15 Haunted Small Towns in the United States for a Spooky Escape

• Where to Stay: Henry Derby House, 1878 Sarah Collins House, The Creaky Cauldron

In case you missed it, Salem is home to the infamous witch trials of 1692 in which mass hysteria led to the prosecution of 200 women accused of witchcraft, 20 of whom were wrongfully executed. The witch trials are a huge part of Salem’s spooky history and there are many homes and public spaces in this coastal Massachusetts town that are said to be haunted. In fact, the town really leans into this reputation and, as a result, it is one of the most popular New England destinations to visit come Halloween. No matter what time of year you visit, the Joshua Ward House, the Witch House and Old Burying Point Cemetery should be on your agenda. (You’ll also find no shortage of organized ghost tours that explore all the haunted locations in the town.)

• Where to Stay: Shoreline Escape Condo, The Cottage on the Shore, McCracken Bird and Beach Guesthouse

There are plenty of ghost stories, legends and reports of paranormal activity associated with this Texas city, which has historic ties to both the indigenous Karankawa people and the Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda. The highlight of your haunted activity will undoubtedly be a tour of the historic homes of Heritage Park, including the Sidbury House, which is said to be haunted with visitors telling of a child’s ghost that dwells in a bedroom and reportedly knocks over and rearranges objects in the house; the Galvan House where there’s supposedly a second-floor ghost that has the habit of tapping visitors on the shoulder; and the Ward-McCampbell House where many residents passed away due to pneumonia and the ghost of a girl named Mary is said to remain, haunting visitors and passersby alike.

• Where to Stay: La Reverie, Dune Bungalow, Vilano Beach Oasis

The rumors of St. Augustine, Florida being a haunted city stem from the fact that it’s the nation’s oldest city, dating back to the Spanish colonial era. There is a general consensus that St. Augustine is, indeed, haunted and the city continues to attract paranormal investigators from far and wide. Probably the most haunted place to visit is the St. Augustine lighthouse where you might encounter a full body apparition of the former lighthouse keeper. Then there’s the Old Jail, which operated from 1891 to 1953 and is considered by many to be the most haunted building in the country. Finally, the Native American burial grounds and Protestant Cemetery are also locations associated with otherworldly activity.

• Where to Stay: Historic Civil War Farmhouse, The Historic Rowe House, Cozy Cow Homestead

It should come as no surprise that Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is considered one of the most haunted locations in the country, given that the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest of the Civil War. Needless to say, the battlegrounds are believed to be haunted by the spirits of fallen soldiers. There are also numerous other locations where visitors report paranormal activity, including historic homes, inns, farmhouses and taverns.

• Where to Stay: Belvada Hotel, Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall

This former Wild West town is now an actual ghost town that has drawn plenty of attention due to reports of ongoing paranormal activity. (In fact, it was even featured on Ghost Adventures.) Also upping the spooky factor of Belmont is the fact that it was homebase for the Manson family for some time. Your haunted itinerary here should include a visit to the courthouse, where the Manson family camped out, as well as a tour of the many crumbling, deserted buildings where spirits are said to lurk.

• Where to Stay: Historic Stagecoach House, Mullan Mountain Lodge, River Crossing

Another relic of the Old West, this abandoned mining town is a ghost town like no other. The most remarkable thing about Burke is that it is situated in an impossibly narrow canyon—so narrow that the railroad ran on the same main road where carriages rode and was even built through the lobby of the local hotel. Also noteworthy is that this ghost town was plagued with floods, fire and other tragedies over the years. Explore the now shuttered Tiger Hotel in search of ghosts or pay a visit to the crumbling headstones at the town’s unmarked cemetery during your ghost-hunting adventure.

• Where to Stay: Boulder Trail Getaway, Almost Heaven’s Hideaway, Lively Cottage

You will find many abandoned buildings in this former boomtown and, while there’s not a specific ghost story to tell, the eerie atmosphere of this ghost town has inspired a lot of paranormal investigations. Residents and visitors alike have reported seeing phantom steam engines, various apparitions of people connected to its rich history, and other unexplained events. In other words, grab your EMF meter and take a stroll to see what spooky stuff you can detect.

