The 10 Spookiest Places To Visit In The U.S.

Home of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and now the American Halloween center of the universe, Salem is a major destinations around Halloween, but the spookiness is there all year long. The streets are great in October for people-watching massive crowds of costumed tourists and locals, but there are several stops that bring you closer to the real Salem Witch Trials. History buffs especially can dive into the past, with a haunted air hanging over the facts. Try a walking tour like History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour, especially at night, to get a flavor of the major landmarks like Salem Old Town Hall and the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. A must see is The Witch House of Salem, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin of Salem Witch Trials. Locals say they’ve seen Corwin’s ghost there. The Salem Witch Museum is a little corny with cheesy mannequins that reenact the trial, but it also gives a succinct overview of the events of the trial. The dated state of the museum adds to scare-factor.

Disney set the Haunted Mansion ride in New Orleans because of the city’s haunted history and immaculate spooky vibes. The city and voodoo go way back. The Witches Brew Tour will show you the highlights of NOLA including Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau’s home. Check out the feral cats of Jackson Square, who appear at sunset and said to be witch spirits. The Pontchartrain Hotel is said to be haunted, thanks to a 1920’s-era love triangle, a fire and a slew of victims. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. is teeming with ghost stories and Marie Laveau is said to be one of the haunts. A tour is required to enter.

The oldest city in America is high on frights. There are several ghost tours to choose from with your preferred method of transportation, including on a golf cart, on a boat or by foot. A must-see is the St. Augustine Lighthouse Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour, which takes you into the lighthouse at night. Visitors have reported hearing a female voice and seeing blurry shapes move in the darkness. The Castillo de San Marcos is a 315 year old masonry fort and national monument, said to be haunted due to the torture and imprisonment that happened there. Ghost hunters say they feel a presence, including feeling cold spots and seeing apparitions.

Charleston has a bad reputation for being one of the most haunted destinations in America. Prepare to be scared at the Circular Congregational Church graveyard, one of the oldest burial grounds in the country, dating to 1690. A tour with Bulldog Tours is the only way to get in. Philadelphia Alley, aka Blood Alley, hosted many a duel back in the day. Locals tell the tale of The Whistling Doctor, who lost a duel and died in 1786 and strolls the alleyway from time to time. In Washington Square, there’s a legend of two innkeepers, Lavinia and John Fisher, who permanently prevented their guests from checking out. Lavinia is the first American female serial killer. Her and her husband’s ghost supposedly roam near the City Jail, where they were hanged.

L.A. may be the land of stars, but it’s also the scene of some truly awful events. The Cecil Hotel (now a private residence) and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles are both known for horrible happenings, the later being associated with the Black Dahlia murder. The stunning Frank Lloyd Wright-designed John Sowden House is said to be the murder scene for the Black Dahlia Murder and is also rumored to be haunted. Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting spot to many stars. Some claim to have seen the ghost of a weeping girl near the lake. Nighttime walking tours are available. The Queen Mary, a historic luxury cruise ship docked in Long Beach that you can stay in overnight, has several famous ghost tours with spooky stories. Once aboard, you can participate in séances, join the The Haunted Encounters Tour to hear the ship’s grizzly tales and enter hidden rooms on the Paranormal Ship Walk. At an otherwise swanky stay, there are ghostly happenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Guests claim to have seen Marilyn Monroe’s ghost in a mirror.

Jerome is an old mining town in the West that has ghost town tendencies. The Jerome Grand Hotel was a medical facility in the 1950s that became a hotel in the 1990s. Room 32 is rife with paranormal activity, like doors that open by themselves and faucets that will turn on spontaneously. The Old Miners Cemetery is the final resting place for former miners in the town, some who died under tragic circumstances, definitely haunted. Lawrence Memorial Hall, aka Spook Hall, a a private rental hall, was the community center and also a hotspot for prostitution. After one of the prostitutes was murdered by a miner and she is said to haunt the front entrance. Other ghostly locations include the Haunted Hamburger (home to benign hammer-stealing ghosts), Connor Hotel and Clinkscale Hotel (haunted by Madam Jennie).

Philadelphia is where tourists go to learn about the founding of our country, but there’s a haunted underbelly to the city, too. Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison, is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. Keep your eyes out for the specters of the prison, including the "Soap Lady,” a mysterious figure in a guard tower and the ghost of the murdered Joseph Taylor. Washington Square is a park built on top of a colonial era burial ground, haunted by the spirits of soldiers who were laid to rest in mass graves and not given a proper Christian burial. The Bishop White House is the most haunted house in Philadelphia with a ghost cat, John the Shadow Man, Mrs. Boggs and Bishop White — all ghosts who call this place home. If you’ve ever wanted to meet Betsy Ross, the flag maker hangs out in the basement of the Betsy Ross House. And for "Hamilton" fans, the man himself supposedly haunts the First Bank of the United States. The 10 dollar founding father allegedly paces the halls here and they’ve even tried bringing a priest in to cleanse the building. The building is closed for preservation, but you can still snap pics in the doorway and hope you catch a bit of his aura.

This tiny southern town is home to a big legend: the Bell Witch Haunting. In the 1800s, a spirit tortured the Bell family. In the Bell Witch Cave, you can take a guided tour and see a replica of the family cabin with artifacts related to the lore. There’s also a fall festival dedicated to the legend and the opportunity to conduct your own paranormal investigation.

Estes Park is home to a famous haunted destination: The Stanley Hotel. It inspired Stephen King’s horror classic, “The Shining” and though you won’t be solo, you may still feel some jitters from the hotel’s energy. A 1911 gas explosion is the reason for the roaming spirits, with room 217 being the most haunted. There have been reports of the former owners appearing in period clothes, a maid who died in 217 folding your clothes and guests have said piano music plays randomly. To add to the creepy King vibes, a pet cemetery on the property serves as the burial ground for pets of the hotel staff. For a side quest, visit the Park Theater, where the ghost of its former owner has been spotted. They hold ghost hunts after the last movie showing.

A big city like Chicago has endless haunts, but there’s a few that stand out, like the Congress Plaza Hotel. The hotel is considered one of the most haunted hotels in the country, mostly because of its connection to 1893 serial killer H.H. Holmes, but also numerous other ghosts. Room 441 has the reputation as the most haunted room as a female ghost pulls your covers off in the middle of the night. There is also the Shadow Man and the Woman in the White Dress to keep you busy. In Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, there’s a large amount of reported paranormal activity ever since the cemetery was defaced in the 1960s. On Prairie Avenue, there are the famous "Prairie Avenue Ghosts" related to the haunting of the Glessner House. Because of an architect that forever admires his work, the area is known as a "Ghostly Millionaire Row.”