The Most Haunted Hotels in America You Can Actually Stay In
- Natalija Ugrina
- 13 hours ago
- 9 min read
There are some hotels where you sleep peacefully… and then there are the ones where every creaking floorboard suddenly sounds like footsteps in the hallway at 3 a.m.
America is filled with historic hotels that are famous not only for luxury and architecture, but also for strange paranormal stories that refuse to disappear. Some hosted celebrities and presidents. Others witnessed tragic deaths, unsolved mysteries, or disturbing events that allegedly left spirits behind. And unlike abandoned mansions or Halloween attractions, these are real hotels where you can actually book a room and spend the night yourself.
Over the years, I’ve stayed in several haunted hotels personally, and honestly, even if you don’t believe in ghosts, some places simply have an atmosphere that feels impossible to ignore once the lights go out.
From glamorous old Hollywood landmarks to eerie Victorian inns and haunted hotels hidden in quirky small towns, here are the most haunted hotels in America you can actually stay in.
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1. The Stanley Hotel — Estes Park, Colorado
If one hotel defines haunted hotel culture in America, it’s the Stanley Hotel.
Opened in 1909 high in the Colorado mountains, the Stanley became world famous after inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining. King reportedly stayed in Room 217 while the hotel was nearly empty during the off-season, and the unsettling experience later inspired the fictional Overlook Hotel.
Today, guests report hearing piano music echoing through empty halls, children laughing late at night, doors opening by themselves, and shadow figures appearing in photographs. Room 217 remains one of the hotel’s most requested rooms, with visitors specifically hoping for paranormal activity.
What makes the Stanley especially eerie is the setting itself. Surrounded by mountains and often covered in fog, the hotel already feels cinematic before you even hear the ghost stories.
2. Hotel Monteleone — New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans may honestly be the most haunted city in America, so naturally some of the country’s most haunted hotels are located there.
The Hotel Monteleone has operated in the French Quarter since 1886 and is famous for both luxury and paranormal activity. Guests and staff report seeing ghostly children roaming the halls, hearing unexplained whispers, and spotting apparitions inside the hotel’s famous Carousel Bar.
One of the most common stories involves a young boy said to haunt the property after dying there decades ago. Elevators reportedly stop on empty floors, and guests have described sudden cold spots throughout the building.
The French Quarter already feels mysterious after dark, and staying in a historic hotel like the Monteleone somehow amplifies the atmosphere even more. If you love spooky history, you can also read my guide to the top haunted places in New Orleans for even more eerie locations throughout the city.
3. Crescent Hotel — Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Known by many as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent Hotel has one of the darkest histories on this list.
Built in 1886 as a luxury resort, the hotel later became a hospital run by notorious fraudster Norman Baker, who falsely claimed he could cure cancer. Patients died there under horrifying conditions, and many believe their spirits never left.
Today, guests report hearing footsteps in empty rooms, seeing apparitions wandering the hallways, and experiencing unexplained cold spots. Paranormal investigators frequently visit the hotel, and the property openly embraces its haunted reputation.
Honestly, even photos of the Crescent Hotel somehow look unsettling.
4. The Biltmore Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California
Walking into the Biltmore feels like stepping directly into old Hollywood.
Opened in 1923, the hotel hosted celebrities, glamorous parties, and political figures during Hollywood’s golden era. But behind the chandeliers and grand staircases lies one of Los Angeles’ most famous ghost stories.
The hotel is rumored to be connected to Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia, who was allegedly last seen there before her infamous unsolved murder in 1947.
Guests report seeing mysterious women dressed in black, hearing footsteps echo through empty corridors, and experiencing strange cold spots throughout the hotel.
I stayed here myself, and honestly, once the hallways become quiet late at night, the atmosphere feels genuinely eerie.
5. Magnolia Hotel — Seguin, Texas
This may have been one of the creepiest hotel stays I’ve personally experienced.
The Magnolia Hotel dates back to the mid-1800s and once served as a stagecoach stop for travelers moving through Texas. Today, it’s considered one of the most haunted hotels in the state.
