Haunted Cemeteries & Voodoo Queens: 15 Epic Southern Ghost Tours
Ghost tours are spooky, exciting, and full of local lore. Here are some of the South's best ghostly adventures. Image: Witches Brew Tours
Updated October 2026 by Paige Townley
Whether you’re counting down to Halloween or still wondering what all the pumpkin spice fuss is about, spooky season has officially arrived. As the calendar moves toward October 31, we’re taking a peek at who — or what — might be lurking in the shadows of some of the South’s most haunted towns. Ghost tours offer an entertaining way to uncover a place’s darker history, and if you’re lucky, you might even meet a few spirits along the way … don’t worry, we mean of the cocktail sort! Here are 15 Southern ghost tours worth adding to your fall itinerary.
Haunted Ghost Walk | McDonough, GA
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.
More Info: mcdonoughghosttours.com
By day, McDonough’s historic downtown is full of charming shops, restaurants, and small-town character. After dark, though, the square takes on a different kind of energy. On this 90-minute, lantern-led walking tour, Southern Ghost Tours shares stories of the souls said to still wander the area, from a location that once served as the city morgue following the Camp Creek Train Wreck to one of McDonough’s reportedly haunted buildings.
Along the way, you’ll hear firsthand accounts from local employees about recent sightings and supernatural encounters, plus the stories behind some of the town’s most enduring ghostly legends. Consider it a history lesson with a few chills along the way. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children (12 and under) and seniors (60 and older).
The Savannah Ghostwalker Tour and Ghost Hunt | Savannah, GA
Dates: Nightly (except for Mondays) at 9 p.m.
More Info: savannahghostwalker.com
Savannah is practically synonymous with ghost stories, from its historic cemeteries and battlefields to the legends that linger around its squares. For a more intimate take on the city’s haunted history, the Savannah Ghostwalker Tour and Ghost Hunt keep things small — just 15 guests per tour — and hands each group a real K-II electromagnetic field meter to put their ghost-hunting skills to the test.
Rated PG-13, the experience blends true Savannah history and legends with stories of paranormal activity as experienced guides lead you through some of the city’s most haunted places. Tickets are $35 for adults ages 16 and up.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium | Louisville, KY
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays until October 31, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight
More Info: thewaverlyhillssanatorium.com
There’s no shortage of ghost stories at Waverly Hills Sanatorium, but the building’s history is just as fascinating. Opened in 1910 as a tuberculosis sanatorium, the Louisville landmark eventually became one of the city’s most notorious abandoned buildings before being purchased and restored in 2001.
Today, visitors can explore its five floors after dark on a Paranormal Tour, where guides share stories of shadowy figures, unexplained sounds, and other reported encounters — including a look down the infamous “body chute.”
Prefer to investigate for yourself? Public and private paranormal investigations offer even more time to explore the historic property after hours. General admission tickets are $20, and RIP tickets — which include a mini tour of the sanatorium plus fast-pass access to the haunted house — are $60.
The Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington | Wilmington, NC
Dates: Daily, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
More Info: hauntedwilmington.com
Wilmington’s historic streets have plenty of stories to tell. The 90-minute Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington draws on decades of local research to explore some of the Port City’s most actively haunted homes, graveyards, and historic sites. Costumed guides lead you through old alleys and cobblestone streets, sharing tales of hauntings dating back hundreds of years alongside more recent ghostly encounters. The tour rotates among 30 researched locations, so even returning guests may hear a different collection of stories each time.
The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour | Charleston, SC
Dates: Nightly at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
More Info: ghostcitytours.com
Beneath Charleston’s moss-draped oaks and along its historic streets lies a darker side of the Holy City. The 90-minute Death and Depravity Ghost Tour takes an uncensored look at what lies beneath, leading you through the historic district to sites connected to brothels, brutal crimes, tragedies, and reported paranormal activity. Along the way, expert guides mix true crime and haunted history for a tour that is as fascinating as it is unsettling. Just keep in mind: This one is reserved for guests 16 and older, and the stories are definitely not for the faint of heart. Tickets start at $34.99.
New Orleans Haunted Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Tour | New Orleans, LA
Dates: Daily, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.
More Info: witchesbrewtours.com
New Orleans has more than 300 years of history and plenty of ghosts, legends, and larger-than-life characters woven into it. On this tour, wander the gas-lit streets of the French Quarter while a professional guide brings some of the city’s most notorious stories to life. Learn the truth behind Voodoo and Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, hear the legend of vampire Jacques St. Germain, and uncover the real history behind Madame Delphine LaLaurie, the infamous figure that inspired Kathy Bates’s character in American Horror Story: Coven.
Along the way, see historic spots including Jackson Square, Pirate’s Alley, and LaLaurie Mansion while getting a dose of the French Quarter’s architecture, culture, and darker history. Tickets are $37.99 for adults, $32.99 for seniors (ages 60+), and $20 for children.
Ghosts of St. Augustine Tour | St. Augustine, FL
Dates: Daily, 8 p.m.
More Info: ghostcitytours.com
St. Augustine has had more than 450 years to collect ghost stories, and judging by the city’s old cemeteries, historic fort, and centuries of turbulent history, it has plenty. Ghost City Tours brings those tales to life on evening walks through the historic district, where stories of pirates, murder, epidemics, and unexplained happenings accompany stops at some of the city’s most storied places.
