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Discover the nation’s capital through its haunting history, local legends, and paranormal activities during the following Washington DC ghost tours.
From family-friendly excursions to after-dark adventures for adults that provide an eerie take on D.C., we’ve got you covered – whether you are a skeptic or supernatural believer!
You can also combine these tours with other fun things to do in Washington DC at night.
Washington DC Ghost Tours
Go on an Evening Ghost Tour in D.C.
Experience a 1-hour evening ghost tour that takes guests on an exploration of the offbeat, haunted places in Washington DC.
The tour meets behind the US Treasury Building and takes guests to the Treasury Annex, the Dolley Madison House, Lafayette Square, and five haunted houses around the DC area while hearing personal accounts of paranormal activity.
The tour features animated tour guides who provide harrowing histories of the hauntings that have been reported at well-known sites around the capital.
Pro tip: since this is an evening tour you may need to wrap up, especially fall through to spring.
Experience an Adults-Only Ghost Tour of D.C.
Looking for some of the best DC ghost tours that are exclusively for the grown-ups?
This 1.5-hour adults-only ghost tour is perfect for those looking to learn the darker side of the most visited landmarks in the capital.
The tour begins at the Octagon Museum and features stories from the dark figures that have roamed the capital throughout its history.
Guests will be taken to some of the most haunted places in DC including the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Decatur House, and Lafayette Square.
Tours like this also make for great date night ideas in DC.
Take a National Treasure-Style Journey through Lafayette Square
If you’re looking for Washington DC haunted tours that lean more towards uncovering mysteries, this 2-hour guided walking tour takes guests on an adventure around Lafayette Square to unearth Freemason treasures, hidden tunnels, and the dark history of power in DC.
Learn all of the secret history surrounding assassination plots, secret societies, and secrets that surround Capitol Hill.
This tour takes guests to the Andrew Jackson Statue, the White House, the U.S. Treasury, and other federal buildings while providing a tell-all deep dive into the secret history of the nation’s biggest hidden stories.
Join a Haunted Walking Tour Around Lafayette Square
On the search for more haunted Lafayette tours?
This 2-hour evening walking tour will take visitors through Lafayette Square and make stops at the Supreme Court Building, the White House, and the Congressional Library just to name a few.
What makes this a unique ghost tour in DC is that it includes a crash course in ghost hunting.
Take a Tour Around Haunted Pubs in D.C.
If you’re a fan of drinks and thrill, this 2-hour haunted pub crawl will let you explore some of the spookiest pubs around the nation’s capital.
The tour meets at the 170-year-old Old Ebbitt Grill and makes stops at the Willard Hotel, the Rhoades Grill, and The Hamilton.
Hear the tales of the most haunted places in Washington D.C. while you sip iconic drinks like the Gin Rickey.
Local tip: Amanda, co-owner of Hey! East Coast USA also suggests The Mirror (1413 K St NW), and The Alex in The Graham Hotel in Georgetown for boos in a dark spot!
See the Ghosts of the White House with a Haunted Pub Crawl
Nightly Spirits (1475 Pennsylvania Ave NW) hosts a Haunted Pub Crawl that visits the most spirit-infested spots around the White House.
The tour starts outside the Occidental Grill and takes guests on a haunted stroll to three bars and plenty of spooky D.C. stops in between.
This haunted D.C. tour and bar crawl ends at one of the capital’s most famous bars so you can keep the spirits flowing long after your tour has ended.
Go on a Ghost Storytelling Tour in Georgetown
A ghost storytelling tour of Georgetown will take you to the spookiest sites of one of the most historic neighborhoods in D.C.
Stroll through the beautiful residential neighborhoods of Georgetown while hearing the harrowing history of the area’s most famous haunts.
This is also a family-friendly tour that will take you through Victorian row houses in the area while learning about its forgotten past.
Horror movie fans may recognize the steps that the Ghosts of Georgetown walking tour concludes at…
Yes, the Exorcist Stairs!
Enjoy a Family-Friendly Tour from Ghost City Tours
Ghost City Tours (1 First Street NE) offers DC ghost tours for families looking to learn the haunted history of the nation’s capital.