Guests report hearing voices, footsteps, doors opening on their own, and shadow figures moving through the property. Paranormal investigators regularly visit the hotel, and stories involving children’s spirits are especially common.
What makes the Magnolia so unsettling is how authentic it feels. Unlike polished luxury hotels with spooky marketing campaigns, this place genuinely feels frozen in another era. The antique furniture, creaking floors, and dim lighting make every little sound feel suspicious.
And somehow the fact that Seguin is also known for giant pecans and squirrel statues only makes the entire experience feel even stranger.
6. Bourbon Orleans Hotel — New Orleans, Louisiana
Few hotels in New Orleans embrace their haunted reputation quite like the Bourbon Orleans.
Originally built as a ballroom and theater before later becoming a convent and orphanage, the building’s long history produced countless ghost stories over the years.
Guests report hearing children laughing in empty hallways, seeing dancers reflected in mirrors, and spotting figures dressed in old-fashioned clothing wandering through the ballroom.
Some visitors specifically request rooms rumored to have the strongest paranormal activity.
The Driskill is one of Texas’ most legendary historic hotels — and one of its most haunted.
Built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, the hotel quickly became a symbol of luxury in Austin. But over time, ghost stories began spreading throughout the property.
One of the hotel’s most famous legends involves a little girl who allegedly died falling down the grand staircase while chasing a ball. Guests claim to hear children laughing and report sightings of a young girl near the staircase late at night.
The dark wood interiors and historic Texas atmosphere only make the hotel feel even more mysterious.
8. The Queen Mary — Long Beach, California
Technically a ship, but absolutely deserving a place on this list.
The Queen Mary once operated as a luxury ocean liner before later becoming a permanently docked hotel in California. Over the years, numerous deaths reportedly occurred onboard, and the ship developed a reputation as one of the most haunted places in America.
Guests describe hearing knocking sounds in empty cabins, children laughing near the abandoned swimming pool, and seeing apparitions wandering the narrow hallways.
Sleeping overnight on a haunted ocean liner honestly sounds terrifying enough on its own.
9. St. Francis Inn — St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine already feels haunted before you even check into a hotel.
As the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental United States, St. Augustine is packed with centuries of history, ghost tours, cemeteries, and mysterious legends.
The St. Francis Inn dates back to the 1700s and is considered one of the most haunted places in the city. Guests report hearing whispers, footsteps, piano music, and children laughing late at night.
Despite the ghost stories, the inn still feels charming and cozy — which somehow makes the
paranormal reputation even creepier.
Check out St. Augustine’s Top 10 Haunted Spots
10. Casa Monica Resort & Spa — St. Augustine, Florida
Another famous haunted property in St. Augustine is the stunning Casa Monica.
Built in 1888, the hotel’s dramatic Moorish Revival architecture already creates an eerie atmosphere. Guests report strange shadows, unexplained noises, and unsettling late-night experiences throughout the property.
At night, the massive hallways and historic interiors feel straight out of another century.
11. Hollywood Roosevelt — Hollywood, California
The Hollywood Roosevelt is famous not only for celebrities, but also for ghost sightings.
Opened in 1927, the hotel hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony and became a gathering place for Hollywood stars. Today, guests claim the spirit of Marilyn Monroe still appears in mirrors near her former suite.
Others report hearing phantom music and seeing shadow figures moving through the hotel late at night.
I actually used to live close to the Hollywood Roosevelt when I first moved to Los Angeles, and I can honestly say the place always had an eerie atmosphere, especially at night. Maybe it’s the history, the old Hollywood legends, or the ghost stories connected to the hotel, but it never felt like just another luxury hotel.
12. Congress Plaza Hotel — Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s Congress Plaza Hotel has one of the strongest haunted reputations in the country.
Guests report hearing screams, seeing shadow figures, experiencing flickering lights, and watching doors slam shut by themselves. Room 441 is especially notorious among paranormal enthusiasts.
Even some hotel employees reportedly avoid certain parts of the property after dark.
13. Hotel del Coronado — Coronado, California
This beautiful beachfront resort near San Diego hides one of America’s most famous ghost stories.
