Haunted Outdoor Adventures: Ghost Towns & Spooky Campsites to Visit
The spooky season is upon us, and there’s no better time to explore the darker corners of history. Across the United States, ghost towns and haunted campsites offer a mix of touristy fun, paranormal intrigue, and history for thrill-seeking adventurers. While there’s likely a haunted site near you, there’s something special about planning a spooky road trip. Check out these 10 ghost towns and haunted sites for an unforgettable time.
10 Best Ghost Towns For History, Mystery, and Spooky Outdoor Adventures
Ghost towns and haunted parks make for some spine-tingling stops on a cross-country road trip. Many are close to major attractions like Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, making it easy to combine eerie explorations with less scary attractions. Plan your cross-country road trip to hit several sites in one go.
Bannack State Park
Bannack State Park is located near Dillon, Montana. It’s arguably one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the United States. Founded in 1862 during the Gold Rush, Bannack was a booming town until the 1930s, when the gold finally dried up. The town gradually emptied, leaving old buildings frozen in time.
Today, Bannack is an educational spot for history buffs. If you’re looking for spookier adventures, consider waiting until the fall to visit and go on their guided ghost walks.
Calico Ghost Town
Located off I-15 near Barstow in Yermo, California, Calico was once a booming silver mining town in the late 1800s. At its peak, more than 500 mines kept the town alive, but when silver prices dropped, so did the population.
Today, you can get a day pass to explore Calico or stay the night at the Ghost Town Campground, which offers tent and RV camping sites.
Bodie State Historic Park
Bodie, California, is one of the best-preserved Gold Rush towns in California. It was a booming town, but a series of fires and dwindling gold production led residents to abandon the area by the 1930s.
You can’t camp inside Bodie State Historic Park itself, but you can visit its abandoned buildings during the day. Bodie is just an hour from Yosemite National Park, though, so you can set up a base there and plan a day trip to Bodie.
Terlingua
If you’re in the mood for something otherworldly, plan a trip to the Mars-like desert landscape of Terlingua, which is located in western Texas. Sitting just outside the Big Bend National Park, Terlingua is an old mining town. While it used to be completely abandoned, a thriving music scene has revived the city. You can still visit the old saloon and trading post or take a self-guided tour of the ruins. The 100-year-old Terlingua cemetery is also full of eerie history.
Saints John
Saints John is an abandoned town inside the White River National Forest in Colorado. This old silver mining town still features remnants of the 1800s, including weathered cabins and an old smelter.
But be warned: this is a more intense off-roading destination, so attempt this trip at your peril. You’ll have to traverse a challenging 4x4 trail, so come with the proper road trip gear essentials. Saints John is isolated, so you can’t camp there, but there are plenty of campgrounds available in the White River National Forest.
Big Moose Lake
Big Moose Lake is a gorgeous area in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. However, the lake's chilling backstory makes it a destination only for thrill-seekers.
In 1906, Grace Brown was murdered here by her lover, Chester Gillette, who drowned her in the lake. The crime inspired several books and movies, and many visitors still claim that Grace haunts the lake.
Fort Worden State Historical Park
Located in Port Townsend, Washington, the Fort Worden State Historical Park lets you explore a decommissioned military base. Trawl through abandoned barracks and buried tunnels that purport to feature paranormal encounters. Ghost hunters regularly flock here, reporting glowing orbs and strange sounds in the shadowy corridors.
Holy Ghost Campground
Visit the Santa Fe National Forest to experience the bone-chilling Holy Ghost Campground. Legend has it that a murdered Spanish priest from the 1600s haunts the area. There’s also a rumor of people vanishing into thin air, never to be seen again. Despite the ghost stories, Holy Ghost Campground is a popular destination with tent and RV sites.
Donner Memorial State Park
Yes, there is a park at the location of the Donner Party tragedy. Located in Truckee, California, visitors say they’ve seen ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises at the campground.
If you don’t believe in ghosts, Donner Memorial State Park also offers a lot of historical knowledge about that fateful 1846 winter. You can also plan a getaway to Lake Tahoe from this park if you want a break from the ghosts.
Moundsville Penitentiary
West Virginia is home to one of the most haunted prisons in the nation. Located in the Ryerson Station State Park, the West Virginia Penitentiary was open from 1876 to 1995. Its colorful history includes riots, executions, and grim stories of violence, so it’s no wonder this site is a magnet for ghost hunters.
You can’t camp inside the penitentiary itself (and why would you want to?), but the state park offers some nearby campgrounds. Spend the day touring the prison on a guided ghost hunt, then retreat to your campsite by dusk to let the adrenaline settle.
Power On the Trip: Ready to Light the Campsite
Don’t let a dead phone or lantern turn your trip into a real horror story. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power Station is a must-have for powering phones, lanterns, fans, and even small RV appliances while you’re at base camp.
You don’t have to rough it even if you’re at a primitive camp, either. The EcoFlow GLACIER Classic Portable Fridge Freezer keeps your food and drinks ice-cold, no matter whether you’re in a bunkhouse or a primitive campsite in the middle of nowhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Illegal to Explore Ghost Towns?
It depends. Most ghost towns are on public land or in national parks, so they’re legal to visit. Some ghost towns are on private property and aren’t open to the public, and those are illegal to visit without permission. When in doubt, check online before you visit to see if the site is public or private.
What Is the Scariest Ghost Town in the World?
It’s up for debate, but the town of Pripyat, Ukraine, is often cited as one of the scariest ghost towns in the world due to its proximity to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Not only is it eerie, but the area is still so radioactive that visitors have to take Geiger counters to avoid high levels of radiation.
What Abandoned Town Is Illegal to Visit?
Centralia, Pennsylvania, is a thrilling town to visit, but it’s illegal to do so for safety reasons. Workers accidentally started an underground coal fire in the 1960s that’s still raging today. It causes unexpected sinkholes and smoke, so the area is off-limits to visitors.
EcoFlow for Off-Grid Ghost Town Adventures
Exploring rugged ghost towns gives you the chance to see history firsthand. Still, most ghost towns are in secluded areas where power and other amenities just aren’t available. From keeping your lanterns glowing in dark tunnels to powering GPS devices, phones, or even a portable fridge, having dependable energy ensures your haunted outdoor adventure stays safe and comfortable. Power your appliances, phones, lanterns, and more with the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power Station.