and how to plan your visit. Want the wider picture? See our guide to the best haunted houses across Tennessee, or browse every haunt in our Tennessee directory.

What are the best haunted houses in Nashville?

Nashville Nightmare — Madison

Nashville Nightmare at 1016 Madison Square is the metro’s largest multi-attraction complex and bills itself as a top-five most terrifying haunted house in the USA, citing USA Today. Its 2026 lineup lists five haunts: Jason Universe: Survive the Night, an officially licensed Friday the 13th walkthrough; Vector Research XIII, a sealed-lab monster story; Fairy Tale Hell, a ruined storybook kingdom; Creature Feature, set in an old theater; and Mr. Sweets’ House of Horrors, a candy-shop nightmare. Add-ons include 5-minute mini escape games, a Gellyball zombie shooting experience, a 21+ secret bar pass, and a new limited-availability VIP experience for 2026 that lets your group trigger Jason’s attacks. The official site lists select nights from September 12 through November 13, so check which nights each haunt is open before you commit.

BEAST HOUSE — Dickerson Pike

BEAST HOUSE at 3976 Dickerson Pike, about 15 minutes north of downtown, is built around a story of the 1899 Ketchum family mansion, later known as the Starlite Club. General admission covers two self-guided walkthroughs, BEAST HOUSE and CHAOS, with no minimum age listed, and the site also advertises a selfie museum and light-show displays. The official 2026 calendar shows Saturdays in late September, Friday and Saturday nights through October, extra Sundays in October, and a few dates into mid-November, with most nights running roughly 7 to 10:30 p.m. Online general admission is listed from $29.99 and the posted nights run from about $29.99 to $35.99, with VIP and no-wait options costing more. Parking is a separate $5 for the field lot or $15 for premium asphalt, and the lot can fill on busy nights.

Slaughterhouse — Hermitage

Slaughterhouse at 3445 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage is Nashville’s longest-running haunt, established in 1986, and its official site says 2026 is its 40th anniversary season, opening Saturday, September 26. The walkthrough winds through five rooms of a former movie theater and takes about 40 minutes. The site lists general admission at $30 and says no one under 12 is admitted, with ages 12 to 16 required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. It is also intense by its own description, with strobe lights, fog, and low visibility, so read the posted warning before you buy.

Devil’s Dungeon — Nolensville Pike area

Devil’s Dungeon at 510 Davidson Street has operated since 2000 and is run by a father-and-son team. The official FAQ says the whole attraction is indoors, with live actors and animatronics, and recommends ages 13 and up. It is wheelchair accessible, and free street parking and a free lot are available across the street. The site did not post 2026 dates or prices when we checked, so use its ticket link for the current schedule. Arriving 15 to 30 minutes before opening, or earlier in the season, helps with shorter lines.

Creepy Hollow Haunted Woods — Spring Hill

Creepy Hollow Haunted Woods at 2133 Joe Brown Road in Spring Hill is about 30 minutes south of downtown, off I-65. Its official site describes a mix of indoor and outdoor scenes — a woods trail, haunted halls, a cemetery, and an abandoned school bus — with a bonfire and concessions, and says it focuses on original scenes without excessive gore. The site lists Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 11 p.m., ages 8 and up, with tickets at the door at $38 plus tax. Confirm on the official site before you go.

Dead Land Haunted Woods — Lebanon

Dead Land Haunted Woods at 7040 Murfreesboro Road in Lebanon is an outdoor haunted woods trail about 45 minutes east of Nashville. The official site lists Friday and Saturday nights, 7 to 11 p.m., from September 18 through October 31, with a trail called Where the Roots Remember, a fairy-tale-gone-wrong attraction called The Portal, a short escape game, and a bonfire. Tickets are sold through the site’s ticketing partner.

Which Nashville haunted house is right for your group?

• Biggest night out: Nashville Nightmare combines five haunts with escape games, Gellyball, and a 21+ bar pass, so plan a couple of hours.
• Story-driven mansion scares: BEAST HOUSE leans on its Ketchum mansion backstory and gives you two walkthroughs on one ticket.
• Nashville history: Slaughterhouse is the city’s longest-running haunt, and its 40th season makes it a milestone year.
• Rainy-night plan: Devil’s Dungeon is fully indoors, so a storm will not cancel your night.
• Outdoor atmosphere: Creepy Hollow and Dead Land trade skyline convenience for woods, bonfires, and a longer drive.

What to expect at Nashville haunts

Scare levels vary widely, from original, lower-gore scenes to attractions that post strong warnings and strobe effects. Check each attraction’s stated age guidance and intensity before you buy, and knowing how scary haunted houses really get helps you match the right one to your group. New to haunts? Our first-timer’s complete haunted house guide walks through the whole experience, and you can see how the biggest attractions compare nationally in our roundup of the best haunted houses in America.

What should you know before you go?

• Buy tickets online when you can. Several Nashville haunts post lower online pricing and sell VIP or no-wait options, and prime October weekends fill up. Some woods trails sell at the door only.
• Budget for parking and fees. BEAST HOUSE charges separate parking, and onsite card sales at some attractions carry service fees.
• Plan the drive. Creepy Hollow and Dead Land are 30 to 45 minutes from downtown, so build travel time into the night.
• Check the age rules. Minimum ages range from none posted to 8, 12, and 13 depending on the attraction.
• Dress for the weather. Woods trails are outdoors and Middle Tennessee evenings turn cool by late October. Our what to wear to a haunted house guide helps you plan.
• Confirm prices, hours, and dates on each official site, since they change by season and by attraction.

Ready to plan your night? Find haunted houses near you and compare Nashville’s haunts before Halloween.