The legend centers around Kate Morgan, a young woman who checked into the hotel in 1892 before later being found dead under mysterious circumstances. Guests and employees claim her spirit still roams the property.
Reports include flickering lights, strange breezes, and sightings of a woman dressed in Victorian clothing wandering through the hotel.
The contrast between the sunny California coastline and the hotel’s eerie legends somehow makes the story even stranger.
14. The Marshall House — Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is already known as one of America’s most haunted cities, and the Marshall House is often considered its most haunted hotel.
Built in 1851, the hotel served as a hospital during the Civil War and later during yellow fever outbreaks. Guests report hearing hospital sounds, seeing apparitions in hallways, and waking up to faucets turning on by themselves.
Savannah’s moss-covered streets and historic atmosphere already feel ghostly, so staying here only adds to the experience. If you’re visiting the city, you can also check out my guide to Savannah’s top haunted places for even more eerie spots around town.
15. Omni Parker House — Boston, Massachusetts
The Omni Parker House is famous for both history and hauntings.
Opened in 1855, the hotel hosted literary legends, politicians, and celebrities over the years. Guests claim the spirit of founder Harvey Parker still wanders the halls checking on his hotel.
Others report unexplained elevator activity and strange noises coming from empty rooms.
16. Jerome Grand Hotel — Jerome, Arizona
Originally built as a hospital in the 1920s, the Jerome Grand Hotel overlooks the old mining town of Jerome, Arizona.
The building’s hospital history contributes heavily to its haunted reputation. Guests report hearing coughing sounds, footsteps, and voices throughout the hotel.
The isolated desert setting somehow makes the experience even more unsettling.
17. Mizpah Hotel — Tonopah, Nevada
The Mizpah Hotel sits in the middle of Nevada’s old mining country and is famous for the legend of the “Lady in Red.”
Guests report seeing the ghostly woman wandering through hallways and rooms late at night. Others claim to hear whispers and unexplained noises throughout the historic property.
The hotel’s old mining-town atmosphere feels perfectly suited for ghost stories.
18. Dauphine Orleans Hotel — New Orleans, Louisiana
Another haunted New Orleans favorite is the Dauphine Orleans Hotel.
Guests report seeing ghostly figures in old military uniforms and hearing strange sounds near the hotel’s historic bar area. The property’s long history in the French Quarter contributes heavily to its paranormal reputation.
Honestly, almost every historic building in New Orleans seems to come with its own ghost story.
19. Le Pavillon Hotel — New Orleans, Louisiana
Le Pavillon combines luxury with eerie legends.
Guests report seeing apparitions dressed in period clothing, hearing phantom conversations in empty hallways, and experiencing unexplained electrical disturbances.
The dramatic chandeliers and historic interiors create an atmosphere that already feels slightly mysterious before the ghost stories even begin.
20. Logan Inn — New Hope, Pennsylvania
The Logan Inn in New Hope may not be as famous as some of the others on this list, but it has developed a strong haunted reputation over the years.
Guests report strange noises, unexplained shadows, and unsettling experiences throughout the historic property.
The small-town setting somehow makes the atmosphere feel even more personal and eerie.
Why Haunted Hotels Fascinate Us So Much
I think haunted hotels fascinate people because they combine two things humans naturally love: travel and mystery.
Unlike haunted attractions designed purely for entertainment, these are real buildings filled with decades — sometimes centuries — of history. People celebrated there, slept there, died there, and left behind stories that continue long after they’re gone.
And honestly, there’s something uniquely unsettling about turning off the lights in a hotel room knowing generations of guests before you reported hearing the exact same unexplained footsteps.
Final Thoughts on Haunted Hotels in America
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, haunted hotels have a way of making travel unforgettable.
Some of these places are glamorous. Some feel deeply unsettling. Others are beautiful during the day and completely different once the hallways empty at night.
But all of them prove one thing: sometimes the most memorable hotel stays come with a few ghost stories included.
And if you decide to spend the night in one of them… maybe leave the bathroom light on just in case.