7 Haunted U.S. Getaways That Are Spooky, Fun & Totally Affordable

Ghost stories don’t have to come with scary price tags. Haunted travel is booming this year, with thrill-seekers chasing ghosts, lore, and a little adrenaline, without selling their souls or their savings. From Salem’s witches to ghost towns in the Sierra Nevadas, these seven haunted destinations across the U.S. serve up eerie vibes, budget ghost tours, and lodging that won’t make your credit card scream. Whether you’re a full-on ghost hunter or just into spooky aesthetics, these haunted destinations offer experiences that are creepy, clever, and totally doable.

Why Visiting Haunted Destinations Won’t Ghost Your Wallet

Exploring some of the best haunted destinations doesn’t have to cost a fortune; in fact, it can be totally reasonable! Haunted travel is basically a low-budget horror movie: campy, thrilling, and surprisingly affordable. Most cities have ghost tours that cost less than your bar tab, landmarks that are spooky and free, and old neighborhoods that are walkable (and maybe cursed?). You’ll catch serious chills, no need for expensive gear or paranormal subscriptions.

1. Salem, Massachusetts

Vibe: Witch trials and cobblestone creepiness.

Salem is one of the top haunted destinations in the U.S., drawing visitors eager to explore its eerie history. Join the History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour to hear about Bridget Bishop’s ghost haunting Old Burying Point. Free Salem Common, with its eerie colonial vibes, adds no-cost chills. Spring visits dodge October’s witchy crowds.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Walkable streets and budget haunted tours make it a scream for all, no broomstick required.

Activity: Salem Ghost Tour (affordable, spooky tales, choose the nighttime tour to be led around by lantern light).

Stay: Want the ultimate haunted sleepover? The Daniels House Bed & Breakfast, dating back to 1667, delivers creaky floors, candlelit vibes, and a few ghostly roommates (including a spectral cat and a Puritan gent who may or may not rearrange your stuff). It’s spooky, stunning, and the priciest on the list—but you’re paying for history, hauntings, and top-tier ambiance.

Willing to splurge a little less but still stay central? The Hotel Salem puts you right in the witchy thick of things with modern style and a rooftop bar—ghost sightings not guaranteed, but great people-watching is.

Rolling on a tighter budget? Sonesta Select Boston Danvers is just three miles out, with free parking, comfy beds, and rates that leave more room in your wallet for potions, crystals, or just snacks.

👻🏨 The Daniels House B&B ➡️ Check Availability

2. New Orleans, Louisiana

Vibe: Voodoo queens and jazz-loving spirits.

As one of the most famous haunted destinations, New Orleans blends spooky spirits with lively culture. The French Quarter is a ghost party that never sleeps. Take a French Quarter Ghost Tour (cheap, accessible) to spot Marie Laveau’s voodoo spirit near St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Free Jackson Square hums with pirate ghosts at dusk. Sip an affordable Hurricane while you haunt. Don’t miss the infamous LaLaurie Mansion, the city’s most chilling haunt (and our cover image), where Madame LaLaurie’s horrific legacy still sends shivers through Royal Street.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Flat sidewalks and open-container laws make it a budget-friendly and potentially wild ghost fest.

Activity: French Quarter Voodoo & Vampire Ghost Tour (budget-friendly, 90 minutes, includes a stop at the rumored home of a real vampire).

Stay: Ghosts without the gouge! Check out Haunted Hotel New Orleans for a spooky, budget-friendly stay in the French Quarter!

👻🏨 Haunted Hotel New Orleans ➡️ Check Availability

3. Savannah, Georgia

Vibe: Spanish moss and ghostly Southern belles.

Savannah’s Southern gothic vibes are unreal. Stroll Forsyth Park (free) for tales of ghostly soldiers, or join a Savannah Candlelit Ghost Walk (affordable and entertaining) to meet Molly’s spirit at the Sorrel-Weed House. Bonaventure Cemetery’s creepy statues are free and freaky. Fall visits keep it cool and spooky.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Wide paths and free haunts make it a ghostly steal for all.

Activity: Explore a haunted historic building on a very unique paranormal investigation tour by night with real ghost-hunting tools and guides who actually know how to use them. The place has been everything from a pharmacy to a speakeasy; now it’s mostly occupied by…whoever hasn’t left.

Stay: Built in 1851, The Marshall House is one of the most famously haunted hotels in the U.S. Guests swear they’ve heard ghostly children laughing, doors slamming on their own, and even spotted Civil War soldiers roaming the halls.

👻🏨 The Marshall House ➡️ Check Availability

4. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Vibe: Civil War ghosts that never clock out.

Gettysburg’s 1863 battlefield is a paranormal jackpot. A Ghostly Battlefield Tour (affordable) spills tales of Jenny, a spectral soldier at Little Round Top. Free Devil’s Den rocks whisper war stories. Spring visits beat summer’s crowds for max chills.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Open fields and flat trails keep it accessible, with ghosts that don’t charge entrance fees.

Activity: Check out this All Ages Ghost Tour 90-minute walking tour that hits haunted hotspots like the Jennie Wade House, Farnsworth Inn, and the David Wills House (yep, Lincoln crashed here). Think ghost stories with Civil War drama, creepy, informative, and kid-approved. You’ll hear whispers of history…and maybe something else.

