Spooky season is creeping up on us faster than we can say “Boo!” And when your regular, run of the mill Halloween plans just aren’t cutting it, a trip to a spooky town itself may be just what you need. Luckily, we love the feeling when the hair on the back of our neck stands up, and these are 5 of the best Halloween towns near NYC to make that happen.
1. Sleepy Hollow, NY – 1 hour from NYC
Just an hour from NYC (and an easy trip on the Metro-North – Hudson Line from Grand Central) is Sleepy Hollow–an actual Halloween village! Here Gothic mansions await, along with haunted taverns and even the Headless Horseman himself.
So, naturally, it’s no surprise they go absolutely all out in October with fun events! All of which you can find more about (and learn more about Sleepy Hollow in general) here.
🎃 Sleepy Hollow, New York
2. Tarrytown, NY – 1 hour from NYC
Tarrytown is Sleepy Hollow’s slightly less famous neighbor, and it’s the setting for Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! Here you can find a real-life haunted mansion–Tarrytown’s King House mansion–which, at 165 years old, is said to be haunted by its former residents.
The Tarrytown Music Hall is also said to be haunted–legend has it music can be heard playing even when no one is performing.
🎃 Tarrytown, New York
3. Kingston, NY – 2 hours from NYC
Ulster County’s Kingston has a pretty gory history–it saw many a battle and conflict before burning down during the American Revolutionary War. Today, a visit to the Old Dutch Church Cemetery will put you on the land where natives and colonizers fought, soldiers are buried, and victims of the town burning down lie to rest.
Ulster County is also home to one of our all-time favorite haunted houses, Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions. Last year it was even voted the 9th most horrifying haunted attraction in the US!
🎃 Kingston, New York
4. Newport, RI – 4 hours from NYC
If you’re looking for the Sanderson sisters you may want to take a trip to Newport, Rhode Island–that is where Hocus Pocus 2 was filmed after all (the first Hocus Pocus was shot in Salem, MA)! Visitors can head to iconic locations from the film, such as Washington Square and the Newport Colony House.
Plus, this 383-year-old city is full of eerie sights and ghoulish folklore of its own, hosting tons of creepy Halloween events such as ghost tours, spooky nights at the haunted Linden Place, Halloween costume cruises, and more.
P.S. come summertime Newport is also one of our favorite beach towns to visit!
🎃 Newport, Rhode Island
5. Salem, MA – 4.5 hours from NYC
One of the most well-known Halloween towns near NYC is Salem, famous for its 1692 witch trials. Each year the month-long Salem Haunted Happenings, the largest celebration of Halloween in the world, draws people from all over to celebrate spooky season the right way.
From getting spooked at the iconic Witch House to visiting the Old Burying Point Cemetery, now the oldest burying ground in Salem created in 1637, Salem definitely has its fair share of haunts to explore. While you’re in Massachusetts be sure to pay a visit to our friends over in Boston!
🎃 Salem, Massachusetts
6. Croton-on-Hudson, NY – 1.5 hours from NYC
Croton-on-Hudson is just upstate in the Hudson Valley, and is known for its renowned event, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. The stunning visual display welcomes thousands of illuminated pumpkins into stunning Halloween displays from September – November! It happens at Van Cortlandt Manor, a 17th-century house and property that holds some pretty lengthy lore in itself.
🎃 Croton-on-Hudson, New York