Have you ever stepped into a shadowy old house and felt that prickly sense on the back of your neck, like someone’s watching you? America overflows with these creepy corners, spots where history’s darkest moments seem to echo through the walls. Ghosts, or whatever you call them, hang around prisons, ships, and battlefields, pulling in folks who love a good scare. In 2025, more people than ever chase these thrills, mixing old tales with fresh adventures.
This guide dives straight into the most haunted places in America. You get the top spots, ranked by real stories from visitors and ghost hunters. Perfect for planning your next spooky trip or just getting goosebumps at home. Check out our related post on haunted road trips if you want more ideas.
Why Do Haunted Places Fascinate Us?
You can’t deny the pull of haunted places in America. They tie right into forgotten lives, from harsh prisons to heartbreaking hotels. Experts in the paranormal say intense feelings, like pain or quick deaths, keep spirits stuck. You could catch a whisper or hit a sudden cold patch, proof that something lingers.
Halloween ramps up the visits, but 2025 brings crowds all year. Ghost hunters grab gadgets like EMF readers to spot weird energy. Doubters chalk it up to wind or tricks of the mind, but so many people share wild stories. Believe it or not, these places make you rethink what’s real.
The Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America
Wondering about the most haunted places in America ranked? Opinions differ, but some locations always rise to the top, thanks to tons of sightings and probes. Here’s my countdown of the top 10 most haunted places in America, kicking off from number 10. Every one delivers real chills from proven hauntings.
Lizzie Borden House – Fall River, Massachusetts
Walk through the door where Andrew and Abby Borden got hacked to bits back in 1892. Their daughter Lizzie faced the courtroom but got off scot-free. People staying over hear steps on silent stairs and soft voices saying names. Book a night if you’re brave; plenty wake up to dark shapes by the bed.
Myrtles Plantation – St. Francisville, Louisiana
This old Southern mansion buries ugly truths, like murders by poison and an ancient burial site underneath. A spirit called Chloe shows up in snapshots, and mirrors fog with mystery handprints. Stroll the corridors at twilight, and you swear eyes follow you.
Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, California
Sarah Winchester crafted this maze to confuse ghosts of folks killed by her family’s guns. Stairs drop off to nothing, doors open to bricks. Guides see ladies in old-time dresses, and empty spots fill with banging sounds. It earns a spot in the top 20 most haunted places in America just for the wild layout.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – Weston, West Virginia
Cruelty and packed rooms defined this 1800s madhouse. Empty halls carry screams, and black shapes zip by. Teams record pleas for help on tape. Gear up for the cold rush—it’s easily in the top 5 most haunted places in America for pure dread.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium – Louisville, Kentucky
TB wiped out crowds here in the old days. White-clad nurses float through, and a kid’s ball moves by itself. Whispers grow loud in the death tunnel. Kentucky claims this as its most haunted place in America, luring hunters after sunset.
LaLaurie Mansion – New Orleans, Louisiana
Delphine LaLaurie inflicted horrors on slaves in this Quarter gem. Chains clank and groans rise inside, though no one lives there now. Pass by and smell old cigars drifting out. It pops up in every list of most haunted places in America.
Gettysburg Battlefield – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Thousands dropped in the 1863 fight. Soldiers in gray and blue appear at first light, cannons boom from nowhere. Pitch a tent, and a phantom guard might check on you. It covers ground in the top 50 most haunted places in America.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Alone time broke minds in this rotting jail. Voices mock you from cells, figures walk empty blocks. Even Al Capone said a spirit bugged him here. It often grabs the number 1 most haunted place in America for jailhouse chills.
Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
King got his “Shining” spark from a night here. Keys tinkle on a lone piano, kids laugh in bare halls. Mrs. Stanley’s ghost sways in the dance room. Snag Room 217 for max scares—it’s up there as one of the most haunted places in North America.
RMS Queen Mary – Long Beach, California
Deaths from war and water mark this liner, now a hotel. A white-gowned woman twirls in the lounge, engine cries ring out. B340 sees doors bang and shapes form. Folks dub the Queen Mary the most haunted place in America, worse at night.
I pulled these ranks from spots like USA Today and hotel histories. Your own trip might flip them—ghosts play by their rules.
