D.C.: Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps Haunted Tour

Georgetown’s polished brick houses and tidy gardens take on a different character after dark. This 90-minute walk pairs ghost stories with neighborhood history, from the Old Stone House to the steps made famous by The Exorcist. I like that you get access to the yard of a historic house, and that the stories range beyond ghosts to Civil War hospitals and Victorian-era crime.

The walk is family-friendly and ends at the Exorcist Steps, a strong finish for film fans and anyone who likes a spooky tale. One consideration: this is an outdoor walking tour, not a haunted-house attraction, and there’s no promise of seeing a ghost. At $39 per person, the value rests on your guide’s storytelling and the chance to explore Georgetown at night.

The tour at a glance

• Start at the Old Stone House: Meet your guide outside this pre-Revolutionary building at 3051 M St NW.
• Get into Georgetown’s darker stories: Hear about haunted houses, curses, a nanny’s lingering rules, and wartime suffering.
• See the neighborhood on foot: The route passes historic houses and local landmarks, including the Laird-Dunlop House, Martin’s Tavern, and Halcyon.
• Step into the Old Stone House yard: The tour includes access to the grounds of a building said to be among Washington’s most haunted.
• Finish at the Exorcist Steps: Walk down the staircase featured in the 1973 horror film and hear about the story that inspired the book.
• Expect a guide-led evening walk: The tour lasts 90 minutes, is in English, and private groups are available.

A handsome neighborhood with a shadowy side

Georgetown predates Washington, D.C., and its age is part of the appeal. The tour takes you along historic streets lined with Victorian row houses, old porches, and carefully kept gardens. In daylight, these details tell a story of an established and affluent neighborhood. At night, they make a fitting backdrop for accounts of strange events and long-ago misfortune.

I like the contrast. You are not being led through a purpose-built scare attraction, but through a real neighborhood where people still live and work. The ghost stories give familiar architecture a second reading, while the historic details keep the walk grounded in place.

The guide is central to the experience. Past guides have included Sonia, Ingeborg, Kailey, Scott, Trevor, Amelia, and others. Your guide will vary, but the tour’s appeal depends on someone who can keep the group moving, make the stories clear, and handle questions. The walk has been described as relaxed and interactive, and one group of about 16 was easy to hear. That is a useful sign, though group size may differ on your date.

Starting at the Old Stone House

Meet outside the Old Stone House at 3051 M St NW. It is a pre-Revolutionary home, and the tour presents the possibility that its original builder may still roam its halls. The building is also described as one of Washington’s oldest and most haunted historic sites.

The tour includes access to the yard, a welcome difference from simply pausing on the sidewalk to look at a building. It does not promise entry into the house itself, so think of this as a chance to stand on the grounds and hear the story, not an indoor tour.

This opening sets up the evening well. You begin with a substantial piece of Georgetown’s past, then move into tales that lean toward the uncanny. The house’s age gives the ghost story context; the ghost story gives you a reason to look twice at its old walls and grounds.

Porches, houses, and the stories attached to them

As you walk through Georgetown, your guide points out old porches painted Haint Blue, a color associated with keeping spirits from crossing the porch. The tour turns that bit of folklore into a question: what if the spirit is already inside? It is a good example of how the evening uses visible details in the neighborhood to draw you into its stories.

Other tales concern a house where the lights reportedly went out at the same time each night, with a nanny’s rules said to linger after she was gone. You also hear about an eccentric homeowner who built stairs to nowhere, slept in a coffin, and refused to add electricity to his 1799 home. These stories mix local character with the supernatural, so the tour is not limited to the familiar creak-in-the-attic kind of ghost tale.

The route includes photo stops and visits at named sites such as the Laird-Dunlop House, Martin’s Tavern, and Halcyon Georgetown. The exact story attached to each point is not specified, and you should not expect to go inside every building. The pleasure is in seeing the buildings at close range while your guide connects Georgetown’s streets with their darker lore.

Civil War hospitals and Victorian-era crime

The tour’s subject matter reaches beyond hauntings. You hear about boarding schools turned into hospitals during the Civil War, including the grim reality of amputations performed without sedation. That story gives the evening a more sobering edge. It also shows why ghost tours can be a useful way to engage with history: the supernatural frame may draw you in, but the human suffering behind a story can be the part you remember.

