The 50 Spookiest Places to Visit This October

October Destinations for Halloween Frights
No matter where you’re from, you probably grew up hearing about a haunted house hidden in the woods or a creepy stretch of road that was the setting for a hair-raising tale or two. Or maybe you heard about a creeky bridge that was said to have been the site of a heinous incident, a graveyard alleged to be a gateway to another dimension or a creepy former hospital or historic inn that had morphed into a haven for ghosts. This is to say nothing of some entire cities that are so rich in dark historical stories that they feel like one big haunted house. Yes, the USA is positively crawling with spooky places and haunted hotels, with many of them making perfect October travel destinations. Since there’s nothing better during the month of Halloween than to have the daylights scared out of you, click on the slideshow to discover 50 places that are sure to offer up a spine-tingling experience this October.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky
Located in Louisville, this abandoned hospital was home to thousands of tuberculosis patients during its hellish heydey and it’s now the setting for multiple tales of ghostly residents. Book an organized tour to learn all about the legends surrounding the sanatorium and get all the details about the macabre “body chute” located in the bowels of the building.

The Grave in the Middle of the Road, Indiana
No need to rub your eyes and check your vision, there truly is a headstone up ahead on the road you’re driving on in Johnson County near Franklin. In fact, there’s a whole cemetery under your undercarriage. Pull the car over after dark, read the sign that tells the story of the family resting under the pavement and see if the whole thing sends a shudder up your spine.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Tens of thousands of soldiers lost their lives during the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg—the bloodiest single engagement of the Civil War— and many of the deceased’s spirits are said to still be hanging around the historically hallowed ground. Visit to pay your respects during the day and then spend your evening taking one of the town’s many spooky strolls that will walk you through the ins and outs of Gettysburg’s ghostly residents.

The Crescent Hotel, Arkansas
The self-described “Most Haunted Hotel in America”, The beautiful Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs has more than a few skeletons hanging out in her hallways. Join the nightly tour to hear all about the guests who checked out but never physically left like the Victorian era lingerie-sporting specter and the “Girl in the Mist”.

St. Augustine, Florida
There are a handful of places in the USA that are so rich in history that they practically crawl with haunts, thus making the entire place worthy of inclusion on the list—and St. Augustine is one of them. Take a tour to hear all the bloodcurdling tales about the spirits who may still be lurking at the fort, old jail, the lighthouse and numerous other places around town.

The Ohio State Reformatory, Ohio
Don’t be fooled, it may look like a stately mansion on the outside, but inside it’s all menacing. Located in Mansfield, this former prison is consistently ranked among the top of the paranormal rankings in the state and each year it hosts a hair-raising haunted house. In addition, film fans will appreciate the fact that it served as a filming location for The Shawshank Redemption.

White Lady Lane, North Dakota
Cruise on out to Country Road Nine between Walhalla & Leroy at night and you’ll spot a dilapidated bridge—and you just might just come face-to-face with the ghost wearing a white nightgown. Stories vary on how or why she decided to inhabit this bridge, but most agree that she met a tragic demise due to a love that went wrong and her spirit still haunts the area where her heart was broken.

St. James Hotel, Minnesota
Red Wing is a nice, normal attractive town located on the Mississippi River, but its showcase hotel has been known to be home to some serious abnormal activity. The hotel’s deceased former owner is said to be still lurking around the third floor—keeping an eye on the staff—while other tales persist about the spirits of shipwreck victims (the hotel was used as a morgue after the accident) slinking around the halls.

Salem, Massachusetts
The setting for the most notorious witch trials in the nation’s history, Salem embraces its harrowing history and offers a fun, albeit slightly hair-raising experience to those that visit around Halloween. See the Salem Witch House—the only residence still left with a connection to the trials—before touring the local cemetery and taking a candlelit walking tour or ghost tour to hear all about Salem’s scariest stories.

Kennicott Ghost Town, Alaska
As a general rule, if a place was the scene of a gold rush back in the day, it’s probably still got some spooky things going on today. Located in the sprawling Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, this former copper mining mecca turned ghost town will give you the creeps (in a good way) and you may even spot something supernatural on the abandoned tracks or see tombstones appear & disappear by the side of the road.

Boy Scout Lane, Wisconsin
Some say this stretch of road near Stevens Point got its nickname due to a troop of local Boy Scouts who died there in a fiery bus crash. Others say that the boys were killed by an evil Scout leader. Others claim that the road is called Boy Scout Lane simply because the land used to be owned by the Boy Scouts of America. Either way, this time of year the creepiness gets cranked up as folks from all over see if they witness any of the paranormal activity that is rumored to occur here.

