Summary
- Calico Ghost Town in California offers a fantastic glimpse into the Old West with its historic buildings, cemetery, and mines. ($8 for adults; $5 for children)
- Batsto Village in New Jersey is surrounded by natural beauty and features restored structures from its past, making it a picturesque ghost town. (Free entry; attraction prices may vary)
- Bodie in California is an amazing ghost town to visit, with evidence of its past mining industry and a sliver of the city still standing. ($8 for adults, $5 for children)
When it's officially spooky season, what better way to ring in the demise of summer than with a trip to a creepy ghost town? Former boomtowns deserted long ago, many of these eerie cities are teeming with desolate streets, empty buildings, abandoned mines, and ancient legends for a hair-raising getaway that's sure to haunt any visitor's dreams long after they depart.
From the West Coast to the East Coast and everywhere in between, here are some of the most affordable remote ghost towns in the U.S. to visit on a budget. Don't be scared — a bone-chilling adventure awaits.
10 Calico Ghost Town (Yermo, California)
Calico Ghost Town is full of spooks worth seeing. Nestled in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, this former mining town provides visitors with a fantastic glimpse into the times of the Old West. Founded in 1881, explore the Calico Cemetery and the old Maggie Mine, or embark on a haunting ghost tour for the chance to experience paranormal activity in the deserted historical town.
- Address: 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, CA 92398
- Hours: Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm
- Cost: $8 for adults; $5 for children
Affordable Accommodations:
- Calico Ghost Town Campground (rates starting at $65 a night)
- Travelodge by Wyndham Yermo (rates starting at $47 a night)
- California Inn (rates starting at $75 a night)
Inexpensive attractions:
- Calico Ghost Tours
- Lucy Lane Museum
- Calico Odessa Railroad
- Maggie Mine Tour
- Mystery Shack
- Kramer Arch
Many of the campground's cabins are closed due to damage sustained by Hurricane Hilary, so book accommodations well in advance.
9 Batsto Village (Hammonton, New Jersey)
Surrounded by natural beauty in the form of the shimmering Batsto Lake, Batsto River, and Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village is one of the most picturesque ghost towns to visit. Dating back to 1766, explore the iconic tower, see the old post office, and many of the other restored structures.
- Address: 31 Batsto Rd, Hammonton, NJ 08037
- Hours: Open 24 hours (attraction hours may vary)
- Cost: Free (attraction prices may vary)
Affordable Accommodations:
- Red Carpet Inn & Suites Hammonton - Atlantic City (rates starting at $60 a night)
- Red Carpet Inn & Suites Nj-73 (rates starting at $82 a night)
Inexpensive attractions:
- Batsto Visitors Center
- Mullica River Beach
- Batsto Mansion Tower
- Batsto Lake
- Batona Trail
8 Bodie (Bridgeport, California)
Another California city long-forgotten, the mining town of Bodie is definitely one of the best ghost towns to visit in the U.S. After the decline of the mining business and two horrific fires, the town was ultimately abandoned, leaving only a sliver of the city behind as evidence it ever existed. Nevertheless, the abandoned town of Bodie is definitely worth visiting.
- Address: Highway 270, Bridgeport, CA 93517
- Hours: Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm (summer hours)
- Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for children
Affordable Accommodations:
- Redwood Motel (rates starting at $99)
- Big Meadow Lodge (rates starting at $85)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Bodie and Benton Railroad Office
- Dechambeau Hotel
- Gold Rush Museum
- Bodie Bank
- Moyle Warehouse
- Red Cloud Mine
- Hoover House
Self-guided tour books are available for $3, the proceeds of which are used to preserve Bodie's buildings.
7 Burke Ghost Town (Idaho)
For a charmingly eerie escape to Idaho, visit the old mining city of Burke Ghost Town. Located a short drive outside of Wallace, the small town is situated in a canyon and surrounded by lush trees, making it a picture-perfect destination despite its tales of paranormal activity.
- Address: Burke Ghost Town, Burke, ID 83807
Affordable Accommodations:
- Stardust Motel Wallace (rates starting at $84)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Tiger Peak
- Canyon Creek
6 Thurmond (West Virginia)
Built in 1884, Thurmond was once a booming railroad town bustling about 75,000 passengers to and fro each year. Visitors can explore the old ghost town as well as the surrounding wilds of West Virginia.
- Address: Thurmond Depot Visitor Center, West Virginia 25901
Affordable Accommodations:
- Stone Cliff Beach Campground (free; tents only)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Concho Rim Overlook
- Rush Run Coke Ovens
- New River
- Babcock State Park
5 Rhyolite (Nevada)
Undoubtedly one of the best ghost towns in Nevada, Rhyolite is home to a variety of historic landmarks, and it's located only about a ten-minute drive away from Death Valley National Park.
- Address: Rhyolite, Nevada 89003
- Cost: Free
Affordable Accommodations:
- El Portal Motel (rates starting at $99)
- Exchange Club Motel (rates starting at $90)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Rhyolite Jail
- Miner's Hall
- Rhyolite Train Depot
- Goldwell Open Air Museum
Death Valley National Park is currently closed due to recent flooding caused by remnants of Hurricane Hilary.
4 Garnet Ghost Town (Drummond, Montana)
For a quintessential fall vacation, head to Big Sky, where travelers can find the abandoned ghost town of Garnet. Located about 40 miles outside Missoula, the city was a major boomtown in the 1890s amid the gold rush; however, it was abandoned some 20 years later. Many of its haunting structures still remain today.
- Address: Garnet Ghost Town, Drummond, MT 59832
- Cost: $3 per person
Affordable Accommodations:
- Red Lion Inn & Suites Missoula (rates starting at $76)
- Broadway Inn Conference Center (rates starting at $72)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Garnet Resource Area Scenic Overlook
- Anderson Hill
3 Bannack (Dillon, Montana)
Situated only about three hours away from Garnet, the deserted town of Bannack is certainly worth a stop. It served as the site of Montana's first major gold discovery back in 1862 and was also the state's first territorial capital.
- Address: 721 Bannack Rd, Dillon, MT 59725
- Hours: Open Memorial Day to August 10 from 8 am to 9 pm, August 11 to September 30 from 8 am to sunset, and in the winter from October 1 to Memorial Day from 8 am to 5 pm
- Cost: $8 per vehicle or $4 per person (walk-in) for non-residents
Affordable Accommodations:
- Super 8 Dillon (rates starting at $99)
- Beaverhead Lodge (rates starting at $72)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Hotel Meade
- Grasshopper Creek
- Bannack State Park
2 Silver City Ghost Town (Bodfish, California)
Yet another forgotten California relic, Silver City features an array of old mining buildings around a courtyard, affording visitors the opportunity to explore old housing artifacts.
- Address: 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd, Bodfish, CA 93205
- Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm (5 pm on weekends) from May 15 to September 14; open weekends only from 10 am to 4 pm from September 15 to May 14
- Cost: $5.50 per person; $4.50 for children 6 to 12
Affordable Accommodations:
- Lakeview Motel (rates starting at $84)
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Isabella Lake
- Havilah Preserve
Guided tours are available for a small fee; visit the website for more information.
1 Berlin (Austin, Nevada)
Built in the 1890s, this Nevada ghost town isn't just home to an abandoned town; it also features the largest known remains of the Ichthyosaurs, an extinct marine reptile that lived some 225 million years ago.
- Address: NV-844, Austin, NV 89310
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Cost: $10 per vehicle (non-residents); $5 per vehicle (residents)
Affordable Accommodations:
- Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park Campground
Inexpensive Attractions:
- Ichthyosaur Fossil Shelter