Haunted Tennessee: Two Cities, Two Kinds of Ghosts

The two cities we cover in Tennessee

Tennessee tells its ghost stories with a soundtrack. Its two big haunted cities sit at opposite ends of the state and offer completely different evenings.

Nashville

Music City's haunted side hides backstage: historic theaters, old hotels and streets where the city's earliest residents reportedly still make appearances. Our Nashville guide covers the walks that mix the music history with the darker verses.

Chattanooga

Incorporated in 1839 from a river hamlet called Ross's Landing, Chattanooga grew up on the water and the rails, then found itself at the center of the Civil War, with the Battle of Chickamauga fought nearby and Lookout Mountain looming over it all. That history powers its ghost tours, including a cemetery ghost hunt for travelers who want more than a walk. See the Chattanooga guide.

Elsewhere in the state, the Bell Witch legend is said to be one of America's best-documented hauntings, and Memphis keeps its own river lore. Both come up constantly on Tennessee tours, wherever you take one.

Questions people ask

What is the most haunted city in Tennessee?

There is no runaway winner. Nashville has the volume and variety, Chattanooga has the Civil War weight, and the Bell Witch country north of Nashville has the state's most famous single legend. Pick by the trip you are already taking.

Is Chattanooga worth visiting for ghost tours?

Yes, and it is underrated. The downtown is compact, the river-and-mountain setting is atmospheric, and the battlefield history gives its stories a documented backbone that many bigger cities lack. Start with our Chattanooga picks.

When should you go?

Both cities run evening tours through the warm months and into fall, with October the peak. Nashville's tours pair naturally with a night out downtown, so weekends fill first there.

Map the next stop with our haunted city guides, or come walk with the team that writes them on our Arizona tours in Flagstaff, Tucson and Prescott.