Haunted Things To Do In Gettysburg Pennsylvania: Ghost Tours And Paranormal History
- Desirae-Haunted Traverse
- Mar 16, 2023
- 12 min read
Updated: Feb 13
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is known for its historic battlefield — but many visitors come for what lingers beyond history. From reported apparitions to eerie nighttime tours, Gettysburg has become one of the most haunted destinations in the United States.
If you’re planning a visit and want to explore Gettysburg’s paranormal side, this guide highlights haunted tours, ghost walks, and places connected to unexplained encounters. So, let's explore ghost tours and paranormal history things to do in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
BEST GHOST TOURS IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
Gettysburg is the site of one of the bloodiest Civil War battles in American history, the Battle of Gettysburg led to the death of over 50,000 people. This 3-day battle has influenced dozens of stories about ghosts and hauntings. And here are highly recommended ghost tours in Gettysburg.
Ghosts of Gettysburg Ultimate Dead of Night Haunted Ghost Tour
This guided walking tour explores some of Gettysburg’s most haunted locations including the Gettysburg Hotel, Union Hotel, and the Dobbin House Tavern ( I loved my dinner here and was able to explore a part of the house that served in the Underground Railroad) while sharing the history behind reported paranormal activity. Ideal for first-time visitors who want a blend of storytelling and historical context.
Echoes of War All Ages Ghost Tour
This guided walking tour explores some of Gettysburg’s most haunted locations centered in the town including the Tillie Pierce House, Farnsworth House, David Wills House, and The Gettysburg Hotel while sharing the history behind reported paranormal activity. Ideal for f visitors with children but still want ghost stories that can resonnatewith adults.
Family Friendly Ghost Tour-Likely to Sell Out
At sundown, this guided walking tour explores some of Gettysburg’s most haunted locations in No Man's Land while sharing the history behind reported paranormal activity. Ideal for families with teenagers who want a blend of lesser known ghost stories and the history of the townspeople caught between the Union and Confederate soldiers.
Historic Jennie Wade Birthplace Ghost Hunt w/ Equipment
Focused on evening exploration of one of the Gettysburg's most haunted sites with a tragic history. Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg, this paranormal investigation or ghost haunt provides equipment and the guidance of experienced paranormal investigators. A good fit for travelers who enjoy atmospheric experiences after dark.
HAUNTED PLACES YOU CAN VISIT IN GETTYSBURG
Gettysburg National Military Park – The battlefield itself is often cited as the source of unexplained sounds, figures, and residual energy.
Sachs Covered Bridge – Frequently associated with ghost sightings and strange nighttime activity.
Evergreen Cemetery – One of Gettysburg’s most historic cemeteries, often included in ghost tours.
Historic Downtown Gettysburg – Several buildings and streets are tied to long-standing paranormal legends.
For those drawn to paranormal symbolism and spiritual meaning, I create art and tools inspired by the unseen in my Haunted Traverse shop.
A Famous Gettysburg Ghost Story: The Phantom Soldiers
Gettysburg is perhaps best known for reports of phantom soldiers appearing on the battlefield long after the cannons fell silent.
Visitors and park rangers have described seeing full-bodied apparitions of Union and Confederate soldiers marching across the fields, only to vanish moments later. Others report hearing distant gunfire, drums, and shouted commands despite the area being quiet and empty.
These encounters are often reported at dusk or in the early morning hours, when mist settles over the battlefield — a time when many believe the energy of past trauma is most easily felt. For generations, these sightings have fueled Gettysburg’s reputation as one of the most haunted places in the United States.
Most Haunted Places in America
Why I traveled to Gettysburg as a Paranormal Investigator
Dez here. When I’m not leading ghost tours in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan, I travel to locations around the world to explore the strange, the unexplained, and the paranormal.
I visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with two sisters and fellow ghost hunters to experience one of the most historically tragic locations in the United States. The Gettysburg National Military Park, established in 1895, preserves the site of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), where more than 50,000 soldiers lost their lives during a pivotal moment of the Civil War.
Many paranormal researchers believe intense emotional trauma, violent loss of life, and sudden death can contribute to lingering energy. Gettysburg’s history contains all of these elements, which is why it is often considered one of the most haunted places in America.
For any paranormal enthusiast, Gettysburg belongs high on a ghost investigation bucket list.
Below is a sample 4-day, 3-night itinerary to help you experience Gettysburg’s haunted history to the fullest.
Planning a Haunted Visit To Gettysburg
Planning ahead can help you get the most out of your haunted visit to Gettysburg, whether you’re exploring on your own or joining a guided ghost tour.
Best Time to Visit:Gettysburg can be visited year-round, but fall offers cooler temperatures and heightened atmosphere. Evening hours are ideal for ghost tours and paranormal exploration.
