Check Out This Haunted Road Trip in Georgia
Georgia is spooky! What other state has pirate ghosts and Civil War cemeteries? Check out this haunted road trip in Georgia...if you aren’t too scared.
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Table of Contents
- Urban Fright—Atlanta and Decatur
- Atlanta
- Historic Haunts—Dahlonega and Norcross
- Dahlonega
- Norcross
- Civil War Buffs—Marietta to Dalton
- Marietta
- Dalton
- Mysterious and Macabre—Covington, Milledgeville, Macon, and Montrose
- Covington
- Milledgeville
- Macon
- Montrose
- Ominous Overnighter—Americus
- Wicked Weekend—Savannah and St Simons Island
- Savannah
- St Simons Island
- Why you need roadside assistance
- Finding cheap car insurance
Load full table of contents
There are haunted buildings and creepy cemeteries galore in
Georgia
! With a ton of Civil War history, painful stories from the yellow fever epidemic, and other lurking ghosts, there is no shortage of haunted places to visit.We cover destinations for all kinds of adventurers. If you want to devote an entire autumn weekend to immersing yourself in Georgia’s scariest destinations, we’ve got a trip for that. Feeling a bit wimpy? We also highlight places that only take a few hours to explore—and can be enjoyed while the sun is still up.
From the most haunted road in Georgia to an old pirates’ den, prepare to get your fright on! If you’re worried about a grave encounter (ahem)—or running out of gas—get roadside assistance from
Jerry
before you head out. Grab your EMF devices and let’s head out on a haunted road trip in Georgia.
Urban Fright—Atlanta and Decatur
One-way distance: 6.7 miles
One-way drive time: 20 minutes
Suggested length of trip: 1 to 2 days
There is plenty of haunted stuff to see without leaving the Atlanta metro area. From cemeteries to old Civil War homes, this trip allows you to get your fright on without leaving your zip code. Visit both these locations on the same night for a creepy evening you’ll never forget.
Atlanta
What to do in Atlanta
- Oakland Cemetery— Built in 1850, this cemetery hosts the graves of notable Georgians like Margaret Mitchell, Maynard Jackson, and Bobby Jones. Many visitors report an eerie feeling and even visions of ghostly figures dressed in Civil War uniforms. Listen closely, as you can sometimes hear a haunted Army roll call and spirits muttering their names.
- Spirit of Oakland—Sign up for a tour during the autumn season to learn more about the hauntings, or enjoy exploring the elaborate mausoleums on a self-guided tour.
Decatur
Just 20 minutes east of Atlanta, Decatur features similar haunted sites. In fact, the old homes in this area have had so many reported ghost sightings that an official ghost tour group (including a paranormal investigator and psychic) was established.
To get to Decatur, take DeKalb Avenue NE.
What to do in Decatur
- Decatur Ghost Tour—Take an official ghost tour to learn the haunted history of this area.
Where to eat in Decatur
- Kimball House($$$)—This local Decatur restaurant is in an old train depot from the 1800s. It offers great food in a moody atmosphere, with occasional creaking doors and flickering lights. Ghostly visitor or old house quirk? You decide.
Historic Haunts—Dahlonega and Norcross
One-way distance: 53 miles
One-way drive time: 1 hour
Suggested length of trip: 1 day
This is the perfect day trip for a Saturday in October! Fascinating history, architecture, and cemeteries make this a worthwhile trip.
Dahlonega
The drive out to Dahlonega from Atlanta is beautiful, and there’s plenty to explore in this 1820s Gold Rush town.
What to do in Dahlonega
- Boos and BrewsThere are night-time walking tours available, including a popular pub crawl so you can learn the spooky history of the city while enjoying a frothy beverage.
Where to eat in Dahlonega
- The Crimson Moon($$)—This dive bar is believed to be haunted by a little girl in a white dress. But there’s live music and an excellent menu, so no need to be afraid.
Norcross
When the sun goes down and you’re ready for maximum creep, drive back toward Atlanta and stop in Norcross at their famous haunted house.
