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The 16 Most Hair-Raising and Spine-Chilling Ghost Tours Across the U.S.

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Believing in paranormal activity isn’t a requirement for having fun on a ghost tour. Though it certainly helps to get in the spirit. From former sanitariums and graveyards to cursed hotels and Civil War hospitals where the souls of the deceased still roam (or so we’re told), you’ll find tons of spooky sites across the country. Down to explore some historic and reportedly haunted places? Scroll on for 16 ghost tours that according to reviewers will send chills down your spine.

THE 12 MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN NYC


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1. New Orleans #1 Haunted Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Tour, Louisiana

The birthplace of Louisiana Voodoo, New Orleans is a city where tales of vampires, ghosts and witches swirl around. Needless to say, an evening walking tour of the Big Easy promises to make you feel a bit queasy or rather uneasy. But remember it’s all in good (and ghoulish) fun.

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Gangesters and Ghosts/Facebook

2. Gangsters And Ghosts Tour In Chicago, Illinois

Ghosts and gangsters...where do we sign up!? Travel with a guide to some of the creepiest destinations in the the Windy City—including Prohibition-era speakeasies where bootleggers and mob bosses ran the show, criminal hangouts and the infamous Death Alley, which was used as a morgue after the mysterious 1903 fire at the Iroquois Theatre.

3. Ghosts Of Charleston Night-time Walking Tour With Unitarian Church Graveyard, South Carolina

Few things are more spine-tingling than a stroll through a cemetery. But it’s even spookier if you’re granted after-dark access to a notoriously haunted burial ground and hotbed of paranormal activity—ahem, the Unitarian Church Graveyard. Scared of getting lost amongst the maze of headstones? Don’t worry, there’s a guide to lead the way.

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4. Savannah's Ghost City "dead Of Night" Walking Night Tour, Georgia

Savannah has more haunted spots than almost any other city in the United States. While wandering the cobblestone streets, lined with Antebellum homes and Spanish moss-draped trees, remember you’re not alone. From Johnson Square and Colonial Park Cemetery to the Savannah Historic District, souls (some of which have unfinished business) are everywhere.

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5. Walking Ghost Tour Of St. Augustine, Florida

Founded in 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, St. Augustine claims bragging rights as the oldest city in America. Over the centuries, a lot of ominous stuff has gone down in this coastal town. A tour that combines walking around blood-curdling locations and a ghost hunt gets an A+ in our book.

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Haunted Tours/Facebook

6. Boston Ghosts & Gravestones Night-time Trolley Tour, Massachusetts

Boston goes way back to the days of yore. So you best believe there are a lot of historic and hair-raising sites worth checking out in Beantown. Two of the oldest burying grounds obviously top the list. Touring around on the “Trolley of the Doomed” with a costumed host…we’ll that’s just icing on the creepy cake.

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Witch City Walking Tours/Facebook

7. History & Hauntings Of Salem Guided Walking Tour, Massachusetts

Arguably the most obvious pick, Salem is infamous for its witch trials in which 19 people were sentenced to death. You don’t have to look far to come across a place with some connection to supernatural phenomena. This top-rated guided walking tour packs a plethora of eerie enticements into one evening.

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8. Haunted Pub Crawl In New Orleans, Louisiana

Because the Big Easy is equally famous for its partying (hello, Mardi Gras) and spooky happenings, a haunted pub crawl just feels like the perfect way to spend the evening. The tour description—"explore the intoxicatingly haunted side of the New Orleans French Quarter"—really just says it all. You're in for a bewitching and boozy night.

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9. Haunted Evening Horse And Carriage Tour Of Charleston, South Carolina

Not in the mood to hoof it to the various haunted sites in Charleston? We’ve got a great option for you! A horse and carriage tour of downtown’s most creepy corners. Enjoy a beguiling blend of haunted and historic all while kicking back on a charming mode of transport as it meanders through the cobblestone streets of Holy City.

10. Savannah Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley Tour, Georgia

Of course, we had to throw another spooky Savannah tour into the mix. Afterall, it’s widely regarded as one of America’s most haunted cities. Ever wondered how or why it got that moniker? You’re sure to learn the answer to that question and many more while trollying past centuries-old cemeteries, Antebellum mansions and Civil War battlegrounds.

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Haunted Asheville Ghost Tours/Facebook

11. Asheville Night-time Walking Ghost Tour, North Carolina

There are a bunch of things to do in Asheville, North Carolina. If you tend to gravitate towards graveyards and spine-chilling attractions of that sort, don’t miss the chance to do an after-dark walking tour of the city’s most macabre venues. Besides visiting the Basilica of St. Lawrence and Pritchard Park, participants learn to use ghost-hunting equipment.

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LOUISVILLE HISTORIC TOURS/FACEBOOK

12. Old Louisville Ghost Tour, Kentucky

This tour of Old Louisville hits the trifecta of history, architecture and eerie attractions. What was the stomping ground of high society, bourbon barons, titans of the river trade, prostitutes and mobsters in its heyday is now known as America's most haunted neighborhood. Myths, legends, true tales and impressively preserved Victorian mansions with a dark past are just the beginning...

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WALKING TOURS OF AUSTIN/FACEBOOK

13. Haunted Austin Walking History Tour, Texas

Austin keeps it weird—and that extends to its tours. Want to see a different (dare we say darker) side of the city? A storyteller-led evening excursion to experience all the tales of ghosts, spirits and shady characters IRL will certainly do the trick. An otherworldly encounter might even be in your future.

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14. Gettysburg History And Haunts Ghost Walking Tour, Pennsylvania

In a historic haven, there’s bound to be some good old-timey attractions and oddities to discover. Gettysburg has way more spooky stuff (ahem, reports of paranormal activity) to unpack than most places. As you walk through battlefields, basements where civilians hid during the war and shadowy alleyways, that fact becomes glaringly obvious.

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15. Twilight Denver Ghost Tour, Colorado

Love a good scare (or, maybe the altitude is just making you extra brave)? Book a twilight ghost tour of the Mile High City, specifically the notoriously spooky Capitol Hill neighborhood. Muster up some courage as you trot between Sheedy Mansion and Poets Row while listening to tales of scandals, unsolved mysteries and murders.

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16. The Ghosts Of Nashville Walking Tour, Tennessee

Besides music and food, Nashville has a slew of historical—and haunted—locations linked to the Civil War. And you get to see and hear about ‘em on this slightly spooky tour. If you’re not into super scary stuff, this is a great choice since it’s only a little freaky and totally family-friendly.



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Freelance PureWow Editor

Lindsay Cohn is a travel writer and serial trip planner who has visited 46 countries across six continents (and counting). When not globetrotting, she’s most likely either doing yoga, chasing around her toddler or booking flights somewhere.