Get Spooked: Top 10 Haunted U.S. States You Must Visit This Halloween
With Halloween approaching, thrill-seekers and ghost hunters are looking for the most haunted destinations in the U.S.
The country is filled with supernatural hotspots, from eerie apparitions to haunted houses with bone-chilling histories.
Thanks to new data compiled by Affordable Urns, we know which states are the best for paranormal activity—ranked by their ‘Paranormal Activity Score,’ which factors the number of sightings per square mile.
If you’re brave enough to explore the unknown, here are the top 10 haunted states that promise spooky encounters this Halloween season.
So grab your gear, your courage, and maybe a friend—because you’ll never know what’s lurking in the shadows.
1. Rhode Island
The Conjuring House (Harrisville)
Despite being the smallest state, Rhode Island packs the biggest punch when it comes to paranormal activity. With 75 paranormal sightings packed into just 1,545 square miles, it’s the perfect spot for ghost hunters looking to maximize their chances of a spooky encounter.
The Conjuring House, an 18th-century farmhouse, is the state’s most infamous location. It became famous thanks to the terrifying 2013 movie The Conjuring, based on the real-life hauntings experienced by the Perron family.
Visitors report strange noises, dark shadows, and objects moving independently. If you’re lucky (or unlucky), you might encounter the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman, the malevolent presence said to haunt the property.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Belcourt Castle (Newport): Known for haunted armor and a ghostly monk.
- The White Horse Tavern (Newport): America’s oldest tavern, where staff have seen ghostly figures and heard disembodied voices.
2. Connecticut
Captain Grant’s Inn (Poquetanuck)
With 185 paranormal sightings across 5,543 square miles, Connecticut earns the second spot on the list. Captain Grant’s Inn is the highlight for ghost enthusiasts. Built-in 1754, this historic bed and breakfast is home to a ghostly woman in a white gown who appears at the foot of guests’ beds.
Visitors also report hearing children’s laughter, the scent of pipe tobacco, and even the presence of a ghost cat that walks across their beds at night.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Union Cemetery (Easton): One of the most haunted cemeteries in the U.S., where visitors have seen the infamous “White Lady.”
- Dudleytown (Cornwall): Known as the “Village of the Damned,” Dudleytown is an abandoned settlement said to be cursed with supernatural activity.
3. Massachusetts
Lizzie Borden House (Fall River)
Massachusetts has a chilling 342 paranormal sightings within its 10,554 square miles. The state’s colonial history and dark past make it a prime location for ghostly encounters.
The Lizzie Borden House, where one of the most notorious unsolved murders occurred, is the most infamous spot. Visitors staying overnight report hearing axe strikes, seeing apparitions of the victims, and feeling an eerie, watchful presence in the room where Abby Borden was killed.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Salem: Known for the Salem Witch Trials, this historic town is full of haunted locations like the Witch House and The Hawthorne Hotel.
- Hammond Castle (Gloucester): A medieval-style castle where paranormal activity has been reported, including cold spots and ghostly figures.
4. New Jersey
The Emlen Physick Estate (Cape May)
New Jersey boasts 194 paranormal sightings spread across 8,723 square miles. Cape May’s Emlen Physick Estate, a 19th-century Victorian mansion, is at the heart of the state’s paranormal activity.
Visitors report ghostly figures, including Dr. Emlen Physick himself, wandering the hallways. Some have even encountered a ghostly dog, believed to be his former pet, heard by the eerie jingle of its collar.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Pine Barrens: Home to the legendary Jersey Devil, the Pine Barrens is a massive forest with countless reports of eerie sightings and strange creatures.
- The Spy House (Port Monmouth): Considered one of the most haunted houses in America, visitors claim to see apparitions and hear unsettling whispers.
5. Delaware
Fort Delaware (Pea Patch Island)
Delaware may be small, but it delivers on hauntings with 37 paranormal sightings crammed into 2,489 square miles. Fort Delaware, a Civil War-era fortress, is known for its spooky atmosphere and ghostly soldiers.