Fort Delaware, Delaware
Located on an island in the Delaware river, this stronghold housed Confederate prisoners of war during the Civil War, and more than a few of them are said to be still serving time. Among the spirits occasionally spotted are multiple men in uniform and a mysterious woman wearing black. Join one of the paranormal tours that are offered during autumn to get the full lowdown.

Turnbull Canyon, California
If you can think of it, it’s probably been reported to have happened at Turnbull Canyon near Los Angeles. Plane crashes? Rituals dedicated to the devil? Insane asylums? Robed figures darting across pathways at night? UFO sightings? Head there this October around sunset and see it for yourself and maybe you’ll be adding something new to the list.

Slaughterhouse Canyon, Arizona
Luana’s Canyon near Kingman is a prime example of a lovely Western landscape, but it’s hiding a sinister legend within its canyon walls. Known to locals as Slaughterhouse Canyon, the area was allegedly the scene of a grisly descent into madness among a settler family and it’s said that if you visit at night, you can still hear the matriarch of the family’s moans bouncing off the hills.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia
Despite the impressive gothic architecture, this hospital was a ghastly place on the inside. The patients who had been sent here with psychological conditions were subject to intense overcrowding and deplorable living conditions and it’s said that many of their shrieks can still be heard today. Visit to take a tour of the facility and hear some of the tales behind the legends.

Mount Hope Cemetery, Maine
Home to fading gravestones and mysterious-looking mausoleums surrounded by beautiful foliage, Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor is most definitely home to an autumnal atmosphere. Throw in the fact that scenes from the film Pet Semetary were filmed here and rumors persist of hauntings and you have a perfectly pleasant albeit harrowing Halloween destination.

Bacon’s Castle, Virginia
The nation’s oldest brick residence is well over 350 years old now and has no doubt witnessed countless tumultuous events and chaotic personal histories. Is this the reason for the numerous reports of objects moving on their own or loud, unexplainable noises? Take part in one of the Haunt Nights this October to find out for yourself.

Wood Island Light, Maine
This beacon off the coast of Maine’s Saco Bay is supposedly haunted by the souls who met their unfortunate demise on Wood Island in the late 1800s during a bizarre murder-suicide. Tours visit this lighthouse in southern Maine during the summer, but during other parts of the year, you’ll just have to admire it from a distance and see if you hear the ghostly howls that are said to emanate from the lighthouse.

Massacre Rocks, Idaho
Which legend creeps you out more? The one about Western settlers allegedly meeting their maker on these stones and their spirits being spotted in present times? Or how about the tales about children who were drowned by their parents due to food shortages coming back to seek revenge on the living? Either way, you know where to go for a very creepy Idaho October road trip.

Emily’s Bridge, Vermont
Stowe is an absolute delight in October, all pretty leaves and fall festivals, but this bridge is supposedly hiding a darker side of the town. Emily’s Bridge is named after a young local girl who is said to have met her demise much too soon and people claim to have spotted her on the bridge wearing a ghostly white dress.

Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi
Thousands of Civil War soldiers perished on this stretch of land in Vicksburg, and some say their spirits have never left. Reports of ghostly cannon fire and the smell of gunpowder are commonplace in addition to the sight of uniform-wearing apparitions wandering about the fields.

New Orleans, Louisiana
From the moody, above-ground cemeteries with crypts of famous voodoo priestesses to mansions in the French Quarter that are still reportedly haunted by the spirits of tortured former residents, the Big Easy has the potential to make you ‘screamy’. This is to say nothing of what’s lurking out in the swamps on the outskirts of the city.

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
What else do you need to say about the spot that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining? While this grand hotel in Estes Park doesn’t appear in the film, it is the precise place where, after a short, off-season stay with his wife—no doubt experiencing an eerie, empty hotel—the author was inspired to write his book. Join one of their Spirited Night Tours to get the scoop on all the strange things that go bump in the night at The Stanley.

The Villisca Ax Murder House, Iowa
Tread lightly with your “don’t worry, I’m not an axe murderer” jokes in Villisca, because they really did have one in their midst back in 1912 when an entire family ended up on the wrong end of an axe blade inside this house. Today, you can visit the scene of this still unsolved crime or even spend the night in the house to see if—as multiple ghost hunters have reported—any of their spirits are still present.

The Lizzie Borden House, Massachusetts
This infamous residence in Fall River was also the scene of a grisly double ax murder in 1892 that has been never been solved, and you can visit or spend the night here too! Famously, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of killing her stepmother and father, so perhaps the strange noises and lights in the house may be her parents trying to tell us who the real killer is.