Comparing the Haunts: A Quick Overview
Pick your poison easier with this table on the top ten most haunted places in America. It lays out the basics for a fast look.
| Rank | Location | Type | Famous Ghosts | Best Time to Visit |
| 1 | Queen Mary, CA | Ship/Hotel | Lady in white, drowned children | Night tours in October |
| 2 | Stanley Hotel, CO | Hotel | Flora Stanley, giggling kids | Winter for Shining vibes |
| 3 | Eastern State Penitentiary, PA | Prison | Pacing inmates, shadows | Halloween Terror Behind the Walls |
| 4 | Gettysburg Battlefield, PA | Battlefield | Union soldiers, sentries | Summer reenactments |
| 5 | LaLaurie Mansion, LA | Mansion | Tortured victims, moaning spirits | Mardi Gras ghost walks |
| 6 | Waverly Hills Sanatorium, KY | Hospital | Nurses, rolling ball child | Overnight investigations |
| 7 | Trans-Allegheny Asylum, WV | Asylum | Screaming patients, figures | Fall paranormal events |
| 8 | Winchester Mystery House, CA | Mansion | Victorian spirits, hammering | Candlelight tours |
| 9 | Myrtles Plantation, LA | Plantation | Chloe, handprint ghosts | Southern summer nights |
| 10 | Lizzie Borden House, MA | House | Footsteps, whispering voices | Axe murder anniversary |
This setup shows why they’re in the 100 most haunted places in America. Match it to your nerve level—jails pack more punch than inns.
Most Haunted Abandoned Places in America
Nothing beats the vibe of left-behind spots for creeps. Bodie in California sits frozen as a mining town, saloons coated in dust. Winds moan like old prospectors. Centralia, Pennsylvania, smolders below from a fire that started decades ago, fumes seeping from splits in the pavement. Lights flicker after dark, pinned on stuck spirits.
Pennhurst in Pennsylvania pulls people for its rot and tales of mistreated patients. Doors crash closed, dragging you in. These lead the pack for most haunted abandoned places in America. Tread light—buildings fall apart, and the air feels heavy.
Haunted Places in America to Stay Overnight
Want to dive deep? Reserve a spot at one of the most haunted places to stay in America. The Lemp Mansion in St. Louis links to family tragedies. Eat dinner with murmurs around, sleep where figures prowl. Or hit the Crescent Hotel in Arkansas, once a scam health spot. Patient ghosts drift, but the spa calms you down.
The Queen Mary lets you crash in rooms full of logged weirdness. Visitors note down what they see, stacking the stories. These rank big in the top 13 most haunted places in America with beds. Swing by our haunted hotels piece for reservation hacks.
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Most Famous Haunted Places in America: Beyond the Lists
Some places shine from sheer fame. Salem, Massachusetts, buzzes with witch trial echoes from 1692. Wander cemeteries where the hanged lie restless. New Orleans pulses with voodoo, tombs stirring at midnight.
Kentucky’s Waverly Hills shines as the most haunted place in America Kentucky style. Shows like “Ghost Hunters” hit it hard, snagging voices that freeze you. The world’s most haunted place in America? Arguments fly, but the Queen Mary often takes it for size.
Real-World Examples: A Chilling Tale
Think about a family hitting the Queen Mary on a whim. The dad takes poolside pics. Back home, a see-through girl waves in one frame—they missed her live. Tales like that flood online, sparking doubts. Or a walker at Gettysburg catches war yells on a still path. Moments like these flip non-believers.
TV amps it up. “Most Haunted Places in America Travel Channel” digs into staples, tossing in 2025 twists. Catch an episode, then grab your bags.
These spots remind you that the past sticks around. Maybe the dead want closure or just a chat. Your adventure might uncover something deep. Up for it?
See More: 10 Best Journaling Techniques for Clarity, Creativity, and GrowthFAQ
What is the most haunted place in America?
The RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, often claims the title as the most haunted place in America. Reports include apparitions and screams from its wartime past. Paranormal tours confirm its eerie reputation.
What are the most haunted places in America?
Key spots include the Stanley Hotel, Eastern State Penitentiary, and Waverly Hills Sanatorium. These top the most haunted places in America ranked lists for consistent activity like whispers and shadows.
Where is the most haunted place in America?
Long Beach, California, hosts the Queen Mary, widely seen as the most haunted place in America. Other contenders scatter across states like Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
What’s the most haunted place in America?
Many point to the Queen Mary as what’s the most haunted place in America. Its engine room and pools buzz with ghostly energy from drownings and accidents.
Is the Queen Mary the most haunted place in America?
Yes, the Queen Mary ranks as the most haunted place in America for many experts. Ghosts of sailors and passengers haunt its decks, making it a top draw.
What is the most haunted place in America to visit?
The Stanley Hotel stands out as the most haunted place in America to visit. You stay in rooms tied to “The Shining” and join night tours for chills.
Where is the most haunted place in North America?
The Queen Mary in California often gets called the most haunted place in North America. Its history as a troopship adds layers of supernatural tales.
Most haunted places in America TV show?
Shows like “Ghost Adventures” feature the most haunted places in America. Episodes on the Trans-Allegheny Asylum capture screams and apparitions.
