Six real locations from classic Halloween-season movies can be visited in the U.S.: the Salem, Massachusetts streets from Hocus Pocus, the downtown plaza in St. Helens, Oregon from Halloweentown, Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood from The Shining, the “Exorcist Steps” in Washington, D.C., the Ghostbusters firehouse in Manhattan, and the Coupeville, Washington waterfront from Practical Magic. Some are free public spaces, one is a working fire station, and one is a seasonal festival with ticketed attractions, so planning matters. This guide covers what each place is today, what you can and cannot do, and how to be a considerate visitor.
Dates and prices below were checked in October 2026. Because Halloween events change by the week, confirm details with the linked source before you travel.
At a glance
| Location | Movie | City/State | Visit as | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem streets and Old Town Hall | Hocus Pocus | Salem, MA | Public streets, garden and museum | Mostly free; some ticketed |
| Courthouse plaza | Halloweentown | St. Helens, OR | Festival through Nov. 1 | Free plaza; ticketed attractions |
| Timberline Lodge | The Shining | Mount Hood, OR | Working lodge and day lodge | Parking listed as free |
| Exorcist Steps | The Exorcist | Washington, D.C. | Public stairway | Free |
| Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse | Ghostbusters | New York, NY | Exterior of a working fire station | Free |
| Downtown waterfront | Practical Magic | Coupeville, WA | Public downtown | Free to walk |
Salem, Massachusetts: Hocus Pocus
Salem’s film sites are the easiest to combine in a day. The Ropes Mansion garden, Old Town Hall, Salem Common and Pioneer Village are all tied to the 1993 comedy, and the graveyard scenes were shot in nearby Marblehead. Our full guide to Hocus Pocus filming locations in Salem and Marblehead lists each stop, with the private Max and Dani house marked as off limits. As of October 2026, Destination Salem’s Old Town Hall listing shows Haunted Happenings events there from October 16 to November 1, so expect crowds on weekends and consider taking the train.
St. Helens, Oregon: Halloweentown
Disney’s Halloweentown (1998) was shot in St. Helens and nearby Scappoose from May to June 1998, according to Wikipedia). St. Helens now runs a Spirit of Halloweentown festival, and Haunted Attraction Network’s 2026 coverage says the courthouse plaza seen in the movie is at 275 Strand Street.
The same article, published September 30, 2026, gives these details:
- The festival runs Saturdays and Sundays through November 1, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the parking lot opening at 10 a.m.
- Walking the downtown plaza, street vendors and the food area are free.
- An Access Pass is needed for ticketed attractions. Online it was $40 plus a fee for ages 13 and up and $20 plus a fee for ages 6 to 12, with children 5 and under free.
- Official parking was $25 online or $30 on site, and rideshare drivers can be scarce, so arrange your ride home in advance.
- A pumpkin lighting is held at the plaza from 8:30 to 9 p.m. on festival nights.
St. Helens is about 30 miles northwest of Portland. Since the festival ends November 1, treat this as a seasonal trip.
Timberline Lodge, Oregon: The Shining
Exterior views of Timberline Lodge were used for the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film, per Wikipedia’s article on the lodge. The same article says it sits on the south side of Mount Hood, about 60 miles east of Portland at roughly 6,000 feet, inside Mount Hood National Forest. Built by the Works Progress Administration, it was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937, and it is a National Historic Landmark. It is publicly owned and privately operated and draws about two million visitors a year.
Wikipedia’s article on the film) says interiors were built on a studio set in England, so the lobby you walk into is not the Overlook’s. Per the lodge article, management asked that Room 217 be renumbered 237 for the film.
As of October 2026, the lodge’s hours of operation page lists fall hours for the Day Lodge (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the gift store (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and the Ram’s Head Bar, and notes the hours may change and can be weather-dependent. Its parking page says parking is free and first-come, first-served, with the Main Lot and Salmon River Lot for day visitors and the upper lot reserved for hotel guests. A Sno-Park permit is required in state-maintained lots from November 1 to April 30. The lodge also has a road conditions page worth checking before you drive up.
Washington, D.C.: The Exorcist Steps
The stone staircase that connects Prospect Street and M Street in Georgetown is the setting of a key scene in The Exorcist (1973). The Georgetown University Library’s exhibition on the filming says main shooting on campus took place in October and November 1972. DC’s film office announced a plaque ceremony for the steps for October 30, 2015.
The steps are public, so you can climb them freely. The house used for exterior scenes at the top of the steps is a private residence, per the Georgetown BID movie sites guide, so view it from the street without lingering. The same guide lists The Tombs, a bar on 36th Street NW, as another Exorcist location.
For a guided option this month, the Georgetown BID lists a Ghosts of Georgetown & Exorcist Steps haunted walking tour from October 19 to October 31, 2026. It runs nightly at 7 and 8 p.m., lasts about 1.5 hours, starts outside the Old Stone House on M Street, and ends at the top of the steps. The listing does not give a price, so check the booking link. The October 31 tour includes a light show at the steps.
New York City: The Ghostbusters firehouse
The Ghostbusters headquarters exterior is Hook & Ladder Company 8 at North Moore and Varick Streets in Tribeca. Wikipedia’s entry on the firehouse says it still operates as an active fire station, was built in 1903, and was used for exteriors only. Interiors were shot in Los Angeles.
Fans visit often to see the full-size Ghostbusters sign above the main entrance, according to Wikipedia, which also reports an annual “Ghostbusters Day” celebration at the firehouse on the Saturday closest to June 8. Because it is a working station, never block the apparatus doors or the sidewalk in front, do not enter without permission, and move on quickly if a truck is leaving.
Coupeville, Washington: Practical Magic
Practical Magic (1998) used downtown Coupeville, a Victorian-era seaside port town on Penn Cove on Whidbey Island, as its small town, per Wikipedia. The Owens family house, however, was built for the shoot on San Juan Island and demolished afterward, so there is no house to find.
The local tourism bureau markets the connection on its Coupeville page. Check its events calendar for seasonal walking tours or festivals, since specific dates could not be confirmed from that page.
A note on the original Halloween
John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) is set in fictional Haddonfield, Illinois but was shot in Southern California over about 20 days in May 1978, according to Wikipedia). Locations included South Pasadena, a cemetery in Sierra Madre and homes in a Hollywood neighborhood. Most of those sites are in residential areas. This guide does not list addresses, and we recommend not seeking out private homes for photos.
Visiting etiquette
- Stay on public sidewalks and trails. Do not trespass on private lots or climb fences.
- Do not touch headstones, props or historic buildings.
- Keep noise and drones down near homes, fire stations and cemeteries.
- Buy something when you photograph a local business.
- If you see an active production or an official closure, stop and leave.
- Read our filming location etiquette guide and set-jetting planning guide before you travel.
FAQs
What is the best Halloween movie location to visit in October?
Salem, Massachusetts has the largest concentration of sites and events, but expect crowds. St. Helens, Oregon is a good choice for Halloweentown fans, since its festival runs weekends through November 1.
Can you stay at the Overlook Hotel from The Shining?
The Overlook is fictional. Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood was used for exterior shots, and it operates as a real lodge, so you can book a stay through the lodge’s own website.
Are the Exorcist Steps free to visit?
Yes. The stairway is a public route between Prospect and M Streets in Georgetown.
Can you go inside the Ghostbusters firehouse?
The firehouse is an active FDNY station, and Wikipedia describes no public tours. View it from the sidewalk and do not interfere with firefighters.
Can you visit the Halloween house from Hocus Pocus?
Max and Dani’s house is a private home. View it only from the public street, and read our Salem guide for respectful-visit tips.
