Horror Movie Locations You Can Visit

Last updated on October 30, 2019.

It’s no secret that Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. My husband and both of our families love going to haunted houses, checking out creepy places, and watching horror movies. One of our dogs is named Wesley after Wes Craven (and The Princess Bride). I’ll also admit – I’m definitely a Hocus Pocus diehard. I can’t remember when I started referring to myself as “Dani” instead of “Danielle”, but I can only imagine it’s in reference to Thora Birch’s character. And my first cat? His name was Binx, of course! Whether you’re more of a Disney or Goosebumps Halloween movie fan, or a true horror buff, you’re sure to find somewhere you’ll want to go to in this list of horror movie locations you can visit. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for an interactive map of the locations.

Looking for tv listings to see which movies are airing?

AMC’s FearFest
Disney’s Monstober
Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween
SYFY’s 31 Days of Halloween
TCM’s Classic Horror Line-up

Of course, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are streaming lots of spooky goodness too!

Horror Movie Locations You Can Visit in the US

Northeastern Horror Movie Locations

It

Bangor, MAINE

Horror legend Stephen King grew up in Maine. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the fictional town of Derry in It is based upon Bangor, Maine. A day wandering the streets of Bangor will bring you to many of the locations used in the film and/or miniseries. The Barrens, Gerald Winters bookshop, and the Thomas Hill standpipe were all used for notable scenes in the film.

Pet Semetary

Orrington, MAINE

Just south of Bangor is Orrington, the setting of another King classic (and personal favorite), Pet Semetary. The story itself was inspired by King when we discovered an actual pet cemetery where he buried his own cat. The house used for the filming of the movie is located at 303 Point Road, Hancock. Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor was used for filming as well.

The Blair Witch Project

Burkittsville, MARYLAND

In for a true scare? Wander around Seneca Creek State Park, the filming location of ‘Black Hills Forest’ in The Blair Witch Project. Though the movie talks about the legend of a witch who kills people visiting the forest, fear not. It’s all made-up for the movie! Also, keep quiet if that’s the reason you’re visiting Burkittsville. The townies aren’t big fans of the movie fanatics. If you’re looking for the witch’s house from the film, you’ll find it in nearby Patapsco Valley State Park.

Hocus Pocus

Salem, MASSACHUSETTS

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Hocus Pocus is AMAZING. It’s a cult classic. Don’t even try to argue with me. While most of the film was shot at sound stages in California, there are plenty of scenes filmed on-location in Salem. But this movie has everything – scary stories, witches, a zombie, a black cat, and an epic Halloween party.

Fun fact! Fans of Friends will recognize the fountain from the opening credits about 2/3 of the way through Hocus Pocus. Amuck amuck amuck!

Jaws

Martha’s Vineyard, MASSACHUSETTS

Contributed by Lauren from Where the Wild Kids Wander

Although Jaws was released in 1975, the movie continues to scare people out of the water to this day! Jaws takes place on the fictional Amity Island in New York. However, the movie was actually filmed on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Many of the exterior film locations are still available to visit. You can even see a prop from the movie at the Rockland Trust Bank in Edgartown. But don’t worry, there haven’t been any shark attacks on the island. At least none that we know of…. 

See more from Lauren:

Shutter Island

Medfield, MASSACHUSETTS

Shutter Island is more thriller than horror and it’s based on the 2003 book of the same name. Staring Leonardo Dicaprio, this psychological thriller is absolutely fantastic. Medfield State Hospital served as the filming location for the movie’s Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane.

The Amityville Horror

Tom’s River, NEW JERSEY

It’s no secret that The Amityville Horror movies were based on real occurrences at a home in Long Island. 112 Ocean Drive to be exact. But, the authorities have repeatedly denied permission for filming on the property, so a replica was created at 18 Brooks Road in Tom’s River, New Jersey. Unfortunately, the home owners have since remodeled to deter horror fanatics from visiting the site.