Visitors have heard disembodied voices, seen apparitions, and felt cold chills as they explore the fort’s dark, narrow corridors. Ghost hunters have recorded eerie EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) of voices that can’t be explained.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Rockwood Mansion (Wilmington): A 19th-century Gothic mansion where the original owners are said to haunt the property.
- Delaware’s Governor’s Mansion (Woodburn): Said to be haunted by former governors, with sightings of figures wandering the grounds.
6. Pennsylvania
Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia)
With 642 paranormal sightings in 46,054 square miles, Pennsylvania is home to some of the most haunted locations in America. Eastern State Penitentiary, one of the most terrifying prisons in history, is a must-visit for ghost hunters.
Visitors report hearing whispers and footsteps and seeing ghostly inmates wandering the halls. The prison’s former death row is particularly eerie, with many visitors experiencing overwhelming feelings of dread.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Gettysburg Battlefield: The site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War is teeming with ghostly soldiers and eerie apparitions.
- The Betsy Ross House (Philadelphia): Visitors have seen the ghost of Betsy Ross herself wandering her former home.
7. Maryland
Antietam Battlefield (Sharpsburg)
Maryland’s 170 paranormal sightings across 12,406 square miles include the infamous Antietam Battlefield. As the site of the bloodiest day in American history, the spirits of soldiers are said to linger here.
Visitors often hear gunfire, drumbeats, and the eerie sounds of marching soldiers. Some even report seeing ghostly figures wandering the battlefield.
Other Haunted Spots:
- The Lord Baltimore Hotel (Baltimore): Guests report sightings of a little girl haunting the 19th floor and strange occurrences like flickering lights and objects moving.
- Dr. Samuel Mudd House (Waldorf): The former home of the doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth is haunted by footsteps, ghostly figures, and eerie voices.
8. Ohio
The Ohio State Reformatory (Mansfield)
Ohio’s 477 paranormal sightings across 44,826 square miles make it a hub for ghostly encounters. The Ohio State Reformatory, a massive prison featured in The Shawshank Redemption, is known for its haunted halls.
Visitors report being touched by unseen forces, hearing voices, and seeing shadowy figures in the cell blocks. The “hole,” a solitary confinement area, is particularly active.
Other Haunted Spots:
- Franklin Castle (Cleveland): Known for its ghostly residents and mysterious deaths, Franklin Castle is said to be one of the most haunted houses in Ohio.
- Cincinnati Music Hall: A hotspot for paranormal activity, with multiple reports of ghost sightings and disembodied music playing in the halls.
9. Indiana
Whispers Estate (Mitchell)
Indiana’s 351 paranormal sightings stretch 36,420 square miles, and Whispers Estate is the top haunted destination. The 19th-century Victorian mansion is known for intense paranormal activity, including moving objects, disembodied whispers, and unexplained footsteps.
Some visitors have reported being touched by unseen hands while exploring the house.
Other Haunted Spots:
- French Lick Springs Hotel: Ghostly encounters with former workers and guests have been reported, including the sound of a piano playing by itself.
- Stepp Cemetery (Martinsville): A small, secluded cemetery where ghostly apparitions are frequently seen, including the “Lady in Black.”
10. Kentucky
Waverly Hills Sanatorium (Louisville)
Kentucky’s 366 paranormal sightings across 40,408 square miles include the infamous Waverly Hills Sanatorium, one of the world’s most haunted locations. Once a tuberculosis hospital, it’s said to be haunted by former patients.
Visitors often report seeing shadow figures and experiencing strange, unexplained phenomena in the long, dark hallways. The most notorious area is the “body chute,” where thousands of deceased patients were taken out of the building. Visitors report feeling deep unease and hearing faint moans or whispers while exploring this terrifying site.
Other Haunted Spots:
- The Old Talbott Tavern (Bardstown): Known as the oldest western stagecoach stop in America, it’s said to be haunted by the ghost of Jesse James, with guests reporting objects moving and mysterious figures appearing.
- Bobby Mackey’s Music World (Wilder): This honky-tonk bar has a violent history and is rumored to be haunted by demonic spirits, earning it the title of “the most haunted nightclub in America.”
