Old buildings are perfectly charming during the day. Add a little darkness and a good ghost story, though, and suddenly every creaky floorboard deserves an explanation.
New Jersey has plenty of historic streets where the past refuses to stay quiet, at least according to local legends.
You can follow guides through Victorian neighborhoods, hear strange tales along seaside boardwalks, or explore an old mansion by candlelight.
There are even walks led by paranormal investigators who have a few eerie experiences of their own to share.
The fun part? You’ll pick up some fascinating local history while wondering if that shadow behind you just moved.
1. Princeton Ghost Tours And Haunted Pub Crawls
Bones turning up during a college construction project is a strange start for any story. In Princeton, it’s just one stop on the route.
The tour covers about a mile on foot and stays outdoors the whole time. Guides lead groups past the Princeton Battle Monument, where legends tell of Revolutionary War soldiers who never quite left.
You’ll also pass the Nassau Inn, which British troops once occupied during the war. Stories say a few spirits still hang around its halls.
Then come the gothic halls of Rockefeller College. Tales of spectral scholars there connect to human bones found while the college was being built.
The guides are known for knowing their stuff about the town and the University, not just the ghost stories. That means you get a solid history lesson with a chill on the side.
Tours run nightly, year-round, so you don’t have to wait for October. The company is USMC Disabled Combat Veteran-owned and women and minority-led.
Bringing little ones? Kids under six can join for free if they don’t take up a seat, which makes a family outing easier on the wallet.
Meeting point: Princeton Battle Monument, 55 Stockton St, Princeton, NJ 08540
2. Asbury Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls
Ghostly sailors along the Jersey Shore? That’s the kind of tale this crew loves to share after dark.
Tours run nightly and year-round, so a chilly January evening counts just as much as a Halloween weekend. Expert local guides walk you through some of the city’s most haunted sites.
The route mixes iconic buildings with lesser-known local spots. One big highlight is the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, a beachfront landmark with its own haunted reputation.
Expect plenty of real Asbury Park history between the spooky parts. The balance leans toward learning, with eerie stories tucked between the facts like little jump scares for your brain.
Plan on spending one to two hours on your feet. Comfortable shoes and a light jacket for the ocean breeze are smart picks.
The operation is USMC Disabled Combat Veteran-owned, and it’s known as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space. Everyone gets a spot in the ghost story circle.
Got a birthday, reunion, or work group to entertain? Private tours and special events are on the menu too, which beats another night of bowling.
Tours meet at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park.
3. The Paranormal Museum- Paranormal Books & Curiosities
A bookstore that doubles as a paranormal museum is already a fun idea. Add guided ghost walks, and you’ve got a full spooky evening in one stop.
The Original Asbury Park Ghost Tours have been sharing the city’s haunted history since 2008. Walks usually last 60 to 75 minutes.
Pick the Ghosts and Legends of Downtown tour for historic buildings and forgotten tragedies. Choose Ghosts of the Boardwalk for shipwrecks, mysterious fires, and restless spirits along the water.
Music fans, take note. Stops include the Stone Pony and the Paramount Theater, plus the carousel building and the old Asbury Park Press building.
Then there’s Tillie, the famous painted face at the Wonder Bar. Her eerie tale gets a moment in the spotlight, grin and all.
Back at the shop, the museum displays artifacts, and the staff love explaining them with a mix of humor and spookiness. Some packages pair a walking tour with a museum visit afterward.
The shop welcomes visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, with other times available by appointment. Guided museum visits require advance reservations.
Address: 621 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
4. Cape May Ghost Tours And Haunted Pub Crawls
Gingerbread trim and porch swings look sweet by day. After sunset, Cape May’s Victorian streets start telling a very different story.
This tour operator leads guests through historic buildings, haunted places, and iconic landmarks around town. Local guides share true stories of spirits, legends, and unexplained events.
You can choose a straightforward ghost tour or an immersive haunted history walk. Both lean on authentic storytelling and plenty of local know-how.
Cape May makes a perfect stage for this stuff. As one of America’s oldest seaside resorts, it has had a long time to collect secrets.
The meeting spot sits on Congress Place, close to the heart of the historic district. That makes it easy to grab dinner nearby and stroll over before your tour.
Planning a family reunion or a group trip down the shore? Private group tours are available, so your crew can hear the ghost stories without strangers in the mix.
The office keeps daily hours from morning until 8 PM, which helps if you want to sort out details ahead of time. A little planning keeps the only surprises on the tour itself.
Address: 200 Congress Pl, Cape May, NJ 08204
5. Jersey City Ghost Tours And Haunted Pub Crawls
Revolutionary War spirits and haunted sailors, right across the river from Manhattan? Jersey City has more ghost material than its skyline lets on.
Expert guides bring the city’s darker side to life on nightly walking tours. The stories blend documented history with long-standing local accounts.
The walk covers about a mile and stays outside the whole time. You won’t be ducking into creaky basements, so the scares come from the stories alone.
Stops include The Beacon, a striking Art Deco residential complex. The route also passes Hudson Catholic Regional High School, each spot adding a new piece of the city’s past.
Colonial settlements shaped this area long before the high-rises arrived. Hearing those early chapters makes a familiar neighborhood feel brand new.
The tour is a great way to learn about the people who have called Jersey City home over the centuries. It’s history class with better lighting choices.
Tours run until 10 PM and work for all ages. Like its sister tours around New Jersey, it’s USMC Disabled Combat Veteran-owned and women and minority-led.
The tour meets at Beacon Hague in Jersey City, so check your booking confirmation for the precise meeting instructions.
