3-Hour Evening Ghost Bus

Three hours aboard a bus makes this the longest tour on the list. Chicago Hauntings drives you between the city's haunted sites while a guide unpacks the tragedies behind them, so you cover far more ground than any walking route. Admission runs from $59. The 3.8 rating spans 152 reviews, and cancellation is free.

Overview

This three-hour ghost bus tour from Chicago Hauntings covers a wide stretch of the city's darker history, from the Hull-House Museum to Lincoln Park, the Biograph Theatre and the Eastland disaster memorial. The meeting point is the bar inside the Congress Plaza Hotel on South Michigan Avenue. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes early because the bus leaves on time to fit in every stop.

The route mixes short walks with longer stretches riding between locations. Ten stops are on the itinerary, each brief, with free admission at every one. Along the way guides cover little-known disasters, gangster-era events, and hauntings connected to some of the stops. Several travellers who reviewed the tour described the guides as deeply familiar with Chicago's history and its haunting stories.

The tour suits people who want history with a spooky twist rather than pure theatre. One reviewer appreciated the absence of the exaggerated theatrics seen on some other tours. It is not wheelchair accessible and involves some walking at numerous stops, so a reasonable level of mobility helps. The bus holds up to 50 passengers.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Congress PlazaMeet inside the bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 S Michigan Ave. Arrive 15 minutes early, as the bus leaves promptly.
2. Jane Addams Hull-House MuseumA 15-minute stop with free admission.
3. Lincoln Park and Couch Mausoleum15 minutes in Lincoln Park, then 10 minutes at the Couch Mausoleum, both with free admission.
4. Chicago History Museum and South PondA 10-minute stop at the Chicago History Museum, then 5 minutes at the bridge over South Pond, both free admission.
5. 2122 N Clark St and Lincoln Park Zoo10 minutes at 2122 N Clark St, then 10 minutes at Lincoln Park Zoo, both with free admission.
6. Biograph Theatre and Eastland Memorial10 minutes at the Biograph Theatre, then 10 minutes at the S.S. Eastland Disaster Memorial, both with free admission.
7. James M. Nederlander TheatreA final 15-minute stop with free admission.
8. Return to Congress PlazaThe tour ends back at the Congress Plaza Hotel meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points are worth knowing before booking this one.

• Dress for weather. The tour requires good weather to run, and if it is cancelled for poor weather guests are offered a different date or a full refund. Since stops involve getting off the bus, a layer for the conditions makes sense.
• Some walking involved. The listing notes some walking and numerous stops where the bus pauses. One reviewer valued the opportunities to get out at the locations and walk around. Comfortable shoes are a sensible choice.
• Hands-on equipment. Two separate reviewers described using ghost hunting tools on this tour, one mentioning an EMF reader and another dowsing rods. Neither presented it as a guaranteed part of every departure, since equipment use appears to depend on the guide. Travellers keen on this element should not treat it as certain.
• Getting there. Transportation to and from the meeting point is not included, so travellers arrange their own way to the Congress Plaza Hotel bar. The listing says the location is near public transportation. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before departure, since late arrivals cannot be guaranteed a spot.
• Group size. The bus accommodates up to 50 passengers, and the tour caps at 50 travellers. One reviewer described the coach as comfortable. Traffic can extend travel time between stops, something the same reviewer noted during a busy Halloween weekend.
• Tipping the guide. Gratuities are listed as not included, so any tip for the guide is separate. Reviews frequently praise the guides' knowledge and storytelling, which many guests likely factor in.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and children must be accompanied by an adult, with infants required to sit on laps. Gratuities and transportation to the meeting point are not included. A full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time, and the tour needs a minimum number of travellers plus good weather to run, otherwise a different date or a full refund is offered. One reviewer reported the bus never showed up and trouble recovering the money paid. Another wished for fewer gangster-related stops and more time at locations further south.

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