America’s Haunted Highways
Truck drivers all over America can’t go all their lives without having a story or two to tell of their travels. Many of the country’s roads and highways have unique histories and stories, like Route 66’s old-fashioned charms or the Pacific Coast Highway’s scenic views.
However, some of these roads are more than just peculiar; some are tinged with the supernatural. Ghosts, monsters, and local legends all haunt these highways, making what should be a standard drive into an experience akin to a thriller film.
Today, we explore four of America’s haunted highways and answer the age-old question: “should truck drivers avoid these roads?” Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these most unusual and bizarre highways are bound to send a shiver down your spine!
Four Corners Region: Devil’s Highway
When it comes to haunted highways, none is as infamous as the Devil’s Highway. Known today as US 491, it was initially designated as US 666. The number “666” has negative connotations in Christianity, often associated with satanic references. Because of this, along with many accidents occurring on the New Mexico portion of the highway, US 666 became rumored to be cursed.
But car accidents weren’t the only stories surrounding the highway. Some travelers have reportedly seen hellhound-looking creatures slashing the tires of vehicles parked on the side of the road. Others claim to have encountered a red semi-truck that mysteriously disappears when you take a closer look in your rearview mirror.
The road’s ominous reputation led the government to rename it US 491 in 2003, but that hasn’t stopped people from fearing what lies ahead on the Devil’s Highway. Were the stories just tall tales, or were there really supernatural occurrences happening on Route 666?
Moretown, VT: Devil’s Washbowl
Speaking of the devil, Vermont has its own version of a demon-named road. Unlike the state-spanning Route 666, Devil’s Washbowl is just a dirt road surrounded by endless forests that branches off the main route connecting the towns of Moretown and Northfield. However, it is associated with a prominent local legend: the “Pigman.”
In the 1970s, a group of teens left a school event to hang out in a sandpit behind Northfield High School. A few minutes later, they returned in tears, screaming about a pig-faced figure covered in white hair approaching them. Since that incident, residents have been attempting to track down the Pigman, who is said to lurk in the caves and an abandoned farm along Devil’s Washbowl.
To this day, no one has been able to capture the Pigman. Perhaps it is still lurking out there, waiting to find another group of unsuspecting drivers to pass by.
Jamestown, NC: Lydia the Hitchhiker
Numerous locations along roads and highways are known for their tales of phantom hitchhikers—ghostly figures who stop vehicles, request a ride, and then vanish as soon as a driver tries to assist them. In Jamestown, North Carolina, there is a legend about a young woman named Lydia, who is one of these mysterious hitchhikers.
On rainy nights, drivers travelling on a bridge would come across a young lady, dressed in white and soaked from the rain. When offered a ride home, she would solemnly get in and request a location; either to the nearby town of High Point (where there had been a hospital) or to her mother’s home. But when the driver would arrive at her destination, they would see no one there.
That bridge is now abandoned, covered in overgrowth and graffiti dedicated to Lydia. But on the new bridge, some say they still see a woman in white waiting for a ride home, a ride she’ll never complete.
West Milford, NJ: Clinton Road
New Jersey actually has quite a few roads haunted by the supernatural. Annie’s Road in Totowa is haunted by the spirit of a young lady named Annie, while Shades of Death Road in northwestern Liberty Township is, well, the name says it all, doesn’t it?
Clinton Road in West Milford is, at a glance, an unassuming 10-mile route in northern New Jersey. However, it has gained notoriety over the past few decades as a hotspot for the paranormal, including:
– The ghost of a little boy haunts a bridge over Clinton Brook and will return coins thrown into the brook
– Strange creatures that roam in the woods on the side of the road
– Phantom pickup trucks that chase after drivers and then disappear
– A stone structure that was said to be where local Druids practiced their rituals (this one was debunked; it’s actually an iron smelter from 1826).
It shows that even the most ordinary locations can become urban legends if enough locals believe in them.
Should Truck Drivers Avoid These Roads?
Reading these stories and hearing about other haunted roads may cause truck drivers to fear these routes and avoid them. But seasoned drivers know that superstition often travels faster than fact. While the eerie histories and local legends surrounding these highways add a layer of mystery, they’re rarely reason enough to reroute a shipment: unless, of course, you’re easily spooked.
Ultimately, truckers are some of the toughest folks on the road. Whether navigating treacherous weather, late-night hauls, or allegedly haunted highways, they’ve seen it all. For most, a ghost story is just that—a story. But if you ever find yourself on one of these roads during the graveyard shift, maybe keep an eye on the rearview mirror, just in case.
Safe travels, and may your headlights never flicker at the wrong time.
