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Picture this. You’re behind the wheel on a misty night. The road ahead fades into fog, trees close in from both sides, and your headlights feel like the only thing keeping the darkness at bay. Your car hums steadily, keeping you safe and centred, but something about the silence feels off.
Was that a shadow moving at the edge of the beam? A shape that almost looked human? You blink, and it’s gone. The radio crackles with an old voice, the lane assist gives a soft nudge, and suddenly the drive feels less like a commute and more like a scene from a ghost story.
It’s the kind of night that makes you wonder how many roads around the world have their own legends, from haunted highways to eerie mountain passes shrouded in mystery.
In this Halloween special, we take a look at some of the world’s scariest roads, where ghostly encounters, tragic histories and unexplained events make every mile feel haunted.
Disclaimer: This is a fun and informative look at reported incidents and well-known locations — we do not endorse visiting these roads or trying anything that could put you in harm’s way.
A short drive through fog and folklore: these roads pair dramatic scenery with local legends—ghostly hitchhikers, phantom headlights, mournful apparitions and unexplained lights. Below are the most talked-about stretches, each accompanied by the legend.
Legend: Stone circles, mysterious markers and decades of local lore about pranks and the paranormal. Reported encounters: Ghostly hitchhikers, strange lights, and animal-like cries at night.
Picture a narrow, tree-lined lane that runs ten miles through West Milford, New Jersey —a place where mist gathers in the hollows and a single mossy sign can look like a warning. The road has a long reputation in local lore for unexplained sightings, eerie noises and a clutch of urban legends that keep curiosity-seekers coming after dark.
High in the Drakensberg escarpment, Long Tom Pass winds through misty mountains and sweeping bends that overlook the valley below. On clear days, it’s one of Mpumalanga’s most scenic routes, but when fog rolls in, it takes on an eerie, otherworldly mood that fuels countless ghost stories.
Locals and travellers have reported strange sights along this stretch of road — ghostly figures appearing at the roadside before vanishing into the mist, and glowing orbs of light drifting through the trees. Even when nothing appears, the quiet can feel unsettling. The high altitude muffles sound, making footsteps and echoes seem to come from nowhere.
Part of the unease comes from the setting itself. The shifting fog, steep drops and historic Long Tom cannon monument all add to the atmosphere. Add in years of stories shared online and in travel forums, and it’s easy to see why so many people still call Long Tom Pass one of the most haunted roads in South Africa.
Stretching between Gretna and Stranraer, the A75 cuts through Dumfriesshire and Galloway — a lonely, weather-beaten road often shrouded in mist and rain. It’s earned a chilling reputation as one of Scotland’s most haunted routes, with decades of eerie stories from drivers who swear they’ve seen things they can’t explain.
Travellers have reported ghostly figures standing by the roadside, some dressed in old military uniforms, watching silently before fading into the fog. Others tell of phantom vehicles or pedestrians that appear suddenly and vanish just as quickly, leaving drivers shaken and confused. Many also describe hearing footsteps or voices in the darkness when no one is there.
The road’s haunting atmosphere is amplified by its landscape — long empty stretches, unpredictable weather and frequent fog banks that can turn shadows into shapes. Combined with years of folklore, local legends and paranormal interest, the A75 has become a key part of Scotland’s ghost road mythology.
Winding through the open moors and stone walls of Yorkshire, the B6027 and A169 are beautiful yet haunting stretches of road. Mist often rolls in without warning, hedgerows close tight, and the quiet can feel almost alive — a setting that has inspired generations of ghost stories shared by farmers, walkers and late-night drivers.
Many locals speak of a woman in white seen wandering the verge or drifting along the hedgerows before disappearing without a trace. Others recall strange lights in the distance, voices carried on the wind, or the eerie echo of footsteps when no one is there. Roadside memorials and old stone crosses mark real tragedies that have only added to the folklore surrounding these lanes.
Part of what makes the moorland roads so unnerving is their landscape. Long sightlines, sudden fog and shifting light can turn everyday shapes into something ghostly. Combined with Yorkshire’s long history of storytelling, it’s no wonder the B6027 and A169 are often mentioned among Britain’s most haunted country roads.
Tucked into the dense greenery of Epping Forest, Hangman’s Hill is a narrow lane where the trees close in and the air smells of damp leaves. Its name hints at a grim past, with tales of executions, lost travellers and hidden graves shaping the forest’s reputation.
Visitors often report strange occurrences. Cars left in neutral sometimes appear to roll uphill, shadowy figures vanish when approached, and muffled footsteps or distant voices can unsettle even the most confident walker. Lights and reflections behave oddly, adding to the sense that the forest is watching.
Part of Hangman’s Hill’s spookiness comes from its landscape. Uneven ground, deep woodland and shifting sightlines make slopes look deceptive and ordinary shapes seem uncanny. Layered with history and local legend, it’s a place where the line between folklore and reality feels especially thin.
Winding along cliff edges with sheer drops below, roads like Jalan Berhala in Indonesia and various “death road” stretches in the Philippines are notorious for their danger. Narrow lanes, steep slopes and unpredictable weather make driving hazardous, and over time, these risks have inspired vivid local folklore. Drivers report phantom pedestrians stepping into headlights, sudden apparitions on hairpins, and tyre tracks that vanish into thin air.
Other stories tell of strange lights over the water or brief radio glitches, adding to the eerie reputation of these cliffside routes.
The combination of real danger, dramatic geography, and strong local storytelling has made these roads some of the most chilling in Southeast Asia, where ordinary hazards take on a supernatural edge.
Approaching a long bridge at twilight, the road climbs like a spine, mist hangs over the water, and tail lights narrow into a vanishing point. The Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Japan has become famous online for this spine-tingling effect — its steep, rigid-frame structure spanning Nakaumi Lake looks almost impossible in photos and video, sparking ghost stories and eerie urban tales.
Drivers have reported phantom headlights appearing on the far side of the bridge, moving independently of traffic, or fading without a source. Others tell of radio static or old voices breaking through AM/FM signals, and on coastal stretches, distant singing or fleeting figures are linked to maritime legends of lost sailors and shipwrecks.
Steep approaches, long sightlines, and water below create dramatic visuals where headlights, reflections, and mist turn ordinary shapes into something uncanny. Coastal roads and bridges also carry historical memory, from maritime disasters to lost travellers, making them natural sites for whispered tales.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this journey through some of the world’s spookiest roads. Remember, your safety is always our priority. Halloween is all about enjoying the mystery and the thrill of the supernatural, a playful glimpse into the world of spirits and the way they play on perception — so take it all with a pinch of salt.
If you’ve ever had a strange or unexplained encounter on the road, we’d love to hear about it. Share your stories with us on our socials and join the conversation about the world’s most haunted drives!
