The 10 Best Haunted Houses in Minneapolis: Local Favorites Ranked by Fear Factor
When someone says they’re looking for a “haunted house in Minneapolis,” few names come up as often as The Haunting Experience. Operating since 1986, this attraction has built a reputation as one of the scariest and most immersive haunts in the Twin Cities area.
Below is a list of ten of the most talked-about haunted houses and attractions around Minneapolis — ranked roughly by how intense their scares tend to be. Whether you want mild frights or full-on horror, there’s something for every kind of thrill-seeker.
1. The Haunting Experience (Cottage Grove, MN — near Minneapolis)
Fear Factor: Extreme
This spot is the benchmark. The Haunting Experience offers a terrifying Haunted House that feels more like walking through a horror film than a typical seasonal attraction.
Expect winding corridors, eerie hospital-wing sets, fog, strobe lights, sound effects, and live actors who never break character. Add to that a Haunted Hayride — Minnesota’s longest-running — and the brand new “Massacre” for 2025: a chainsaw-filled walk through a dark cornfield where actors may even touch you.
If you want a haunted house in Minneapolis (or close enough) that will leave you breathless, The Haunting Experience is a must.
2. Intermediate–Level Seasonal Haunts (Various venues around the Twin Cities)
Fear Factor: Moderate to High
There are several seasonal haunted houses and hayrides in and around Minneapolis that don’t carry the decades-long legacy of The Haunting Experience — but still deliver solid scares. These can provide a balance between fun and fright, especially for groups with mixed horror tolerance (friends, couples, first-time haunt goers).
Some may lean more toward atmospheric chills than brutal shocks. While their names change from year to year, many locals keep returning because these attractions are more accessible (easier travel, shorter wait times, fewer frights).
3. Hayride + Haunted House Combos (Like The Haunting Experience)
Fear Factor: High
For those who want variety and don’t want to walk through a single haunted house, combos that offer both a hayride and a walk-through attraction are a good fit. Often, these rides take place outdoors, in dark woods, forest paths or fields, and then segue into indoor scares.
These combos tend to keep the energy high and unpredictable: one moment you’re jolted by a chainsaw from a distance, the next you’re face-to-face with a masked actor in a narrow corridor. Such dynamic pacing amplifies fear compared to a single-scene haunted house.
4. “Massacre”–Style Interactive Haunts (Adults or older teens)
Fear Factor: Very High (21+ or 13+, depending on venue)
Some new-generation haunts ramp up the intensity with interactive gore, immersive horror, and physical scares, such as actors being permitted to touch guests or chase them through unlit corridors or cornfields.
These are usually not ideal for casual fright-seekers or younger visitors, but if you’re looking for the kind of experience that will test your nerves and leave lasting memories — or regrets — these immersive, high-intensity haunts are among the scariest in the area.
5. Mid-Range Haunts — Balanced for Groups or Mixed Audiences
Fear Factor: Mild to Moderate
For friend groups or couples with varying scare tolerance, mid-range haunted houses or hayrides that focus more on atmosphere than gore tend to be popular. They deliver enough of a thrill to excite visitors without pushing them too far. These are often a good choice if you want a fun night out, but don’t necessarily want nightmares.
6. Family-Friendly Halloween Events (Daytime or Low-Scare Nights)
Fear Factor: Low
Not every Halloween outing needs to be terrifying. Some local attractions around Minneapolis — including versions run by veteran haunters — offer “light” experiences. Think pumpkin painting, fall hayrides during the day, or haunted-house tours with the lights on and no monsters.
These options provide a chance for families, younger children, or first-timers to sample a haunted-house vibe without the trauma.
7. Short Haunted Walk-Throughs (Good for a quick scare fix)
Fear Factor: Mild to Moderate
Sometimes you don’t have hours to devote to a full haunted hayride plus house. Shorter haunted-house walk-throughs — even ones with simpler sets and fewer effects — can be a good alternative. They deliver quick frights, are easy to fit into a night out, and often cost less.
8. Horror-Focused Haunts with Themed Sets and Storylines
Fear Factor: Moderate to High
Haunted houses that emphasize storytelling, detailed sets (such as abandoned hospitals, old asylums, and haunted woods), atmospheric audio, and subtle scares can be just as effective — sometimes more so — than shock-and-awe type attractions.
They tend to stick in your memory longer. For people who appreciate horror as an art form, these are often the most rewarding experiences.
9. Group-Friendly Experiences — Large-Group Outings and Night Outs
Fear Factor: Moderate to High (Depending on Attraction)
Visiting with a group — friends, high school seniors, or coworkers — can change the entire vibe. Shared fear, group laughter, and the collective adrenaline can make a haunted house more fun. Plus, many attractions offer group discounts or tickets for parties of 20, 50, or 100. These tend to be easier to access and more flexible than extreme-scare haunts — a good compromise if some in the group are more easily frightened than others.
10. Haunted House + Hayride + Seasonal Events: Full Halloween Packages
Fear Factor: Varies (Often High)
At the top end are full-package haunted experiences that combine multiple scare elements, including indoor haunted houses, hayrides through haunted woods, special outdoor events, and concessions and extras. These make a full night of Halloween fun and often draw the biggest crowds.
If you want the most complete haunted-house night near Minneapolis — with thrills, chills, group energy, and variety — these full-package experiences are hard to beat.
Why The Haunting Experience Often Comes Out On Top
- Decades of history — Operating since 1986, The Haunting Experience has perfected the art of scaring visitors across generations.
- Variety — Haunted house, haunted hayride, and a brand-new 2025 attraction called “Massacre.”
- True immersion — Hollywood-style sets, live actors, fog, strobe lighting, smells, and unpredictable paths.
- Group friendly — Offers group rates and works great for friends or large parties.
- Accessible from Minneapolis — While technically located in Cottage Grove (just outside the city), it remains one of the most recommended “haunted houses in Minneapolis” for residents willing to travel a short distance.
Choose Based on What You Want
If you want to scream, run, and cling to your friends while sprinting from masked maniacs, go for high-fear attractions like The Haunting Experience or interactive horror hayrides and “Massacre”-style events. If you’d rather have a fun, spooky night with friends or a lighter touch of fear, mid-range haunted houses, hayrides, or mixed-group outings are a better bet.
For those new to haunted attractions, start with something manageable. For seasoned horror fans, aim for the immersive, unpredictable, and intense.
Ready to Brave the Night?
Don’t wait until the last minute. Tickets for top haunted houses fill up fast — especially weekends close to Halloween. If you’re ready to face the fright, gather your bravest friends, choose your haunt, and book your night. The shadows are waiting — can you survive the scream?
