Do you enjoy unusual, remote, or even abandoned places that might give you goosebumps because they feel like they’re haunted? These towns near Los Angeles are snapshots of a bygone era—once-thriving places that, for various reasons, couldn’t stand the test of time. If you love exploring and taking road trips around the city, get ready to discover these ghost towns near L.A.
1. Mentryville
Established in the 1870s by Charles Alexander Mentry following a significant oil strike, this quaint town sits at the end of Pico Canyon Road, just four miles from the I-5 Lyons Avenue exit in Santa Clarita. Now part of Stevenson Ranch, the ghost town of Mentryville boasts preserved structures that take you back in time amidst stunning canyon views.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 34 miles, 46 min
🧳 Plan your visit: https://mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/mentryville/
2. Calico
Calico Ghost Town, an abandoned gem in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, takes visitors on a journey back to the Silver Rush era. Founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, Calico thrived until its decline, only to be revived as a county park.
Located off Interstate 15 and just minutes from Barstow, this historic landmark is marked by massive “CALICO” letters on the peaks above. Preserved by Walter Knott in the 1950s, most of the town’s buildings were restored to their 1880s charm. Now a California Historical Landmark, Calico invites you to explore a piece of the past in a truly unique ghost town experience.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 126 miles, 2h
🧳 Plan your visit: https://www.calicoattractions.com/
3. Randsburg
Randsburg, is another living ghost town near Los Angeles, just off Highway 395. This hidden gem exudes Old West charm… In this town, you can explore abandoned mines and vintage storefronts, where a general store still serves up sandwiches and ice cream in a quirky soda fountain.
With dirt paths perfect for off-road adventures and antique shops to browse, it has a unique energy that’s both historic and lively. Don’t miss the weekend-only Randsburg Museum for fascinating local artifacts, and make sure to stop by the old town jail for a memorable photo op!
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 138 miles, 2h 20min
4. Pioneertown
As seen on Selling Sunset! Pioneertown offers a unique blend of Hollywood history and desert charm. Originally built as a Western movie set in the 1940s by Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, this quirky town features authentic-looking 1880s facades with modern-day spots like an ice cream parlor and bowling alley tucked behind.
Over 50 movies and shows were filmed here, and today, visitors can explore a motel, shops, and eateries. Just minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown is the perfect base for camping, glamping, and stargazing under stunning desert skies.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 125 miles, 2h 9min
🧳 Plan your visit: https://visitpioneertown.com/
5. Amboy
Located int he Mojave Desert, Amboy offers an authentic taste of the past, made obsolete by the rise of cross-country highways. Known for its eerie vibe, especially at night, Amboy has a population of just four and was even listed for sale on eBay at one point!
A few films have captured its haunting atmosphere, and while the café’s status changes, the town’s abandoned charm remains steady. This truly unique ghost town near Los Angeles is perfect for a quick detour that feels like stepping back in time.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 116 miles, 1h 50min
🧳 Plan your visit: https://visitamboy.com/
6. Allensworth
Financed, and governed by a Black community, Allensworth is some of the most interesting abandoned town near L.A. It was established in 1908 by four African-American men, and it blossomed with a schoolhouse, library, Baptist church, and even a hotel.
As California’s first African American school district, it symbolized hope and progress. However, the town faced challenges when the railway moved, and tragedy struck with the death of founder Colonel Allen Allensworth. Today, it serves as a State Historic Park that offers a glimpse into a vibrant past that continues to thrive more than a century later.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 153 miles, 2h 35min
🧳 Plan your visit: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=583
7. Bodie
Once home to over 5,000 residents during its late 19th-century mining boom, Bodie now stands as a renown ghost town. As the town declined, local miner J. S. Cain purchased many abandoned buildings, leaving their contents untouched.
By 1950, Bodie had only a few residents left and became a California State Park in 1962, preserved in a state of “arrested decay.” Despite devastating fires in 1892 and 1932, numerous structures still stand, drawing travelers eager to uncover the history of this hauntingly beautiful destination.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 364 miles, 6h 13 min
🧳 Plan your visit: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509
8. Eagle Mountain
Eagle Mountain, a once-thriving community founded in 1948 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, served as the entrance to the now-defunct Eagle Mountain iron mine, initially owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad and later by Kaiser Steel.
This intriguing site, located just twelve miles north of Desert Center and accessible via Kaiser Road from California State Route 177, has recently garnered attention as it was sold in May 2023 to Ecology Mountain Holdings for $22.58 million. However, the buyer’s intentions remain shrouded in mystery, adding an element of curiosity to this unique stop for those exploring the desert landscape.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 185 miles, 3h 3min
9. North Bloomfield
North Bloomfield, one of the fascinating ghost towns in Southern California, emerged in the 1880s, driven by hydraulic mining that attracted over 2,000 people to the area, along with numerous saloons, hotels, and grocery stores.
The town boasted a church, a school, a butcher shop, a bakery, a drugstore, and even a couple of breweries. However, by the late 1880s, hydraulic mining was banned due to environmental concerns, leading to the town’s gradual decline. Today, it is part of Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park and has been remarkably well-preserved over the years.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 474 miles, 7h 44min
🧳 Plan your visit: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=494
10. Silver City
Silver City is a unique “town” that never truly existed as a single entity… Instead, it’s a collection of historic buildings from various mining camps. In the 1960s and ’70s, Dave and Arvilla Mills rescued these structures from demolition, restoring and relocating them to their current site.
Now a museum, Silver City features around 20 historic buildings, including a jail, post office, saloon, and general store, with thousands of artifacts on display. The site is rumored to be haunted, with reports of strange occurrences like floating bottles and a self-playing violin.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: 223 miles, 4h 39min