11 Haunted Hotel Stays Across New Jersey That Promise An Eerie Night

Can you handle a wake-up call from the other side?

Because I thought I was just booking a cute New Jersey getaway, and instead I checked into a hotel where the guests never really leave.

Behind the elegant lobbies and Victorian charm are stories that could keep even the bravest traveler wide awake.

Phantom footsteps echo down hallways like they’re late for a meeting, and shadows glide past mirrors as if they’re auditioning for a ghostly runway show.

Ever wanted a roommate who doesn’t pay rent but still rattles the furniture? Or a bedtime story whispered by someone who’s been gone for centuries?

Staying here isn’t just lodging; it’s paranormal hospitality at its finest.

These haunted hotels are ready to turn your night into a spooky sleepover you’ll be telling stories about forever.

1. The Flanders Hotel, New Jersey

Standing tall along the Ocean City shoreline since 1923, The Flanders Hotel at 719 E 11th St, Ocean City, NJ 08226 has earned its reputation as one of the most haunted spots in New Jersey. Guests report seeing the ghost of Emily, a young woman who tragically died on her wedding day within the hotel’s walls.

Her spirit is said to wander the hallways in her wedding gown, searching eternally for her lost love.

The hotel’s grand ballroom becomes especially active after dark, with unexplained cold spots appearing suddenly and the faint sound of 1920s jazz music drifting through empty spaces. Staff members have witnessed chairs moving on their own and felt unseen hands brush past them during late-night shifts.

Room 325 draws particular attention from paranormal enthusiasts, as multiple visitors have reported waking to find a woman’s silhouette standing at the foot of their beds.

Beyond its ghostly residents, The Flanders maintains its old-world charm with period furnishings and stunning ocean views that make daylight hours equally memorable. The building’s rich history includes serving as a hospital during World War II, which some believe added more restless spirits to its roster.

Brave souls who book a stay often bring recording devices hoping to capture electronic voice phenomena.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, spending a night here means immersing yourself in decades of mysterious happenings and unexplained phenomena that continue to puzzle guests and investigators alike.

2. The Southern Mansion, New Jersey

Elegance meets the supernatural at The Southern Mansion, located at 720 Washington St, Cape May, NJ 08204, where luxury accommodations come with a side of spine-tingling encounters. Built in 1863, this stunning estate has witnessed generations of history, and some guests from the past apparently loved it so much they decided to stay forever.

The mansion’s most famous phantom is believed to be a former owner who still checks on guests to ensure their comfort.

Visitors frequently report the scent of antique perfume wafting through rooms with no apparent source, and the sound of period music playing softly when all modern devices are turned off. The grand staircase serves as a hotspot for paranormal activity, with guests capturing mysterious orbs in photographs and feeling sudden temperature drops while ascending or descending.

One particularly active spirit seems drawn to the library, where books have been found rearranged overnight despite locked doors.

The mansion’s beautiful gardens also hold secrets, as groundskeepers have spotted a woman in Victorian dress strolling among the flowers during early morning hours, only to vanish when approached. Room guests have awakened to find their belongings carefully moved or rearranged, as if an invisible housekeeper worked while they slept.

The Southern Mansion embraces its haunted heritage while providing top-notch hospitality, making it perfect for those who want ghost stories with their gourmet breakfast and prefer their history served with a supernatural twist.

3. Hotel Macomber, New Jersey

Perched along Cape May’s pristine coastline at 727 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Hotel Macomber offers guests breathtaking ocean views and the possibility of encountering visitors from beyond the grave. This intimate beachfront property has collected ghost stories like seashells since opening its doors in the early 1900s.

The spirit of a sea captain reportedly haunts the upper floors, perhaps still watching for ships on the horizon through guest room windows.

Strange occurrences happen with remarkable frequency at this coastal retreat. Guests have reported hearing footsteps pacing back and forth in unoccupied rooms above them throughout the night.

Faucets turn on by themselves in empty bathrooms, and some visitors wake to find wet footprints leading from their bathroom to their bedside, as though someone emerged dripping from an invisible ocean.

The hotel’s proximity to the beach seems to amplify paranormal activity, especially during stormy weather when the building creaks and groans with the wind. Several guests have photographed unexplained mists hovering near their beds or floating outside their windows despite clear weather conditions.

One room in particular experiences so much activity that staff members hesitate to assign it unless specifically requested by ghost hunters.

Despite its eerie reputation, Hotel Macomber maintains a cozy, welcoming atmosphere where the living and the dead apparently coexist peacefully. The combination of spectacular sunrises, comfortable accommodations, and potential supernatural encounters makes every stay here uniquely unforgettable for reasons both natural and otherworldly.

4. The Grenville Hotel & Restaurant, New Jersey

Nestled in the quaint coastal community of Bay Head at 345 Main Ave, Bay Head, NJ 08742, The Grenville Hotel & Restaurant combines fine dining with paranormal dining companions you never invited. This establishment has served guests since 1890, and some patrons from previous centuries apparently enjoyed the hospitality so thoroughly that they refuse to leave.