6. Flemington Ghost Walk
Most tour guides read up on ghosts. On this walk, the guides actually go looking for them as real paranormal investigators.
That gives the stories a personal twist. You’ll hear about encounters at the various locations, including experiences the investigators share themselves.
The route starts on Stangl Road and moves through Turntable Junction and Main Street. Expect about 15 stops along the way.
Wear good shoes, because the walk stretches roughly 1.5 miles. It lasts about an hour and 45 minutes, so this is a real evening out.
The walk launched in June 2022 as a team effort. The owners of Within Spirit and Jersey Paranormal Investigations joined a local researcher who mapped out much of the route.
Kids can come along, though parents should think about that distance for little legs. Tours go on rain or shine, unless dangerous weather is on the way.
Snap all the photos you like of historic buildings. Just keep the camera down in residential areas, and leave smoking for another night.
Address: 37 Stangl Rd, Flemington, NJ 08822
7. Red Bank Ghost Tours And Haunted Pub Crawls
Meet Mrs. Roberta Patterson, the mischievous spirit said to haunt the Dublin House. Local legends describe her moving objects and making her presence known to staff and visitors.
Here’s a bonus fact: the house was moved to its current spot roughly 120 years ago. Apparently some residents decided to come along for the ride.
From there, guides lead you through Red Bank’s historic streets. Expect tales of haunted theaters, restless spirits, and ghostly encounters tied to the town’s long past.
Red Bank sits along the Navesink River, and that riverside setting adds to the mood. Old buildings, quiet side streets, and evening shadows do plenty of the work.
The walks mix real history with the spooky stuff, so you’ll leave with trivia for your next dinner party. Monmouth County has more ghost stories than you might guess.
Tours run into the evening, wrapping up as late as 11 PM. That makes this an easy add-on after an early dinner downtown.
Address: 30 Monmouth St, Red Bank, NJ 07701
8. Mount Holly Tours
Nobody will jump out at you here, and nobody will grab your shoulder. The guides call the stories “PG-13ish,” which is a refreshingly honest rating.
Mount Holly traces its founding back to 1677. That’s centuries of old buildings, churches, and alleyways for spirits to call home.
The haunted history tour winds through the nooks and crannies of downtown. At each stop, guides explain the true history behind what happened there.
That context makes the strange encounters more interesting. You’re not just hearing that something spooky happened, you’re learning why people think it did.
The tour runs about an hour, so it fits nicely into a weekend evening. Haunted tours generally pop up on select Friday and Saturday nights from August through October.
Families are welcome, and kids get discounted tickets. Children do need to be with an adult, which is fair, since someone has to hold the hand of the nervous grown-up.
The guides are known for being friendly and full of local knowledge. It’s a smart pick for anyone who wants chills with a strong side of history.
Address: 128 High St, Mt Holly, NJ 08060
9. Bordentown Walking Tours
Founded in 1682, Bordentown has had more than three centuries to pile up mysteries. Friday nights are when those stories come out to play.
Bordentown Walking Tours runs regular historical walks all year long. Their Haunted History Tours are the popular spooky version.
Bordentown Walking Tours offers guided Haunted History Tours, with dates and availability listed through its booking system. Reservations are required, so plan ahead.
The route takes you past lovely homes and parks that even nearby residents might not know about. Each stop comes wrapped in spooky stories and mysteries to think over on the drive home.
A friendly guide leads the way through the nooks and crannies of local history. The pace feels more like a neighborhood stroll than a horror movie marathon.
Kids get discounted tickets, so this works well for a family night out. Older kids who love a good puzzle will especially enjoy the unsolved bits.
Farnsworth Avenue makes a handy meeting point. Arrive a little early and you can admire the historic downtown before the stories begin.
Address: 135 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, NJ 08505
10. Burlington Tours
Long before New Jersey was a single state, Burlington was a capital. It was founded in 1677 as the capital of the colony of West Jersey.
That much history leaves a lot of stories behind. Burlington Tours shares them on guided walks through the town’s historic downtown.
A friendly guide takes you through the nooks and crannies of local history. Expect tales stretching all the way back to those colonial founding days.
The haunted historic tour turns the same streets into something a little eerier. You’ll hear about ghosts and folklore tied to the old buildings you pass.
It’s a great date night idea for couples who would rather walk and talk than sit through a movie. You’ll have plenty to chat about afterward.
Families can come along too, since kids get discounted tickets. A history-loving tween might just find a new favorite way to learn.
Burlington sits along the Delaware River, close to its neighbors in the county. Pair this walk with a trip to nearby towns for a full weekend of haunted history.
Address: 100 High St, Burlington, NJ 08016
11. White Hill Mansion
Candlelight, creaky floors, and a house built in the 1700s make quite a combo. White Hill Mansion leans into all three.
This 18th-century landmark offers guided history tours along with paranormal investigations. You get the backstory of the house and a chance to look for something unexplained.
The candlelit tour stands out as a fan favorite. Moving through old rooms by soft flickering light feels like stepping back a couple of centuries.
Paranormal investigators help lead the experience, so you’ll hear from people who spend serious time studying the house. Their mix of history and ghost stories keeps things lively.
Want to go further? The mansion also hosts ghost hunts for anyone ready to test their nerves after dark.
Tours happen only on specific dates and times, so check the calendar before you go. Getting tickets in advance is the smart move.
Practical perks help too, with a free parking lot and restrooms on site. It’s a fitting final stop on any New Jersey ghost trip, especially if you like your history with a side of goosebumps.
Address: 217 Burlington Street, Fieldsboro, NJ 08505