The Exorcist

WASHINGTON DC

Of all the horror movies out there, nothing really gets to me – until you involve the devil. I’m not a religious person, but there is something about possession that scares the bejesus out of me. One of the biggest culprits? The Exorcist. The scene with Regan spinning her head around, covered in vomit, haunts me to this day. But, that didn’t stop me from going to one of the most famous horror movie locations you can visit! The Exorcist Steps in Georgetown are a favorite destination for many horror movies buffs. They are the setting for the death of the priest in the film.

1408

New York, NEW YORK

Rumor has it that Stephen King’s book and film 1408 was inspired by the Omni Parker Hotel in Boston. But, it wasn’t filmed there. The interior scenes were shot in England, but you’ll be able to find the exterior stateside! The Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan served as the exterior vision of the hotel in the film.

Southern Horror Movie Locations

Get Out

Mobile, ALABAMA

Get Out is destined to be a modern classic. Jordan Peele takes a modern look at racism with a haunted twist in this film set in upstate New York. Surprisingly, it was actually filmed in Fairhope, Alabama. While the majority of the movie was filmed at a private residence, you will also recognize some sites in Mobile. Barton Academy, located at 504 Government Street, was the first public school in Alabama.

The Skeleton Key

New Orleans, LOUISIANA

The Skeleton Key is a long-time favorite of mine. There’s something about voodoo that really gets to me and creeps me out big time. Even when I visited Marie Laveau’s gravesite and shop in New Orleans. This film does a great job of showing how an outsider goes from questioning and disbelief to becoming enveloped in the horrors. Plus, you can’t go wrong with such a great cast with Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, John Hurt, and Peter Sarsgaard.

• 

• 

• 

Contact

Socorro, NEW MEXICO

Contributed by Laura from Adrift Aesthetic

The 1997 science fiction movie Contact was incredibly popular when it was released and still has a cult following today. One of the most iconic scenes is when Jodie Foster first makes actual contact with extra-terrestrial life in a field filled with larger-than-life telescopes. These telescopes are actually radio antennae, part of the Very Large Array, a real-life research station you can visit near Socorro, New Mexico. With a self-guided tour available, you can walk right up to one of the 82 ft wide antenna while it scans the skies for black holes. Or, witness them all change position in unison just like in the movie! Read more about visiting the locations from Contact.

See more from Laura:

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Round Rock, TEXAS

One of the most interesting places to visit from a horror movie has to be the restaurant at the Antlers Inn in Kingsland, Texas. Why? Because the Grand Central Café has been created in what was used as the house in the original version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s definitely on my bucket list; but I think I’ll stick with the veggie options!

West Coast Horror Movie Locations

Psycho

Phoenix, ARIZONA

This Hitchcock classic was set and filmed mainly in Phoenix (with some filming in LA). In the more recent prequel to Psycho, the TV show Bates Motel was filmed in British Columbia and set in Oregon.

Scream

Healdsburg, CALIFORNIA

If you don’t like the Scream series, get out. No, they aren’t Oscar-worthy or anything, but they are classics. They mock the standard horror movie plot with “the rules”. (Don’t have sex, don’t drink or do drugs, don’t say ‘I’ll be right back’,…) The main characters (the ones who make it through most of the films, are lovable. How can you not love Dewey and Gale? Anyway, the four films are set near Santa Rosa, Cali and while they follow similar plot lines, they have some twists up their sleeves. Definitely Halloween classics.

The town of Healdsburg, California served as the fictional Woodsboro. You’ll recognize the town square and the police station from the film. If you’re a real Scream fanatic, you’ll visit Bradley Video in Santa Rosa and rent the Scream movies on DVD – that’s where Randy works in the movie!

