If you’re into ghost stories, creepy old buildings, and the kind of places that make your neck hairs stand up, this road trip is for you.
We’re talking haunted lighthouses, spooky mansions, ghostly theaters, and even a beach hotel that locals swear is full of ghosts.
Florida’s Gulf Coast may be sunny by day, but once the lights go out, it’s packed with places that’ll give you goosebumps.
Grab your flashlight and get ready to explore the weirdest, creepiest, most haunted spots this stretch of Florida has to offer.
1. Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
The Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum sits right on Naval Air Station Pensacola, and it’s famous for its creepy ghost stories and epic views of the Gulf Coast.
Built in 1859, this 150-foot-tall lighthouse has 177 narrow, spiraling steps that lead to the top.
It’s said to be one of the most haunted places in Florida, with reports of shadowy figures, sudden cold spots, and even footsteps echoing when no one’s around.
You can take a ghost tour at night, explore the keeper’s quarters, and learn all about shipwrecks, sea rescues, and the wild history of this spooky spot.
Please note that ghost tours run from spring through November on varying dates, so check the website for updates.
2. Seville Quarter (Pensacola)
Just a short drive from the lighthouse, Seville Quarter in downtown Pensacola brings a totally different kind of spooky, the kind with haunted pianos and ghostly barflies.
This place has been around since the 1960s but parts of the building date back to the 1800s, and it’s known for legends of spirits that never left.
People say they’ve seen glasses fly off shelves, heard music play on its own, and even spotted a woman in period clothing walking through the halls.
It’s a restaurant, bar and nightclub, but also a ghost tour stop, so whether you’re here for a burger or a scare, there’s always something weird going on.
3. The Martin House (Panama City)
Next up is The Martin House in Panama City, a cozy-looking spot that’s way creepier than it first appears.
It’s a big white home located at 119 Bayou Dr., Panama City, and folks say it’s haunted by a woman in white who died here in the early 1900s.
Visitors have reported lights flickering, cold breezes out of nowhere, ghostly figures, and the sound of someone crying when the house is completely empty.
It’s not open for public tours, but you can see it from the outside and locals report seeing ghostly figures in the windows.
4. May-Stringer House (Brooksville)
If you’re brave enough to keep going, the May-Stringer House in Brooksville is straight-up ghost central.
This four-story Victorian house was built in 1855 and legends say it’s haunted by many spirits, including a little girl named Jessie who died here.
It’s now a museum packed with antique dolls, period furnishings, and historic artifacts so it’s basically a perfect setup for a horror movie.
You can book a ghost tour or even do an overnight investigation if you’re into hearing whispers, footsteps, and doors slamming all by themselves.
5. Tampa Theatre
Tampa Theatre is next, and it’s one of the most beautiful (and bizarre) spots on this spooky road trip.
This 1926 movie palace is decked out with twinkling ceiling lights that look like stars, fancy statues, and a pipe organ named “The Mighty Wurlitzer.”
It’s also said to be haunted by a former projectionist named Foster Fink Finley, who still likes to hang out in the booth decades after his death.
You can catch a classic film, join a behind-the-scenes ghost tour, and maybe even spot Foster flickering the lights during your show.
6. The Don CeSar Hotel
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder, The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach adds some glamour to the trip.
This giant pink hotel opened in 1928 and looks like a beachfront castle, but guests have reported seeing the ghost of its original owner, Thomas Rowe, wandering the halls in a white suit.
He’s supposedly still searching for his lost love, Lucinda, and some visitors say they’ve seen the two of them holding hands on the terrace at sunset.
Even if you don’t see a ghost, the place is full of old-school luxury and eerie stories that make it more than just a fancy place to crash.
7. Koreshan State Park
After the beachside hauntings, things get extra strange at Koreshan State Park in Estero, home to a ghost town founded by a cult.
The Koreshan Unity believed the Earth was hollow and that we were all living inside it (yep, really), and their abandoned 1890s settlement is still standing.
You can explore creepy old buildings like the Planetary Court and the Founder’s House, where people say they’ve heard phantom footsteps and felt sudden chills.
It’s super peaceful during the day, but once the sun starts to set, this quiet little park turns into one seriously eerie spot.
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