Halloween in Salem falls on a Saturday in 2026, and the city and the MBTA are telling visitors from Boston the same thing: leave the car at home. Downtown Salem streets close to all traffic no later than noon on Saturday, October 31, the train garage locks its gates for the evening, and bus routes stop serving the Salem Depot busway at 6 p.m. Here is what to know before you go, drawn from the City of Salem, Destination Salem and the MBTA.
Planning the rest of the weekend? Our things to do in Boston this weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 covers Halloween events closer to home.
Salem Halloween 2026 at a glance
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, the final big night of Salem’s month-long Haunted Happenings.
- Road closures: downtown streets close to all traffic no later than noon, and possibly earlier depending on crowd size, Destination Salem says.
- Finale: a drone show at 10:15 p.m. replaces the fireworks of past years.
- Best way in: the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail line from North Station, about a 30-minute ride.
- Daylight saving time ends the next morning, Sunday, November 1, so you gain an hour of sleep after a late night.
Taking the Commuter Rail from Boston
Salem is on the Newburyport/Rockport line, with trains leaving from North Station. According to the MBTA, a standard one-way ticket costs $8 and the ride takes about 30 minutes; reduced fares are $4 one way. Because Halloween is on a Saturday, the $10 Weekend Pass, good for unlimited Commuter Rail trips on Saturdays and Sundays, covers the round trip. Riders coming from the north can buy a special $5 round-trip ticket between Beverly and Salem on October weekends, Destination Salem says.
The MBTA and its rail operator, Keolis, are running extra trains on Saturdays and Sundays all month to handle the crowds. More than 111,000 passengers rode the train to Salem on October weekends in 2025, according to Destination Salem. Full-sized bicycles and scooters are not allowed on any weekend Newburyport/Rockport trains in October. The MBTA advises event-goers in general to buy a round-trip ticket rather than a one-way, so the trip home is faster.
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Road closures in downtown Salem on Oct. 31
Destination Salem lists these streets as closing to all traffic by noon on Halloween:
- Essex Street from Crombie Street to Union Street
- Washington Street from New Derby Street to Bridge Street
- Federal Street from St. Peter’s Street to North Street
- Washington Square North and West, from Essex Street to Williams Street
- Brown Street from New Liberty Street to Washington Square North
- Hawthorne Boulevard, and Derby Street from Lafayette Street to Congress Street
- Charter Street, Central Street, Front Street, and Lafayette Street from New Derby Street to Front Street
Bridge Street also closes between the westerly overpass ramps and Sgt. James Ayube Memorial Drive from 9:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for the drone show. The city warns of major traffic on Route 114 and Route 1A and likely delays on Route 128, and also expects heavy traffic on Friday, October 30.
Parking, garage and bus detours
The MBTA’s Salem station garage at 252 Bridge Street closes to cars entering or leaving on Halloween night. Destination Salem gives the hours as 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., while the MBTA’s Salem page lists 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; if you park there, plan to leave before 6 p.m. or after 1 a.m. Free weekend parking is available at 108 Jefferson Avenue, about a five-minute walk from downtown, according to Destination Salem.
For MBTA buses on Halloween, the Salem Depot busway closes at 6 p.m. The MBTA says that from 6 p.m. to the end of service, Routes 450, 455 and 465 will not serve Salem Depot; Route 455 turns back at Lafayette Street at Harbor Street, Route 450 at Highland Avenue, and Route 465 at North Street at Mason Street. Routes 451 and 456 do not run on Saturdays.
Tips for a smoother night
- Check the My Salem MA or Destination Salem app for real-time closure alerts, as the city recommends.
- Expect the closures to start earlier than noon if crowds build, the city says.
- The Salem Ferry from Boston is another option the city points visitors to; check City Cruises for the schedule.
- Salem’s temporary seasonal parking rules run through November 1, according to the city’s parking office.
Looking further ahead, our guide to Boston holiday markets and tree lightings in 2026 has the next round of seasonal events, and our daylight saving time guide explains what changes on November 1.
Sources
- MBTA: Salem destination guide: fares, ride time, Weekend Pass, Halloween bus detours and garage hours.
- Destination Salem: Planned and Anticipated October Road Closures 2026: street closures, drone show, Jefferson Avenue parking and highway impacts.
- Destination Salem: MBTA Weekend Commuter Rail Service to Support Salem Haunted Happenings: extra trains, $5 Beverly round trip, 2025 ridership and the bike rule.
Additional sources
- City of Salem: October Parking and Transportation: dates of seasonal parking rules.
- City of Boston: Traffic advisory: MBTA round-trip ticket advice for event-goers.
- MBTA: Salem station page: station address.
- Wikimedia Commons: Salem Witch Museum, January 2021: photo license and credit.
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