The advertised tales also include curses and true crime from the Victorian era. The details of each case are best left to the guide, who can tell the story in context rather than reduce it to a list of spooky claims. Expect a blend of history, local legend, and reported strange happenings, not a fact-checked lecture on paranormal evidence.

The balance matters. Several visitors have particularly liked the mix of neighborhood history and ghost stories, and families with teenagers have found that combination engaging. If your group wants only hard historical facts, some supernatural material may feel too light on proof. If you enjoy a well-told local tale, the change of register is part of the fun.

The Exorcist Steps make a fitting finale

The tour ends at the Exorcist Steps, the steep staircase featured in The Exorcist. You walk down the steps and hear the real story that inspired a Georgetown student to write the book. For fans of the film, this is the clearest pop-culture landmark on the route; for everyone else, it is a memorable place to end a night walk.

The stairs are a finish, not a full film-location tour. Their appeal lies in standing at the actual site and hearing how the story connects to Georgetown. They also give the route a natural climax: after hearing about old houses, wartime hospitals, and strange local events, you arrive at a familiar piece of horror-film history.

If you want a photograph, have your camera ready when you reach the steps. The tour includes a walk down them, but the time available for pictures can depend on the group and the pace of the evening.

What the $39 price buys

At $39 per person, you are paying for a licensed guide, a 90-minute guided walk, access to the Old Stone House yard, and the route through historic Georgetown at night. There is no separate transportation component or indoor attraction described. The value is in the storytelling and in having someone lead you through a neighborhood whose details are easier to appreciate when you know what to look for.

I think the price makes sense if you want an evening activity that combines local history, folklore, and a recognizable movie location. It is less compelling if you are mainly looking for a long house tour, a theatrical scare experience, or a guarantee of paranormal activity. The tour does not control whether anything unusual happens, and one visitor sensibly noted that they saw no ghosts. That is not a fault of the walk; it is a reminder of what you are buying.

Gratuity is not included. The experience is in English, and a private group is available if you prefer a tour for your own party. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

Who will enjoy this Georgetown walk

This tour suits you if you like historic neighborhoods, spooky stories, and an easy-to-follow guided walk. It is a particularly good fit for families with teens: the stories offer enough atmosphere to keep the evening lively, while the historic houses and local background give the experience more substance than scares alone.

Film fans will appreciate finishing at the Exorcist Steps. Local-history enthusiasts may enjoy the house stories, the Civil War hospital material, and the chance to see Georgetown’s streets after dark. If you travel with curious children, the family-friendly format is encouraging, though the Civil War material and crime stories can be grim. Use your judgment about what your group is comfortable hearing.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a quiet, self-guided stroll or a rigorous academic history tour. The route is outdoors, and the experience depends on listening to the guide while moving between stops. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the evening weather. The tour runs for 90 minutes, so plan for a steady walk rather than a quick photo stop.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Georgetown’s architecture and history with a spooky thread running through the evening. The Old Stone House yard and the Exorcist Steps give the walk clear bookends, while the stories in between range from folklore to Civil War history and Victorian-era crime. The strongest reason to go is the guide: past groups have enjoyed lively storytelling, good question time, and humor, with guides such as Sonia, Ingeborg, Kailey, Scott, and Trevor earning particular praise.

Skip it if you expect a haunted-house attraction or want proof of ghosts. At $39, it is a fair buy for a guided neighborhood walk with a memorable film-location finish, especially for families with teens and visitors who want more than a standard sightseeing stroll.

FAQ

How long is the Georgetown ghost tour?

The tour lasts 90 minutes.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet your guide outside the Old Stone House at 3051 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Where does the tour end?

It finishes at the Exorcist Steps, the staircase featured in The Exorcist.

Is the tour family-friendly?

Yes. It is described as family-friendly, and families with teenagers have enjoyed the mix of history, spooky stories, and humor.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour is in English.

Does the tour include access to the Old Stone House?

It includes access to the yard of the Old Stone House. Entry into the house is not specified.

Is gratuity included in the price?

No. Gratuity is not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.