Kansas City – September 16, 2026 -- America Haunts, the national association of premier haunted attractions, has released its Road Trip Worthy Top 5 for 2026, naming five haunted attractions built to anchor an entire fall getaway rather than a quick October stop.
Talon Falls Screampark debuts a new hayride near the Paducah metro in Kentucky
The park's 2026 season adds Blood Creek Haunted Hayride: Mutant's Revenge to its existing lineup, bringing the total to 10 haunted mazes at one location. Its position near the Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee borders makes it a natural stop for travelers crossing state lines.
Spookywoods marks its 42nd season with an expanded courtyard in North Carolina
Kersey Valley Spookywoods spans 85 acres in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point metro area and is expanding its Club Spooky courtyard for 2026. The property functions less like a single haunted house and more like a full Halloween takeover with multiple attractions running simultaneously.
Dead End Hayride spreads across 160 acres of Minnesota woods with 200-plus live actors
Located near the Minneapolis metro, the attraction combines a traditional hayride with on-foot walkthroughs featuring pyrotechnics and large-scale effects, shifting pace and setting throughout the night.
Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride adds new sets near Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania attraction is introducing new physical sets and high-tech features to its haunted hayride for 2026, alongside a haunted house, a haunted town, and a midway with games and food.
Headless Horseman Hayrides debuts a Cursed Earth of Crow Hollow storyline in New York's Hudson Valley
Set on more than 65 acres in Ulster Park, the attraction offers 13 experiences for 2026, including its signature hayride featuring a black steed and headless rider. The new storyline centers on a buried evil and a corrupted landscape spreading through the town.
Halloween travel is shifting toward multi-day "scarecations"
America Haunts frames the list as part of a broader trend of Halloween fans treating haunted attractions as weekend destinations rather than single-night stops, building trips around lodging, local restaurants, and multiple attractions in one region.