13 Haunted Hotels + Home Rentals You Can Book Right Now

Known as Shamrock House, this wooded rental cabin at the base of Sassafras Mountain in South Carolina may or may not be haunted by Nancy the Ghost (the owners will neither confirm nor deny, but they do reference encounters on the FAQs page of their website). It's said that Nancy – who was hired as an entertainer for the evening in 1927 – overdosed on pills in the home. Paranormal activity ranging from flickering lights, unexplained cold spots and mysterious footsteps, even weeping, have been reported by guests.

BOOK NOW: VRBO, from $398 per night

Widely considered the most haunted city in America, New Orleans is home to multiple hotels and rentals boasting stories of the dead that continue to freely drift the earth. At Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, guests and staff alike regularly report ghostly activity, like a restaurant door that opens and closes nearly every evening despite being locked. The spirits of a hotel employee and a toddler, both of whom died in the hotel, have been reported near the rooms in which they passed. In 2003, the International Society of Paranormal Research spent several days in the hotel and connected with a dozen spiritual entities.

BOOK NOW: Hotels.com, from $199 per night

Built in 1910, Hobo Hill House may blend in seamlessly with every other house on the block in Jefferson City, Missouri. Just don't go into the basement. Sold to and renovated by a family of four in 2017, this dream home turned into a nightmare (and a profitable one at that) following a spate of paranormal activity that led the family to turn this 109-year-old home into a rental property. Today, eager guests book nights in the home in hopes of seeing the television and lights turn off and on, even floating apparitions, for themselves.

BOOK NOW: VRBO, from $275 per night

Just four blocks from Hotel Monteleone sits the Dauphine Orleans Hotel, another historic property in the French Quarter said to be frequented by otherworldly spirits. Ranging from Civil War soldiers in gray wool uniforms to bordello-employed ladies of the night, guests and staff have reported multiple sightings across the hotel, from the courtyard to the cocktail lounge. In the bar, in particular, numerous phenomena, like unexplained noises, glasses shattering on the floor and rearranged liquor bottles, have been frequently reported.

BOOK NOW: Hotels.com, from $109 per night

Tucked away in the Garden District of New Orleans is the stately Parks-Bowman Mansion. Here, guests can stay the night in the 130-year-old home's haunted bedroom, which is said to be inhabited by the spirit of a shy, young girl in a yellow dress from the 1890s. Keep your eyes and ears open during your stay. She's said to hum lullabies and hide eyeglasses on occasion. It remains a mystery why the girl wanders about the property, but guests continue to be mystified by the presence of this gentle apparition.

BOOK NOW: Airbnb, from $70 per night

In Rapid City, South Dakota, the historic Hotel Alex Johnson has long been considered one of the most historic hotels in America. Numerous apparitions have been reported, including an oft-seen "Lady in White" and the ghost of Alex Johnson himself, a vice president with the former Chicago & North Western Railroad who died in 1938 (and has since stayed on premises to ensure operations run swimmingly). Eighth floor guests have recounted stories of a young girl giggling and knocking on doors, only to disappear down the hallway. Book a Ghost Adventure Package to stay the night in one of the hotel's haunted rooms.

BOOK NOW: Hotels.com, from $74 per night

Situated in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the David Stewart Farm is a historic Civil War farmhouse that was used as a field hospital following the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. According to the owner, the home is haunted, frequented by soldiers who died and remained at the farm. (But they are friendly, he says.) The 100+ acres of the farm are said to be quite active, on occasion holding an entire Civil War battle regiment. From time to time, ghost hunts are held at the farm in search of paranormal activity.

BOOK NOW: Airbnb, from $99 per night

Situated on Fishers Island, New York – a stone's throw from Mystic, Connecticut – VRBO's 11-bedroom Victorian Summer Cottage is reportedly occupied by the ghost of Amy Fay Stone, an actress and opera singer from the 1920s. It's said that since her death in 1953 she's blithely wiled away the hours in the dining room, maybe waiting for the next dinner party. Seances are welcome for those eager to spiritually connect with this ethereal house guest.

BOOK NOW: VRBO, from $835 per night

At the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, three ghostly legends entice visitors and passers-by to learn more about the hotel's haunted history. (The front desk will even provide you with a fact sheet for more on each one.) The first is of a little girl who met her end in 1887 chasing a ball down the grand staircase, stirring reports of hearing giggles and bouncing balls. The second tale details two "suicide brides" who offed themselves in room 525. The final haunted legend tells of cigar smoke that can be smelled from time to time, presumably from Col. Jesse Driskill, founder of the historic hotel that dates back more than a century.

BOOK NOW: Hotels.com, from $179 per night

Situated in Government Camp, Oregon, Mountain Rose may not itself be haunted, but it's hardly a stone's throw from Timberline Lodge. Exterior shots of this hotel were featured in the 1980 horror classic, The Shining, a movie some consider to be the scariest horror movie ever made. While Timberline Lodge may haunt your dreams (if only because you snapped movie keepsake photos in front of its facade), this private five-bedroom cabin is an ideal home base for hiking, mountain biking, fishing and skiing in the Mount Hood area.

BOOK NOW: Vacasa, from $149 per night

Just one block from downtown Wake Forest, North Carolina sits the Stroud House, a quaint, brick-arched cottage. As the owners note, guest have been witness to supernatural activities in common areas, like footsteps in the hallway (when no one is present), glowing orbs in the living room and lights that turn on at random. The owners also note, however, that nothing paranormal has been reported in the room available for nightly stays. On request, haunted tours of the home are available.

BOOK NOW: Airbnb, from $60 per night

Retired from service and docked in Long Beach, California, the Queen Mary earned the reputation as a haunted ship after numerous disasters, including a split hull that left few survivors. Today, this floating cruise liner hotel that dates back to the 1930s has more than 350 staterooms and suites. Sign up for the one-hour Haunted Encounters Tour for paranormal stories and legends of ethereal residents who roam the infamous ship even today, including the ghost of an engineer who died in the engine room. A Dining with the Spirits experience pairs first-class dining with a guided paranormal tour of the ship's mysterious past.

BOOK NOW: Hotels.com, from $99 per night

It's rumored that a ghost roams this one-bedroom cottage in Savannah, Georgia and makes her presence known from time to time by flickering lights and opening up windows. The pine cottage, aptly named "Laura's Cottage" after the ghost that makes the home her own, dates back more than a century. It's said that Laura lived in the cottage for 50 years and continues to plod about the home well after her death. Guests may recognize the cottage from the 2010 mystery, The Conspirator, which was filmed in Savannah and starred Robert Redford.

BOOK NOW: Airbnb, from $178 per night