The restaurant area experiences the most activity, with glasses sliding across tables when no one sits nearby.

Kitchen staff have reported pots and pans clanging together after closing time when the building stands completely empty. Dishes have been found neatly stacked in different locations from where they were left the night before.

The ghost of a former chef is rumored to still perfect recipes in the kitchen during the quiet hours before dawn, leaving behind the lingering aroma of freshly baked bread that vanishes as mysteriously as it appears.

Guest rooms upstairs hold their own secrets, with visitors reporting the sensation of someone sitting on the edge of their beds in the middle of the night. Antique furniture throughout the building seems to attract spiritual energy, with rocking chairs moving gently despite closed windows and still air.

One particular mirror in the hallway reflects shadows that don’t match any physical person walking past.

The Grenville’s intimate size creates an atmosphere where every creak and whisper feels amplified, making it impossible to ignore when something genuinely unexplainable occurs. Guests seeking both culinary excellence and supernatural thrills find this charming hotel delivers abundantly on both fronts.

5. The Angel of the Sea, New Jersey

Towering over Cape May’s historic district at 5 Trenton Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, The Angel of the Sea presents an architectural masterpiece that houses both living guests and spectral residents within its ornate Victorian walls. Originally built in 1850 and later moved to its current location, this magnificent structure has accumulated layers of history and hauntings that make it irresistible to paranormal enthusiasts.

The building’s dramatic past includes near demolition, which some believe stirred up dormant spirits.

Guests consistently report encountering a playful child spirit who enjoys hiding personal items and returning them to unexpected places. Shoes disappear from beside beds only to reappear inside closed suitcases, and jewelry vanishes from nightstands before showing up in bathroom drawers.

This mischievous presence seems harmless but definitely makes its existence known to anyone staying more than one night.

The tower rooms offer spectacular views along with the highest concentration of paranormal activity. Visitors sleeping in these elevated spaces frequently wake to find their covers pulled off despite having no memory of movement.

Strange knocking patterns echo through walls with no logical source, following a rhythm that sounds almost like morse code attempting to communicate across time.

Rocking chairs throughout the common areas move independently, and guests have captured photographs showing transparent figures seated in otherwise empty furniture. The Angel of the Sea embraces its haunted reputation while maintaining impeccable hospitality standards, proving that ghosts and luxury accommodations can coexist beautifully when managed with care and respect for all guests, living or otherwise.

6. Congress Hall, New Jersey

Dominating Cape May’s landscape since 1816 at 200 Congress Pl, Cape May, NJ 08204, Congress Hall stands as New Jersey’s oldest seaside resort and one of its most actively haunted properties. Presidents and high society have walked these halls for over two centuries, and apparently some influential guests found the accommodations so appealing they extended their stays indefinitely into the afterlife.

The hotel’s grand ballroom hosts more than just weddings and celebrations; witnesses report seeing couples in period clothing dancing to music only they can hear.

Staff members working late shifts encounter a gentleman in Victorian attire who walks the corridors checking door locks, vanishing into thin air when acknowledged or approached. This protective spirit seems concerned with guest safety, continuing his duties from beyond the grave.

Several rooms report recurring phenomena including lights flickering in specific patterns, televisions changing channels without remote control input, and the distinct impression of someone watching from darkened corners.

The hotel’s historic bar area attracts its own collection of spirits, both bottled and paranormal. Bartenders have witnessed glasses lifting off shelves and floating briefly before settling back down.

The scent of cigar smoke occasionally permeates rooms where smoking has been prohibited for decades, suggesting ghostly guests haven’t updated their habits to match modern regulations.

Congress Hall’s sprawling property includes multiple buildings, each with its own haunted history and unique supernatural occurrences. The combination of luxurious amenities, beachfront location, and reliable paranormal activity makes this resort a bucket-list destination for anyone seeking encounters with history that refuses to stay buried in the past.

7. The Chalfonte Hotel, New Jersey

Maintaining its authentic Victorian character since 1876, The Chalfonte Hotel at 301 Howard St, Cape May, NJ 08204 offers guests an unchanged glimpse into the past, complete with residents who never left their favorite vacation spot. This deliberately old-fashioned property lacks modern conveniences like televisions and telephones in rooms, creating an atmosphere where supernatural encounters feel less jarring and more natural.

The hotel’s commitment to preserving its original character apparently extends to preserving its original guests as well.

Colonel Henry Sawyer, a Civil War hero and former owner, is believed to still walk the property he loved so dearly in life. Guests report seeing a distinguished gentleman in military attire on the upper floors, tipping his hat politely before fading from view.

His presence feels protective rather than threatening, as though he continues serving as the hotel’s eternal guardian. The Colonel’s former quarters experience the most activity, with guests hearing boots crossing wooden floors when rooms stand vacant.

