Most Haunted Places In America: 15 Scariest Spots You Can Visit This Fall
Pumpkin patches are cute, but haunted travel is where the real thrill lives. If you’ve ever wanted to trade your PSL for EMF detectors and ghost tours, this list was made for you.
From creaky staircases to ghostly footsteps, these places aren’t just tourist traps—they’re the most haunted place in America. With tragic histories, chilling backstories, and visitors who swear they saw something in the shadows, these destinations are anything but ordinary.
Many of these sites became infamous during the 20th century, when abandoned buildings, unsolved crimes, and spiritual unrest left their mark. A few are now preserved on the National Register of Historic Places, while others continue to be the subject of documentaries, ghost hunts, and overnight stays.
So if your idea of fall fun includes screaming with your friends and maybe befriending a Victorian ghost named Margaret, buckle up. These are the most haunted places in America, and every single one is open to the brave. Keep reading… if you dare!
What Is The Most Haunted Place in America?
The most haunted place in America depends on who you ask and whether they’ve made it through the night. Some say it’s a decaying sanatorium with a death tunnel, others swear it’s a Victorian mansion built to trap spirits behind every door.
From haunted prisons to cursed plantations, the contenders for the most haunted places in America are as terrifying as they are unforgettable. Each one holds dark secrets, chilling histories, and encounters that defy explanation. Want to know which spots made the list—and which one just might follow you home? Keep reading… if you’re brave enough.
Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)
Famous for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining, the Stanley Hotel at 333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO is a chilling blend of grandeur and ghostly happenings. Located in Estes Park, Colorado, and officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Stanley Hotel has earned a reputation for unexplained activity—especially on its fourth floor.
Guests report phantom children laughing in the halls, objects moving on their own, and spectral visitors rearranging their luggage in Room 217. The hotel embraces its eerie reputation, offering regular ghost tours that dive into the haunted history of its long-deceased staff.
Elizabeth Wilson, the head chambermaid, is said to linger, especially in her former quarters. This is not just a spooky setting—it’s a full-on paranormal experience in the Rockies.
The Queen Mary (Long Beach, California)
The Queen Mary may be permanently docked at 1126 Queens Hwy in Long Beach, but her spirits are still very much in motion. Once a luxury ocean liner turned WWII troop ship, this vessel is now known for ghost sightings and chilling cold spots.
Room B340 gained infamy for such intense paranormal activity that staff closed it off for years. Visitors report seeing the ghost of a little girl by the pool, shadowy figures in the engine room, and hearing footsteps echo in empty hallways.
It’s one of the few haunted locations where the ship itself feels alive. This floating legend is not for the faint of heart.
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)
The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa at 75 Prospect Ave, Eureka Springs, AR isn’t shy about its reputation as one of the most haunted places in America. It’s a luxury spa by day, paranormal playground by night.
Built as a resort, later converted into a fraudulent cancer hospital by Norman Baker, its past is riddled with deception and death. Ghosts like Michael, a stonemason who fell to his death, and Theodora, a former patient, are said to roam the halls.
The basement morgue—yes, there’s a morgue—is a must-see for ghost tour guests. If you’re brave enough, spend the night and see who checks in… without ever checking out.
Whaley House (San Diego, California)
The Whaley House at 2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA consistently tops every list of haunted places in America, and for good reason. Built on the site of public executions, it has a brutal history tied to hangings, suicides, and untimely deaths.
Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices, phantom footsteps, and even smelling cigar smoke when no one else is around. Many claim the ghost of “Yankee Jim” Robinson, hanged on the property, still stalks the stairwell.
Guests often spot Anna Whaley’s ghost near the parlor, fueling rumors that the family never left. It’s a San Diego stop that’s as historic as it is haunted.
Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, California)
The Winchester Mystery House at 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA is arguably the most haunted place in America, thanks to a labyrinth of staircases to nowhere and doors that open into walls. Built by Sarah Winchester, heir to the rifle fortune, it was her attempt to escape the spirits of those killed by her family’s invention.
She believed constant construction would appease the angry dead, and so the house grew—wildly, illogically, and without end. The result is 160 rooms of pure architectural confusion and ghost sightings galore.
Guests report hearing whispers, feeling cold spots, and encountering apparitions roaming the halls. If you want haunted with a side of bizarre, this place delivers.
Lizzie Borden House (Fall River, Massachusetts)
Now a bed and breakfast, the Lizzie Borden House at 230 Second St, Fall River, MA is infamous among haunted places in America. It’s the site of the unsolved 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, Lizzie’s father and stepmother.
Guests often sleep in the exact rooms where the murders occurred, reporting disturbing dreams, phantom footsteps, and doors that creak open unprovoked.
Paranormal investigators flock here for its residual energy and historical significance. It’s not just eerie—it’s downright unnerving.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina)
While famous for its fall foliage, Great Smoky Mountains National Park also harbors ghost stories as old as the mountains themselves. As one of the most visited national parks, it’s teeming with legends like Spearfinger, a Cherokee witch said to haunt the woods.
Visitors report eerie sensations on trails and sightings of shadow figures in old churches. Like the Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove. Roaring Fork Motor Trail is home to the ghost of Lucy, a woman in white who flags down drivers.
Even seasoned hikers admit to feeling watched in some areas. It’s nature…with a side of the supernatural.
Myrtles Plantation (St. Francisville, Louisiana)
The Myrtles Plantation at 7747 US-61, St Francisville, LA is deep-south gothic at its most haunting, ranking high among the most haunted places in America. With over a dozen documented ghosts, the most famous is Chloe, an enslaved woman who was allegedly hanged after poisoning the family.
