The 7 Spookiest U.S. Hotels Where You Can Spend A Night 👻

If you love Halloween like I do and want to find the spookiest U.S. hotels that are open for guests, keep reading!

Since I live in Gettysburg, I don’t have to go far to find a haunted hotel, and there are two of them on my list.

On this list, you’ll find grand hotels with chilling histories to houses that were witness to bloody crimes. Check out these six supernatural locales where you can get a room (but I won’t say you’ll sleep)!

Before we dive into the spookiest U.S. hotels I invite you to grab a copy of my TRAVEL PLANNER. This 16-page PDF guide helps you organize your trip, from what to pack, to preparing a budget and keeping a schedule.

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A white tombstone marked as Unknown U.S. Soldier to mark the haunted hotels.

Ghosts & Ghouls: America’s Most Haunted Hotels

If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping in a haunted house, you don’t have to wait until Halloween. Across the U.S., some of the spookiest hotels welcome guests brave enough to check in and share a night with lingering spirits.

From historic inns with chilling ghost stories to grand hotels where paranormal encounters are part of the charm, these are the haunted stays you can actually book.

Here are my top 5 favorite spookiest U.S. hotels.

1. The Welty House & Brickhouse Inn, PA 👻

Located on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, the Welty House remains a site scarred by battle — and not just due to the bullet holes that still pepper its brick walls.

Serving as a post for sharpshooters as well as a shelter for the home’s residents during the bloody Battle of Gettysburg, the house quickly became acquainted with death.

According to a historical marker posted outside the property, two Confederate soldiers died in the house, and 36 soldiers from both sides were buried on the property before eventually being transported to the National Cemetery. However, it seems not all of their souls made the journey.

Now part of the Brickhouse Inn, the Welty House still holds the eerie echoes of the battle’s darkest days.

💡 Quick tip: Save money while exploring top Gettysburg attractions by booking with Viator or Get Your Guide.

Guests who’ve stayed at this historic home have heard ghostly gunfire and spotted manifestations of uniformed men. Odd sensations and cold spots are commonplace, along with the sounds of moving furniture.

Those unwilling to spend the night in this spooky stay can simply take a tour, but those bold enough to endure the witching hour must book a room.

Book a room at the spooky Welty House.

Pro Tip: Gettysburg has lots of ghost tours. Here’s the Top 10.

The Lizzie Borden House, MA 👻

No lover of true crime’s Massachusetts vacation is complete without a stay in the infamous Lizzie Borden House in Fall River. Home to one of the most notorious and discussed murders of the 19th century, it has long held an ominous presence in the quiet community.

It was in this Queen Anne-style Victorian home that 32-year-old Lizzie Borden is believed to have killed first her stepmother and then her father, leaving a gruesome mess in the parlor and second floor.

While theories abound as to who actually committed the murders, one thing is for sure — this house is not at rest.

Haunted by the spirits of not just the murder victims, but also by neighboring child spirits, a variety of paranormal occurrences have been reported at this site, from giggling children on the third floor to furniture moving before guests’ eyes.

By day, the home is open for tours. But night is when the true darkness seeps in. Guests can stay in numerous rooms in this morbid bed and breakfast, including the very one in which Lizzie Borden’s stepmother was murdered.

Book a Room at the Lizze Borden House

3. Villisca House, IA 👻

For those who hold a fascination for cold cases, the Villisca House is a sinister draw. The site of a horrific murder that deeply rattled this rural Iowa community, this modest house where eight persons were slaughtered one June evening now operates as a living museum — one saturated with a macabre air.

Considered to be one of the most heinous crimes in Iowa state history, the Villisca axe murders occurred late one night in 1912, leaving a family of six and two guests lifeless in every bed. Yet neighbors heard no screams.

All that was left at the scene of the crime was a plate of uneaten food, a bowl of bloody water, and a four-pound slab of bacon next to an ax.

The murder was never solved. Today, the property is plagued by disembodied footsteps, strange shadows, and small objects moving. Many have captured orbs and EVPs while inside.

Others have witnessed a strange fog that drifts from room to room. Some guests have even reported their children playing with unseen companions.

Although open for tours by day, anyone brave enough to close their eyes in this Iowa murder house can rent one of three rooms or even the whole house overnight.

Book a Room at the Villisca House.

4. Jennie Wade Birthplace House, PA 👻

A simple weatherboard structure nestled in historic Gettysburg, the Jennie Wade Birthplace House may not be the best place to get some shut-eye, but it’s a spectacular opportunity for encountering ghostly phenomena.

The childhood home of the only civilian to die in the three-day-long Battle of Gettysburg, it seems the dutiful Jennie and her family continue to abide here in phantom form, just like the children who linger in the haunted orphanage building.

The 1800s home still stands relatively unchanged, with period furnishings and original floors, lending occupants a taste of what daily life might have been like in war-torn Gettysburg.

Here, guests can book an overnight ghost hunt, supplied with ghost hunting equipment to conduct their own personal investigation. The equipment sets it apart from other haunted Gettysburg hotels.

As to the haunted activity, those who’ve visited the Jennie Wade Birthplace house have experienced plenty. People have heard quiet conversations, laughter, and strange whispers outside Jennie’s old bedroom.

Others have heard a baby’s cry, and some have even sighted a Civil War soldier pacing the floor. It appears Jennie isn’t the only specter that lingers in this home, as her mentally ill father and infant sister also make themselves well-known.

See why it is one of my top spookiest U.S. hotels?

Book a Room at the haunted Jennie Wade Birthplace

5. The Stanley Hotel, CO 👻

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, was famously put on the map by Steven King after the author stayed one nightmare-inducing night, inspiring him to pen “The Shining.”

But the property has a haunted history that goes back much further, with unsettling occurrences stretching back decades.

The room that Steven King stayed in during the 1970s comes with its own bizarre history. In 1911, a gas buildup within room 217 caused an explosion, destroying 10 percent of the hotel and nearly killing the chambermaid.

Her spirit, along with the founder and many other staff, has seemingly returned to dwell at this grand establishment.

Book a Room at the haunted Stanley Hotel

6. Hotel Del Coronado, CA 👻

Anyone looking to experience a beachside stay along with spirits would be hard-pressed to find a better location than the Hotel Del on California’s Coronado Island. Said to be haunted by the spirit of Kate Morgan, a woman who died by suicide at the hotel in 1892, it stands as one of the most breathtaking haunted accommodations you can find.

To this day, strange events plague the third-floor guestroom where Kate stayed, including electrical disturbances, curious breezes, unexplained smells, and disembodied voices.

Kate’s ghostly initials have even appeared on the mirror of a steamy bathroom. A few lodgers have reported sighting a despondent woman in black lace, believed to be the eternal resident of room 3327.

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Why Spend The Night In A Haunted Hotel?

Once the crowds fade and day turns to night, the quiet settles upon you and the veil thins, setting the scene perfectly for ghosts to appear.
Haunted hotels attract paranormal enthusiasts. What better way to spend a vacation than with other like-minded lovers of the unknown?
Although “boos” themselves can’t be booked, the longer you stay in one of the spookiest U.S. hotels, the higher your chances are of an otherworldly encounter, especially if you come equipped with your own ghost hunting gear.

Wrap-Up of Spookiest U.S. Hotels

While haunted hotels may seem like a seasonal thrill reserved for Halloween, these spooky stays are open year-round for those who dare to book a night.

If you’re really into ghost stories, are simply curious about the unknown, or want to test your courage, spending the night in one of America’s most haunted hotels promises an unforgettable adventure.

A brush with the paranormal can be just as chilling in the heat of summer as it is on a crisp October night.