The best place to trick or treat in every state
- It's not Halloween without trick-or-treating — and some places are better for it than others.
- Here's where you should trick or treat in your state.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
There's no greater Halloween tradition than trick-or-treating — but everyone knows some spots are better for it than others.
From neighborhoods decked out in spooky decorations to blocks known for giving out premium treats, as well as areas known for their safety and walkability, here are the best places to trick or treat in every state.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.ALABAMA: Dexter Avenue, Birmingham
Dexter Avenue in Mountain Brook goes big for Halloween with the Mystics of Mountain Brook parade. The entire block shuts down and families often buy more than $500 in candy to dole out during the festivities.
ALASKA: The Alaska Zoo, Anchorage
The Alaska Zoo's annual Zoo Boo event is Anchorage's most popular trick-or-treating event, especially keeping in mind how cold it can get in Alaska in late October.
Taking place on Halloween eve, the event is complete with spooky decorations and trick or treat stations throughout zoo grounds.
ARIZONA: North Gateway, Phoenix
North Gateway was voted the best neighborhood in Phoenix to trick or treat in 2016, so there's no doubt the event this year is going to be just as big.
Zillow, which compiled the ranking, took into account areas where home values are high, there are plenty of kids under 10, and where houses are close together, meaning less walking and more candy.
ARKANSAS: Chenal, West Little Rock
Kids can rack up some serious candy in the neighborhood of Chenal. Home to some of the largest homes in Little Rock, Chenal doesn't skimp on the candy.
According to Tripsavvy, the best area for scoring candy is in Chenal Valley, towards the Cantrell Wal-Mart.
CALIFORNIA: Presidio Heights, San Francisco
Presidio Heights just might be the best neighborhood in the US for trick or treating. A local mommy blog recommends Washington Street between Presidio Ave and Spruce Street for the most trick-or-treating action, as well as whimsical decorations, but warns that it can get crowded.
COLORADO: Cory-Merrill, Denver
The Cory-Merrill neighborhood in Denver has an entire trick or treat station in which neighbors hand out treats (as well as wine and beer for adults).
It was voted one of the best neighborhoods for trick or treating in Denver by Zillow.
CONNECTICUT: Olde Mistick Village, Mystic
Olde Mistick Village was listed as one of the best places to trick or treat in the state by local websites. The Colonial-era village transforms into a free, kid-friendly Halloween haunt filled with spooky decorations and an abundance of candy given out by the shopkeepers.
DELAWARE: Main St., Newark
Newark closes off Main Street each year to throw a festive Halloween parade, coupled with a big trick-or-treating event in which stores and downtown businesses hand out candy. There's even a pumpkin patch!
FLORIDA: Pinellas Park, Tampa Bay
Pinellas Park hosts a Treat Trail every year beginning at 6 p.m. on Halloween night. Activities include a costume contest, prizes, refreshments, popcorn, and, of course, lots of candy. Over 1,000 children are expected to attend this neighborhood event.
GEORGIA: Inman Park, Atlanta
Inman Park is one of the oldest and most charming neighborhoods in Atlanta. Curbed Atlanta called it "Atlanta's best overall trick-or-treating spot" thanks to its walkability and wealthy residents.
HAWAII: Mililani Mauka, Honolulu
Honolulu has previously been named the third best city in the US for trick or treating, so there are a lot of great neighborhoods to choose from. The Mililani Mauka neighborhood, however, might just be the best. It is highly recommended on Yelp, and according to many sources, it has a lot of candy to go around.
IDAHO: Downtown Nampa, Nampa
Nampa was named the second-best place for Halloween based on weather, safety, neighborhood density, affordability, and the percentage of children in the population. Their downtown throws a big Halloween celebration every year with carnival games, inflatables, hay rides, a haunted house, and, of course, candy!
ILLINOIS: West DePaul, Chicago
West DePaul was rated the #1 neighborhood for trick or treating in Chicago on Zillow, meaning home values are high, there are plenty of kids under 10, and homes are close together.
INDIANA: The Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Zoo goes all out for Halloween with its annual ZooBoo event, which includes an obstacle course, costume parade, rides, and trick-or-treating every weekend in October. The zoo grounds are lavishly decorated for the holiday, providing some awesome photo backdrops.
IOWA: Living History Farms, Des Moines
Family Halloween at Living History Farms includes horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin bowling, games, and plenty of trick-or-treating.