To get to Norcross, take US-19 S towards Atlanta.
What to do in Norcross
- The Netherworld Haunted House($$)—This is the perfect balance of kitschy and terrifying, and tickets are about $30.
Where to eat in Norcross
- Mojitos Cuban-American Bistro($$)—A great spot for a mouth-watering meal (just don’t mind the ghostly Niña who doesn’t like the music).
Pro Tip Many towns offer excellent ghost tours where you can enjoy exclusive access to haunted buildings in Georgia.
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Civil War Buffs—Marietta to Dalton
One-way distance: 73.7 miles
One-way travel time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Suggested trip length: 1 to 2 days
Marietta
Marietta is home to some of the most famous events of the Civil War, including the railroad tracks which were the site of the Great Locomotive Chase. History buffs will love exploring this city’s past—and its haunted present.
What to do in Marietta
Marietta is home to Civil War sites known for some paranormal activity. Some of the most prominent landmarks are:
- The Marietta National Cemetery—The final resting ground for many Union soldiers.
- Kennesaw House—Formerly known as the Fletcher House, the house is said to be haunted by those who were here when it was a hospital and morgue during the civil war.
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield—Eight minutes outside of Marietta is the historical home of one of Georgia’s gruesome, blood-soaked battlefields. Approximately 4,000 men died in Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield. The grounds are open to the public with trails and exhibits on wartime history.
Pro Tip Some visitors to Kennesaw have reported sightings of phantom cannon smoke and men in battle uniforms. Go just before dusk to have the best chance at a haunted encounter.
Where to eat in Marietta
- Two Birds Taphouse($$)—Two Birds Taphouse is a local favorite. For a real treat, try the voodoo fried green tomatoes.
Dalton
Drive one hour north on I-75 to reach Dalton, an important site in the Civil War.
What to do in Dalton
- Wink Theatre—Visit this historic theater, where a construction worker who died on the job is said to haunt the building.
- Dalton Ghost Tours—Sign up for a tour to get an expert’s perspective on the area.
Where to eat in Dalton
- Cyra’s($$)—Cyra’s prides itself on using high-quality ingredients with nothing artificial for their robust menu. There are vegetarian and vegan options so everyone in your party will be covered.
- Oakwood Cafe($)—For classic Southern fare, look no further than Oakwood Cafe.
Mysterious and Macabre—Covington, Milledgeville, Macon, and Montrose
One-way distance: 127 miles
One-way travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Suggested trip length: 1 to 2 days
If you head southeast from Atlanta, you’ll discover small towns, like Montrose, that are far less crowded (but no less spooky) than popular destinations like Savannah. This is the perfect itinerary for combining spine-chilling ghost encounters with a totally-not-scary day trip through some of Georgia’s most underrated cities.
Covington
Travel 40 minutes east from Atlanta on I-20 to Covington. Not only is this city the filming location for The Vampire Diaries but it boasts ghosts from the 1800s.
What to do in Covington
- Covington Ghost Tours— We recommend Covington Ghost Tours because the guides are incredible storytellers (and there are no gimmicky costumes).
Where to eat in Covington
- Mystic Grill($$)—Not only is Mystic Grill’s food great, you can fangirl with the staff about The Vampire Diaries while you’re there.
Milledgeville
One hour away following Hwy 11 is Milledgeville. This town’s ghosts are mostly Civil War soldiers and typhoid victims. The most famous spirit is Sam Walker, the meanest man in Milledgeville, who abused his wives and supposedly walks the house for eternity.
What to do in Milledgeville
- Ghosts of Milledgeville Walking Tour—Learn about the spooky sights of downtown through these excellent tours.
- Haunted Cemetery Tour—If you’re visiting in October, you can take a haunted cemetery tour in which you might meet one of the town’s former residents.
Where to eat in Milledgeville
- Bollywood Tacos—Bollywood Tacos features a wide array of tacos from which to choose. If you’re wanting some local flair try the peach country featuring homemade peach salsa.
