October in New Jersey doesn’t just mean pumpkins, hayrides, and fall festivals—it’s also peak season for ghost tours. Across the state, historic streets, eerie mansions, and old seaside towns come alive with stories of restless spirits, strange happenings, and legends that stretch back centuries. Whether you’re looking for a candlelit walk through Victorian neighborhoods or a paranormal investigation inside one of America’s most haunted prisons, New Jersey has no shortage of ghostly adventures to explore.
From the pine forests of South Jersey to the bustling boardwalks of the Shore and the Revolutionary War battlefields of the north, these haunted tours capture the darker side of New Jersey’s history. For families, thrill-seekers, or paranormal enthusiasts, here’s a look at some of the most fascinating and chilling ghost tours the Garden State has to offer. And if you’re planning your seasonal outings, be sure to check out other fall activities across the state at Explore New Jersey’s activities and fun guide.
South Jersey’s Haunted Highlights
Haddonfield Ghost Tours
The Historical Society of Haddonfield brings local folklore to life every October with their haunted walking tours, inspired by the popular Haunted Haddonfield book series. Guides share stories of colonial spirits, mysterious sightings, and haunted homes that have been part of the town’s lore for generations.
Cape May: A Town Built on Ghost Stories
Few places in the United States boast a reputation for hauntings quite like Cape May. Its Victorian architecture and rich maritime history create the perfect setting for ghost tours. Cape May MAC (Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities) leads several options: the Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour offers a rolling journey through town, while the Historic Haunts House Tour explores the eerie Emlen Physick Estate. More immersive visitors can try the “Voices from Beyond” experience, which dives into documented paranormal encounters. Elaine’s Ghost Tours adds a theatrical flair, combining dinner with tales of Cape May’s haunted mansions.
Moorestown Ghost Walks
The Historical Society of Moorestown hosts ghost and living history tours on autumn weekends. These tours weave together chilling tales of the town’s haunted landmarks with costumed storytelling.
Mullica Hill’s Night of Terror
Creamy Acres Farm is home to one of the largest haunted attractions in the state. The Night of Terror features haunted hayrides, themed houses, and scare zones that stretch into November, offering a more theatrical twist on the traditional ghost tour.
White Hill Mansion, Fieldsboro
Dating back to the Revolutionary War era, White Hill Mansion has long been a focal point for paranormal investigators. Visitors can join candlelight tours or even participate in overnight investigations inside the historic estate, where apparitions and unexplained voices have been reported.
Mount Holly Ghost Tours
In Mount Holly, local historians lead tours of haunted streets and historic sites. Combined with the town’s Revolutionary War past, the mix of folklore and history makes for one of the region’s more immersive haunted experiences.
Ghosts of the Jersey Shore
Atlantic City: “Aces to Ashes” Tour
The neon lights of Atlantic City hide a darker history of crime, corruption, and lost fortunes. The “Aces to Ashes” boardwalk ghost tour runs nightly, blending the city’s glamorous past with chilling stories of spirits said to linger among the casinos and shore.
Ocean City Candlelight Tour
In Ocean City, a candlelit walking tour along quiet streets reveals eerie stories of shipwrecks, lost sailors, and ghostly figures near the shore. The gentle pace makes this one ideal for families.
Red Bank Ghost Tours
The Red Bank ghost walk brings together tales of local pirates, mysterious figures from the town’s colonial past, and waterfront legends. The Jersey Shore Ghost Tours group adds theatrical storytelling to keep guests engaged throughout the evening.
Cape May Ghost Tours – Cape May is perhaps New Jersey’s most famous haunted destination. The town’s Victorian architecture and seaside charm set the stage for ghostly tales that include shipwrecked sailors, Victorian-era spirits, and haunted hotels. Tours like the Ghosts & Legends of Cape May Walking Tour take visitors through cobblestone streets and gas-lit alleys, offering a mix of history and eerie storytelling.
