1. Lincoln Tunnel’s Phantom Hitchhiker
Drivers in New York City have whispered for years about the ghostly figure said to appear in the Lincoln Tunnel. The story goes that late at night, a woman in old-fashioned clothing flags down a ride, only to vanish once inside the car. Those who’ve claimed to encounter her often describe a sudden chill and an overwhelming sense of dread. Some insist she was a victim of a crash in the early years of the tunnel’s operation.
The most unsettling part of this tale is how consistent the accounts are. Different drivers, in different decades, all report seeing a pale woman who seems out of place in modern traffic. While skeptics call it urban legend, the idea of picking up a passenger only to find the backseat empty is enough to keep some cabbies from stopping. Even if it’s just a story, the tunnel’s echoing walls make it easy to imagine her still wandering through the dark.
2. The Blue Ghost of the Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel has its own spectral reputation, and this one involves a man in blue work clothes. According to legend, he was a construction worker who died during the tunnel’s building in the 1920s. Motorists claim to see him standing along the side of the tunnel, usually where there’s no safe spot for a person to stand. He reportedly vanishes when headlights get too close.
The creepiness comes from how real the sightings feel. Drivers often report thinking they’ve nearly hit a pedestrian, slamming their brakes, and finding nothing there. Some even say they’ve heard a faint tapping on their windows as they pass the spot. Whether it’s the imagination of tired commuters or something lingering from the tunnel’s bloody construction history, the “Blue Ghost” is enough to make anyone’s drive a little more tense.
3. Boston’s Big Dig Haunting
Boston’s infamous Big Dig brought with it a slew of eerie tales. Workers reported hearing voices when no one else was around, and some even claimed to see shadowy figures darting between equipment. After construction finished, drivers began sharing their own stories of sudden fog banks and unexplained knocks on their car windows.
Because of the tragic accidents that happened during the project, many locals believe the tunnels are haunted by the spirits of those who died. For drivers, the stories make a stressful commute feel even more unnerving. Even with thousands of cars moving through each day, there are those who swear they’ve seen something moving in the corner of their vision that doesn’t belong. It adds a ghostly weight to one of the most expensive highway projects in U.S. history.
4. The Shanghai Tunnel Rats
Portland, Oregon’s Shanghai Tunnels are famous for their dark past, but even today, people get spooked driving the roads above them. Legends say that the tunnels were used to kidnap people, who were then forced into servitude on ships. While the tunnels themselves are now a tourist attraction, drivers report strange noises and vibrations when passing over certain streets.
Some locals swear that the energy of those trapped souls still lingers beneath. A few drivers have claimed their car radios flicker with static or voices as they pass through the area. Others report feeling like they’re being watched from below. It’s an unsettling reminder that history doesn’t always stay buried, even when paved over with modern streets.
5. The Haunted Tunnel of New Jersey
Clinton Road in New Jersey is infamous, but its tunnel stories are what truly unsettle drivers. Supposedly, if you throw a coin into the water beneath the overpass near the tunnel, the ghost of a boy will throw it back. Drivers have claimed to see a shadow dart across their headlights at the exact moment the coin hits the water.
Others tell of hearing voices or footsteps echoing in the tunnel even when they’re alone. Some motorists report engines stalling for no reason before suddenly starting again. Whether you believe in the boy’s spirit or not, the uneasy feeling of being watched makes the dark drive unforgettable. It’s the kind of place people dare each other to visit after dark.
6. Centralia’s Abandoned Tunnel
Pennsylvania’s ghost town of Centralia, abandoned after a coal mine fire, has a tunnel that feels straight out of a horror film. The Graffiti Highway once led there, and even though it’s blocked now, locals say the tunnel still attracts daring explorers and the occasional driver who ends up near it. Stories include hearing screams echoing from inside and seeing shadowy figures moving within.
For drivers who accidentally find themselves near the entrance, the air feels heavy and unnatural. Some say headlights cut off suddenly without warning, plunging cars into complete darkness. Others describe a smell of burning even though the flames underground are miles away. Whether haunted or just cursed by tragedy, Centralia’s tunnel remains one of the creepiest places to stumble across on a drive.
7. The Crying Woman of Colorado’s Gold Camp Road
Colorado’s Gold Camp Road tunnels are already eerie, with their old, crumbling stone walls. But the third tunnel has the darkest legend. Drivers claim to hear a woman’s cries when they pass through, especially late at night. Some say it’s the spirit of a teacher and children killed in a collapse decades ago.
Even scarier, drivers have found handprints mysteriously smudged on their cars after emerging from the tunnel. The prints often appear on freshly washed windows or dusty bumpers where no one touched. For those brave enough to stop in the middle of the tunnel, the silence is thick, broken only by the occasional sound that might not be coming from this world. It’s no wonder many locals refuse to drive through after dark.
8. Baltimore’s Screaming Tunnel
Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel carries a gruesome story that has followed it for decades. Supposedly, the tunnel is haunted by the screams of a worker who was trapped and burned during a fire in the late 1800s. Trains still run through it, but even drivers on the roads above swear they’ve heard faint cries echoing from underground.
Some claim the screams intensify on the anniversary of the fire. Others report seeing flashes of light, as if flames are still burning inside. Even though the tunnel is closed to the public, stories drift up to those passing overhead. For drivers in Baltimore, it’s one of those legends that makes you glance in the rearview mirror just a little more often.
9. The Black Hollow Tunnel in Kentucky
Kentucky’s Black Hollow Tunnel is so notorious that many locals refuse to drive near it. The story goes that a group of travelers was murdered there long ago, and their spirits never left. Drivers have reported phantom headlights appearing behind them, only to vanish without explanation.
Some have even described cars stalling right at the entrance, no matter how new or reliable. Those who’ve walked inside talk about hearing whispers that seem to come from all directions at once. While many steer clear, a few thrill-seekers drive through just to see if the legends are true. Either way, it has earned its reputation as one of the South’s creepiest tunnels.
10. Tunnel No. 9 in California
California’s Tunnel No. 9 on the Feather River Route has become the stuff of railroad and driver nightmares. Built in the early 1900s, it’s said to be haunted by workers who died during construction. Motorists passing by the remote area have claimed to hear the sound of picks and hammers striking rock.
Even more disturbing are stories of glowing figures seen wandering near the tunnel entrance. Some drivers have stopped to investigate, only to find nothing but silence and cold air. Others refuse to stop at all, convinced that lingering too long will invite disaster. The isolation of the location only makes the ghost stories more believable.
11. The Twin Tunnels of Pennsylvania
The Twin Tunnels near Downingtown, Pennsylvania, are steeped in legend. Drivers passing through at night often report seeing strange figures along the walls. The most famous story is that of a young woman who took her life there and is said to still appear in passing headlights.
One of the eeriest claims is that if you stop inside, you may hear her footsteps approaching your car. Some people say their windows fog up with handprints during these moments. While skeptics chalk it up to condensation, the timing feels too chilling to dismiss. It’s become a local rite of passage to test your bravery in the Twin Tunnels.
12. The Ghostly Miner of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Tunnel
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Tunnel was a massive engineering feat, but it came with tragedy. Hundreds of Irish immigrant workers died during its construction, and their spirits are said to linger. Drivers near the area claim to see a man in miner’s clothing standing at the entrance, lantern in hand.
What makes it so unsettling is how lifelike he appears. More than one driver has stopped to help, thinking he’s real, only to watch him vanish. Some even claim the light of his lantern follows cars for a few seconds before disappearing into the night. With its long, dark history, the Blue Ridge Tunnel remains a place that chills anyone who passes by.