Choose the family-friendly Ghosts of St. Augustine Tour for a spooky-but-not-too-scary introduction, go a little darker with the 16-and-up Telling Elegies Ghost Tour, or make a night of it on the 21+ Haunted Pub Crawl, where haunted taverns come with their own spirited stories. Whichever adventure you choose, you’ll see a darker side of the nation’s oldest city. Tickets start at $29.99, depending on the chosen tour.
Haunted Canoe Trip | Silver Point, TN
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays through mid-November
More Info: canoethecaney.com
This spine-tingling after-dark ghost tour takes place both in and out of the water. It starts on land with a walk through an old military recreation base, where you’ll hear stories of ghostly encounters, unexplained voices, and the flooded town whose lost graves now rest beneath the water. Then comes the real adventure: climbing into a canoe and paddling into the darkness of Cemetery Cove, where an old 1800s cemetery sits about 15 feet below the surface.
Totaling two to three hours, the experience is part ghost story, part history lesson, and part test of your courage. Tickets are $69 for adults and $59 for children. For $20 more per ticket — and an earlier arrival time — you can add the Ghost Hunter Experience, a hands-on ghost hunt led by a guide with real paranormal tools.
Sisters Grimm Ghost Bus Tour | San Antonio, TX
Dates: Nightly, with tour times varying by day: 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10:30 p.m., and 11 p.m.
More Info: sistersgrimmghosttour.com
San Antonio’s history runs deep, and so do the ghost stories. On the Sisters Grimm Ghost Bus Tour, trade the usual sidewalk stroll for a 2.5-hour ride through some of the city’s most haunted corners, with plenty of stops along the way. The highlight is exclusive access inside the historic Menger Hotel, where you’ll hear the stories behind its reputation as one of Texas’s most haunted hotels. You’ll also venture into one of San Antonio’s oldest cemeteries after dark while learning the history and mysterious symbolism etched into the tombstones.
With a storyteller and driver working together to weave in dark history, ghost lore, and even a little humor, this is one bus ride where you may want to leave the lights on. Tickets are $55, and all guests must be 8 years of age or older.
Haunted Vicksburg Ghost Walk | Vicksburg, MS
Dates: Nightly, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
More Info: usghostadventures.com
Take a walk on the dark side in small-town Mississippi. This one-hour walking tour winds through historic downtown, where the remnants of war, disease, and tragedy have left behind plenty of tales of unexplained activity. Along the way, your guide brings the city’s shadier chapters to life, from the 47-day siege of Vicksburg and deadly yellow fever epidemics to stories tied to the Trail of Tears and the city’s antebellum past. Tickets are $26 for adults and $17 for children.
Crescent Hotel Ghost Tour | Eureka Springs, AR
Dates: Nightly, 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.
More Info: americasmosthauntedhotel.com
Only the bravest should wander the halls of the Crescent Hotel after dark. Built in 1886 and known as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Eureka Springs landmark has a particularly dark chapter in its history: It was once a “hospital” operated by Norman Baker, a notorious con man who falsely claimed to treat cancer. Today, the hotel’s nightly ghost tours explore that history alongside stories of the spirits said to still linger in its halls, including stops in some of its most active areas.
The hotel affectionately refers to its ghosts as “guests who checked out but never left.” And if a tour leaves you wanting more, you can always book a room and spend the night where the stories began. Tickets are $29.50 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.
Lurking Lights of Lexington Ghost Tour | Lexington, KY
Dates: Nightly, 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m.
More Info: usghostadventures.com
Step into Lexington’s darker side with a guided ghost tour through downtown. Here, historic streets and familiar landmarks become the backdrop for tales of tragedy, scandal, Civil War-era drama, and unexplained happenings. Along the way, hear the stories behind some of Lexington’s most storied places, including the Kentucky Theatre, the Mary Todd Lincoln House, and Transylvania University. Tickets are $26 for adults, $17 for kids ages 7 to 17, and free for children up to age 6.
Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour | Granbury, TX
Dates: Every Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
More Info: granburytours.com
Running since 2010, the Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour makes exploring Granbury after dark especially memorable. The tour leads visitors through the Historic Granbury Square, where centuries-old stories, local folklore, and a few lingering spirits set the scene for the evening.
Along the way, guides introduce you to legendary figures such as the Lady in Red, the Faceless Girl, and Indian Joe, while the possibility of a John Wilkes Booth sighting adds to the mystery. Tickets are $10 per adult and $7 for children 12 and under. Book your tour by calling (817) 559-0849 or via email.
Historic Bell Witch Cave Tour | Adams, TN
Dates: Fridays, 3 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, noon to midnight; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.
More Info: bellwitchcave.com
Just outside Nashville, this legendary spot is steeped in one of the country’s most famous ghost stories — and yes, you actually venture into the cave where the legend lives on. The tour blends local history, folklore, and plenty of eerie tales, making it a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening for anyone who appreciates a good story with a side of spooky. Tickets range from $19 to $23 for adults (aged 13+) and $12 to $15 for kids ages 4 to 12.
Ghost Tour of New Bern | New Bern, NC
Dates: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (March 1 through October 31); Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (November through February)
More Info: hauntednewbern.com
This walking tour shares the eerie edge of New Bern’s past. Since 2008, fully costumed storytellers have guided visitors through the city’s atmospheric streets, sharing tales of the spirits said to linger among its historic homes, burial grounds, and other longtime landmarks. Lasting about 90 minutes, the experience offers a memorable way to see another side of New Bern. Tickets are $24.87 for adults and $22.70 for students and seniors.
Cheers to spooky season!
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Zoe Yarborough
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint freelance writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant since 2012. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.