KANSAS: Tiffany Woods, Kansas City
According to data by Nextdoor, trick or treaters are said to "hit the jackpot" in the Tiffany Woods neighborhood of Kansas City.
KENTUCKY: Hillcrest Avenue, Louisville
Halloween on Hillcrest Ave is so big, it has its own Facebook page dedicated to the event. Arguably the most famous trick or treat spot in Louisville, the decorations are said to be amazingly over-the-top.
LOUISIANA: State Street, New Orleans
State Street is a staple Halloween destination in New Orleans. According to Southern Living, "The decorations are amazing, the houses are historic, and the candy is far above par."
Trick or treaters should start at Louellen Berger's house at the corner of St. Charles and State, to see her legendary Halloween decorations.
MAINE: Tree Streets, Bangor
For a lot of candy and great Halloween decorations, head to the Tree Streets neighborhood in Bangor. We hear Maple Street comes highly recommended.
MARYLAND: Patterson Park, Baltimore
Patterson Park was rated the best neighborhood in Baltimore for trick-or-treating by Zillow. The neighborhood also hosts a Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival that is filled with illuminated lanterns and floats, and features a kid's costume contest, lantern-making, hayrides, yoga, live music, an arts and crafts market, food trucks, a beer garden, and more.
MASSACHUSETTS: Beacon Hill, Boston
The beautiful Beacon Hill neighborhood, with its cobblestone streets and wealthy residents, is heavily trafficked by trick or treaters on Halloween night. So much so, in fact, that it started trending on Twitter during a previous Halloween.
MICHIGAN: Corktown, Detroit
The oldest section of Detroit, Corktown is the perfect place to trick or treat. Previously ranked as one of the top trick or treating neighborhoods in the city, the massive old homes go all out with decorations and candy.
MINNESOTA: Cedar-Isles-Dean, Minneapolis
The neighborhood of Cedar-Isles-Dean was previously named the top place for trick-or treating in Minnesota thanks to its walkability, safety, and many young families.
MISSISSIPPI: Adeline Street, Hattiesburg
Adeline Street in Hattiesburg was named one of the best places to trick or treat in the Southern US.
The street gets so crowed with trick or treaters that it is blocked off to traffic on the night of Halloween.
MISSOURI: Holly Hills, St. Louis
Holly Hills is known for having lavish Halloween decorations and candy. The neighborhood is pretty popular trick-or-treating hotspot — in 2014 over 1,200 children participated — so there might be lines at each door.
MONTANA: Clark Street, Billings
Clark Street is full of charming old houses that really get into the spirit of Halloween with decorations and great candy.
Older kids can even head to nearby Moss Mansion, one of the scariest haunted houses in the US.
NEBRASKA: Dundee/Memorial Park, Omaha
Omaha.com asked its readers for the best neighborhood to go trick-or-treating in, and the answer was resoundingly the Dundee and Memorial Park neighborhoods. According to the site, "Its streets are well-lit and many are familiar with them because active neighborhood groups sponsor lots of events."
NEVADA: Tule Springs, Las Vegas
The Tule Springs neighborhood was ranked the #1 spot to trick or treat in Las Vegas by Zillow, and with good reason. The area houses activities like Harvest Days, which includes horse-drawn carriage rides, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, games, as well as a trick-or-treating events including one called called Trunk or Treat, where cars parked along the streets will dispense candy from their trunks.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Auburn Street, Concord
According to NPR, Concord, New Hampshire, is a "neighborhood known for Halloween excess," as families in the area, especially on Auburn Street, spend hundreds of dollars on candy every year. One house even buys 50 gallons of orange sherbet and goes through it all in one night.
NEW JERSEY: The Physick Estate, Cape May
A plethora of spooky characters hands out candy at the Physick Estate, an old Victorian home dating back to 1879. The estate is said to be haunted, with many guests claiming to have seen ghosts.
NEW MEXICO: San Gabriel, Albuquerque
San Gabriel was ranked one of the best trick-or-treating neighborhoods in Albuquerque, and is known for having well-stocked candy bowls.
NEW YORK: Upper West Side, New York City
The Upper West Side of Manhattan is known for its leafy streets and charming brownstones, which become even more charming when decked out with Halloween décor. Trick or treaters can go house to house for candy, or hit up West 69th Street near Central Park West for a huge block party full of candy and entertainment.
