How To Run A Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Home (Free Printable Blank Cards)
Luci McQuitty HindmarshScavenger Hunts are SO popular with kids right now. If you're thinking of planning one for Halloween you are going to love this quick guide to getting set up.
Inside The Guide
You’ll get a 10‑minute set‑up plan, exact hiding spots, age tweaks, and safety tips.
You’ll also find free blank clue cards to DIY your own set of clues, plus details of the ready‑made 16‑clue pack in our shop.
Why Scavenger Hunts work for Halloween
Scavenger Hunts are one of the easiest low-prep ways to keep a bunch of kids entertained at home on Halloween. Here's why...
- Keeps kids and teens active and inside your home.
- Fits in before or after trick‑or‑treating.... or instead of trick-or-treating!
- No crafts or mess. Just print, hide, and play.
What you need
- A set of clue cards - download the freebie blank cards template or grab the ready-to-go set of 16 clues in the shop.
- Tape or blue tack
- A small prize for the end
- Optional: timer, pencils, small flashlights/torches for spooky vibes
How to grab the free blank clue cards
Pop your email address in the form at the end of this post and the freebie will be in your inbox before you know it.
The hiding spots our 16‑clue hunt uses
When time is short, use our list of suggested hiding places around the home for the clue card and prize locations.
Want to shorten the hunt? Pick 8–12 of them instead of the full 16.
- Pot (inside)
- Bed (under)
- Porch light switch (by)
- Bottom stair (fix to the side wall)
- Bathroom sink (to the side)
- Chair (under)
- Freezer (inside door, easy to see)
- Book (tucked inside front page)
- Coat pocket (the easiest to find)
- Shoe (inside)
- Mirror (in the frame or stuck to the glass)
- Couch cushions (under)
- Bowl (inside)
- Towel (beneath)
- TV (beside, not on cables)
- Kitchen cabinet (final prize inside)
Set‑up in 10 minutes
The joy of the scavenger hunt is how quick and easy it is to set up. You can literally whizz around your home and scatter the clues in ten minutes.
Here's how to go about the set-up:
- Print your clues and cut them out.
- Put the final prize in the kitchen cabinet.
- Hide clues backwards from the cabinet to your first spot.
- Keep clue #1 with you to read aloud.
- Do a quick walk‑through to check the chain works.
Keep it smooth
- Leave a corner of the card showing in trickier spots.
- Mark “out of bounds” rooms with a sticky note.
- Have a spare pen for last‑minute edits.
Say this to start
- “We’ve got 16 (or however many you go with!) clues. Each one points to the next spot.”
- “Stay with your buddy (if everyone has one). No running on stairs.”
- “Read the clue out loud so everyone can hear.”
- Set a 20–30 minute timer and go.
Age tweaks
- Little ones (3–5): pair with a big kid, use 8–10 clues, place clues at eye level.
- Big kids (6–9): use all 16 clues and add a 25‑minute timer.
- Tweens (10–12): run two teams with alternating clues.
- Mixed ages: rotate jobs—reader, spot‑checker, clue carrier.
Common snags and quick fixes
- They miss a clue: make each card slightly visible.
- Stair safety: stick the stair clue to the wall, not the tread.
- Room mix‑ups: add a tiny nudge on the card (e.g., “bathroom sink”).
- Too fast? add three mini challenges on the route.
Mini challenge ideas
- Ten star jumps.
- Best werewolf howl.
- Freeze like a statue for five seconds.
Safety notes
- Never place clues on stair treads.
- No clues inside ovens, washers, or dryers for little kids.
- Keep freezer and cabinet clues within easy reach.
- Protect paint by taping on wood, glass, tile, or low on walls.
Want it done for you?
Our Halloween Indoor Scavenger Hunt has 16 ready‑to‑print rhyming clues matched to the spots above. Print, hide, done.
Our ready-to-go Scavenger Hunt includes 16 location clue cards. The hunt clues are designed so you can either follow the suggested set up or mix and match the clues you like to create your own hunt. Take a look: Halloween Indoor Scavenger Hunt.
Grab the free blank clue cards
Pop your email address in the form at the end of this post and the freebie will be in your inbox before you know it.
Before you go, you might also like...
- 10 Halloween Activities That'll Keep Your Kids Entertained All October
- Free Printable Halloween Bunting - Easy Craft for Parties And Classrooms
- Halloween Pumpkin Shaped Word Search For Kids (Free Printable)
- Free Halloween Planner – 20 Printable Pages To Help You Prep For Halloween
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