When the open road calls, there’s a certain allure in the journey, especially when that trip takes you down a path steeped in mystery, folklore, and the supernatural.
Certain roadways have gained notoriety throughout the United States for the eerie encounters and ghostly legends surrounding them. These haunted highways offer road trips where spectral happenings may have you second-guessing every shadow, bump, or figure in the distance.
Whether you believe in ghosts or simply love a good spine-chilling story, these 13 spooky road trips offer the right amount of frights for the whole family to enjoy.
A pro ghost hunter’s road trip to 6 of America’s most haunted places
1. Route 66 – Arizona’s Oatman Highway
Historic Route 66 is iconic for its snapshots of Americana, but in the stretch near Oatman, Arizona, it turns into something straight out of a ghost story. The Oatman Highway is a lonely, winding road through a desolate desert landscape, and it’s here that travelers have reported seeing the ghost of an old gold miner.
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The apparition is said to be of a miner who died nearby. Some say he appears as a shadowy figure on misty nights, while others have seen him standing in the middle of the road, forcing drivers to swerve to avoid him, only to disappear into thin air.
Beyond the ghostly miner, the road is dotted with abandoned towns and crumbling buildings that add to the eerie atmosphere, making it a must-visit for travelers seeking a slice of spooky.
2. Clinton Road – New Jersey
Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey, holds the dubious distinction of being one of the most haunted roads in America, and for good reason. This isolated, ten-mile stretch of road is home to many paranormal activities ranging from the unsettling to the downright terrifying.
One of the most famous legends involves a ghostly boy who is said to haunt a particular bridge on the road. If you throw a coin into the water, the boy’s ghost will supposedly return it. But that’s just the beginning.
Drivers on Clinton Road have reported encounters with phantom vehicles that appear out of nowhere and then disappear without a trace. The road is also said to be a meeting place for strange, hooded figures who are believed to be part of a cult.
Travelers along this road have also heard disembodied voices, seen mysterious lights in the woods, and even experienced the sensation of being watched by unseen eyes.
3. Highway 666 – New Mexico
Now renamed Route 491, this stretch of road in New Mexico was once known as Highway 666, and it earned the nickname “The Devil’s Highway” for a reason. The road’s eerie reputation includes a string of unexplained disappearances, landing it on our list of spookiest road trips.
Travelers along this remote route have reported sightings of a phantom truck that barrels down the highway, chasing and terrorizing drivers before vanishing into thin air.
Apart from the phantom truck, there are stories of ghostly hitchhikers who disappear once picked up and strange, shadowy figures that lurk by the roadside, watching as cars pass by.
Many believe the highway’s dark history is tied to ancient curses or the unsettled spirits of those who have perished along the route. Even with its new name, the legends of Highway 666 persist, making it a destination for those seeking the supernatural.
4. Route 2A – Haynesville Woods, Maine
The quiet, rural Route 2A in Haynesville Woods, Maine, hides a dark history beneath its picturesque exterior. This stretch of highway is infamous for a series of car accidents over the years, earning it a reputation as one of the most haunted roads in the state.
The most famous ghost story involves a young woman who supposedly died in a car crash here in the 1960s. According to local legend, her spirit haunts the road, appearing as a pale, distraught figure standing by the side of the highway, waving for help. Drivers who have stopped to assist her have reported that she suddenly vanishes without a trace, leaving them shaken and bewildered.
Another ghostly figure said to haunt this road is that of a trucker who died in a tragic accident. His spectral rig has been spotted on foggy nights, silently cruising the road before disappearing into the mist. The dense woods surrounding the highway only add to the feeling of isolation, making Route 2A a genuinely unnerving route.
5. Ortega Ridge Road – California
Ortega Ridge Road in Southern California is a spooky road trip through hills where the past refuses to rest. Drivers have reported seeing shadowy figures darting across the road, only to disappear when they get closer.
There have also been sightings of a woman in white, believed to be the ghost of a bride who died in a car crash on her wedding day. She is often seen standing on the side of the road, staring forlornly at the cars that pass by. There’s even a rumor of the road being haunted by the spirits of three nuns.
In addition to these apparitions, many who travel Ortega Ridge Road report an overwhelming feeling of dread, as if they are being watched. Strange mists and unexplained cold spots are common, even on warm days, adding to the road’s eerie reputation.
6. The Haunted Hocking Hills Road – Ohio
Deep within Ohio’s Hocking Hills region lies a winding road that’s as beautiful by day as it is eerie by night. This scenic route, connecting the popular Hocking Hills State Park with the surrounding small towns, has earned a reputation for its supernatural activity.
Travelers often report hearing the chilling sound of a woman sobbing in the dense woods that line the road. The legend says she’s the spirit of a mother who lost her child in a tragic accident along this very stretch.
Despite searches, the child was never found, and the mother’s grief is said to echo through the forest, especially on foggy nights.
Drivers have also spotted shadowy figures standing by the road, only for them to vanish as the car approaches. Some believe these are the spirits of early settlers who met untimely deaths in the rugged landscape of Hocking Hills, now forever wandering the area.
