Minnesota’s haunt season is short and cold, which is exactly why it is so good: operators pack big productions into a handful of October weekends, from the deep bench of attractions around Minneapolis and St. Paul to north-woods trails, a haunted freighter on Lake Superior, and long-running farm haunts on the prairie. This guide ranks the best haunted houses in Minnesota by region, explains what each one is like, and points you to our dedicated Twin Cities guide. You can also browse the full Minnesota haunted house directory or find haunted houses near you.

What are the best haunted houses in Minnesota?

Minneapolis–St. Paul and the Twin Cities metro

The Twin Cities have the deepest haunt scene in the Upper Midwest. Scream Town in Chaska, at the end of a secluded road southwest of Minneapolis, combines several haunted attractions with an abandoned-hayride experience on one site. The Haunting Experience on Highway 61 in Cottage Grove has been scaring the east metro since 1986 and marks its 40th anniversary season with a haunted house, a haunted hayride, and a cornfield attraction. North of the metro, The Dead End Hayride at Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming pairs an intense hayride with walkthrough scare zones, and Valleyfair in Shakopee brings back its ValleyScare nights for thrill-park fans. For the full breakdown and how to plan a night, see our guide to haunted houses in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

Central Minnesota (St. Cloud and Big Lake)

Central Minnesota has a cluster of long-running community haunts. Molitor’s Haunted Acres in Sauk Rapids has been scaring the St. Cloud area since 1998, evolving from a hayride into a fully immersive walkthrough. Just south of St. Cloud, Harvest of Horror in St. Augusta sends guests through fields, timber, and a dark cornfield, with a haunted hayride as part of the night. Between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities, Bahr’s Haunted Acres in Big Lake runs a wooded trail on Friday and Saturday nights in October and supports local youth organizations and nonprofits. Confirm each attraction’s current calendar before making the drive.

Duluth and the Northland

Northern Minnesota has one of the most distinctive haunts in the country. The Duluth Haunted Ship transforms the S.S. William A. Irvin, a nearly 700-foot retired ore boat moored in Canal Park, into a multi-deck haunt; the official DECC listing describes this as its 31st season, with long weekends through Halloween, a less-scary lights-on tour, and food trucks and bonfires on Harbor Drive. Northwest of Duluth, Hellwig Hollow in Canyon offers an immersive north-woods trail with live actors, and farther south Ringler’s House on Haunted Hill in Brook Park runs a long mega-trail on the grounds of the Ringler family campground.

Western Minnesota and Lakes Country

Near the North Dakota line, The Haunted Farm in Moorhead is the Fargo–Moorhead area’s big multi-attraction haunt, with a haunted house, themed rooms, and a haunted woods trail on Friday and Saturday nights through Halloween. In Otter Tail Lakes Country, the Haunted Forest at Moccasin Valley near Erhard is a volunteer-style forest-and-lodge haunt that runs only a few October nights, with guests shuttled in from a nearby church lot.

Southern Minnesota

In New Ulm, New Ulm Nightmares has run for more than a decade at the Brown County Fairgrounds, typically with multiple themed haunted houses and mini escape rooms. Its season calendar is usually posted closer to October, so check its official page for current-year dates before planning a trip.

What to expect at Minnesota haunted houses

Most Minnesota haunts open on Friday and Saturday nights from late September or early October through Halloween, with some adding Thursdays, Sundays, or the MEA school-break week in mid-October. Prices vary widely — small community and charity haunts are often under $20, while the larger multi-attraction sites charge more and sell fast-pass or reduced-wait upgrades. Buy online in advance for the weekends closest to Halloween, and treat every date and price here as a guide to confirm, not a guarantee.

Many of the state’s best haunts are outdoor trails, hayrides, and farm attractions, and October nights in Minnesota can drop near freezing. Our what to wear to a haunted house guide helps you dress for it, and if it is your first haunt, our first-timer’s complete haunted house guide explains exactly what to expect.

Know before you go

• Check the official calendar. Minnesota seasons are short and weather can shift nights, so confirm dates and hours on each attraction’s site the week you go.
• Plan the drive. Many top haunts sit on farms or wooded land outside town; allow travel time and expect gravel lots.
• Bringing kids? Several haunts offer lights-on or daytime options, but intensity varies — our parents’ age-by-age guide helps you decide.

Ready to plan your night? Explore haunted houses in Minneapolis–St. Paul, browse all haunts in the Minnesota directory, or find haunted houses near you.