What to Wear:Comfortable walking shoes are essential, especially for tours that cover uneven terrain or historic battlefields. Dress in layers, as temperatures can drop significantly after sunset.
Booking Ghost Tours:Many Gettysburg ghost tours fill quickly during peak seasons. Booking in advance is recommended, particularly for night tours and paranormal investigations that use specialized equipment.
Who Should Visit:Gettysburg is well-suited for paranormal enthusiasts, history lovers, couples, and small groups. While some tours are family-friendly, others focus on darker subject matter — review tour descriptions before booking.
Respect Historic Sites:Gettysburg National Military Park and surrounding cemeteries are places of remembrance. Visitors are encouraged to explore respectfully and follow posted guidelines. Remember you cannot ghost hunt on the national park grounds.
Follow my Itinerary
Day 1: Ghost Hunting Gettysburg.
First, book a stay at the Tillie Pierce House Inn. Arrive that evening and get settled in at this haunted bed & breakfast. The Tillie Pierce House Inn is accommodating to ghost hunters. When checking in just speak to your attendant about your interest in the paranormal activity happening at the inn. I found my innkeepers Gail and Bob to be very helpful on where and when to ghost hunt the house at night.
Here is a quick history of the Tillie Pierce House Inn Haunting unfolding. The Tillie Pierce House was owned by the Pierces during the battle of Gettysburg. With so many casualties, any home available was turned into an impromptu hospital and the Pierce house was no exception. Reports of the hauntings experienced by guests of the B&B include ghostly footsteps, spirits sitting on the beds, and a soldier walking up and down the stairway.
My group of hunters experienced some paranormal activity very quickly in our ghost investigation. First, EMF readings responded to our questions. Next, we were able to hear some communication via our spirit box.
We stayed in the Lydia Leister Suite where we experienced the best paranormal event of our stay! In the middle of the night, we were awakened by a woman's voice speaking to us. The female spirit said, "Get up." This was spoken right after a very LOUD boom in the ceiling of the room. All three investigators heard this disembodied voice in our room too! It. Was. Perfect! 5/5 stars for paranormal experience and quality of stay. I would stay again!
Day 2: History and Tour of the Gettysburg National Park and the Battlegrounds.
Knowing the history of the locations you visit is imperative for a quality ghost hunt, but in Gettysburg, the amazing Civil War history is just as appealing to me as the paranormal activity in the area.
After taking breakfast at the Tillie Pierce House Inn, I would suggest you visit the Gettysburg Cyclorama. It can be hard to comprehend the movements of the Union and Confederate forces because of how expansive the locations were for this 3-day battle. This Cyclorama is perfect to get the basics of the hot spots to visit once you get out to the battlegrounds. When visiting the vast battlefields, you will hop in a car to explore the sites or on a vehicle tour.
Now you have the general lay of the battlegrounds, it's time to hop on a tour. You can choose the self-guide auto tour (best if you have your own vehicle). We did this one, and again, our biggest regret was not doing the Cyclorama first. The app for the auto tour was easy to use, easy to navigate, and lets you explore at your own pace. No vehicle? No worries. It's time to get on da bus with a bus tour of the grounds. Here are my recommendations:
Self-Guided Auto Tour
Bus Tour
There is no need to do the self-guided auto tour and the bus tour, the subjects covered will be very similar. Instead, just focus on which experience best suits you. If you want to go at your own pace, the technology is easy to use for the self-guided and you can spend at least a half a day driving the battleground. If you don't like driving, limited time to explore the battleground, and want a social experience too, then the 90 minutes bus tour would be the better fit.
After a full day, of learning the history of the site you are investigating, now it is time to eat a fabulous, historically accurate chicken dinner at the Farnsworth House Inn and check in too! The Farnsworth House Inn is the next location for nights 2 & 3. You are going to want to book in advance when planning your trip! (This itinerary splits nights between 2 B&Bs, but if you can add another location do it! I would recommend the haunted Baladerry Inn)
PRO TIP! The actual National Park's grounds do NOT let you ghost hunt day or night. Staying at haunted locations like the recommended Bed and Breakfasts are great locations with several paranormal hauntings unfolding within the B&B's haunted walls. As you will learn through the history tours, the battle was also fought in the town with the Confederates driving the Union forces up to Cemetery Hill. You can still see the bullet holes in some of the buildings! There is one tour company that can get you to a battleground location just outside the GNP, read on for more information on that tour.
After an authentic mid-1800s chicken dinner at the Farnsworth House Inn, it's time to hop on a ghost tour at the Farnworth House Inn too! There are a couple to choose from. Great if you can do both! But if you can choose only one, I would opt for the tour of the Farnsworth House, then into the night, I would investigate the house independently.
After the Farnsworth Tour, I would book the After Dark Investigations. Locations vary, but on my investigation, our guide took us into The Grove, a woods very near Cemetery Hill where a rare, violent night battle caused both forces to have a significant loss of life. We also were able to investigate Sachs Covered Bridge and Devil's Den. You will need a vehicle to drive to each site!