7. Shades of Death Road – New Jersey
The name alone is enough to send shivers down your spine, but Shades of Death Road in Warren County, New Jersey, lives up to its ominous moniker. The road’s dark history includes tales of murder, highwaymen, and plague victims. It’s said that the spirits of those who met violent ends here continue to haunt the area.
Travelers have reported seeing shadowy figures moving through the trees and strange mists that appear and disappear without warning. The road is also home to The Ghost Lake, a small body of water that often has an eerie fog hovering over it, regardless of the weather.
There’s even a legend that says if you drive down Shades of Death Road at exactly midnight, you may encounter a ghostly figure standing in the middle of the road, daring you to pass. The unsettling atmosphere and the numerous reports of paranormal activity make this one of New Jersey’s most infamous haunted locations.
8. Route 44 – Massachusetts
Route 44 near Rehoboth, Massachusetts, is a spooky road trip haunted by one of the state’s most notorious spirits: the Red-Headed Hitchhiker.
This ghostly figure is said to be a man with a shock of red hair, dressed in old-fashioned clothing, who appears on the roadside, thumbing for a ride. Those who stop to pick him up often experience a terrifying encounter. The hitchhiker will get into the car, but as the journey continues, he laughs maniacally or sometimes simply stares silently at the driver with a menacing grin.
When the driver turns to confront him, the hitchhiker vanishes. In some cases, drivers have heard his eerie laughter or voice taunting them over the car radio, even when turned off. The sightings are so frequent that many locals avoid driving Route 44 at night, fearing an encounter with the malevolent spirit.
9. Archer Avenue – Chicago
Archer Avenue in Chicago is one of the Midwest’s most haunted roads, home to various ghostly encounters that have been reported for decades.
The most famous of these is Resurrection Mary, the ghost of a young woman who is often seen hitchhiking near Resurrection Cemetery. According to the legend, Mary was a young woman who was killed in a hit-and-run accident while walking along Archer Avenue.
Her spirit now haunts the area, appearing as a pale, blonde woman in a white dress. Drivers who pick her up say she asks to be taken to the cemetery, but when they arrive, she vanishes from the car.
10. Boy Scout Lane – Wisconsin
Boy Scout Lane, located in the woods near Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is a remote dead-end road that has gained a chilling reputation over the years. The road’s name stems from an urban legend about a group of Boy Scouts who supposedly met a tragic end while camping in the area.
Visitors to Boy Scout Lane report experiencing a wide range of paranormal activities, from the sound of footsteps crunching through the leaves to the sight of flickering lights in the woods, believed to be the lanterns of the lost scouts. Some have even seen ghostly figures in Boy Scout uniforms standing by the roadside or moving silently among the trees.
11. Kelly Road – Pennsylvania
Kelly Road in Ohioville, Pennsylvania, is a spooky road trip that’s infamous for its strange and unsettling paranormal activity. At first glance, this quiet, tree-lined road may seem unremarkable, but locals know it as a place where the ordinary turns eerie.
Animals entering the area often become inexplicably aggressive, attacking each other or their owners. The road is also known for its sudden, unexplainable cold spots, where temperatures drop dramatically, even on warm days.
Travelers have heard strange noises, such as footsteps in the woods or something large moving through the underbrush, yet nothing is ever seen.
The sense of being watched while driving this road is pervasive, leading many to believe that Kelly Road is a hotspot for paranormal activity, possibly due to the land’s dark history, which includes tales of old curses and unsettled spirits.
12. Route 375 – Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway
Route 375, better known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, runs through the vast deserts of Nevada, near the secretive Area 51. While this road isn’t haunted in the traditional sense, it’s infamous for the numerous reports of UFO sightings and alien encounters.
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Travelers along this lonely highway have reported seeing strange lights in the sky, often moving at impossible speeds or performing aerial maneuvers that defy explanation.
The highway’s reputation is further fueled by stories of time loss, where drivers arrive at their destination hours later than expected, without memory of the missing time. The barren, otherworldly landscape of Route 375 only adds to the sense of isolation and mystery, making it a mecca for UFO enthusiasts and those curious about the unknown.
13. Route 66 — Missouri’s Devil’s Elbow
Nestled in the Ozarks, Missouri’s stretch of Route 66 near Devil’s Elbow is a scenic yet haunting drive that has captured the imagination of ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike. The area gets its name from a sharp bend in the Big Piney River, which was treacherous for loggers in the early 1900s, earning the nickname “Devil’s Elbow.”
But the name isn’t the only ominous thing about this highway…
The most famous ghost story here involves the spirit of a young woman who is said to wander the roadside. According to local legend, she was a bride tragically killed in a car accident on her wedding day, and now her ghost appears to unsuspecting drivers, often crying and asking for help.
Those who stop to assist her report that she disappears as soon as they get close, leaving them with an eerie feeling of being watched.
Taking any of these spooky road trips is an adventure into the unknown, where the line between the living and the dead blurs. Whether you’re seeking out the supernatural or just love a good ghost story, these roads offer a unique journey that’ll scare your socks off.
Just remember: keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and be prepared for the unexpected—because on these roads, anything can happen.
And if you’d like to customize your own scary road trip, check out Autopilot™. It’s our trip planner that does the hard work for you. Simply answer a few questions and it uses data from 38 million real-life road trips to plan yours.
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