Guests often spot her spirit—wearing a green turban—in mirrors and photographs. Locals believe the house sits on a Native American burial ground, which intensifies its cursed energy.
Guests have reported waking up to see figures at the foot of their bed and furniture moving on its own. It’s one of those places where the silence feels louder than words.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium (Louisville, Kentucky)
Ask any ghost hunter and they’ll tell you—Waverly Hills Sanatorium at 4400 Paralee Dr, Louisville, KY might be the most haunted place in America. Originally a tuberculosis hospital, it saw thousands of deaths in the early 1900s.
The infamous “body chute” was used to discreetly dispose of the dead, and now serves as a hotspot for paranormal activity. Shadow people, disembodied voices, and unexplained touches are common reports.
Paranormal investigators report that Room 502, where two nurses died, shows the highest activity. If you’re seeking fear in its purest form, this is it.
Alcatraz Island (San Francisco, California)
Alcatraz Island may be known for its infamous prison, but its history with Native Americans and tales of paranormal activity give it an even deeper layer of intrigue. The prison’s D Block, especially Cell 14D, is notorious for icy cold spots and phantom whispers.
Guards once reported seeing figures in vintage uniforms patrolling empty corridors. Visitors have heard the sound of a phantom banjo echoing from the laundry area. Some believe spirits of former inmates and even pre-prison inhabitants still linger. Alcatraz isn’t just historically heavy—it’s spiritually charged.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston, West Virginia)
Another asylum with a dark past, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum at 50 S River Ave, Weston, WV sits prominently on the list of the most haunted places in America. Built in the 1800s, it housed thousands of patients—many under grim and unethical conditions.
Visitors report encounters with the spirits of former inmates, including a child ghost named Lily who likes to play. Doors slam without warning, shadowy figures dart through hallways, and the energy is heavy.
The asylum hosts guided ghost hunts, and some terrified guests have fled mid-tour. It’s as close as you’ll get to stepping into a horror film.
Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
The Eastern State Penitentiary at 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA isn’t just historic—it’s also considered the most haunted place in America by many paranormal experts. Known for its solitary confinement tactics and harsh punishments, this gothic prison is the definition of eerie.
Cellblock 12 is infamous for echoing laughter, while Cellblock 4 has shadow figures that appear and vanish. Former inmates and guards are said to roam the halls, along with a particularly angry spirit in the infirmary.
The facility now hosts Halloween haunted house events, adding theatrical terror to its already terrifying reality. Once inside, it’s hard not to feel watched.
LaLaurie Mansion (New Orleans, Louisiana)
The LaLaurie Mansion at 1140 Royal St, New Orleans, LA is one of the most horrific entries among the most haunted places in America. Owned by Madame Delphine LaLaurie, it was the site of horrific abuse and torture of enslaved individuals.
The cruelty discovered inside shocked 19th-century New Orleans, and the building has never shaken its reputation. Witnesses report screams, moaning, and shadow figures even from the street. Though privately owned, ghost tours often stop outside to tell the story. It’s the kind of place that haunts you long after you’ve walked away.
Villisca Axe Murder House (Villisca, Iowa)
In 1912, the small town of Villisca was rocked by the gruesome murder of an entire family, and the Villisca Axe Murder House at 508 E 2nd St, Villisca, IA has since become one of the most notorious haunted places in America.
The case remains unsolved, and paranormal activity runs rampant. Visitors report children’s laughter, objects moving, and doors slamming shut with no wind in sight. Some guests even claim to have been scratched or pushed.
Overnight stays are available, but they aren’t for the faint of heart. If you want to test your fear threshold, start here.
St. Augustine Old Jail Museum (St. Augustine, Florida)
The St. Augustine Old Jail Museum is considered a top contender for the most haunted place in America, and it doesn’t hold back. Built in 1891 and operating until 1953, it housed inmates under brutal conditions—including executions.
Guests frequently encounter apparitions of former prisoners, hear unexplained noises, and feel overwhelming cold spots. Some claim to see the ghost of the former sheriff still roaming the grounds. Guides run tours day and night, but the after-hours visits send the most shivers down spines.
In a city full of ghosts, this jail is one of the darkest.
Most Haunted Places in America FAQs
What is the most haunted small town in America?
The most haunted small town in America is Alton, Ill, known for its numerous ghost sightings and haunted locations. Its eerie reputation attracts paranormal enthusiasts from all over.
Is the Conjuring House real?
Yes, the Conjuring House is real. A nearly 300-year-old home was just another country farmhouse until 2013, when it became famous for its alleged hauntings featured in the film "The Conjuring."
So, Which of These Will You Dare to Visit First?
If you’re craving more than pumpkin spice this fall—say, cold spots, whispers in the dark, and actual ghost sightings—you’re in the right place. These aren’t your average tourist traps. They’re the most haunted places in America and they’re waiting for someone brave enough to knock on the door.
With Tripster, you can plan your haunted itinerary without losing sleep over your budget—though sleep might be hard to come by once you check in. From eerie inns to shadow-filled trails, we’ve got deals on hotels and attractions across the country that make paranormal travel actually doable. Our guides will help you find every cursed corridor and spectral hotspot without missing a beat.
So go ahead—book the trip that dares you to leave the lights on. Something is definitely waiting on the other side!
Did We Miss Any of the Most Haunted Places in the US?
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