Macon
From Milledgeville, drive 40 minutes east on GA-49 to Macon. Macon is rich with historic buildings—and that means there are ghosts lurking about.
What to do in Macon
- Hay House—This building is one of the 13 most beautiful haunted destinations in the world, according to Architectural Digest. It’s also home to swinging chandeliers, creepy noises, and a ghostly elderly woman in Civil War garb.
- Riverside Cemetery and Rose Hill Cemetery Macon’s cemeteries are perfect for a fresh-air stroll.
Where to eat in Macon
- Dovetail($$$)—Dovetail features fancy, southern-inspired fare, including a delicious honey bourbon-glazed salmon.
- H&H Soul Food($)—For something more casual, head to H&H Soul Food for traditional favorites like biscuits and waffles.
Montrose
Heading back toward Atlanta on I-16, drive 40 minutes to Montrose to the culmination of your mysterious and macabre adventure.
What to do in Montrose
- Haunted Montrose— This haunted attraction has a creepy old house, a cornfield, and a cemetery.
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Ominous Overnighter—Americus
One-way distance: 137 miles
Travel time: 2 ½ hours from Atlanta
Suggested trip length: 1 to 2 days
Perfect for a weekend getaway, Americus has a delightfully creepy hotel filled with ghosts and bad vibes—but excellent brunch.
Where to stay in Americus
- Windsor Hotel—A 100-room Victorian-era building, this hotel has hosted gangsters and presidents alike. The most famous ghosts are a little girl who was supposedly pushed down an elevator shaft and a longtime doorman (the in-house pub is named after him).
Where to eat in Americus
- Floyd’s—The Windsor’s in-house pub is a great place to soak up the bad vibes and good food.
- Rosemary & Thyme—The restaurant at the Windsor features a more elevated dining experience.
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Wicked Weekend—Savannah and St Simons Island
One-way distance: 83.1 mile
Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Suggested travel time: 2 to 3 days
The most haunted road in
Georgia
will take you through Brooklet and on to coastal Georgia for the ultimate otherworldly adventure.Savannah
With its storied history, Savannah is considered the most haunted city in America. With so many spots to see, you’ll be wondering what building isn’t haunted in Savannah.
Where to stay in Savannah
- Marshall House Hotel—If you book a room here, stay alert for a ghostly Civil War soldier holding his severed arm and begging you for help reattaching it.
- Kehoe House—The Kehoe House used to be a funeral home before it became an inn, so you're sure to see some spirits lingering.
What to do in Savannah
- Olde Pink House—Today it’s a fancy restaurant but it still hosts the ghost of the original owner and a few crotchety war veterans.
- Old Candler Hospital—Head to the morgue tunnels at the Old Candler Hospital. It was here that people who died from yellow fever were transported out of the hospital.
- Pirates’ House—Pirate ghosts! Dating back to 1753, this is the oldest standing building in Georgia. Criminals, sailors, and pirate captains used tunnels to smuggle liquor, kidnap people, and store their booty.
Where to eat in Savannah
- Moon River Brewing($$)—Eat here and see if you can hear the resident spirit "Toby" whispering in your ear.
St Simons Island
Follow I-95 S to the charming seaside town of St Simons Island. The most famous local ghost is Mary the Wanderer who lost her sweetheart at sea and then took her own life.
What to do in St Simons Island
- Lighthouse Trolleys—Go on a tour with Lighthouse Trolleys, which offers extended tours for paranormal fans.
Where to eat in St Simons Island
- Georgia Sea Grill($$$)—This seaside restaurant has great views and fresh seafood.
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Why you need roadside assistance
Roadside assistance with
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is a smart way to protect your vehicle on a haunted road trip. For $6.99, your membership gets you access to fuel delivery, lockout assistance, flat tire repair, jump starts, winching, and even Uber credits.We may not be able to stop angry ghosts from draining your battery, but we can give you a jump.
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