Route 44: Haunted Road Trip

Photo: The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River along Route 44 – Copyright US Ghost Adventures

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Highways connect cities, but every city has a story. And Route 44 definitely has some dark tales to tell.

Stretching across southern New England, Route 44 passes through historic cities, quiet forests, forgotten villages, and some of the most mysterious locations in the northeastern United States. Along its path lie centuries of history, from Colonial settlements and Revolutionary War sites to infamous murder houses and legendary paranormal hotspots.

For travelers with an interest in ghosts, folklore, and unexplained phenomena, Route 44 offers something extra. Scenic views and roadside attractions: check. But this legendary stretch also provides a journey through New England’s supernatural locations. From the haunted streets of Providence and Hartford to the notorious Bridgewater Triangle and the legendary Redheaded Hitchhiker, this highway has earned a reputation as one of the region’s eeriest road trips.

So buckle up, lock the doors, and keep an eye on your rearview mirror as we cruise into the realm of the supernatural.

Where Is Route 44?

US Route 44 stretches roughly 237 miles from Plymouth, Massachusetts, to Kerhonkson, New York. Along the way, it winds through some of New England’s oldest and most historically significant communities.

The eastern end begins in Plymouth, the town forever associated with the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620. Visitors can explore centuries of Colonial history before heading west along the route. From there, Route 44 travels through southeastern Massachusetts, including the communities of Carver, Middleborough, Rehoboth, and Seekonk. 

This section places travelers squarely within the boundaries of the infamous Bridgewater Triangle, a region long associated with paranormal encounters, UFO sightings, strange creatures, and ghostly legends. Take a Plymouth ghost tour while you’re there to truly experience Plymouth’s strange history. 

Crossing into Rhode Island, the highway passes through Providence, a city filled with historic architecture, old cemeteries, and countless tales of hauntings. Continuing westward, Route 44 enters Connecticut and passes through Hartford, one of New England’s oldest cities and a place where stories of restless spirits have circulated for generations.

One of the most fascinating detours near Route 44 leads to Fall River, Massachusetts, home of the infamous Lizzie Borden House. The site of the unsolved 1892 axe murders remains one of America’s most famous haunted locations. 

Today, the house is owned and preserved by the same company that restored the Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa and Gettysburg’s historic Brickhouse Inn, ensuring that these important pieces of American history remain accessible to visitors interested in both history and the paranormal.

Whether you’re exploring historic downtown districts, old graveyards, or haunted inns, Route 44 offers plenty of opportunities to encounter New England’s darker side.

Haunted Hitchhiker

Of all the legends associated with Route 44, none is more famous than the tale of the Redheaded Hitchhiker. The story is most commonly associated with the stretch of Route 44 that passes through Rehoboth and Seekonk, Massachusetts. According to local lore, motorists traveling late at night may encounter a strange figure standing along the roadside.

Witnesses describe him as a young bearded man with red hair, wearing a red flannel shirt and blue denim jeans. He appears unexpectedly, often in isolated sections of road bordered by dense woods. Sometimes he stands beside the highway with his thumb extended. Other times he simply materializes near the shoulder, staring silently at passing vehicles.

Those who stop and offer him a ride report an unsettling experience. The hitchhiker enters the vehicle without saying much. Some drivers claim he gives a destination, while others say he remains completely silent. The atmosphere inside the car grows increasingly uncomfortable as the ride continues. Then something impossible happens.

The passenger vanishes.

Drivers might glance in the rearview mirror and discover the seat is empty. Or they hear a car door open and close despite the vehicle remaining in motion. A few report seeing the hitchhiker standing beside the road moments later, as though he had never entered the car at all.

Over the years, countless variations of the story have emerged. Some claim the hitchhiker died in an automobile accident decades ago. Others believe he is connected to one of the many tragedies said to have occurred within the Bridgewater Triangle (see below). Whatever the truth may be, the legend has become one of southeastern Massachusetts’ most enduring ghost stories.

Bridgewater Triangle

No discussion of Route 44 would be complete without mentioning the Bridgewater Triangle.

Covering approximately 200 square miles in southeastern Massachusetts, the Triangle is considered one of the most active paranormal regions in the United States. The area encompasses swamps, forests, rivers, abandoned sites, and historic communities where reports of strange activity have persisted for decades.

Witnesses have described encounters with phantom lights, shadowy figures, UFOs, giant snakes, mysterious thunderbirds, and creatures resembling Bigfoot. One of the Triangle’s most infamous locations is the Hockomock Swamp, whose name is often translated as “place where spirits dwell.”

Route 44 cuts directly through part of this legendary region, making it a favorite destination for paranormal enthusiasts. Considering the Triangle’s long history of strange sightings, it is easy to see why many consider this section of Route 44 one of the most haunted roadways in New England.

Haunted Road Trip

Route 44 is much more than a highway connecting New England communities. It is a corridor of history, folklore, and mystery that passes through some of the region’s most legendary haunted locations.

From Plymouth’s Colonial past to Hartford’s historic streets, from the haunted halls of the Lizzie Borden House to the eerie forests of the Bridgewater Triangle, every mile offers another story waiting to be discovered.

And if you find yourself driving through Rehoboth or Seekonk late at night and spot a red-haired figure standing beside the road, you may want to keep both hands firmly on the wheel. Some passengers, according to legend, are easier to pick up than they are to drop off.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.