The 10 haunted ghost trains in the U.S. for a spooky adventure

The Tennessee Valley Railroad sends this vintage train down the tracks across four bridges and through the Missionary Ridge Tunnel. Passengers disembark at the Funhouse Station and enter a funhouse area of 20 rooms of “old time” gentle thrills (no jump scares, and it’s not a haunted house), storytelling and games like blacklight mini golf. The experience is an hour and a half and kids go home with a treat bag and a mini pumpkin.

This seasonal ride via the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation is a Saturday night excursion staffed by a “skeleton crew.” For nearly an hour, you’ll ride along the old Sierra Railway lines to an eerie western ghost town, where witches meet the train with delicious Halloween treats. A steam locomotive usually pulls this train, but because of scheduled maintenance in 2023, it’ll be pulled by a diesel locomotive. The ticket includes admission to the state park.

Look out for demons, ghosts, and goblins—the Nevada Northern Railway is putting you on the train to go check out the paranormal for youself. It’s a little frightening and a little corny, but a hundred percent fun. You’ll go through tunnels (already scary!) and witness UFOs, headless horsemen, hitchhiking ghosts, creepy campfires, and a ghastly ghost town on your way toward the old Ruth Mine. Over 100 volunteers participate in this epic experience!

This ride takes place at the Kirby Family Farm and involves a lot of extras. First, you’ll climb onto an 1800s locomotive and hear scary tales as you pass “mysterious boxcars,” the circus train and the Florida wilderness. All the while, watch out for the Florida Skunk Ape, Bigfoot’s cousin. While the ride has mild intensity, it’s not recommended for small children (there are loud noises, strobe lights, fog machine, gunfire and even...live reptiles). Hardy adults can also experience scarier attractions—five of them—on the farm grounds, such as walking through the Clown Woods. Shudder!

You’ll ride with the New Hope Railroad to a festival with a haunted maze populated by live actors. There’ll be music performances and food trucks. The event lasts about 1.5 hours, and the train will be pulled by either an antique 1925 Baldwin steam locomotive or a vintage diesel locomotive. There’s also a shorter, less intense Trick or Treat train for smaller guests who will be charmed by the tales of Spookley the Square Pumpkin (cue the nightmares!) and trick or treating around the platform.

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad makes an entire night of this experience, starting at 4pm with gold panning and trick or treating, a picnic dinner at 5pm and the train departing at 5:45pm. You’ll ride into the forest where you’ll hear spooky storytelling in the Lewis Creek Amphitheater, then return to the start by 7:30pm. You can upscale the eerieness by choosing the Fright Class service with complimentary drinks and table service for the dinner, and going to the caboose for a scary tale and riding in the dome while scanning the night for frightening entities out the window.

Operated by the Sky Railway, your ride includes a seat in an enclosed train car, champagne, and live entertainment with a DJ (with the opportunity to purchase additional snacks and beverages). On this raucous ride, you’ll learn how scary the desert can be after dark and maybe participate in the costume contest. Drink up with Halloween-themed cocktails! The excursion is about two hours.

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On this Tweetsie Railroad excursion, admission includes the ride and trick-or-treating, a haunted house, the Tweetsie Palace Spooktacular, a Creepy Carnival, the Boneyard, and the Freaky Forest. The Ghost Train has an amazing skeleton face with red glowing eyes on its front—it’s Thomas the Tank Engine gone demonic. Performers make the ride fun and maybe a little scary.

This low-key 45 minute ride from the California State Railroad Museum is billed as “delightful, not frightful” and is for smaller riders.  The diesel locomotive is operated by a skeleton crew (of course) and the "ghosts with the most" provide a fun party for passengers; bring a bag for track or treating. On the platform before or after the ride, there are games and photo ops. Each weekend in October has a different theme like “movie mayhem” or “classic Halloween”—make sure to wear a costume!

Three Chelatchie Prairie Railroad diesel trains leave each day for this harrowing ride, which involves seeing the galloping headless horseman outside your window. Wear a costume to increase the fun, and make sure to get a photo with the altered Hessian afterward! This special ride only takes place during the last weekend of October.