The Woods of Prince George’s County, Maryland
Did you ever hear the one about Goatman? He’s lurking in the bushes and running across roads in Prince George’s County, looking for his next victim. Some say he is the result of a medical experiment gone horribly wrong, others say there he is a goat farmer who morphed into a madman after his animals were slain by local teenagers. While his origin story is a mystery, the locals all tend to agree that they’ve heard he’s out in the woods and he means to do harm to all who cross his path—especially small animals and teenagers.

Zombie Road, Missouri
Located in the far western suburbs of St. Louis, Zombie Road is said to be a place where all sorts of things go bump in the night. From the spirits of slain settlers to the ghost of a woman who was hit by a train and apparitions of local asylum residents, it’s all been said to lurk around the peaceful bends of this country lane which has now been turned into a walking and cycling trail called Al Foster Trail.

The Hippie Tree, Michigan
Hidden in the woods behind the old Traverse City State Hospital, you’ll find the brightly-painted wooden tentacles of the infamous tree. While it may look like a place for street artists to practice their craft, rumors have long persisted of heinous acts happening at this precise spot at night, with many locals claiming the tree is actually a gateway to the underworld.

Rio Grande Railroad Depot, Utah
This eye-catching former train station in Salt Lake City is the location of the Utah Historical Society and that’s fitting because it is also supposedly home to several folks who are now part of history. The depot’s most famous departed resident is the “Purple Lady”, the ghost of a woman who was reportedly killed by a train while attempting to retrieve a ring that her husband threw at her during an argument.

The Marshall House Hotel, Savannah
This historic hotel in gorgeous Savannah was used as a hospital during the Civil War and a pair of yellow fever epidemics, and it’s said that many of the patients are still convalescing in its corridors in ghost form. Children’s footsteps have been reportedly heard running down the halls in addition to strange happenings with faucets and showers.

Diana’s Dune, Indiana
In the heart of Indiana Dunes National Park, you’ll find Diana’s Dune, a place named after an eccentric, free-spirited woman named Alice Gray who lived in the area in the early 20th century, picking up the nickname “Diana of the Dunes” from the local media. She helped bring much-needed attention to the preservation of the Indiana Dunes area and in the years since her death, many legends have sprung up saying she is still frolicking in the sands in spirit. Walk around her namesake dune to learn more about her and then stick around until sunset to see if you run into her.

Airtight Bridge, Illinois
This bridge in rural Charleston picked up its nickname after people crossing the bridge were said to have felt an unnatural stillness in the air while moving from one side to another. This haunted reputation was already well established when a dismembered body was found at the base of the bridge in the 1980s, which only served to amplify its creepy credentials.

Hotel Galvez, Texas
Galveston was leveled by a massive hurricane in 1900, an event that owns the dubious distinction of being the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the nation. This glamorous hotel was immediately pressed into service as a morgue during the storm, and in the decades since, many guests have reported running into folks who appear to have been from the era of the storm drifting around the hotel.

Virginia City, Montana
This old mining town once boomed, with all manner of characters piling into town to seek their fortune. Virginia City has long gone bust, but some of the folks that called it home are said to still be lurking around. Tour the town on a ghost walk and you might just spot spirits darting across the road or swinging from chandeliers inside a shuttered saloon.

Gateway to Hell, Kansas
Is there a portal to the underworld in a cemetery in the small town of Stull, Kansas? For over 50 years, that’s been the word among college kids of the state and many of them make the trip out to inspect the grounds for ghouls themselves. Allegedly, the devil himself has a powwow with witches here on Halloween night, but you’re better off visiting during the day because they don’t take too kindly to nocturnal trespassers at the cemetery. Adding to the intrigue, the church where this meeting supposedly takes place each year was mysteriously destroyed a few years ago.

Bell Witch Cave, Tennessee
They’ve been getting spooked by stories about the Bell Witch in these parts for over 200 years. Who was the witch? Basically, the worst neighbor you could ever imagine, a shapeshifting demon who spent all her time terrorizing the local Bell family. This cave in Adams, Tennessee is purported to be her former lair so visit close to Halloween if you dare.

Black Horse Lake, Montana
Legend says that if you drive past this seasonal lake near Great Falls at night, a ghostly hitchhiker will appear on the side of the road, sticking out his thumb for a lift. If you pass him without offering a ride he suddenly appears in front of your car, bashing himself violently into your windshield. Then, when you rush out of the vehicle to come to his aid, you’ll quickly discover that he’s nowhere to be found, having simply vanished into the night. Head down Highway 87 this October to see for yourself.

