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Best Haunted Houses Near Philadelphia 2025 | Scariest Halloween Attractions

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Looking for the best haunted houses near Philadelphia in 2025? Whether you’re after blood-curdling screams, haunted hayrides, or immersive horror experiences, the Philly region is packed with fear-inducing attractions that are perfect for Halloween thrill-seekers.

Best Haunted Houses Outside Philadelphia

This guide rounds up the top haunted houses – within an hour or so of Center City – ranked for scare factor, creativity, and overall experience.

Grab your bravest friends… if you dare.

Top 11 Haunted Houses Near Philadelphia (2025 Edition)

hallway in eastern state penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary

1. Eastern State Penitentiary – Halloween Nights

📍 Location: Philadelphia, PA
Drive Time: Right in the city
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The gold standard for Philly frights. Halloween Nights transforms the infamous prison into an immersive multi-haunt experience, including 5 haunted attractions, themed bars, and live performances — all inside real cellblocks.

  • Unique Feature: Real prison + history meets horror

  • Extras: Bars, speakeasy, food court

  • 2025 Dates: Likely late Sept – early Nov

  • Website: easternstate.org

2. Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride

📍 Location: Glen Mills, PA
Drive Time: ~35 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

One of the most famous haunted attractions on the East Coast. Bates Motel includes a terrifying hayride through the woods, a haunted corn maze, and a high-intensity haunted house packed with actors, animatronics, and pyrotechnics.

  • Unique Feature: Movie-level production quality

  • Extras: Food trucks, photo ops, midway games

  • Website: thebatesmotel.com

3. Pennhurst Asylum

📍 Location: Spring City, PA
Drive Time: ~50 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Set in a real former mental institution, Pennhurst offers some of the most chilling vibes in the region. Includes four attractions: Pennhurst Asylum, The Morgue, The Tunnels, and Containment.

  • Unique Feature: Real-life haunted reputation

  • 2025 Dates: Usually opens late Sept

  • Website: pennhurstasylum.com

4. Valley of Fear

📍 Location: Feasterville, PA
Drive Time: ~35 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Features one of the longest haunted hayrides in the area, plus two haunted walk-throughs: The Facility and The Unknown. The setting in the woods gives it a legit creepy edge.

  • Unique Feature: Haunted forest + hayride combo

  • Extras: Live music nights

  • Website: valleyoffear.com

5. Night of Terror at Creamy Acres Farm

📍 Location: Mullica Hill, NJ
Drive Time: ~40 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Huge attraction with multiple haunts, including haunted houses, hayrides, and a terrifying pitch-black maze. Great mix of classic scares and modern effects.

  • Unique Feature: Largest multi-haunt in South Jersey

  • Extras: Daytime pumpkin patch for families

  • Website: nightofterror.com

6. Field of Screams

📍 Location: Mountville, PA
Drive Time: ~1 hour 20 mins (worth the drive!)
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Technically just outside the 1-hour radius, but too good not to include. Four attractions, including the horrifying “Den of Darkness” and the famous Haunted Hayride.

 7. Fright Factory

📍 Location: South Philadelphia, PA
Drive Time: In the city
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Built in an old warehouse basement, Fright Factory delivers old-school scares with lots of darkness, tight hallways, and in-your-face actors.

8. Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farm

📍 Location: Glen Mills, PA
Drive Time: ~35 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥

This is the same hayride that’s part of the Bates Motel attraction, but worth highlighting solo. Incredible animatronics, set pieces, and live actors.

9. Scarecrows at Peddler’s Village (Kid-friendly)

📍 Location: Lahaska, PA
Drive Time: ~1 hour
Scare Level: 🔥 (Family-friendly)

Not a haunted house, but a festive and spooky atmosphere perfect for families. Includes scarecrow displays, light shows, and seasonal treats.

Scene at Hallowspire

10. Hallow-spire

📍 Location: Southampton, NJ
Drive Time: ~45 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Two terrifying attractions, one unforgettable night. The Jersey Devil Terror Trail and The 13th Acre Haunted Corn Maze

💀 11. Bloodshed Farms Fear Fest

📍 Location: Columbus, NJ
Drive Time: ~45 minutes
Scare Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

A smaller but creative haunt with four attractions including a haunted hayride and drive-thru horror experiences.

scarecrow in woods
Scene during the drive at Bloodshed Farms

Haunted House Tips for 2025

  • Buy tickets online in advance — most sell out on weekends

  • Go early in the season (late Sept / early Oct) for smaller crowds

  • Check age ratings — many haunts aren’t kid-friendly

  • Wear boots or closed shoes — you’ll be walking through woods, mud, or dark buildings

  • Bring cash — for food trucks, parking, or souvenirs

Related Fall Guides:

Don’t Just Scream — Snap It!

These haunted attractions often have:

  • Photo booths with monsters

  • Scare cams on the hayrides

  • Special photo ops for social media 

Happy Haunting! 

Dawn

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