The tour kicks off at The Old Brick Capitol and includes visits to Lafayette Square Park, The Hay-Adams Hotel, and the U.S. Capitol Building.
During the tour, you will learn a detailed history of the capital and all the hauntings that have been reported around the area that are entertaining, engaging, and appropriate for guests of all ages.
The US Capitol Building also made it to our list of the most iconic things to do in Washington DC.
Bring the Kids to Explore the Horrors on Capitol Hill
Go on a kid-friendly spooky walking tour around Capitol Hill.
This tour takes visitors to the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court Building, and the Capitol Building all while sharing spooky stories that are appropriate for all ages.
Meetup usually takes place at 237 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
Fun feature: feel free to wear costumes if you want to immerse yourself in the scary vibes of this tour.
See the Haunts of Capitol Hill with AmeriGhost Tours
AmeriGhost Tours (303 Pennsylvania Ave. SouthEast) offers a story-filled tour of the most haunted places around Capitol Hill.
This tour meets on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and 3rd St and takes ghosts to the key spots of Capitol Hill including the Statuary, the Lincoln Memorial, the Supreme Court Building, the Library of Congress, and the Capitol Building.
Hear the haunting stories of assassinations, apparitions, and demon cats as you see the sights surrounding the nation’s capital.
Hunt the Presidents, Assassins, and Poltergeists with a DCGhosts Tour
DCGhosts (15th Street NW) offers ghost tours that feature stops at the National Treasury, the Hay-Adams Hotel, and the theater where Lincoln was assassinated.
Tours like this lift the veil of D.C. and provide tons of in-depth stories about assassinations, the evil acts of Presidents, and the poltergeists that haunt the capital to this day.
You will start at the National Treasury Building and feature over an hour of historically informed stories of the haunting around Capitol Hill.
Communicate with the Spirits in this White House Walking Tour
This 1.5–hour ghost walking tour of the White House and areas around it takes guests on a journey through some of Washington DC’s haunted houses and historical sights.
The tour kicks off at the old Evening Star Building and takes guests to the Old Post Office Pavilion, Lafayette Square, The White House, and the historically haunted homes around the capital.
This DC ghost tour even allows guests the opportunity to communicate with the spirits that haunt the old homes of Washington DC.
Explore the Hill of Haunts with a National Nightmares Tour
National Nightmares (212 2nd Street SE) offers a walking tour of Capitol Hill with stops at the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
This D.C. haunted tour boasts that it features stories that other tours leave out including the ghost of John Quincy Adams, Robert Slight, and the specters that haunt the Capitol Police.
Take a Soul Stroll through the Congressional Cemetery
The Congressional Cemetery (1801 E St SE) hosts Soul Strolls through the headstones during the Twilight hours every October.
Each Soul Stroll takes guests on a DC haunted tour past the gravesites of some of the most historical and haunting figures in US History.
Hear the tragic stories of the life and death of the inhabitants of the Congressional Cemetery while you stroll through the historic grounds.
Sip and Stroll with the Spirits in Old Town Alexandria
If you’re looking to expand your tour with places near Washington DC, The Nightly Spirits Old Town Alexandria Pub Crawl (480 King Street, Alexandria) is a fun choice for those who want to have a drink while learning the haunted history of Alexandria.
This haunted pub crawl is hosted by a full-time ghost hunter and features stops at three of the most haunted bars in Old Town Alexandria.
The tour starts at The Alexandria Hotel and gives guests plenty of opportunities to partake in libations while hearing the haunted history of the historic buildings of Old Town Alexandria.
Mount Vernon Ghost Tour
The Mount Vernon Ghostwalk (733 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD) covers all of the city’s most haunted spots.
This chilling tour offers the perfect day trip for those looking to learn the haunted history of the extended DC area.
Visitors will be taken to the Belvedere Hotel and through the historic homes that are known to be haunted.
Here the stories of a séance gone wrong and visit the houses of more than one grand dame who is thought to still look over their haunted homes.
Planning a day trip from DC next? Check this guide.
Final Thoughts
Which one of these do you think is one of the scariest ghost tours in DC?
Let us know in the comments and feel free to share your experience.