Absecon Lighthouse & Paranormal Night Tours – For a more hands-on experience, Absecon Lighthouse occasionally hosts evening paranormal events, where visitors explore the historic lighthouse grounds under moonlight, sometimes with ghost-hunting equipment.
Asbury Park’s Paranormal Tours
Asbury Park may be famous for its music history and boardwalk, but Paranormal Books and Curiosities highlights its darker side. Along with walking tours, guests can join guided ghost hunts using real investigative equipment. US Ghost Adventures also offers its own tours of the seaside town’s haunted hotspots.
When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 7 PM
Where: Starting point is Bradley Park
The ocean’s edge has always had its mysteries, and in Asbury Park, the boardwalk has seen more than its fair share. From long-forgotten tragedies to unexplained apparitions, the Ghosts of the Boardwalk tour leads guests through the city’s most famous stretch, revealing stories hidden behind the arcades, theaters, and historic landmarks. Whether it’s a strange figure seen in the mist or the restless spirit of a shipwreck victim, you’ll hear accounts that make you see the boardwalk in a whole new light.
Ghosts and Legends of Downtown Asbury
When: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM
Where: Tour departs from The Paranormal Museum, 621 Cookman Avenue
Downtown Asbury Park might be bustling with nightlife today, but beneath its vibrant storefronts and restaurants lies a long and sometimes turbulent history. The Ghosts and Legends of Downtown tour takes you along shadowed streets and alleyways, where stories of haunted hotels, mysterious disappearances, and unexplained happenings are waiting to be told. Starting from the fascinating Paranormal Museum, guests set off on a journey where each corner could reveal another chapter in Asbury’s supernatural saga.
Central and North Jersey Spirits
Princeton Ghost Tours
The Princeton Tour Company leads some of the most detailed paranormal tours in the state. Options include traditional ghost walks, cemetery tours, and even ghost hunts with real equipment, all highlighting the Ivy League town’s Revolutionary War history and centuries-old legends.
Bordentown Hauntings
Bordentown’s family-friendly ghost tours highlight the haunted history of the town with stops at notable sites and stories told in an approachable style, making them popular for younger audiences.
Chester’s Haunted Walks
“Haunted Chester” offers something different: walking tours with actors portraying spirits, vampires, and historical figures from the town’s past, blending performance and history into a family-friendly experience.
Bernardsville Reenactments
Haunted History Productions in Bernardsville brings history to life with costumed storytellers who retell ghostly tales rooted in the area’s Revolutionary War past.
Allaire Historical Village, Farmingdale
This 19th-century living history village transforms each October for its “Night of Frights.” Guests tour the restored homes and buildings by lantern light while guides share eerie stories tied to the village’s past residents.
Woodbridge Ghost Walk
As New Jersey’s oldest chartered settlement, Woodbridge has no shortage of haunted history. The annual Woodbridge Ghost Walk features costumed storytellers who lead groups through historic streets while sharing eerie tales of the town’s colonial days.
The Haunted Burlington County Prison
Perhaps the crown jewel of haunted New Jersey sites, the Historic Burlington County Prison Museum in Mount Holly is frequently named among the state’s most haunted destinations. Once the oldest continuously used jail in America, the prison housed criminals from 1811 until 1965. Today, it serves as both a museum and a hotspot for ghost hunters.
Every October, the Burlington County Parks System hosts free Historic Ghost Tours inside the prison. Visitors walk through dimly lit corridors and cells while hearing stories of the inmates who never seemed to leave. Paranormal investigators have documented unusual activity here, from cold spots to unexplained voices. Guests can even rent “spirit boxes,” devices designed to capture potential communications from beyond.
Beyond the ghost tours, the museum includes exhibits recreating prison life, preserved inmate graffiti, and an “escape game” designed to challenge visitors’ puzzle-solving skills. The prison, saved from demolition in the 1960s and later placed on the National Register of Historic Places, recently underwent a $2.9 million renovation to preserve its eerie charm for generations to come.
For lovers of both history and the paranormal, the Burlington County Prison is a must-visit—and a reminder that New Jersey’s past is never truly gone.