Stay: The Tillie Pierce House Inn – Stay in a real Civil War survivor’s home. This historic inn is haunted (obviously), charming, and walkable to everything. Budget-friendly for the vibe you’re getting.

👻🏨 The Tillie Pierce House Inn ➡️ Check Availability

5. St. Augustine, Florida

Vibe: 450-year-old ghosts with a sunny twist.

St. Augustine, America’s oldest city, is a ghost-fest with serious Poltergeist vibes. Join the Night Watchman Ghost Walking Tour for a creepy crawl through haunted streets packed with tales of colonial spooks and spectral sailors. The guides bring history to life with stories that’ll make you clutch your flashlight.

Don’t miss the free Tolomato Cemetery, it’s crawling with colonial spirits and costs absolutely nothing to get thoroughly creeped out. Winter visits keep things cool, calm, and perfectly spooky.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Flat sidewalks and budget tours make it a ghostly gem for all—BYO courage.

Activity: Too spooky to walk? Ride instead. This fun small-group golf cart tour cruises through St. Augustine’s haunted hotspots, from the Castillo de San Marcos to Flagler College, while your guide drops tales of paranormal mayhem, colonial curses, and ghost sightings that stick with you.

Stay: Tucked into the historic heart of St. Augustine, the St. Francis Inn blends cozy B&B charm with a serious side of the supernatural. This 18th-century spot has tropical gardens, fireplaces, verandas, and a resident ghost named Lily.

Legend says she was a 19th-century servant in a forbidden romance that ended in heartbreak and attic tragedy. Guests who stay in “Lily’s Room” report cold touches, bedsheets yanked off, and lights that flicker for dramatic effect. The vibe? Warm hospitality with a side of haunted mischief. The cost? A little pricey, but welcome to Florida!

👻🏨 St. Francis Inn ➡️ Check Availability

6. Galveston, Texas

Vibe: Salty scandals and ghostly pirates on a haunted Gulf shore.

Galveston isn’t just beachy, it’s bawdy. Once crawling with brothels, bootleggers, and backroom deals, this Gulf Coast gem is a “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel with ghosts who never got the memo to leave.

The Galveston Red Light District Tour (1.5 hours, adults only) spills the haunted tea on its scandalous past, from mob dens to Texas’s oldest drugstore.  Beyond the tour, the Strand’s spectral sailors and the 1900 hurricane’s lost souls haunt free spots like Ashton Villa’s eerie gardens and the moody Bishop’s Palace. Spring visits bring mild temps and max spookiness.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Walkable streets and budget-friendly haunts make it a scream for thrill-seekers—no eye patch required.

Activity: Want scandal with your spooks? The adults-only Red Light District Tour serves up ghost tales and Galveston’s bawdy past in one juicy walk. Got kids in tow? The Historic Galveston Ghost Tour keeps it creepy with pirates, phantoms, and stormy legends—no R-rated history required.

Stay: The Tremont House is a historic 1839 stunner with free Wi-Fi, a killer location near the haunted Strand, and plenty of ghost stories baked into the brickwork

👻🏨 The Tremont House ➡️ Check Availability

7. Bodie, California

Vibe: Wild West ghost town with horror movie energy.

Bodie’s abandoned ghost town screams “The Hills Have Eyes.” The Bodie Ghost Walk (budget-friendly) shares tales of cursed miners (don’t steal souvenirs!). Free access to empty homes and dusty streets is eerie enough. Visit in spring for max silence.

Why it’s spooky and savvy: Remote but accessible trails, with cheap ghost adventures for all.

Activity: Bodie Ghost Walk (1 hour, flat paths).

Stay: Bridgeport Inn (circa 1877) is just 20 miles from Bodie and dripping with Old West charm, and maybe a few lingering spirits. Room 16 is the hot spot for ghostly footsteps and eerie whispers. A solid haunt HQ with historic flair and a side of goosebumps.

👻🏨 Bridgeport Inn ➡️ Check Availability

Budget Hacks for Your Ghostly Getaway

When planning trips to these popular haunted destinations, smart budgeting can help you experience the thrills without overspending. Chasing spirits shouldn’t spook your bank account.

Here’s how to haunt on the cheap:

• • Book smart: Use Booking.com for wallet-friendly stays—ghosts don’t charge rent, so why should you?
  • Off-peak vibes: Midweek or shoulder seasons (spring, winter) mean cheaper rates and more ghost time.
  • Free haunts: Devil’s Den, Forsyth Park, and Tolomato Cemetery are zero-cost creep-fests.
  • Snack hack: Ditch ghost-themed lattes for deli haunts. Check our budget travel hacks.
  • Ghost gear: Want proof or just peace of mind? Pack a cheap EMF detector (under $20), a mini flashlight (ghosts hate overheads), or even a travel-size sage smudge spray, because spooky doesn’t mean unprepared.

Spook On Without Spending a Ton

From Salem’s witchy whispers to Bodie’s cursed ghost town, these seven haunted U.S. spots prove you can hunt spirits without selling your soul or savings. Grab a budget tour, crash in a cozy steal, and let the ghosts do the entertaining. Skeptics, save your sass and join the fun. Want calmer vibes? Try our sensory-savvy U.S. trips or explore USA road trip ideas for budget-savvy adventures.

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