12 Haunted Roads in the US That Will Make You Second-Guess Night Drives

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The US is the ultimate destination for a frighteningly fun road trip with some of the most haunted roads. From spooky desert highways to creepy forested paths, just because you’re in your vehicle doesn’t mean you won’t encounter the paranormal.

Some roads in the US are peaceful. Others are like portals to the underworld. From truck drivers to family vacationers, people have seen their worst nightmares while driving on these roads.

No matter if you’re just passing through or investigating ghostly encounters, these roads will test even the bravest souls. Below are the 12 most haunted roads you can drive in the US.

Route 666, New Mexico

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The name alone says a thousand words, or maybe just one: C.R.E.E.P.Y. New Mexico’s famous and treacherous Route 666 has claimed the lives of several motorists. Its windy and steep passes are not for the faint of heart and nor are the souls that haunt it.

The Devil’s Highway, as people call it, is one of the most haunted routes in the US. Every year, people report seeing ghostly phenomena. Trucks on fire, jaywalking ghouls, skinless faces, and hellhounds. Yeah, no thank you!

The 200-mile stretch of highway was renamed Highway 491 in 2003 as if that would stop any ghost. Even paranormal investigators have been caught off guard here. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The Road to Nowhere, Bryson City, North Carolina

There is nothing more sinister than a tunnel when it comes to haunted roads in the US. Well, a tunnel with no exit, that’s a problem. This 6.5-mile road dead ends at a long-abandoned tunnel. If you pass through, strange things will probably happen.

When the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) told several families to leave their homes during the dam constructions of the 1940s, the authority promised to build roads so the displaced people could visit the graves of their loved ones. The government never ended up building the roads.

According to some people, the spirits of the abandoned town’s cemeteries appear at the tunnel entrance, searching for their long-lost loved ones. As creepy as it is, it’s a sad story and an incredibly beautiful part of America.

The Spooky Stagecoach Road of Marshall, Texas

Texas is a big state with big vehicles, big highways, and even bigger ghost stories. If you travel through Marshall, keep your eyes peeled for Stagecoach Road.

This 19th-century former stagecoach route looks haunted, with eerie trees along the side towering above you as you drive and moments of isolation. The road lined with tall oak trees is barely a dusty single-track dirt road, with a few farms and homes.

People have often seen the ghost of a woman and her kids walking alone. The road is so haunted that paranormal investigators have snapped quite a few pictures and videos. Take a look yourself if you dare.

Jeremy Swamp Road and the Melon Heads, Southbury, Connecticut

Urban legends can be fun, but some are just plain twisted. Enter the Melon Heads. Small alien-like creatures who devour the flesh of animals and humans who break down along the side of the road.

The legend’s origin remains shaky. Some stories say they were a Colonial-era family, banished to woods for practicing witchcraft.

Regardless, many motorists have claimed to see these terrifying creatures on Jeremy Swamp Road. To make matters worse, it’s not uncommon for hikers to find severed animal parts scattered on the forest’s trails and along the side of the roads. Happy driving!

The Graves of Owaissa Street, Appleton, Wisconsin

Driving by the Riverside Cemetery, many people have reported seeing ghostly figures in the distance. They appear in the cemetery, mourning their loved ones. If you get out of your car, it may make them angry.

If you enter the cemetery, you may encounter the grave of Kate Blood. Kate’s tombstone, according to many, oozes blood on full moons.

The site attracts many visitors who come to experience the sightings. Many leave disappointed while others sometimes have the scare of their life.

Highway 66’s Bloody Bride Bridge, Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Motorists report seeing a woman with a bloody wedding dress sitting on the side of the bridge on Highway 66 in Stevens Point. Others have seen the ghoulish apparition appear in their back seat as they cross the bridge at night. Either way, we would probably rather take another route.

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Legend has it that a young woman died on the bridge on her wedding night. Since then she continues to haunt passing motorists, who cross her cursed bridge.

The sightings are frequently terrifying and ghost hunters visit the bridge often, trying to detect the woman’s presence. There are no records of any accidents or deaths on the bridge, leading some people to wonder just who is doing the haunting.

Goatman’s Bridge, Denton, Texas

What many people call Goatman’s Bridge was built in the late 19th century and is one of the most haunted roads in the US. Old Alton Bridge, its true name, was once a busy crossing that linked Texas’ growing communities. Today, anyone who ventures across the bridge can unknowingly summon the spirit of the Goatman.

Legend has it, that a goat farmer was murdered on the bridge. Since then, his spirit haunts it like a half-man, half-goat entity looking for revenge.

Other spirits have been seen on the Old Alton Road, such as the spirit of a lonely woman. Other strange sightings include vanishing lights that appear in the forest. Hikers perhaps? Nah, probably just ghosts.

Boy Scout Lane, Stevens Point, Wisconsin

According to legends, a local Boy Scout troop went missing, supposedly murdered. Their bodies were never found. Since then, the hauntings have been numerous.

The lane is now private property, but in the past, witnesses reported hearing strange laughs in the woods. Children’s handprints appear on cars passing by. Other sightings include lanterns and other lights appearing and suddenly disappearing with no one around.

The true history remains a mystery. There are no records of any Boy Scout troop going missing. Still, like many drives in Wisconsin, it’s quite eerie.

The Miner of Prospectors Road, Garden Valley, California

Ghost towns are plentiful in California. Gold and ore mining turned the state’s rural communities into boom towns. In the small community of Garden Valley, motorists report seeing ghosts of miners haunting the road.

The area’s history is rich with tragic deaths. From cave-ins to murders, there’s plenty of sources for the hauntings reported on the small road.

People driving report seeing several apparitions. Objects, plants, and rocks seem to suddenly move violently. For residents, it’s just another day in Garden Valley.

The Truck Stop of Route 66, Villa Ridge, Missouri

Who doesn’t like getting a plate of ham and eggs at a truck stop only to see a ghost behind the counter? Stuff like this happened at Villa Ridge’s Route 66 truck stop.

Since 2006, the truck stop has been closed but passersby still see and feel some spooky energy from the road. The stop has even been investigated by paranormal researchers who claim it could be some kind of otherworldly portal.

When the stop was in business, the usual hauntings included frisky ghosts nicknamed George and others who just wanted a bite to eat. Now abandoned, you can visit the site if you dare. Just bring some hash browns and coffee for George. He misses it dearly.

The Nuns of Ortega Ridge Road, Montecito, California

Santa Barbara County has plenty of creepy sights, from haunted taverns to my GPA after graduating from UCSB. In the high-brow town of Montecito, Ortega Ridge Road is where many motorists see “Las Tres Hermanas.”

The three nuns appear and vanish on any given dark night. Lonely motorists report seeing them on the side of the road doing what nuns do best, praying.

According to local legends, the nuns were killed by bandits several hundred years ago. If you go during the day, it’s one of the prettiest drives in the area.

The Alien Ghosts of Route 375, Rachel, Nevada

This supernatural highway is known as the extraterrestrial highway, thanks to the nearby Area 51. Even though many people still report seeing aliens, they’re certainly not the only weird sightings in these parts.

Many motorists have reported seeing ghosts while driving along the highway. Strange beings appear and vanish. Drivers beware, there’s usually no cell phone service to call for help.

As creepy as the road is, it’s also a unique part of the country. You’ll see small stores selling anything from alien jerky to alien hats.

Read also: America’s Most Quirky Towns