America is certainly a beautiful place, but this lovely country has a dark side. From secret mountain ghost towns to haunted houses hiding in plain sight, each of these spooky road trips will horrify you in the best way possible. Get ready for some serious goosebumps as you check out these terrifying road trips from all across America.
1. Utah
This road trip will have you 100 percent creeped out by the end. You'll visit Memory Grove in Salt Lake City where a ghostly form flits between the trees, Kay's Cross in Kaysville where the phantom of a murdered woman stalks the grounds around a mysteriously deformed cross, and the Isle Isle Cafe in Brigham City where the ghost of a Native American man is known to sit down and order a meal. More info and directions here
2. Idaho
If you find yourself driving through Idaho, add this spooky road trip to your itinerary. You'll start off at The Singing Bridge in Twin Falls where you can find a carving known as "Devil's Henchman" depicting the faces of eight abducted children that are said to haunt the creek and bridge. You'll also encounter the fiercely haunted Howells Opera House in Oakley and the Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls. Legends say that if you knock on the door of a large mausoleum tomb, the dead might just knock back. However, you'll only hear their reply if your own death is nigh. More info and directions here
3. South Carolina
Travel across South Carolina to the most terrifying spots in the state. You'll visit places like Old Sheldon Church, where the ghost of Anne Bull Heyworth reportedly haunts the area near her headstone and casts an aura of sadness over those two touch the marker. You'll also wander through the area where the Summerville Light is said to appear, luring travelers into the darkness. More info and directions here
4. Massachusetts
This road trip will take you to some of the creepiest spots in New England. You'll swing by the USS Salem in Quincy, a ship that is considered among the most haunted vessels in the world and once held entire rooms stacked with bodies of the dead. You'll also visit Dogtown, an abandoned village that is said to be cursed by witches. This road trip also includes a stop at the Lizzie Borden house, the site of the infamous axe murders of 1892. Today the house is a bed and breakfast, so feel the brave can feel free to spend the night. More info and directions here
5. Maryland
Prepare to travel through Maryland's spookiest spots. This road trip will take you to plenty of creepy sites, including the historic (and possibly haunted) Antietam National Battlefield, the abandoned Glenn Dale Sanatorium and National Park Seminary, an abandoned girls' school that is equal parts beautiful and spooky. More info and directions here
6. New York
Some people believe that Rolling Hills asylum in East Bethany is one of the most haunted places on Earth, and you might agree after taking this chilling road trio to this spot and other creepy locales across New York. This route will also bring you face to face with the haunted Valentown Museum and the spooky abandoned shell of Holley High School. More info and directions here
7. Nevada
Nevada is a state where haunted happenings aren't thin on the ground. Check out this road trip that will take you to places such as Tonopah Cemetery, which contains the remains of Tonopah's earliest residents and the victims of a terrible 1911 mine fire. The ghosts of miners are said to roam the graveyard at night, smelling of smoke and moaning. You'll also stop at the Mackay Mansion in Virginia City where a little girl dressed in white is said to appear to visitors, including actor Johnny Depp. This road trip also includes several places to stop for food and refreshment along the way. More info and directions here
8. West Virginia
This spooky trip through West Virginia will introduce you to some of the state’s creepiest abandoned towns. Most of the ghost towns you’ll visit on this tour will be old mining settlements like Quinnimont and Kaymoor. The drive will take you about two hours, not including exploration time. It’s a great way to see some of the natural beauty of the state while checking out some unexpectedly eerie spots.
9. Colorado
This hauntingly memorable Colorado road trip will take you across the state in search of chilling experiences. You'll visit spots such as the the Cliff House at Pikes Peak where eerie white orbs have been seen floating through the air and the the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, the famous filming location of "The Shining," More info and directions here
10. Nebraska
This road trip will take you to all of Nebraska’s most haunting ghost towns. You’ll drive to abandoned settlements like the spooky remnants of Antioch and the vacant structures of Brocksburg. This is a road trip for the truly adventurous.
11. Minnesota
Travel along the northwest corner of Minnesota on this journey through the most mysterious ghost towns in the state. This trip will take you to abandoned towns like Mavie, Dorothy and Orleans. You’ll be able to search for traces of the old settlements as you admire the beautiful Minnesota countryside.
12. New Hampshire
Get ready to travel to some of the most haunted spots in New Hampshire. This trip will carry you through places like the Colonial Theater in Laconia, rumored to be haunted by screaming spirits, and the Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua in which visitors frequently report being pushed from behind by ghostly hands.
13. California
Hop in your car and embark on the Northern California road trip that will have your skin crawling for days. You’ll visit abandoned places like the ghost town of Falk, the remnants of the Punta Gorda Lighthouse near Petrolia and the haunting Donner Pass train tunnels.
14. Texas
Texas is known for doing things big, and this terrifying road trip is no exception. This route will take you across the state to creepy places like the haunted Hotel Galvez in Galveston, the infamous Ghost Road of Saratoga and Presidio La Bahia in Goliad, rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of soldiers killed in the Goliad Massacre during the Texas Revolution. More info and directions here
15. North Dakota
This is the ultimate terrifying North Dakota road trip and it’ll have you quaking in your shoes. This route will guide you across the state to places like the extra creepy Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, the incredibly haunted Fort Totten State Historic Site and the Harvey Public Library, where the ghost of a murdered woman named Sophie supposedly roams the shelves and causes havoc. More info and directions here
If your state isn't listed above, why not check out our ultimate American terrifying road trip here?
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