Some of the most interesting stories about a place are the ones you hear after dark. Ghost tours mix local history, unsettling legends, and a chance to see familiar streets a little differently.

I’ve done many ghost tours across the country, and these were some of favorites.

Planning details checked September 2026.

Grimm Ghost Tours — Salt Lake City, Utah

I’ve taken two different tours with Grimm. Their Old Town bus tour lets you cover more ground than walking and there are lots of stops to get out and explore. This one is close to home for me so it was extra fun to see the places I drive right past during the daylight.

Their tour lineup varies throughout the year, with some tours available year-round, and some seasonal offerings.
Outer Reaches and cemetery walks only run spring–fall.

Portland Cement Works tours are Mondays in September–October, and the Christmas tour for November 25–December 30.

Pricing:

May–October: adults $30, students with ID $25, children 5–12 $20.
November–April: adults $25, students $20, children $15.
Investigation prices vary by venue.

Children under 5 are not allowed.

Grimm Ghost Tours: current tickets and tour details →

Park City Ghost Tours — Park City, Utah

I did the walking tour along Main Street. It’s a chance to look past the restaurants, shops, and skiing and hear about the mining town that has turned into today’s vacation destination.

What they offer: A roughly 75-minute guided walk, with private group options.
Pricing: $30 adults; $15 for ages 16 and younger.

Season: Year-round, with seasonal start times and reservations recommended. The operator requires at least four participants for a tour to go out.

Park City Ghost Tours: current tickets and tour details →

Seattle Terrors — Seattle, Washington

My Seattle tour was a downtown walking tour with Seattle Terrors. We met outside the Four Seasons, and did quite a bit of walking. There was some stairs and uphill walking required.

The stories: Their route features the former mortuary in the Butterworth Building, the Moore Theatre, and a hotel used by the ruthless gold rushers. And the one I’ll never forget is right above Post Alley, where “doctor” Linda Hazzard believed that starving her patients could cure them of any illness. She killed multiple patients in her “office” called “Starvation Heights.”

Writing this article is making me want to go back 😭

What they offer: The main “Sinister Sins, Scandal, and Shadows” tour lasts about an hour. Other options include the Spirits & Spirits haunted pub crawl and a seasonal Santa and Spirits tour.

Pricing: Main ghost tour from $26; pub crawl from $29. Season: The regular tours are offered daily, year-round, rain or shine; Christmas offerings are seasonal.

Seattle Terrors: current tickets and tour details →

The Whaley House — San Diego, California

The Whaley House is the most popular haunted stop in San Diego. Unlike a city walking tour, this experience takes you inside the home. Our tour guide was named “Ghoulie Julie” and she was so passionate about the house, it was such a great experience. I actually took my 3 year old on this tour (she loves “scary guys”) and she loved it and did so well. It isn’t scary, and the length isn’t as long as some other tours. 2 years later she still talks about Ghoulie Julie.

The house’s lore includes Yankee Jim, who was executed on the property before the home was built, tragedies within the Whaley family, and reports of footsteps, crying, and apparitions.

A self-guided daytime visit or a guided evening tour of approximately 30–40 minutes. They also offer an after-hours paranormal investigation lasting about two hours.

Pricing:

Daytime tours from $15, evening guided tours from $20, and investigations from $109.

Season: Year-round. Evening tours and investigations require reservations.

Whaley House: current tickets and tour details →

Historic Fairmont Hotel — Deadwood, South Dakota

The Fairmont Hotel might be my favorite ghost tour I’ve done. The building’s worn rooms and Wild West history make it a very different setting from the city sidewalks.

This 1895 building operated as a brothel, bar, and gaming hall. The tour connects its violent, colorful past with reports of present-day hauntings. Ghost, Paranormal & Brothel Tours combine history and paranormal stories.

Pricing: $20 for approximately 90 minutes. (Absolutely insane value)
Season: Deadwood’s official visitor listing advertises nightly tours at 8:30 p.m., but does not explicitly guarantee year-round availability. Confirm directly before making a special trip.

Historic Fairmont Hotel: current tickets and tour details →

Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum — Las Vegas, Nevada

The Haunted Museum in Las Vegas is not your typical ghost tour, it is an indoor collection of unsettling objects and stories, with a much different atmosphere from an outdoor ghost walk.

30+ themed rooms feature objects the museum describes as haunted or cursed, including the famous Dybbuk Box (look up Post Malone and the Dybbuk Box,) Peggy the Doll, and the Devil’s Rocking Chair. Some stories are disturbing, so this one may not be good for sensitive guests.

The standard guided museum experience is great. But you guys, I NEVER EVER pay extra for things. I don’t get “add-ons”, I don’t fall for upsells. BUT the RIP All Access pass was so worth it 😭 we got to go in extra rooms, and got souvenirs at the end. Of course, if the extra money makes the difference between going and not going, just go and do the standard tour, it’s still so fun.

Pricing: General admission $54; RIP All Access $88.
Season: Year-round, normally Wednesday–Monday, closed Tuesdays. Reservations required, this tour only allows ages 12 and older; check the full requirements when booking.

Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum: current tickets and tour details →

French Quarter Phantoms — New Orleans, Louisiana

The New Orleans ghost tour was a French Quarter walking tour with French Quarter Phantoms. Between the old buildings, balconies, and narrow passages, the neighborhood has plenty of atmosphere before the stories even begin. The above picture is Madame LaLaurie’s home where she committed heinous torture and murder against those enslaved by her. I won’t tell the stories here, but it’s very disturbing. Legend says that even walking under her balcony will get you cursed.

The stories: Their Ghost + Vampire Tour covers local haunting legends and vampire lore, including the history of the LaLaurie Mansion.

The Ghost + Vampire Tour lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours and covers less than a mile.

I took my 4 year old on this one and she didn’t do well. It was too long and too much walking for kids.

Pricing: Standard Ghost + Vampire Tour $22 online, regularly $25;

Season: Regular ghost tours run nightly, with 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. departures. Reservations required.

French Quarter Phantoms: current tickets and tour details →

The Clown Motel & Old Tonopah Cemetery — Tonopah, Nevada

If you’re looking for a haunted stop in the middle of fricking nowhere, look no further than the cemetery beside the Clown Motel. This one is in Tonopah, Nevada. A clown-filled motel next to a historic cemetery is quite a combination.

The cemetery was used from 1901 to 1911 and holds adults and children from Tonopah’s early mining years. Local stories describe reports of unexplained sounds, lights, and apparitions around the cemetery.

You can explore the cemetery with a self-guided walking brochure. But when we checked into the Clown Motel, the motel manager told us about the tour. I honestly think it might be an “unofficial” tour, and he just does it sometimes. This is not a professionally produced tour by any means. But it was pretty cheap and totally worth it. It is an experience we still talk about all the time.

Pricing: The cemetery itself is free to visit; donations support preservation. I can not remember the actual price of the ghost tour.

Season: The cemetery is generally accessible year-round, 24/7, subject to weather or special closures.

Old Tonopah Cemetery: current tickets and tour details →

Visit the Clown Motel’s official website →

A few things to know before you book

Choose the kind of experience you want: a history-focused walking tour, an indoor haunted attraction, or a hands-on paranormal investigation. Check walking distances, stairs, meeting locations, and age requirements; especially if you’re planning a family outing.

Many of these experiences run year round. Whether you believe the ghost stories or just enjoy history with a spooky twist, they can be a memorable way to spend an evening somewhere new.

Planning a spooky Utah trip? Read my Utah haunted house guide and Northern Utah Halloween activities guide.