• Where to Stay: The Luckett Legacy, Bluegrass & Bourbon, The Back 40

Head to Bardstown to explore the former stomping grounds of notorious outlaw Jesse James—specifically, the Talbott Tavern, a famously haunted watering hole that’s said to host a variety of spirits, including all the deceased family members of the Talbott family. There’s also a pretty spooky inn that has been named one of the most haunted places by The Travel Channel, and it’s no wonder why: before becoming a bed and breakfast, Jailer’s Inn served as an actual jail and is said to be haunted by a former prisoner by the name of Mrs. McKay, who guests claim to have seen roaming the establishment.

• Where to Stay: Parks-Bowman Mansion, The Art House on Chartres, The Rhum Runner

Mardi Gras might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of New Orleans, but you can visit at any time of year to experience all the spooky lore of this Southern city where ghost stories run rampant. A visit to LaLaurie Mansion, a historic building known for its history of death and torture, is a must. Pretty much all of the French Quarter is said to be home to spirits and vampires, and you can book a tour of some of the standout spots, such as LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop and the Bourbon Orleans Hotel—two hubs of paranormal activity.

• Where to Stay: Apartment in Tarrytown, Hudson River Getaway, Apartment in Ossining

This New York village is internationally known thanks to a famous short story entitled The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that was written by Washington Irving in 1820. Irving’s grave can be visited at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery—a place where you might also encounter the famed Headless Horseman that’s said to haunt the town. (I’m putting in a petition to rename this town Sleepless Hollow, just saying.)

• Where to Stay: Washington Plaza Hotel Penthouse, Casita Santa Fe, Casa Divina

The country’s oldest state capital is celebrated for its rich and culturally diverse heritage…and also feared for its many spectres. Stay at one of the city’s several haunted hotels, like La Posada de Santa Fe, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former recluse who holed up there, or Hotel Parq Central, one of the nation’s most haunted hotels that used to be a psychiatric hospital for the extremely disturbed. Finally, you can lean into local lore and hang around bodies of water for an encounter with La Llorona, an otherworldly legend through the Southwest who can reportedly be seen weeping over the loss of her drowned children.

• Where to Stay: Chic Beachside Villa, Surfin Safari, Seawall Beach Home

Galveston, Texas, an island in the Gulf of Mexico, owes its reputation as a haunted town due to the horrible hurricane that came through in 1900, claiming many lives and leaving devastation in its wake. Visit Galveston and you will get a chance to shop in a haunted Walmart, which was built on the site of St. Mary’s Orphanage, where all the residents perished in said storm. Highlights of your Galveston ghost-hunting itinerary might include a paranormal tour of Moody Mansion, a visit to Old City Cemetery, a hunt for the “Ghost Bride” of Hotel Galvez and a visit to the Van Alsten House, another spot that’s popular among paranormal investigators on account of the many residents that died within.

• Where to Stay: Creek Cabin, Stone’s Throw Retreat, Selah Chalet

Saint Elmo was once a boomtown, but things got pretty spooky with economic decline. Saint Elmo’s most prominent family was the Starks, and they stuck around until the bitter end, with the parents dying there and their son and daughter ultimately being committed to mental institutions where they died. The family’s tragic story is responsible for the rumors of ongoing paranormal activity, specifically that of the daughter, Annabelle, whose spirit is believed to haunt the abandoned ghost town.

• Where to Stay: The Landing, Flight of Adventure, The Oz Experience

Paranormal investigators and casual thrill-seekers alike flock to Kansas’s most haunted ghost town, particularly during spook season (i.e., September through November). Once a booming transportation hub, the historic homes of Atchison are now riddled with rumors of paranormal activity and reports of bizarre events. The most noteworthy attractions for the fearless are Ravenhearse, a haunted house that has seen many deaths—and apparently very stubborn residents who choose to linger, including the living members of the family who host tours and ghost-hunts on their property—as well as the Sallie House, the most famous haunted house, which remains unoccupied but allows visitors for tours and overnight stays, if they dare. (There’s even a waiver you have to sign in the event of personal injury.)

• Where to Stay: Bluff City Bungalow, Elm Street Escape, River View Loft

Here, a small town situated on the Mississippi River, Alton is home to award-winning haunting tours—namely on account of a book written by Troy Taylor that details the town’s spooky history of murder, war and the unexplained happenings that followed. Main attractions include the McPike Mansion, where Native American ghosts are said to linger; The First Unitarian Church, where a reverend died and shadowy ghosts reportedly rise from the basement to haunt visitors; and Milton School House, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl who was found battered and bloodied on the property. (Psst: You can read more about all the hauntings here.)