If you have some energy, set up some cameras and do a short investigation in your room and hallways of the Farnsworth House.
Ghost Hunting Equipment
Ghost Hunting Equipment is provided with the After Dark Investigations, but here is my recommendations for ghost hunting equipment if you would like to bring your own to investigate not only the Grove, Cemetery Hill, Devil's Den, and the Sachs Covered Bridge but also the haunted stay locations I have recommended.
Day3: Ghost Tours and More Ghost Hunting
First, let's talk breakfast. This is an event all to itself at the Farnsworth House. Order it! You won't regret it.
Next, sleep in a little and wake up or you can do a ghost hunt session (which is why I recommend staying here 2 nights). Head out to the very busy old town location with a late lunch in the area. I would recommend eating at O-Rorke's Family Eatery. We were able to get a discount when we booked our evening ghost tour with Gettysburg Ghost Tours.
After lunch, explore more of the GNP. You can drive around the location and we were told as long as you are WITHIN your vehicle you can do some ghost investigating. There is a self-guided Ghosts of the Battelfield Self-Guided Driving Tour. You can drive and take pictures and some EVP sessions-again, as long as you are WITHIN your car. We did some late evening investigations on some of the opened GNP roads. I cannot stress this enough. It is NOT allowed to ghost hunt the GNP grounds. I was told by everyone in Gettysburg, Park Rangers will confiscate your equipment and you will NOT be getting it back. So ghost hunters hunt at your own risk! Good luck!
After an afternoon of exploring the GNP, it's time for dinner at the Dobbin House. If you can get reservations, I would highly recommend this option. This is very popular and for good reason. You are going to love the ambiance and the ghostly stories about this location. I personally loved the display of an Underground Railroad hide-a-way right there in the house that can be viewed after dinner!
Ghost Tour Time! Gettysburg has a variety of tour companies. Many will visit hauntings unfolding in the town of Gettysburg and touch on why the town is believed to be haunted. I highly recommend you hop on one to hear the stories coming out of this area. I included at the beginning of this article, my top recommendations here.
I made a big mistake with booking my ghost tours. Yup, more than one. I booked all three of my ghost tours back-to-back-to-back with Gettysburg Ghost Tour Company (located right across from O'Rourkes Family Eatery). All the tours were provided by the same tour guide with the same sites and stories visited. Oops!
Pro Tip! If you are doing more than one walking ghost tour, choose different companies and have fun! Try to avoid National Chained Ghost Tour Franchises and look for locals that are providing the tours. But worry not because all of my recommendations fit this criteria.
After your ghost tour(s), return to the Farnsworth House-which will be a major stop on most tours, I would unfold one last late-night investigation or enjoy the outdoor bar on site because of so many reportings of paranormal encounters by Farnworth's guests.
Some have seen Confederate Soldiers manifesting in the attic, the location of their demise. And of course, the Farnsworth House was a makeshift hospital with so many operations performed that blood pooled into a red lake in the basement, dripping down on Gettysburg residents sheltering from the fight.
Some of the experiences we encountered here were a shadow figure that presented for several moments before walking away from our group and disappearing on the main level of the original house. The house has been added on through the years so try to get a room in the original part of the house. My room and the stairway leading up to the attic on the second level had some SRS Camera readings and someone, maybe the Confederate Soldiers that passed in the attic, were making themselves known.
Day 4: Breakfast and Hershey's Chocolate Factory?
Grab another delicious breakfast from Farnsworth House. Then, to decompress from your intense ghost investigations, may I recommend the Hershey Chocolate Factory? My team visited this location on our way out of the area. It's located a short drive from Gettysburg. It was fun and delicious.
In summary
With the profound and tragic history of Gettysburg, I would be shocked if no one encountered paranormal activity while visiting. during your stay here, give yourself time to speak with the locals, their experiences are incredible. Good luck with your ghost hunting, Gettysburg is a paranormal and historical site not to be missed.
To see more of the actual evidence my team captures on our ghost hunts, be sure to follow our social media accounts. @hauntedtraverse
Happy Hunting! Be safe and have fun out there!
Safe and spirited travels, my Dear Readers. ~Dez
More Haunted Destinations to Explore
Haunted travel doesn’t stop here. I’m continuing to explore some of the most paranormally active destinations across the U.S., including Savannah, Salem, Charleston, and beyond.
Thank you for reading this article
~ Dez, Haunted Traverse Ghost Tours
Let's explore more if you have time!
I explore the emotional and personal side of haunted travel and spiritual curiosity in my Substack reflections. Substack Here.
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For those drawn to paranormal symbolism and spiritual meaning, I create art and tools inspired by the unseen in my Haunted Traverse shop.
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