Spook & Stay: 7 Weekend Halloween Destinations with Tours to Visit
- Erin
- Oct 24
- 3 min read
Whether you crave candlelit ghost walks, eerie old mansions, or pumpkin eats, these destinations deliver atmosphere, intrigue, and are easy weekend getaways. Below you’ll find each city’s haunted highlights as well as some of the spookiest hotels in the US.
1. Salem, Massachusetts – Halloween Tours, Witch Trials & Coastal Eerie Charm
Why go: One of my favorite US cities with loads of spooky Halloween tours. Few places embody the holiday like Salem. The 1692 witch trials left an indelible mark, and the entire town embraces that history each October with parades, psychic fairs, haunted harbor cruises, and ghost-themed museums. Narrow alleys lit by flickering lanterns feel cinematic at night. Stop by the Witch House, one of the oldest in Salem, or grab cider in a centuries-old tavern.
Stay: Hawthorne Hotel
2. New Orleans, Louisiana – Voodoo Legends & Haunted French Quarter Nights
Why go: New Orleans layers its spooky reputation with jazz, architecture, and voodoo folklore. The French Quarter’s ornate balconies and candlelit courtyards set the stage for ghost stories — from the infamous LaLaurie Mansion to pirate Jean Lafitte’s tavern. Even cemeteries here are above-ground labyrinths of marble and moss. October brings haunted pub crawls, voodoo festivals, and costumed parades that stretch late into the night.
3. Savannah, Georgia – Spanish Moss & Southern Ghost Stories
Why go: Savannah’s cobblestone squares and antebellum homes conceal centuries of legends. Locals call it “America’s most haunted city,” and for good reason — from the eerie Marshall House hotel (once a Civil War hospital) to Bonaventure Cemetery’s hauntingly beautiful sculpture garden. October’s mild weather and fog over the river make late-night walks both spooky and cinematic.
Stay: The Marshall House
4. Portland, Oregon – Shanghai Tunnels & Haunted Speakeasies
Why go: Beneath downtown Portland runs a network of tunnels once rumored to “shanghai” unsuspecting sailors — and today they anchor one of the Pacific Northwest’s most haunted experiences. The city’s old taverns and theaters tell stories of lost spirits and mysterious disappearances. Pair a ghost tour with the city’s award-winning food carts or craft-beer spots for a quirky Halloween weekend that mixes eerie with cozy.
5. Galveston, Texas – Haunted Island Mansions & Gulf Breezes
Why go: Galveston, nicknamed “The Haunted Island,” hides ghost tales behind its pastel facades. The 1900 hurricane claimed thousands of lives, and many say spirits still linger in the city’s grand Victorian mansions. The Hotel Galvez hosts ghost-story dinners and paranormal tours, while the nearby Strand Historic District becomes a stage for Halloween parades and costumed bar crawls.
Stay: Hotel Galvez & Spa
6. Denver, Colorado – Haunted History & Rocky Mountain Shadows
Why go: Denver’s 19th-century boom left behind grand hotels and dark stories. The Oxford Hotel is famous for its ghostly “room 320,” while the nearby Brown Palace offers history tours that blur the line between opulence and the occult. The city’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) area hosts ghost walks past old saloons and brothels.
Stay: The Oxford Hotel
7. Eureka Springs, Arkansas – America’s Most Haunted Hotel
Why go: Nestled in the Ozarks, this Victorian spa town is home to the Crescent Hotel & Spa which is widely called the most haunted in America. Guests have reported apparitions from its past life as a 1930s hospital. Join a magical tour, then balance the chills with a soak in the hotel’s spa or a visit to the candlelit downtown full of shops and cozy cafes.
Stay: Crescent Hotel & Spa
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