The Chalfonte’s famous Southern-style dining room serves up more than just delicious meals; servers have witnessed place settings rearranging themselves and heard whispered conversations in empty corners. The kitchen, which still uses many original cooking methods, seems to attract spirits drawn to the familiar routines and comforting aromas of home-cooked food prepared the old-fashioned way.

Children’s laughter echoes through hallways during quiet afternoon hours, though no young guests occupy nearby rooms. The Chalfonte’s deliberate rejection of modern updates creates an environment where past and present blur together, making it the perfect setting for those seeking authentic Victorian ambiance with a guaranteed ghost story to take home.

8. The National Hotel, New Jersey

Anchoring the charming riverside town of Frenchtown at 31 Race St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, The National Hotel has served travelers since 1851, making it one of New Jersey’s longest continuously operating inns. This intimate establishment combines small-town hospitality with big supernatural surprises that catch even skeptical guests off guard.

The building’s location near the Delaware River seems to amplify paranormal activity, perhaps because water has long been associated with spiritual energy in folklore and ghost stories.

Room Three draws particular attention from ghost hunters and curious travelers alike. Guests staying in this specific room consistently report waking to find a woman standing beside their bed, dressed in clothing from the 1800s.

She appears concerned or searching for something, gazing intently at sleeping guests before vanishing when they fully wake. Some visitors have captured photographs showing unexplained light anomalies and shadowy figures that weren’t visible to the naked eye during their stay.

The hotel’s cozy bar and restaurant area experiences its own share of strange occurrences. Bartenders arrive to find glasses arranged in patterns they didn’t create, and the jukebox occasionally plays songs without anyone making selections or inserting money.

Late-night diners have reported feeling someone brush past them in narrow hallways when absolutely no one else occupies the space.

Footsteps pace the second-floor hallway throughout the night, following the same path repeatedly as though someone walks an eternal patrol route. The National Hotel’s intimate size means guests can’t easily dismiss these occurrences as coincidence, creating an atmosphere where believers and skeptics alike leave with stories they struggle to explain rationally.

9. The Nassau Inn, New Jersey

Sophistication meets the supernatural at The Nassau Inn, positioned prominently at 10 Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ 08542, where Ivy League elegance blends with inexplicable phenomena that challenge even the most educated minds. This upscale establishment has hosted distinguished guests since 1756, including several who apparently appreciated Princeton’s intellectual atmosphere enough to remain indefinitely.

The inn’s location in the heart of Princeton’s historic district places it at the crossroads of centuries of academic achievement and accumulated ghostly energy.

The most frequently reported spirit appears to be a Revolutionary War soldier who wanders the building’s oldest sections, perhaps confused about why the war ended without his participation. Guests encounter him most often near staircases, where he’s described as appearing solid and real until he walks directly through closed doors or simply fades from sight mid-stride.

His presence feels melancholy rather than frightening, as though he’s lost and searching for his regiment.

Certain guest rooms experience recurring phenomena that housekeeping staff have learned to expect. Beds get unmade shortly after being perfectly prepared, with covers pulled back as though someone tested the mattress comfort.

Personal belongings move from where guests placed them, always relocated to more organized or logical positions, suggesting a spirit with strong opinions about proper tidiness.

The inn’s restaurant and bar areas occasionally fill with the sound of animated conversation and laughter when only a handful of quiet patrons occupy the space. The Nassau Inn’s combination of historic prestige, modern luxury, and reliable paranormal activity makes it uniquely appealing to travelers who want their ghost stories served alongside world-class amenities.

10. The Queen Victoria, New Jersey

Reigning over Cape May’s collection of haunted accommodations at 102 Ocean St, Cape May, NJ 08204, The Queen Victoria lives up to its royal name with elegant period furnishings and a court of ghostly subjects who never abdicated their presence. This meticulously restored bed and breakfast comprises multiple Victorian buildings, each contributing its own chapter to the property’s supernatural story.

The attention to historical accuracy in restoration may have awakened or attracted spirits who recognize the familiar surroundings from their earthly days.

Guests frequently report encounters with a female spirit who appears concerned about the comfort and wellbeing of visitors. She’s been spotted fluffing pillows, adjusting curtains, and even turning down beds in rooms she believes need attention.

This helpful ghost seems to take her hosting duties seriously, continuing to care for guests decades after her own checkout. Some visitors wake to find small gifts like flowers or vintage items placed on their nightstands that weren’t there when they fell asleep.

The Queen Victoria’s common areas host tea time gatherings where invisible guests apparently join the living. Chairs creak as though bearing weight when no one sits in them, and teacups have been observed moving slightly across tables with no physical cause.

Photographs taken in these social spaces often reveal mysterious mists or orbs that weren’t visible during the actual moment.

Music boxes throughout the property play spontaneously, filling rooms with tinkling melodies that stop abruptly when investigated. The Queen Victoria’s combination of impeccable Victorian authenticity and genuine paranormal activity creates an immersive historical experience where the boundary between past and present feels wonderfully, spookily thin.