If you're looking for a safe yet totally creepy way of ringing in Halloween [1], why not try an out-of-the-box idea like a haunted road trip [2]? Eerie drives through roads known for ghosts, apparitions, and mysterious disappearances aren't exactly for the faint of heart, but they could make for the most memorable Halloween [3] ever. From a road that's said to be home to a vanished Boy Scout troop to the street adjacent to Area 51 that's known as "Extraterrestrial Highway," America is full of winding highways and dark back roads that are spine-tingling and hair-raising. Even if you're not so sure about actually hitting the road and getting close to a few spirits, you can keep reading and live vicariously through 11 of the most haunted [4] roads in America, according to Commercial Truck Trader [5]. And if you do venture to any of these spots, just know it's a surefire way of getting in the All Hallows' Eve spirit [6].
Jeremy Swamp Road — Southbury, CT
Jeremy Swamp Road in Connecticut [8] is known for unexplained disappearances, and the legend is even stranger than you'd expect. People in broken-down cars have been known to mysteriously vanish as they wait for their tow truck. Even creepier? Stories attribute the disappearances to "Melon Heads," or humanoid creatures with bulbous heads that come out of the woods and attack.
Owaissa Street — Appleton, WI
In the mood for something stranger than fiction? Owaissa Street in Wisconsin is known for its Riverside Cemetery, home to all kinds of reported ghostly sightings [9]. Here, you may get a glimpse of phantom mourners at funerals or even riding via carriage. Even more chilling? Apparitions also include the spirit of Kate Blood, an alleged witch who was murdered by her husband. Some say they have seen her pacing through tombstones in a cloak, and others claim to have noticed blood flowing from her grave on the anniversary of her death.
Bloody Bride Bridge and Boy Scout Lane — Stevens Point, WI
Speaking of tragic murders that turn into ghostly sightings, Bloody Bride Bridge and Boy Scout Lane [10] are even creepier than they sound (if that's possible). On the Highway 66 bridge, people have seen the blood-strewn ghost of a bride who was killed on her way to her wedding. Legend has it she might even appear in your car's backseat if you dare to look in your rearview mirror! Adjacent to it, Boy Scout Lane is home to the reported mysterious disappearance of a Boy Scout troop many years ago. Despite there never being a report of a disappearance, drivers still claim to have heard the sound of children's laughter in the woods.
Stagecoach Road — Marshall, TX
In the 1800s, Marshall, TX, was home to a voodoo queen who was chased out of New Orleans [12]. She sold her lucky amulets peacefully until Marshall's priest killed her on the side of Stagecoach Road. Nowadays, her ghost can be seen wandering along the road under the full moon, carrying shrunken heads and voodoo dolls, ominously waiting to get her revenge on the town.
Sandhill Road — Las Vegas
Zombies abound in Sandhill Road in Las Vegas [15], and they're not exactly the sleepless casino and club dwellers. The flood tunnels underneath the road are known for echoes of scrapes and spirits' shrieks, and those who have travelled furthest below have even reported seeing bones with tooth marks. However, people always flee before the moaning zombies can get closer, so no evidence remains from their sightings.
Route 375 — Rachel, NV
If you're alien-obsessed, Route 375, or Extraterrestrial Highway [16], is a must see. The road is the closest you can get to the infamous Area 51, a highly classified US Air Force facility that's at the centre of many alien conspiracy theories. Drivers have reported bright lights over their vehicles, and some have even described losing consciousness and awaking days later in their car, signaling an alien abduction.
Prospectors Road — Garden Valley, CA
Prospectors Road in California [17] is part of old Gold Rush lore. Legend tells the tale of a drunk miner bragging at a saloon about striking gold. Jealous observers ambushed the miner and killed him, stealing his gold. Fast forward to today, and the miner's ghost trails through the road, appearing at night as a large, bearded man holding a pickaxe. Drivers may even hear the spirit screaming, "Get off my claim!"
Ortega Ridge Road — Montecito, CA
Montecito, CA, is home to the haunted Ortega Ridge Road [18], which is known to have been the site of a tragic murder. A century ago, three nuns came out of the Santa Barbara Mission to bring food and Bibles to the Chumash Native Americans. On their way, they were robbed and killed by bandits, and their spirits are said to haunt the road today. Known as the Three Sisters or Las Tres Hermanas, they can still be seen walking along the street, dressed in nun's clothing and holding their hands in prayer.