If you’re fascinated by ghosts, haunted buildings, historic cemeteries, unexplained mysteries, and the darker side of American history, a haunted travel trip can be an unforgettable way to see the country.
From colonial towns and Civil War battlefields to abandoned prisons and legendary hotels, the United States is filled with destinations that have accumulated centuries of ghost stories and folklore. The challenge isn’t finding haunted places. It’s deciding which ones to visit.
With a little planning, you can create anything from a long weekend centered around one haunted city to a cross-country paranormal adventure. Here’s how to get started.
Step 1: Choose Your Route and Top Locations
Start by deciding whether you want a regional road trip or a much more ambitious cross-country adventure.
A Northeast route could begin in Salem, Massachusetts, where witch-trial history and walking tours provide plenty of spooky atmosphere. From there, continue to New York City and explore haunted locations around Greenwich Village. Philadelphia offers historic destinations such as Fort Mifflin and Eastern State Penitentiary, while Weston, West Virginia, provides a chance to visit the massive Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
For a Midwest route, consider combining Mansfield, Ohio, home of the Ohio State Reformatory, with Louisville, Kentucky, where Waverly Hills Sanatorium has become one of the region’s best-known paranormal destinations.
A Southern route could take you from Savannah, Georgia, with its haunted pubs and historic cemeteries, to New Orleans, Louisiana, where locations such as the LaLaurie Mansion and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 combine fascinating history with supernatural folklore. Continue west to San Antonio or Austin, Texas, and explore the haunted history surrounding the Driskill Hotel.
Finally, a West Coast route could include Estes Park, Colorado, and the famous Stanley Hotel; Portland or Gold Beach, Oregon, for locations such as the Shanghai Tunnels and Witches Castle; and Long Beach, California, where the Queen Mary has developed an enduring reputation for paranormal activity.
Don’t try to see everything. Choosing a manageable number of destinations will give you more time to actually experience each location.
Step 2: Book Accommodations and Tours Early
Once you’ve chosen your route, start making reservations. For the ultimate experience, consider staying overnight at a historic hotel with a reputation for paranormal activity. The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, the Crescent Hotel in Arkansas, and the Hawthorne Hotel in Massachusetts are examples of historic properties that have become famous among ghost-story enthusiasts.
You can also build guided ghost tours and paranormal investigations into your itinerary. Companies such as US Ghost Adventures and Tourismo offer ghost walks, pub crawls, and other paranormal-themed experiences in hundreds of cities across America.
Booking early is particularly important if you’re traveling during September or October. Fall is peak season for many haunted destinations, and popular tours and historic accommodations can fill up quickly. If possible, reserve your most important experiences several months ahead of time.
Step 3: Pack Your Ghost-Hunting Gear
You don’t need a professional paranormal-investigation van to explore haunted locations. Some basic ghost hunting equipment can make your trip more organized and help you document unusual experiences.
Start with a good flashlight and extra batteries. A flashlight with a red-light mode can help preserve your night vision during investigations.
An EMF meter, sometimes called a K2 meter, is another popular piece of paranormal-investigation equipment. These devices detect electromagnetic fields. Investigators sometimes monitor unusual readings during reported paranormal activity, although an EMF reading by itself isn’t evidence of a ghost.
A digital voice recorder can also be useful for documenting an investigation and attempting to capture alleged electronic voice phenomena, or EVPs. Keep in mind that unexplained sounds can have many ordinary sources, so careful review is important.
Finally, bring a notebook and pen. Record the time, location, temperature, environmental conditions, and anything unusual you experience as soon as possible. Taking notes in the moment can help prevent memories from becoming distorted later.
And don’t forget ordinary travel gear. Warm layers, comfortable clothing, and heavy-duty walking shoes are essential when exploring historic ruins, old prisons, cemeteries, and outdoor locations after dark.
Step 4: Plan Your Logistics and Safety
Haunted destinations aren’t always located conveniently next to one another. A car or rental RV can give you considerably more flexibility, particularly if your itinerary includes rural asylums, remote historic sites, or locations outside major cities.
Before visiting any property, check its rules. Some locations allow paranormal investigations, while others permit visitors only as part of an organized tour. Never enter abandoned buildings, restricted areas, or private property without permission.
The same applies to cemeteries. Check posted hours and local regulations, remain respectful of graves and memorials, and avoid disturbing anything. It’s also wise to investigate with a partner or group rather than wandering unfamiliar locations alone at night. Tell someone where you’re going, keep your phone charged, and know how you’ll get back to your accommodations.
Remember that the goal is to explore history and folklore, not become part of someone else’s emergency call.
Make the Journey Part of the Experience
A haunted travel trip doesn’t have to be about proving whether ghosts exist. In fact, some of the best destinations are fascinating even without the paranormal stories.
The history behind an old prison, hotel, cemetery, battlefield, or asylum can be every bit as compelling as the legends surrounding it. Treat the ghost stories as part of the larger experience, and you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the places you’re visiting.
Choose your route, reserve your tours, pack your gear, and leave some room for unexpected discoveries.
After all, the best haunted road trips aren’t necessarily the ones where you encounter a ghost. They’re the ones where you come home with a great story.
