Visiting a city well-known for its urban legends, ghost stories, and haunted locations is a dream come true for anyone with a deep appreciation for the supernatural. But if you’re on a tight budget, you may think you’re out of luck when it comes to making plans for a spooky holiday.
The great news is that there are plenty of cities throughout the U.S. that are filled with haunted locations. This means it’s very likely that you can find a place to spend a haunted vacation that is close to home.
The Top 5 Haunted U.S. Cities You Can Visit on a Budget
We have compiled a list of the most budget-friendly cities in the U.S. that you and your family can visit during spooky season or at any time of year. Consider staying in these haunted areas for a thrilling and suspenseful getaway you will not soon forget.
New Orleans, Louisiana
When it comes to haunted U.S. cities, there are few that compare to the cryptic and mystifying City of New Orleans. This location has earned a reputation for being home to all types of bewitching creatures. There are tales of witches living in the shadows for generations and vampire covens who tarry through Bourbon Street late at night before escaping to their exquisite mansions before sunrise. If you stick around long enough, you are sure to hear several stories about voodoo queens, psychics, and dark entities that haunt all areas of the city.
Haunted Places to Visit in the Big Easy
Thanks to its rich history filled with Creole, Spanish, and French cultures, New Orleans is one of the top spots to visit when you want to experience all types of strange and unusual occurrences.
Lalaurie Mansion
The historic Lalaurie Mansion is a must-see location for those intrigued by haunted history. It is believed to be one of the most haunted places in New Orleans and perhaps throughout all of Louisiana. The mansion was once home to Madame Delphine Lalaurie, who was a malevolent soul known for brutally torturing enslaved people in her attic. It wasn’t until a fire broke out in her home that those who were helping to save the mansion found out the truth about Madame’s evil ways. Once she was exposed, she left the city, never to be seen in New Orleans again.
Today, visitors have claimed to hear the screams of Madame Lalaurie’s victims and experience real ghost encounters while walking through the home. It remains a staple on local New Orleans ghost tours due to its haunted history.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is another location you have to visit while staying in NOLA. The cemetery is the final resting place of the infamous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. Hundreds of admirers of Mrs. Laveau visit the graveyard each year to pay their respects. They will often leave behind flowers or small trinkets as offerings in hopes of gaining protection or favor from her spirit. There are some locals and visitors who claim that they have seen the ghost of Marie wandering throughout the cemetery at night.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a place where history and hauntings come together. This city is brimming with historic locations that played a crucial role in the earliest days of our country. From landmark Civil War battles to the site of Abraham Lincoln’s legendary speech, this Pennsylvania town is one you can’t miss if you are a lover of history and horror.
Haunted Places to Visit in Gettysburg
There are dozens of haunted spots throughout Gettysburg that you are sure to find intriguing, but these two spots are considered to be the most haunted of them all because they are filled with remnants of tragic deaths and terrorizing battles.
The Jennie Wade House
The Jennie Wade House is home to one of the most devastating stories to come from the Civil War. It is the home of the only civilian casualty during the bloody Battle of Gettysburg. Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade was visiting her sister, kneading dough in the kitchen to make bread for Union soldiers on July 3rd, 1863. Suddenly, a stray bullet from the battle occurring just outside the home passed through two wooden doors, striking Jennie in the heart. Today, Jennie is considered a national hero and a martyr. Her story is forever memorialized at the home, which is now the Jennie Wade House Museum, which is believed to be haunted.
Inside the museum, you can walk on the same wooden floors that were in the home when the tragic event occurred, which are still stained with blood from when Jennie collapsed on the floor after she was shot. But one of the most interesting parts of the museum tour is the video evidence shared that proves there are spirits lurking throughout the house. The tour also features real EVP recordings of ghostly sounds and disembodied voices captured inside the home.
The Gettysburg Battlefield
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. After three horrific days, there were more than 50,000 casualties. Because of the high number of gruesome deaths, the Gettysburg Battlefield is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the city.
Visitors to the location have reported hearing cannon fire and seeing apparitions of soldiers dressed in period uniforms standing on the battlefield, still awaiting their orders. People have also mentioned experiencing strange drops in temperature in specific areas, also known as cold spots, which is a very common phenomenon anywhere ghosts are present.
Salem, Massachusetts
Whenever you mention the name of this Massachusetts town, you are sure to get some strange and unsettling looks, depending on the company you keep. Home to the historic Salem Witch Trials of 1692, this city has a dark history that has left behind a disturbing mark for centuries.
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions that occurred between February 1692 and May 1693 within the Puritan community.
Haunted Places to Visit in Salem
The witch trials have been studied by history scholars and horror fanatics alike, as people are intrigued by the stories of the 20 people who were brutally executed after being accused of performing witchcraft.
So, it is no surprise that locations linked to this event are believed to be the most haunted places in Salem. When a group of young girls in the area claimed to be possessed by the devil, several women were accused of practicing witchcraft. There was a wave of paranoia that spread throughout the colonies as accusations escalated swiftly.
As a result of the trials, nineteen people were executed by hanging, and one person was pressed to death.
The Salem Witch Museum
For a deeper dive into the history of the trials, the Salem Witch Museum provides an up-close and highly informative look at the details of the events. But you may encounter more than a history lesson at his location. Visitors claim that they have felt the presence of dark spirits while at the museum, with some mentioning they felt strange sensations upon entering. It is a place known to be filled with paranormal activity and one you will not want to miss while you are visiting the area.