Halloween

Pasadena, CALIFORNIA

While set in the fictitious town of Haddonfield, Illinois, the cult-classic film Halloween was actually filmed in California. If you look closely throughout the film, you’ll even see some California license plates. The original house from the film still exists today, at 1000 Mission Street in Pasadena, CA. The most interesting part? What we recognize as the home of Michael Myers is now a doctor’s office. I can guarantee you that I won’t go there…

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA

Another film set in the northeast, but filmed in California, many of the sites from A Nightmare on Elm Street can still be seen in LA. Nancy’s house sits at 1428 North Genessee Avenue in West Hollywood. The movie’s famous boiler room scenes were actually filmed at the old Lincoln Heights Jail at 421 North Avenue 19.

Fun Facts about A Nightmare on Elm Street: This is the film that kickstarted Johnny Depp’s career. Also, the character of Nancy inspired the title of the podcast Good Mourning, Nancy.

The Shining

Estes Park, COLORADO

The Overlook Hotel has become synonymous with The Shining. And yes, it’s a real place! While you likely won’t find thing girls creeping you out down the halls, The Stanley Hotel in Colorado served as the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel. It was also used as the filming location for the 1997 tv series.

The actual film from the 70’s was shot in Oregon and California. The Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood was the exterior, and the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite served as the interior. Luckily for you, all three hotels still operate, so you can plan yourself a road trip and stay at all 3! Just be careful, rumor has it that The Stanley is actually haunted. King stayed in room 217 and it has become the most requested room at the hotel.

Horror Movie Locations You Can Visit Around the World

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a classic Australian movie about a bunch of girls who go on a school trip to Hanging Rock to have a picnic, but several of them go missing. No one is clear about whether there is any truth behind this story, but one thing is clear: the views from the top of Hanging Rock are gorgeous!

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

London, ENGLAND

The 2007 film Sweeney Todd was filmed throughout London and at a sound studio. But, according to urban legends, the story is based on reality – about a real barber who was a serial killer. He was rumored to have killed his clients and collaborated with Mrs. Lovett to use their meat in pies. The pies were said to be “the best pies in London!” Urban legend true or not, today the pie shop is gone; as is the barber shop. But, you can still visit the supposed locations along Fleet Street near The Strand in London.

As Above So Below

Paris, FRANCE

When I was planning my trip to France last year, the Catacombs were a must-see. It’s actually the very first thing we did in Paris! I had seen the film Catacombs (surprisingly starring Pink!) years before, and I was intrigued by the history of them. Luckily, I didn’t watch As Above, So Below until recently, because that is one heck of a scary movie. While you can’t visit all of the exact places from the film, you can walk through the part of the tunnels open to the public – and I highly recommend it!

Frankenstein

Darmstadt, GERMANY

Contributed by Karen from German Girl in America

Two towers and a few walls on a hill near Darmstadt, Germany are all that is left of Burg Frankenstein. Is this Castle, once home to the infamous alchemist and “avid dissector” Konrad Drippel, the inspiration of Mary Shelley’s Gothic Novel “Frankenstein“? Ghost stories and legends feel all too real when visiting the stone ruins. But even more thrilling, Castle Frankenstein comes alive at Halloween for the biggest Halloween Festival in Europe.

While Burg Frankenstein is the inspiration for the Frankenstein novel, the films have been shot at different locations around the world.

See more from Karen:

The Forest

Tokyo, JAPAN

Okay, this has to be the creepiest place on this list of horror movie locations you can visit. Why? Because it’s based on reality. Aokigahara is known as the “Suicide Forest” and is located on the northeastern side of Mount Fuji in Japan. It is the setting for the Natalie Dormer film The Forest. The film depicts it as a place that makes you want to commit suicide if you enter, but that is pop culture. It’s true that the forest is the site for an unnerving amount of suicides every year, so much so that the government and media have stopped publicizing the numbers. Do you dare enter?

Because of its notoriety, filming is not allowed in Aokigahara Forest. Therefore, most of the forest scenes were shot in Tara Mountain in Serbia.

Have You Ever Visited a Horror Movie Location?

Which one(s)? Where? Tell me all about it in the comments.