NORTH CAROLINA: Old Salem, Winston-Salem
Old Salem is a historic district in Winston-Salem that was founded in 1766. Many original buildings still stand, making it a wholly charming neighborhood. During Halloween, the area comes to life with a variety of events including trick-or-treating, a pumpkin carving contest, and a Legends & Lanterns tours where you'll hear about some of Salem's ghostly legends.
NORTH DAKOTA: 1500 block of 4th Avenue South, Fargo
Homes on the 1500 block of 4th Avenue are decked out with some of the most elaborate Halloween decorations in Fargo. One house even has its own haunted maze.
OHIO: Smokey Ridge Estates, Columbus
The Smokey Ridge Estates neighborhood is known for giving out some serious candy. It was rated one of the top neighborhoods in Columbus for trick-or-treating.
OKLAHOMA: Edgewater-Lakepointe Estates, Oklahoma City
The Edgewater-Lakepointe Estates neighborhood was ranked the #1 neighborhood in Oklahoma City for trick-or-treating by Nextdoor, as it had a super high density of houses giving out candy.
OREGON: Grant Park, Portland
Grant Park was ranked one of the best neighborhoods to trick or treat in Portland. Homes in the easily walkable area are said to be quite generous in the candy department.
PENNSYLVANIA: Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia
Cobbs Creek was ranked the #1 best neighborhood in Philadelphia for trick-or-treating. Part of its title may come from the neighborhood's Trunk-and-Treat event off of 62nd Street and Cedar Avenue, in which neighbors line the block with decorated vehicles that have their trunks filled with goodies.
RHODE ISLAND: Freeman Parkway, Providence
Homes in the Freeman Parkway neighborhood have "a reputation for lots of great decorations, spirit, and good candy givers."
SOUTH CAROLINA: Riverland Terrace, Charleston
The Riverland Terrace neighborhood in Charleston hosts the Halloween Under the Oaks celebration, in which Wappoo Drive is completely closed to cars, providing a safe and fun place for children to trick or treat.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Big Sioux Recreation Area, Brandon
Brandon, South Dakota, was voted one of the best towns in the US for trick or treating. The best place to do it in the city might just be Big Sioux Recreation Area's Trick or Treat Trails, a decorated trail perfect for trick-or-treating.
TENNESSEE: Green Hills, Nashville
The homes in Green Hills are close together, meaning trick or treaters can get a lot more bang for their buck. Rumor has it the best street on the block for snagging candy is Hampton Avenue. The decorations in this neighborhood are also fantastic.
TEXAS: Windsor Road, Austin
Windsor Road was ranked the best neighborhood in Austin for trick-or-treating. Children here can score the most candy in the least amount of time, and in a safe area.
UTAH: Westminster, Salt Lake City
Orem, Utah, was named the best place in the US for trick-or-treating in 2018 and 2019 — due to its low crime rate and mild weather.
VERMONT: Maple Street, Stowe
Maple Street is the most popular place in Stowe for trick-or-treating. Residents say they hand out treats to over 500 kids on a typical Halloween.
VIRGINIA: Hanover Avenue, Richmond
RVA News called Hanover Avenue "the Bourbon Street of Richmond trick-or-treating." The crowds in this neighborhood can get huge.
WASHINGTON: Queen Anne Avenue, Seattle
Queen Anne Ave is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seattle for trick-or-treating. Every Halloween, costumed families stream into the neighborhood for boatloads of candy.
WASHINGTON DC: Capitol Hill neighborhood
DC's Capitol Hill neighborhood is pretty swanky, which means that trick or treaters are bound to walk away with some of the best candy in the city. It's also a super walkable area, and home to nearby Hilloween, a Halloween party for kids.
WEST VIRGINIA: Downtown Morgantown, Morgantown
Downtown Morgantown is the place to be for trick-or-treating in West Virginia. The Main Street Morgantown Trick or Treat celebration has tons of great costumes and candy.
WISCONSIN: Upper East Side, Milwaukee
The Upper East Side neighborhood in Milwaukee was ranked the #4 neighborhood in the US for trick or treating for its low crime rate, high density of young families with kids, easy walkability, and high-end candy.
WYOMING: Sun Valley, Cheyenne
Sun Valley was voted the #1 neighborhood in Cheyenne to trick or treat for having awesome decorations and great candy.
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