The Witch House
The Witch House is the only building still standing from the days of the trials. It is a relic of the past that will take you back in time. But there is also a looming wickedness within those walls that cannot be ignored. Because the home has direct ties to the witch trials, it is believed to be inhabited today by dark spirits. Visitors have reported feeling a strong presence while touring the small house. Some have also mentioned seeing shadowy figures in the rooms.
Make sure to hop on a Salem ghost tour to learn all about Salem’s ghostly past!
Savannah, Georgia
While it may be known as one of the most beautiful cities in America with peaceful Southern charm, Savannah, Georgia, is overflowing with dark tales of haunted history. This town, built on sacred burial grounds, was home to many bloody war battles, tragic deaths, fires, and the cruelty of slavery. Add all of those together and you have the perfect location where vengeful spirits will thrive.
Haunted Places to Visit in Savannah
While there are many eerie locations in Savannah that you can visit and possibly see a spirit or two, these places present a much higher possibility of having a real ghost encounter thanks to their disturbing past.
The Sorrel-Weed House
This historic Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1840 for Francis Sorrel and his family. Francis was a wealthy plantation owner who lived a dark and twisted life filled with death and scandals.
Following the death of his first wife, Francis married her younger sister Matilda, who later committed suicide when she caught Francis having an affair with Molly, one of his slaves. A few weeks later, Molly was also found dead. It was reported that she took her own life, though some people were highly suspicious of it.
The house is now a museum in Savannah, and visitors have mentioned they have seen the ghosts of both Matilda and Molly while touring the home. People say that they have felt a dark and unsettling energy upon entering the home, and some have even reported feeling like they are being choked to death.
Not only is dark energy inside the Sorrel-Weed House stemming from the evil deeds of Francis Sorrel, but it is also believed that the building is haunted by the souls of the many dead soldiers who fought the battle at Madison Square, located nearby.
Mercer-Williams House
The Mercer-Williams House has a reputation for being the most haunted house in all of Savannah thanks to not just one but two tragic deaths occurring there.
In 1969, a little boy named Tommy Downs wandered inside the house after it had been vacant and abandoned for several years. He curiously explored the home and made his way up to the roof. Tommy loved to chase birds, and it is likely he climbed to the top of the home to chase pigeons.
Tragically, Tommy slipped and fell from the roof, falling onto the spikes of an iron gate around the home, which pierced his body. He died on the scene. The two spikes on the fence were never repaired, and visitors can still see that they are broken today.
If that wasn’t enough to ensure the Mercer-Williams house was haunted, the grisly murder of Danny Hansford, which occurred several years later, helped to guarantee the house would forever be shrouded in darkness.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
The same year that Tommy Downs died on the property, the house was purchased by Jimmy Williams, who was one of the city’s most prominent preservationists. Williams was well known throughout town and would often host lavish parties at the house. It was during one of his infamous parties that Jimmy met Danny Hansford.
Jimmy and Danny became lovers and had a very tumultuous relationship. They would argue often and ended up getting into a violent argument one night in 1981. After the argument turned physical with Danny knocking over furniture in anger, Jimmy went into the study to cool off. Danny stormed into the room afterward and pulled a gun on Jimmy. But when he pulled the trigger, the gun jammed. Jimmy then pulled out his own gun and shot Danny, who died instantly.
The murder of Danny Hansford was the inspiration for the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, as well as the film adaptation made years later. Guests who visit the home today say they can feel the vengeful spirit of Danny as soon as they enter. Some say they feel as if they are being watched constantly and have seen his ghost appear in the study where the murder took place.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the oldest cities in the United States, so it is no surprise that it is home to a good amount of ghost tales and creepy urban legends. Over the years, the city has witnessed more than its fair share of devastating fires, battles, and diseases, resulting in many unfortunate deaths.
Haunted Places to Visit in Charleston
There are several places in Charleston you can visit if you want to have an encounter with a ghost, but these two places are considered to be your best option for a spooky and truly haunting experience.
The Battery Carriage House Inn
The Battery Carriage Inn is one of the most haunted establishments in all of Charleston. According to those who have stayed overnight, you could wake up to the startling sight of a restless spirit lying in bed next to you.
It’s been reported that there are several spirits who haunt this location. Guests have mentioned having electronics manipulated, such as cell phones going off for no reason, and even seeing strange orbs floating around their rooms. Others have mentioned seeing the apparition of a lady in white in their room in the middle of the night. Watching over them as they sleep.
But perhaps the most popular haunt in the Battery Carriage Inn is the spirit referred to as the Gentleman Ghost. He is described as a grayish shadow that appears to glide around the room stylishly. He’s been known to startle the guests at the Inn by lying in their beds. However, most describe him as being a friendly ghost with a peaceful demeanor.
The Old Charleston Jail
The Old Charleston Jail is believed to be one of the most notoriously haunted sites in the city. It was used as a POW camp during the Civil War and endured severe damage in 1886 during an earthquake, which destroyed the jail’s tower as well as the entire top floor.
One famous inmate who stayed at the jail was none other than the ruthless pirate, Blackbeard. The historic jail also housed one of the first female serial killers in the U.S., Lavinia Fisher.
Visitors to the jail claim to hear disembodied voices and have experienced strange and unnerving sensations while walking throughout the corridor. Some claim to have seen the spirit of Lavinia Fisher lingering around her former cell. And paranormal investigators have even captured a recording of a conversation. At one point, they asked her a question, and her response was simply, “The devil.” There have also been multiple photos and videos captured of her ghost.
