Authentic Ghost Towns You Can Still Visit Around the World Today
Prioritize Bodie State Historic Park, Mono County, California: 38.2120°N, 119.0116°W; elevation 8,375 ft; preserved late-19th-century mining settlement under California State Parks stewardship; no admission fee; park open year-round with ranger presence mainly May–October; State Route 270 provides access, last 13 miles unpaved – high-clearance vehicle recommended during wet periods; no potable water, no on-site services, camping prohibited. Pripyat, Ukraine: located ~2 km from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant; entry via accredited tour operators only; passport required at registration; typical guided-day dose ~0.05–0.2 mSv (operators issue dosimeter options); certain buildings remain off-limits; best travel window April–October for road access and milder conditions; follow all geiger-counter instructions issued by guides. Kolmanskop, Namibia: diamond-era settlement near Lüderitz, GPS 26.650°S, 15.189°E; access usually arranged from Lüderitz with permit fee charged by local authorities; interiors are fragile, avoid direct contact with plaster and floorboards; optimal photo light at sunrise, mid-day increases sand glare; pack 3…