Looking for a spooky Halloween adventure? Here are the top haunted campgrounds across the USA. From the East Coast to the West Coast and stops in between there is something for everyone.
‘Tis the season for ghouls and goblins, witches, and wizards, and for us outdoorsy types, it can also be the season for scary places to camp.
If you love sitting around the campfire telling ghost stories, then this article is right up your alley. Grab your tent or RV and head out to one (or all) of these haunted campgrounds.
Where To Find The Top Haunted Campgrounds In The US
The easiest way to find haunted campgrounds in your area is to Google “overnight haunted camping near me” or “haunted campgrounds near me”!
There are listings for haunted campgrounds, haunted places, or paranormal camping all across the country. If you are looking for a fun camping experience for the whole family then try camping during the spooky season.
So here are our haunted camping recommendations.
The Braley Pond Campground
Braley Pond Campground is popular with hikers, campers, and fishermen with a pond and nearby creek. It is in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest near West Augusta, Virginia.
While it seems like a tranquil forest environment during the day that can all change as the sun sets.
People have reported getting nauseous when in the area, seeing floating orbs of light, and hearing horses galloping down the road. The most well-known tale is about the ghost that haunts Braley Pond.
Campers claim to have heard loud laughter that can’t be accounted for, and a ghostly figure floating over the creek.
Take a weekend camping trip if you dare!
Antietam Creek Campground
If you are a Civil War buff, then you have most likely heard of the Battle of Antietam. On September 17, 1862, the deadliest battle of the Civil War took place near Hagerstown, Maryland. The battle of Antietam Creek left 23,000+ soldiers dead, MIA, or wounded.
At the Antietam Creek Campground, campers have had encounters with military ghosts, and claim to feel supernatural energy all around the area.
This sounds like a great place to tell Antietam ghost stories around the campfire!
Crystal Lake Recreation Area Campground
The story from the Crystal Lake Recreation Area Campground is a tragic one. The year was 1934, and Stephen Majors was hired to help build the Crystal Lake Amphitheater & Dance Studio in the Angeles National Forest. The Majors family was living in a tent close to the construction site.
One night the parents went for a walk while the children were asleep in the tent, and when they returned a bear was attacking the children, and then the parents. All were killed and buried on the hillside below the dance studio.
As the story goes many people have seen the apparitions of two adults and two children at the dance studio ruins. This would be a great reason to shuffle out of LA for the weekend and do some spooky camping at Crystal Lake.
Carl G Washburne Memorial State Park, Oregon
Situated near the coastal town of Florence in Oregon a haunted beachside campsite awaits your next supernatural adventure.
While we have all heard reports of vengeful spirits, the spotlight here is on Rue, a long-ago steward of these grounds and lighthouse.
Visitors have attested to witnessing her presence, sitting on the beds, and moving objects within rooms. Even laborers around the lighthouse have shared accounts of encountering her offering assistance with their chores.
The Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park takes beach camping to a new level!
Beaver Creek Campground
In August of 1959, a 7.5 earthquake hit the West Yellowstone area of the Madison River in Montana. The quake triggered a landslide and millions of pounds of rocks & boulders crashed into a campground killing 28 campers.
Quake Lake was formed by this huge landslide, and the remains of the campground & trailers sit at the bottom of the lake.
If you’re a brave soul and camp at Beaver Creek Campground be sure to take a stroll down to Quake Lake at night. If it is a moonless night you may be one of the lucky ones who see glowing orbs floating over the water where the campground once was.
Big Moose Lake, New York
If you’re in the Adirondaks area a stop at Big Moose Lake is a must for adventurous ghost hunters. For more than a century, individuals have insisted on having glimpsed the spectral figure of a woman named Grace Brown. Her tragic demise transpired many years past at the shores of Big Moose Lake.
Testimonies recount her ghost wandering along the lake’s edge, while others believe they’ve witnessed the apparition of a woman in ethereal form submerged in the waters as if reenacting a drowning scene.
This story is a little long so sit back & relax as we weave a tale of treachery and murder. The narrative unfolds in 1906 with the tale of an 18-year-old named Grace Brown, toiling away at a skirt factory in Cortland, New York. Fate introduced her to the beguiling nephew of the company’s proprietor, Chester Gillette.
Their affections bloomed in secrecy, culminating in pregnancy, and fearing the plight of an unmarried mother, she implored Gillette to wed her, yearning for escape from such a fate. To her hopeful anticipation, he pledged a journey, presumably a proposal in the making.
Venturing to upstate New York, they embarked on a canoe voyage upon the lake. However, amidst their journey, Gillette, armed with a tennis racket from his bag, struck a brutal blow to her head despite her earlier admission of being unable to swim. The impact cast her into the water, where she met her tragic end by drowning. Gillette’s arrest swiftly followed, leading to his eventual death sentence.
Since those fateful events, campers have recounted encounters with an otherworldly presence lingering at the edges of Big Moose Lake.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
If you’re looking for more haunted campgrounds in California, then add Humboldt Redwoods State Park to your list. While you might catch a glimpse of Bigfoot, you also might encounter the spirits of Native Americans. The Sinkyone people used to live in this forest, and their spirits remain to protect the sacred trees (more on them in a minute).
Visitors and campers have reported seeing spirits standing in the dark forest, and slowly melting into the forest.
The Humboldt Redwoods State Park is also home to 6 “ghost trees” that the Sinkyone people deem sacred trees and are protecting. The “ghost trees” are rare albino redwoods that average 30 feet tall. A benefit of camping at Humboldt Redwoods State Park is that you could say you saw a GHOST – a “ghost tree” that is.
As for the spirits of the Sinkyone people you might have a ghost of a chance of seeing one!
Holy Ghost Campground In New Mexico
Situated on the outskirts of Santa Fe within the quaint town of Tererro, this campground possesses an eerie allure. However, the paranormal tales are not necessarily the most spine-chilling aspect. To reach this spooky destination, adventurers embark on a journey down a creepy road that leads to Forest Service Road 122.
Two tales exist regarding the origin of this haunted location. In one, it is said that during the late 17th century, a Spanish priest took the lives of Native Americans from the Pueblo. The alternative version recounts that the Pueblo Native Americans were responsible for the priest’s demise.
More recent mysterious events have occurred in the area that include: disappearances, automobile accidents, fights due to perceived paranormal sightings, and ghostly figures floating in the forest.
During the day go hiking and commune with the natural beauty of the Holy Ghost Campground, and at night get ready for a spooky encounter!
Final Thoughts On The Top Haunted Campgrounds
We hope you find this list of haunted campgrounds useful, and that someday you venture out for a spooky camping trip, and maybe snap some scary photos. If you do share them with us!
Get the bonfire blazing, tell ghost stories, and save a place around the campfire because you never know who might join you!
For more articles on RV Travel and Remote Work check out these valuable resources
5 Best Small RVs For Full-Time Living
The Best Michigan Bucket List Destinations
The Best Boondocking Apps For RV’ers
Writing a Resume for Remote Work Opportunities
