A Chilling Road Trip Through Texas Ghost Towns
Texas may be known for barbecue, big skies, and cowboy history—but it also has a dark side. Scattered across the Lone Star State are dozens of ghost towns, left behind by time but never truly abandoned. Many say spirits linger in these forgotten outposts, whispering through broken windows and haunting dusty cemeteries.
In this haunted road trip guide, we’ll take you on a journey through some of the eeriest ghost towns in Texas—mapped out by region—so you can choose your own supernatural adventure. Buckle up, grab your camera, and maybe pack some sage… just in case.
👻 Planning to add a guided ghost tour to your trip? Check out our Tours & Tickets page for haunted city walks, paranormal investigations, and spooky experiences across Texas.
🏜️ West Texas: Deserted Dreams & Desert Spirits
Terlingua
Once a booming mercury mining town, Terlingua is now a ghostly blend of ruins, art shacks, and desert silence. The cemetery here is especially haunting, with handmade crosses and mementos left behind for souls long passed.
🗺️ Add-on: After your ghost town stroll, consider a night in San Antonio for a professionally guided ghost walk.
Lobo
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto a post-apocalyptic movie set in Lobo. Empty gas stations, faded signs, and shattered windows offer eerie photo ops—and an unsettling sense that you’re not alone.
🌵 Central Texas: Hauntings on the Hill Country Loop
Bartlett
Still home to a few residents, Bartlett’s abandoned downtown feels like a film set stuck in time. Phantom footsteps and flickering lights are common claims in this town that refuses to fully fade away.
Thurber
An old coal-mining company town, Thurber once housed thousands. Today, just a smokestack and a scattering of brick buildings remain—along with ghost stories passed down by descendants of miners.
📍Nearby haunted city: Fort Worth Ghost Tours
🌲 East Texas: Fog, Forests, and Forgotten Towns
Jefferson (Bonus Stop)
While not a ghost town, Jefferson is famous for its hauntings. The Jefferson Hotel, antique shops, and Civil War-era buildings create a dense concentration of ghost sightings—making it an essential stop on your eerie itinerary.
🎟️ Don’t miss your chance to join a Jefferson ghost tour.
Indianola
Once a rival to Galveston, Indianola was destroyed by hurricanes in the late 1800s. What’s left is chilling: salt-worn foundations, a lonely cemetery, and rumors of ghostly ships appearing in the mist.
🏞️ Far West Texas & Panhandle: Borderline Paranormal
Toyah
With fewer than 100 residents and no functional businesses, Toyah is a haunting shell of its former self. Visitors report children’s laughter near the old school—even when no one’s around.
Glenrio
Right on the Texas-New Mexico border, Glenrio is a Route 66 ghost town full of eerie nostalgia. Crumbling motels and overgrown gas stations make it a perfect last stop before the spirits follow you home.
👻 After this isolated stretch, recharge in El Paso—with a professionally guided ghost tour under the desert moonlight.
🛻 Ready to Hit the Road?
Texas has more than 500 documented ghost towns—but these nine are perfect for a chilling road trip filled with crumbling architecture, real legends, and a few goosebumps.
Whether you go solo, bring your crew, or join a guided tour, the haunted highways of Texas are calling. Will you answer?
👉 Explore all ghost tours and paranormal experiences here and start planning your ghostly getaway.
