Highway 94 | San Diego’s Haunted Highway

Posted: 04.11.2025 | Updated: 04.16.2025

A stretch of the infamous Highway 94 connects Rancho San Diego to Campo. It is one of the most scenic yet eerie roads in America. SIXT even ranked it the 13th most haunted road in the country. The winding highway is steeped in mystery, stories of paranormal sightings, strange creatures, and unexplained phenomena.

Both locals and visitors have reported paranormal experiences on its dark stretches. Thse increase particularly around the infamous Haven Bakers. For those seeking a taste of the supernatural, Highway 94 offers a unique blend of history and haunting, making it a destination for ghost hunters.

Join a San Diego ghost tour if you’re intrigued by San Diego’s haunted past. From Old Town to Pioneer Park, these tours uncover the secrets lurking in San Diego’s most notorious locations.

Is Highway 94 Haunted? 

The ghostly fame on Highway 94 is due to an extended period of horrific sightings and horrid incidents on the road. Tourists have encountered ghostly figures along the roadside, ghostly lights at a distance, and even ghostly apparitions that suddenly vanish upon being chased.

History of Highway 94

U.S. Route 94, officially California State Route 94 (SR 94), was originally a part of a stagecoach route between San Diego and Yuma, Arizona. James Pascoe first surveyed it in 1869, naming it Campo Road. Pascoe shortened the distance by 25 miles from the older routes that ran through Warner’s Pass.

By 1912, the route was an unpaved automobile route, with improvements in 1919-1917 extending it to Imperial County. Then, in 1927, the route was the target of a paving project, costing $122,000 (about $4 million today), which solidified its position as a critical corridor. 

In 1933, the California State legislature included Campo Road in the state highway system as Route 200, later renamed SR 94.

After WWII, the western half of the road was upgraded. It was joined by the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, which was a product of an eight-lane venture in the 1950s. The freeway opened in 1962 and went from downtown San Diego to Spring Valley, taking traffic away while leaving the eastern mountain portion as a two-lane rural road. Despite toll tunnel and widening proposals, local opposition stalled big modifications, so much of the highway’s country charm still exists.

Today, the state route stretches 63 miles, a perfect blend of urban freeway and scenic byway. The western half of the state route is a typical commuter route, while the eastern Campo Road serpentines through the Peninsular Ranges.

Hauntings Overview of Highway 94

Despite the highway’s pristine vistas and illustrious history, the winding turns have secrets that linger long after dusk. Beneath the sunny beauty is a shadowy legend constructed over centuries of ominous encounters. Highway 94 is a place where ghostly shadows stalk roadside shoulders, and unexplained lights smolder deep in the horizon.

These stories, passed down centuries, blur the line between folklore and hearsay. They allow for both skepticism and cold dread. Highway 94’s haunted legacy is as enduring as its road surface and is attached to gruesome accidents, tormented spirits, or the raw energy of the earth

Shadowy Figures Along SR 94

Route 94 is filled with tales of ghostly apparitions sighted driving down its curvy roads. Motorists describe seeing ghostly figures walking along the side of the road or just standing still near intersections.

The beings are normally recounted as appearing in out-of-date attire. Their appearance has made people think they are bound to historical events or catastrophic highway accidents. One account tells of a driver seeing a figure in the center of the road late into the night. Upon slowing down for it, the specter just disappeared altogether.

Ghost hunters indicate that the sightings could be residual hauntings associated with Highway 94’s history. The highway’s use as a stage route and its history of fatal crashes due to sharp turns and poor visibility created its haunted status. 

Unexplained Lights and Creatures

While the dark shapes are spooky enough, some drivers have also reported seeing glowing spheres floating above or alongside the road. The spheres move erratically before disappearing completely, adding another layer of mystery to Highway 94’s reputation as a haunted highway.

In addition to the strange lights, drivers have encountered humanoid creatures. One of the scariest reports is that of an animal with red eyes from a wooded area close to the road. Another driver recounts seeing a gorilla-like creature with no visible facial features. After speeding toward the car, it disappeared into thin air.

The sightings add to Southern California’s already cryptid past, such as the reports of chupacabra-like creatures in the area of Jamul. Skeptics have plenty, attributing the sightings to wildlife or optical illusions. However, those who experience the encounter firsthand are left thinking they have seen something beyond natural.

The Ghosts of Haven Bakery

Just off Highway 94, Haven Bakery is usually counted among San Diego’s most infamous ghost hotspots. The bakery is said to be the site of a gruesome tragedy in the 20th century. The story goes that the owner’s daughter committed suicide in the basement. After her body was found, the owner is alleged to have committed suicide—and, in some accounts of the legend, murdered others before taking his own life.

While most of the bakery was demolished in 2008, sections of the building remain as eerie testaments to the dark past. Visitors have claimed to experience spiritual activity while driving or stopping at the haunted San Diego bakery.

A report mentioned hearing faint whispers or even growls emanating from the remains. Other reports have described seeing dark figures darting across Highway 94. A number have reported seeing a white-dressed young girl drifting along the roadside close to the barn.

In addition to the reports of sightings of things that cannot be explained, guests have reported strange smells filling the air. In particular, many have smelled fresh bread being baked. Guests have experienced cold spots suddenly, regardless of the weather on any given day.

Haunted San Diego

The combination of darkened silhouettes, frightened specters, and strange occurrences creates a truly hair-raising Highway 94. The infamous highway offers a variety of fascinating tales for those willing to travel along it at night. 

It is reputed as the most haunted highway in America because of its mix of history and intrigue, making it a top destination for ghost hunters in the San Diego region. 

If you wish to hear more about San Diego’s most haunted places, go on a walking tour with San Diego Ghosts. A tour here provides travelers with an unforgettable journey into the area’s ghostly past. If you stroll through Old Town or drive onto Highway 94 itself, these tours provide engaging experiences of San Diego’s storied history and residual ghosts. 

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Sources:

1. https://www.sixt.com/magazine/tips/most-haunted-roads/
2. https://www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=442#google_vignette
3. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/mysterious-lights-spotted-above-san-diego/145981/
4. https://bajanews.mx/noticias/33030/San-Diego-s-haunted-road
5. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/san-diego-road-considered-among-152347479.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGVycGxleGl0eS5haS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIlOhdcfcSlW0BEaKxUCD4-aY_KtuHJNyCpbvxfxphcdYUoUSYIY0Kgw7UMJE_JqE3x4SkiJqH3I3PPgN50mkv_lZRPUsuaPZmutxUudOSOsLLe6AXaZqJ77vZVp44OSFtMq60dSsN_WZSlM6pWRY5RUngYlQt50r5UdEvZYml18
6. http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/hauntedsandiego