Seneca Creek State Park, Maryland
The rolling wooded hills of this state park were the place where many of the most memorable scenes of The Blair Witch Project were filmed, and over 20 years later they’re still giving visitors the creeps. Often, the park’s rangers will lead visitors on walks that show off some of the places that starred in the movie, but a self-guided tour is always an option if you’re brave enough.

Hotel Alex Johnson, South Dakota
For nearly 80 years, this unique Germanic & Native American-influenced hotel in Rapid City has been offering weary travelers a place to rest their heads, and many people liked it so much they decided to return after they checked out of this world. The most famous resident spirit is the “Lady in White”, a bride who is said to have fallen to her death from a hotel window.

Area 51, Nevada
Much of what goes on behind the fences at this secretive government compound in the Nevada desert is said to have more to do with top secret military aircraft than anything X-Files, but that doesn’t stop the area from feeling out of this world. Head out towards this world-famous sight to see if you stumble into any clues (just don’t trespass!) and to meet up with curiosity seekers from around the world at the Little A’Le’Inn bar.

St. James Hotel, New Mexico
Located in the formerly rough-and-rowdy Old West town of Cimarron, New Mexico’s St. James Hotel attracted the type of guests who like to drink one too many whiskeys and recklessly play with their pistols. Occasionally, their bullets would end up lodged in the ceiling, other times they would land in another guest at the bar. Many of the spirits who hung out here in those bad old days are said to still be chilling out, so why not stay for a night this Halloween to see if their aim has improved?

The Gates of Hell, North Dakota
Okay, how many entry points does the underworld really need? A few apparently, as Tagus—a ghost town in the northern section of the state—is said to possess a figurative flight of steps that leads straight down to, well you know where. In addition, depending on who you talk to, Tagus is also supposedly home to satan worshippers, ghost dogs and shadowy figures with connections to some of the nation’s most notorious serial killers.

Seven Sisters Road, Nebraska
Legend says that seven sisters were hung on the seven hills of this road—officially called L Street on maps—by their evil brother (or father, depending on who’s telling the story) near Nebraska City in the early 1900s. While some of the facts are up for debate, what isn’t is that a trip down this street at night during October will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Charleston, South Carolina
If anyone can give New Orleans and St. Augustine a run in the “history & haunts” department, it’s Charleston. Take a guided ghost tour of the Holy City to hear about all the unholy things that happened (and continue to happen) at the Old City Jail, the local cemeteries and a creepy disused ammunition depot called the Powder Magazine.

Cannon Beach, Oregon
While you could make a case that Haystack Rock and the caramel-colored sand make Cannon Beach look a bit eerie in the right light, its inclusion on this list is down to one local resident and one alone: Bandage Man. The supposed victim of a terrible logging accident (one can only assume with a buzzsaw gone berserk), this gauze-wrapped ghoul is said to terrorize locals on desolate area roads, especially teenagers.

Brown Mountain, North Carolina
They’ve been talking about seeing strange lights on this mountain since way before UFOS were cool, and there’s still no rock-solid explanation for the illuminations that some claim to see here. Take a trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway this October to admire some great fall foliage and maybe you’ll see some of the freaky flashes of lights for yourself.

The Devil’s Tree, New Jersey
Head to Mountain Road in Somerset County to see a tree whose roots extend all the way into hell. Or, at least that’s the tale that’s been handed down by generations of Garden State residents. Even if it’s not true, at the very least, seeing it barren and blowing in a chilly October wind has all the makings of a spooky—and successful—social media post.

The Stephen Harris House, Rhode Island
Over the years, this cute house in the heart of Providence has picked up a really shady reputation. According to local lore, a successful local merchant named Stephen Harris made the mistake of building his home directly over a French Huguenot burial site and that’s when things started going downhill fast. The Harris family suffered numerous tragedies, including the matriarch of the family going insane and speaking in tongues—including screaming in French.

Alcatraz Island, California
This rocky outcrop and its world-famous former prison can send a shudder down a spine during the middle of the day, but visit at night and you’ll be positively spooked. On a tour of the former prison, you’ll hear all the tales of some of the twisted and demented folks who called Alcatraz home, with some allegedly serving a post-life sentence.

Sleepy Hollow, New York
Tales of ghostly, noggin-less horsemen terrorizing the living have been passed down for centuries, but Washington Irving’s tale of the one galloping through Sleepy Hollow truly struck a chord with Americans. While the tale is purely a work of fiction, that doesn’t mean you won’t get some chills during a stroll through the Sleepy Hollow cemetery around Halloween.