Some houses just feel wrong the moment you cross the threshold. The good news for the brave? Plenty of America’s most notoriously haunted buildings are open to the public — and many will let you book a room and stay the night, if you dare. We’ve organized this tour by region so you can find the spooky spots nearest you. Grab a flashlight and let’s go.
The Southeast
The Marshall House — Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is often called America’s most haunted city, and the Marshall House is its crown jewel. Built in 1851 and used as a hospital during the Civil War and yellow fever epidemics, guests report ghostly footsteps, children’s laughter, and faucets turning on by themselves. Room 414 is the notorious one. Rooms typically run around $150–$250 a night, and it’s a regular stop on local ghost tours.
St. Augustine, Florida — America’s Oldest and Most Haunted City
Founded in 1565, St. Augustine has had over 450 years to collect its ghosts. The Old Jail, the city gates, and historic inns like Casa Monica are all famous for paranormal activity. Walking and trolley ghost tours run most nights starting around $25–$40 per person, and plenty of historic B&Bs let you stay the night in the heart of it.
The Don CeSar — St. Pete Beach, Florida
This iconic pink Gulf-front resort, opened in 1928, is said to be haunted by its original owner Thomas Rowe, still searching for his long-lost love Lucinda. Guests and staff report seeing a ghostly couple strolling the grounds. Nightly rates vary by season but generally start a few hundred dollars.
The Myrtles Plantation — St. Francisville, Louisiana
Often called one of America’s most haunted homes, this 1796 plantation-turned-B&B is tied to the legend of Chloe, a ghost said to appear in photographs. Guests report cold spots and whispers around the 3 a.m. witching hour. Nightly rates generally run around $150–$250, with history and mystery tours offered during the day.
New Orleans, Louisiana — The French Quarter
New Orleans may be the most haunted city in America. The French Quarter is thick with haunted mansions, from the infamous LaLaurie Mansion to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. You can’t tour inside LaLaurie (it’s privately owned), but nightly ghost tours walk you past it and other legendary spots, usually starting around $25–$35 per person.
The Northeast
The Lizzie Borden House — Fall River, Massachusetts
The site of the infamous 1892 axe murders is now a bed and breakfast where you can sleep in the actual rooms where it happened. Guests report whispers, cold spots, and footsteps in the dead of night. Day tours run roughly $25 per person, and overnight stays typically start around $200–$250 depending on the room.
The House of the Seven Gables — Salem, Massachusetts
This 1668 seaside mansion inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name. Visitors report a giggling ghost boy in the attic, a woman peering from the windows, and footsteps on the secret staircase. It’s a museum you can tour by day, with admission around $20–$25 — and Salem as a whole is ghost-tour central every October.
Eastern State Penitentiary — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This crumbling historic prison is famous for shadowy figures and ghostly whispers echoing down its cell blocks. Daytime history tours run year-round, and its massive Halloween event “Halloween Nights” is one of the most famous haunted attractions in the country. Daytime admission is around $17–$22; the Halloween event costs more.
The West & Mountain States
The Stanley Hotel — Estes Park, Colorado
The hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining after his 1974 stay during a winter storm. Room 217 is the one everyone wants, and it books out fast around Halloween. Standard rooms start around $200 a night, with night ghost tours available for non-guests too.
The Queen Mary — Long Beach, California
This retired ocean liner is permanently docked and doubles as a floating hotel. Stateroom B340 is so notorious for apparitions and knocking sounds it was closed for decades — now you can book it with a ghost-hunting kit included. Standard staterooms often start near $100–$150 a night, with haunted tours available separately.
The Menger Hotel — San Antonio, Texas
Built in 1859 right next to the Alamo, the Menger is said to host dozens of ghosts, including Teddy Roosevelt and a former chambermaid still making her rounds. It’s a working historic hotel, with rooms generally starting around $150–$200 a night.
Not Haunted, Just Terrifying: Overnight Horror Camps
If real ghosts aren’t scary enough, some haunts stage the scares for you. This summer, Nightmare Rising ran Camp Coffin Creek in Chino, California, a 12-hour overnight horror experience where guests joined a slasher-style story, followed clues and tried to survive until morning. It ran on four nights in August 2026, so it has already wrapped up, and we haven’t seen a date for a return. You can read more in KTLA’s coverage, and check the organizer’s pages for any future dates. Events like this usually have age limits and rules, so confirm before you book anything.
A Few Tips Before You Go
- Book early for October — haunted rooms sell out first around Halloween.
- Prices shift with dates and season, so always confirm on the official site.
- Many places offer day tours if you’re curious but not quite brave enough to stay the night.
- Check age restrictions — some overnight experiences are adults only.
- Some famous houses (like the LaLaurie Mansion) are private — admire them from the street on a ghost tour, don’t trespass.
From Georgia plantations to California ocean liners, nearly every corner of the country has its haunted landmark. Whether you’re a true believer or just love a good scare, these spots deliver the real thing. Sweet dreams… if you can sleep at all.