The scariest haunted ghost trains in the U.S.

What is it? On this Tweetsie Railroad excursion, admission includes the ride plus 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.

Boarding details: Runs every Friday and Saturday night through November 1 ($65)

300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC

What is it? Operated by the Sky Railway, this 18-plus adventure includes a costume contest (with nightly $500 prize), rentable silent disco headphones, a seat in an enclosed train car, a free champagne toast 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. Create more courage with Halloween-themed cocktails! The excursion is about two hours. Bonus: There’s a great afterparty scene with railyard bars offering up DJs, themed cocktails and a discount off your bar tab if you’re dressed in costume.

Boarding details: Runs October 18, 24, 25 and 31 ($129)

430 W Manhattan Ave, Santa Fe, NM

What is it? 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 (hot dog or bratwurst, chips, coleslaw and dessert) at 5pm; and the train actually departs at 5:45pm. You’ll ride into the heavily wooded 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.

Boarding details: Runs October 24 through 26 ($64)

56001 California Route 41, Fish Camp, CA

What is it? 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. 

Boarding details: Runs October 25 and 26 ($22)

207 N Railroad Ave, Yacolt, WA

What is it? A state park with an authentic roundhouse with operating turntable as well as other rail-related buildings, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park offers the eerie lantern-lit “Tales of the Roundhouse” event this month. Guides will take you around the complex to share real tales of murder, horrible accidents, train wrecks and ghost stories, all told by flickering lantern light—and then you hop on the night train to mull over everything you’ve just heard and hear a few more harrowing tales. The whole event lasts two hours. (You can also ride the train without the ghost tour, but why would you?)

Boarding details: Runs October 17, 18 and 24, 25 ($30)

10501 Reservoir Rd, Jamestown, CA

What is it? 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 ghostly boxcars, the circus train and the Florida wilderness. While the ride has “mild-moderate” intensity, things ramp up with a handful of other experiences like walking through the Clown Woods or going into a cave for the Rat Attack, both ranked as “wild” intensity. As awesome as all this sounds, we’re most intrigued by the live entertainment, especially the chance to see zombies and killer clowns wrestling. Bringing small children is not recommended—Kirby Family Farm works hard to make this scary and intense.

Boarding details: Runs every Friday and Saturday through October 26 ($20)

19650 NE 30th St, Williston, FL

What is it? This haunted train from the Nevada Northern Railway goes up the hill with visions of zombies, ghosts, ghouls, aliens and maybe even—get your camera ready—Big Foot. Costumes are encouraged for this two-hour experience, and you’ll want to get ready for some jump scares: volunteers train hard to “scare the living daylights out of our passengers.”

Boarding details: Runs October 17, 18 and 24, 25 ($45)

1100 Ave A, Ely, NV

What is it? The Tennessee Valley Railroad sends a vintage train down the tracks for an hour-long excursion through the enchanted forest to Wizards Way. You’ll board at Platform 4 ½ (hmm, not breaking any copyright laws here, I see) and watch a live potions demonstration at Chamberlain Crossing Station. Wands, charms and sweets are available for purchase.

Boarding details: Runs through October 31 ($35)

4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, TN