Missouri punches well above its weight for Halloween. The state is home to two of the most celebrated haunted attractions in America — St. Louis and Kansas City each field a cluster of nationally ranked haunts — plus a deep bench of farm haunts and scream parks across the Ozarks, the Joplin area, and central Missouri. This guide covers the best haunted houses in Missouri for 2026 by region, what kind of night each one delivers, and how to plan your visit. Opening weekends, hours, and prices shift from year to year, so always confirm the details on each attraction’s official site before you buy. Want the full statewide list with a map and filters? Browse every haunt in our Missouri directory, or find haunted houses near you.

The best haunted houses in Missouri by region

St. Louis

St. Louis has one of the strongest haunt scenes in the Midwest. The Darkness in the Soulard neighborhood is a nationally famous, movie-quality walkthrough that opens for 2026 in mid-to-late September, and nearby Creepyworld in Fenton bills itself as one of the biggest screamparks in the country, packing multiple attractions into one ticket. The Lemp Brewery Haunted House uses the genuinely eerie caverns of the historic Lemp complex, while TERRIFIEDEXIST in Florissant covers the North County side of the metro. For the full lineup, hours, and tips, see our guide to haunted houses in St. Louis.

Kansas City

Kansas City’s West Bottoms is a haunt destination in its own right. Edge of Hell opened in 1975 and is recognized as the longest-running commercial haunted house in the United States, and it sits within a block of its sister attractions The Beast — famous for its four-story slide exit — and Macabre Cinema, all run by Full Moon Productions. Together they make a single evening in the West Bottoms one of the best haunt crawls in the country. For the full metro lineup, see our guide to haunted houses in Kansas City.

Springfield and the Ozarks

Southwest Missouri leans rural and outdoor. Field of Screams in Nixa anchors the Springfield area with a haunted forest, while Ozark Nightmares in Lebanon and FearStone Haunted House near Camdenton at the Lake of the Ozarks round out a scattered but committed regional scene. These are outdoor-heavy nights, so dress for the weather and check each site for the current season.

Joplin and Southwest Missouri

Down in the Joplin corner, The Werehouse in Joplin, Wolfman’s House of Screams in Carl Junction, and Myers Forest of Fears in Carthage give the tri-state area its own homegrown haunts. Most run select October weekends and post hours on social media, so confirm before you drive out.

Central and northern Missouri

Between the two big cities, Missouri Nightmare Haunted Attraction near Columbia and The Dead Factory in Mexico serve mid-Missouri, and the historic Beattie Mansion in St. Joseph offers a more atmospheric, history-driven fright to the northwest. These smaller haunts are worth a stop if you are traveling I-70 or the northern routes in October.

What to expect at Missouri haunts

Missouri runs the full range, from family-friendly farm haunts to some of the most intense professional walkthroughs in the country, so scare levels vary widely by attraction — check each haunt’s stated intensity before you buy. Knowing how scary haunted houses really get helps you match the right one to your group. Because many of the state’s haunts pair indoor mazes with outdoor trails and screamparks, our guide to haunted houses versus haunted hayrides is worth a read, and you can see how Missouri’s marquee haunts rank nationally in our roundup of the best haunted houses in America.

Know before you go

• Buy tickets online in advance. Missouri’s marquee haunts — especially The Darkness, Creepyworld, and the West Bottoms trio — sell out prime October weekends, and fast-pass or timed-entry options often cut the longest waits.
• New to haunts? Our first-timer’s complete haunted house guide walks through exactly what to expect on your first visit.
• Dress for a cold, often outdoor night. Many Missouri haunts include outdoor trails and screamparks — our what to wear to a haunted house guide helps you plan for the weather.
• Confirm prices, hours, and age guidance on each official site — these change season to season and vary by attraction.

Ready to plan your night? Find haunted houses near you and compare your options before Halloween.