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They say D.C. is full of ghosts and we believe them. Spooky stories, mysterious figures, and unexplained things happen all of the time here. If you are out hunting ghosts this Halloween season, we recommend booking a stay at one of these six haunted hotels in Washington DC. A spooky stay at one of these spots is sure to give you nightmares!

1. The Hay Adams
The Hay-Adams, 800 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA
Dimi Rogatchev/Google
The Hay Adams is definitely one of the most haunted places in DC. It's haunted by the Ghost of Clover Adams, the wife of the original owner, Henry Adams. Clover committed suicide in the hotel in 1885. Staff and guests often hear unexplained noises, a woman crying, and experience strange sensations in the suite. If you want an extra scare, stay there during the first two weeks of December. That is when Clover is most active!

Learn about the history of the Hay-Adams Hotel:

2. The Omni Shoreham
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Flickr/Chris Kelly
The Omni is haunted by two ghosts. In the 1930s, Henry Doherty, the caretaker of the hotel lived there with his family. His daughter Juliette mysteriously died in suite 864. A few years later, their other daughter, Helen, also died there. The Doherty family moved. But you can still hear mysterious noises in the suite to this day.

Get a closer look at this haunted hotel:

3. The Mayflower Hotel
The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection/ Facebook
There is a presidential twist to the ghost story of the Mayflower. On January 20, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge did not attend his inaugural ball that was held at the hotel because he was mourning the death of his 16-year-old son. It's rumored that on the anniversary of the ball at 10 pm, the lights dim and flicker and the elevators stay still on the 8th floor for 10-15 minutes. President Coolidge would have been announced to his guests at this time. Many people at the hotel think it's his ghost that haunts the hotel while others think it's the ghost of his son.

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4. Hotel Monaco
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC, 700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
Flickr/NCinDC
The site of Hotel Monaco used to be the central post office during the Civil War. People at the hotel have reported seeing women dressed in Civil War-era clothing. It's believed that the women were looking for letters from their husbands who were fighting in the war.
5. Gadsby's Tavern
Gadsby's Tavern, 138 N Royal St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Flickr/Reading Tom
Gadsbys Tavern is just outside of DC in Alexandria, VA. It's no longer a working hotel but in the 1880s, it was a popular hotel. One night, a mysterious man and woman came to the tavern and stayed in one of the rooms. The woman was very sick and died there after suffering for weeks. The man made the tavern owner and the doctors swear they would never reveal the woman's name. She was buried at a nearby cemetery and her tombstone is marked "To the Memory of a Female Stranger." Her identity is still a mystery to this day and many attribute odd sounds, noises, and unexplained occurrences to the beautiful stranger.

Learn all about the hauntings at Gadsby’s Tavern:

6. The Olde Towne Inn
Olde Towne Inn, 9403 Main St, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
TripAdvisor/Management
The Olde Towne Inn is in Manassas, 40 minutes outside of DC. Miss Lucy, a young and playful woman from the Civil War era, haunts the inn. She haunts rooms 50, 52 and 54. She's also been seen in the hotel's tavern.

So will spend the night at one of the haunted hotels in Washington DC? Or is it all just a little too scary for you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you love creepy stories, you will want to read the one about this scary park! I think it’s about time to book a trip to Washington DC and see some of these haunted hotels in person!

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More to Explore

Creepy Activities In Washington DC

Sara Dager | August 26, 2022

Are there any haunted hikes in Washington DC?

A haunted hike in Washington DC is the Monocacy National Battlefield.

A good hike is always fun, but if that hike is haunted it adds a whole other level of excitement. You never know what you may see as you traverse a trail full of spirits and what those spirits may do is yet another terrifying mystery. If you are looking for a good haunted hike near Washington DC, you can step out on the Monocacy National Battlefield. The site of a deadly battle during the Civil War, this area is said to be haunted by the many Confederate soldiers who died in that battle. The hike around the whole battlefield is 7.6 miles and will take you past a spooky abandoned mill that was transformed into a hospital during war times and has lots of stories of ghostly activity attached to it.

What are the creepiest cemeteries in Washington DC? 

The creepiest cemeteries in Washington DC include:

  • Congressional Cemetery
  • Oak Hill Cemetery

There are lots of creepy cemeteries in Washington DC perfect for a Halloween visit. You can find the graves of J. Edgar Hoover as well as many members of Congress at Congressional Cemetery. The way the graves look in the dark is quite terrifying, and you never know what famed politicos you may spot, including ones from beyond the grave. While that may feel hard to beat, Oak Hill Cemetery apparently has an entire ghostly carriage hearse pulled by six beheaded horses! Now that's some truly scary imagery. If you're willing to step a little outside of the city you can check out our list of haunted cemeteries near DC.

Are there any haunted restaurants or bars near Washington DC?

A haunted restaurant near Washington DC is the Union Hotel Restaurant.

Have you ever wanted to eat a meal or sip on a cocktail in the presence of ghosts? Well luckily, you don't have to go too far out of DC to scratch that itch! Have a meal with ghosts in Maryland at Union Hotel Restaurant. You'll feel like you've time-traveled here with waiters dressed in traditional Colonial outfits. This building has a history of being a brothel where some horrid happenings occurred, and to this day employees and customers alike report hearing supposedly broken clocks chime and phantom footsteps. Some even claim to have seen actual spirits!

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