It’s that time of year again! Haunted houses and hayrides are abuzz throughout the country--especially in the Northeast. We are home to the Salem Witch Trials, after all, so people tend to flock to our side of the country during the month of October. But hey! Lucky us that we’re already here!

Whether you're planning a visit or you live nearby we’ve compiled a list of the very best (read: most terrifying!) haunted houses in the Northeast. What are you waiting for? It’s time to take to the streets for a good scare.

1. Dark Manor Haunted House
Norwich, CT
Photo credit: Dark Manor Instagram

Voted Connecticut's #1 Scariest Haunted House, the Dark Manor is located in Norwich, CT, and brings its visitors through the most "horrifying secrets" you might ever experience. Take a trip through the ghastly halls of the manor, driven by the terrifying shadows lurking in every corner. Do your best to navigate The Graveyard and Catacombs within the house—every turn will have you gasping for breath.

2. Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses
Ulster Park, NY
Photo credit: Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses Facebook

An outdoor haunted house and hayride in the Hudson Valley, the Headless Horseman experience is truly a New York nightmare. Voted America’s Scariest Haunted House in the Northeast by MTV, and listed as "One of America's Best Hometown Haunts" by Fangoria Magazine, the Ulster haunts are about as scary as it gets. New in 2017 is the addition of the Headless Horseman Escape Rooms, which give you the option to immerse yourself and your friends, your family, or your collegues into an equally scary experience where you have to work together and think under pressure to escape.  

3. Destination Haunt
Lebanon, ME 04027
Photo credit: Destination Haunt Facebook

Okay, folks, this one really will make your skin crawl. Only the true thrill seekers and courageous at heart should attempt this one, as you'll quite literally be trembling through the haunted manors and zombie ridden trails. Your journey of terror brings you through a series of areas, including The Scorched, The Butcher, Hobo Village, The Execution Center, Buried Alive Cemetery, The Outdoor Maze, the Boatyard, and, scariest of all, The Outlaws. Hauntedworld.com voted this one scariest in and around Maine… so beware.

4. Chamber of Terrors
Salem, MA 01907
Photo credit: Chamber of Terrors Facebook

Set in the creepiest of towns Massachusetts has to offer this time of year, The Chambers invites you to journey into a professionally cultivated haunted house. Yes, you read that right. Professional-grade scare from the people of Salem—it’s just what the Halloween Gods ordered. Demons, ghouls, psychos, and the particularly evil clown will all be out to give you nightmares during this walk-through haunted house.

5. Haunted Overload
Lee, NH 03861
Photo credit: Haunted Overload Facebook

Visit Lee, NH for HauntWorld Magazine's #1 ranked Haunted Attraction of 2015. Will they live up to the hype of year's past this go-round? We think so. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to take a step into the 3 Levels of Fear—this includes the Day Haunt (a tour of the trails in the daylight, of course); Fright Night Lite (a haunted experience, sans terrifying monsters); and of course, the Haunted Overload (specifically not recommended for children). Also voted by HauntWorld as one of the top 20 most influential haunted attractions of all time, this one is not to be missed...

6. Nightmare Vermont
Essex Junction, VT 05452
Photo credit: Nightmare Vermont Facebook

The haunted dark circus of Nightmare Vermont will have you absolutely trembling. The venue? A cavernous abandoned grandstand at the Champlain Valley Exposition... as if that wasn't creepy enough on its own, the Nightmare staff has made the haunted experience so scary, participants actually need to sign a waiver to enter. A combination of live stage combat, a theatrical storyline, and interactive scares and special effects makes this haunted house one for the ages.

7. Brighton Asylum
Passaic, NJ 07055
Photo credit: Brighton Asylum Facebook

The name says it all: Brighton Asylum is not for the faint of heart. A series of decrepit warehouses used for the mentally unstable in the 1940s, Brighton is scary all on its own. Add on the elements of an interactive haunted house, and Brighton successfully plays on its visitors’ absolute worst phobias, fears, and nightmares. And the amazing actors they employ only make matters worse (or is it better?) Set in two Hollywood-like arenas, Brighton Asylum consists of two main attractions: The Tunnel, and, of course, Brighton Asylum. If you end up at this attraction and it's a little too scary for you--no worries, there are emergency exits around most corners. However, knowing that you might need to get out in the case of an essential emergency should tell you: if you're not keen on being scared out of your mind, Brighton may not be the place for you.

8. PennHurst Asylum
Spring City, PA 19475
Photo credit: Christopher Brielmaier's Instagram

Another asylum to keep you up at night—the PennHurst attraction includes the asylum itself, a hospital-themed haunted house featuring a number of original artifacts from the building’s heyday. Originally the PennHurst Home for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic, the building dates back to 1908. For almost 60 years, the asylum flourished. That is, until allegations of residents’ mistreatment came to light. By 1986, the allegations were found true, and the complex was left to rot. 2016's attraction, located on the upper floors of the old Administration building, took things to the next level. Terrifying catacombs, new sets and actors with terrifyingly good talent are all just around the corner. The Dungeon of Lost Souls, Tunnel of Terror, and Ghost Hunt will all have you screaming for your life.

If you found this article wonderfully frightful, sign up for Milrose Insights for more on the latest trends and innovations in retail and repurposed building space.