Halloween is just around the corner and that means it’s time to start planning your spooky festivities! If you’re looking to take your older kiddos out for some fun (with a splash of horror), there are plenty of haunted houses to choose from in the DMV.
Maryland
Laurel’s House of Horror (Laurel, MD)
This haunted house has an authentic creepy factor as it is hosted in an old, haunted, abandoned movie theater. The venue features a variety of terrifying scenes, including a torture chamber, but it also hosts two different horrifying escape rooms. This haunted attraction is not for the faint of heart!
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
The Nevermore Haunt (Baltimore, MD)
This haunted house is inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. It features a variety of scary scenes, including a haunted library, a torture chamber and a graveyard. Additionally, there is a food truck and a fire dancer to liven up the atmosphere for your post-haunt experience.
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
Field of Screams (Olney, MD)
This haunted attraction is back this year with a new Super Screams Haunted Trail (which is a combination of the Trail of Terror and Haunted Trail from previous years). These trails will include many scare zones featuring zombies, clowns and other scary creatures. Each ticket also includes entry into the Slaughter Factory Haunted House … which you DON’T want to miss! Not to mention, you can also stick around after for food and Carnival Town Games. Fields of Screams is a good option for families with older children and adults who are looking for a good scare.
Age appropriateness: 10 and over
Markoff’s Haunted Forest (Dickerson, MD)
This attraction puts you down a winding and dark trail, and you never know what’s lurking around the next corner. With over a mile of terror in the woods, you will be spooked! The Town is an additional attraction which is an up close and personal experience that starts with a wagon ride to the edge of the property. At the end of your experience, you can enjoy Markoff’s Midway, which is a free-to-enter area with bonfires, live music and other activities.
Age appropriateness: 12 and over
Black Box Haunted House (Hagerstown, MD)
This is a very unique, live-action experience that will bring chills to your spin. Tickets include a show and a maze that spans two floors. This year’s experience features ‘Alice in Underworld’ and is only around for 2 weekends in October.
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
Bennett’s Curse (Baltimore, MD)
Be prepared to get scared! Bennett’s Curse is known for its intense scares and realistic special effects. The actors are all highly trained and dedicated to giving you a good scare. Tickets include admission to 4 different experiences: House of the Demons, Halloween 3D, Ravenbrook Asylum and Legends of Halloween.
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
Virginia
Cox Farms Fields of Fear (Centerville, VA)
The Cox Farms Fields of Fear is extremely popular in the DMV with four different attractions to keep you spooked all night: The Firegounds, Dark Side Hayride, The Forest: Back 40 and Cornightmare. The six-lane slide at The Fairgrounds is a fan favorite. If you have children who are too young for the haunted trail, there are still plenty of other things to do at Cox Farms. The farm has a variety of daytime activities for children, including a petting zoo, a hayride and a corn maze.
Age appropriateness: 12 and over
Scream LoCo (Dulles, VA)
This haunted attraction that features disorienting mirrors, eerie clown performances and unsettling illusions. This is one of the newer DMV haunted houses and it is located in Dulles Mall.
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
Haunted Nightmares (Winchester, VA)
This is certainly the best attraction for younger kids. This farm features escape rooms, a haunted house, a corn maze and moonlit hayrides (that include pumpkin picking). Haunted Nightmares is an intense attraction that features professional sets with theatrical lighting and special effects. On Saturdays and Sundays during October, the Haunted House opens from 1pm to 5pm with a less aggressive/intense show with fewer actors at a reduced price for a younger audience.
Age appropriateness: 7 and over
Haunted Hollow VA (Warrenton, VA)
This is another haunted trail attraction outside of DC that is on a dark and abandoned farm. The decorations and sets are to DIE for! Haunted Hollow also has a bon-fire and concession stand with wandering actors to add to the scare factor.
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
The Death Trail (Dumfries, VA)
The Death Trail is a 30-40 minute walk through a trail of darkness, destruction and death. Along with the death trail, there are food trucks, game vendors, escape rooms and more. Interested in taking your younger kids? Join them on October 22 for Kids Night. Note that this attraction is not advertised as a Halloween haunted house, but as an outreach ministry by Montclair Tabernacle.
Age appropriateness: 10 and over
Madhaunter’s Madhouse (Purcellville, VA)
Another spooky attraction in the DMV that is along a dark and thrilling trail. The props and scenery at this attraction are true Halloween art and be ready for many surprises along the trail. Afterward, you can enjoy food trucks and adult drinks. They may also be bringing back the paintball and escape room attractions this year (not listed on their website for 2023).
Age appropriateness: 13 and over
No matter where your kids’ scare level lands, there’s a haunted house in the DMV that’s perfect for everyone. Yes, I also have two very young children at home! I know that it can be difficult to find Halloween activities that are appropriate for all ages, and the Pumpkin Patch & Fall Farms Guide, Fall Festivals, and Corn Mazes are great resources for families with young children! It’s a great way to get into the Halloween spirit without having to experience the scares of a haunted house.
Happy (spooky) Halloween, DMV!
