Los Angeles: Manson Family Limo Tour & Dark Hollywood Sites

Hollywood’s glamour fades as the Manson Family story unfolds from a funeral limousine through LA’s haunted streets

You’ll ride in a real funeral limousine through Los Angeles with your guide, stopping at places tied to the Manson Family murders—from Sharon Tate’s last meal spot in Hollywood to Benedict Canyon and Spahn Ranch. Expect raw stories, eerie locations, and moments that stick with you long after you’ve left LA’s bright lights behind.

What’s included

Your day includes guided transport in a real funeral limousine through Los Angeles’ most infamous neighborhoods tied to Charles Manson—Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Benedict Canyon—and stops at sites like Sharon Tate’s last meal spot, Spahn Ranch area, former salons and clubs linked to victims or cult members. You’ll also have access to background materials via smartphone if you have data access during the ride.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Manson Family sites in LA

• Stop at Mexican cantina of final meal
• Drive through West Hollywood in limo
• Visit former Jay Sebring hair salon site
• Cruise Beverly Hills near Benedict Canyon
• See former Tate-Polanski residence site
• Explore Spahn Movie Ranch state park
• Break at Manson’s favorite hot dog stand
• Visit former strip club of Sadie Atkins
• See Los Feliz neighborhood by limo
• Stop at LaBianca home site
• Visit Whisky a Go Go nightclub
• Pass residential yard with Tate gun discovery
• Drive past Church of Scientology HQ
• Roll through Hollywood on murder limo tour

The Experience

I didn’t expect to feel nervous just getting into the limo, but there’s something about stepping into a funeral car on Sunset that makes you look at Los Angeles differently. Our guide—Mike, who looked like he’d seen every side of this city—handed us old photos and started talking about Sharon Tate’s last meal at El Coyote. The place is still there, neon glowing, people laughing inside. It hit me how close the past feels here, like you could reach out and touch it if you wanted. Or maybe not want to.

We rolled through West Hollywood, past the old Jay Sebring salon (I’d never even heard of him before), and Mike pointed out where the killers drove that night. I caught myself staring at people on the sidewalk—just regular folks going about their Friday night—and wondered if they knew what happened on these streets fifty years ago. The city felt weirdly quiet for a minute, except for someone playing music from an open window. I tried to picture 1969: all that hope and chaos mixing together, right before things went so wrong.

The stop at Benedict Canyon was heavier than I expected. The house is gone now, but standing there with the wind coming off the hills and hearing about what happened—it’s hard to describe. There’s this strange mix of beauty and horror in LA’s air sometimes. At Spahn Ranch (well, what used to be Spahn Ranch), we got out for a bit and I swear you could still smell dust and eucalyptus from those old movie sets. Mike showed us a piece of something from back then—a button or maybe part of a sign?—and everyone went quiet.

Somehow we ended up eating hot dogs at this little stand Manson used to go to (which is wild), and Mike let us see an artifact from the case up close. It was greasy and loud there, nothing spooky about it except what we knew now. On the way back through Los Feliz and Hollywood, I kept thinking about how much darkness gets hidden behind palm trees and sunshine here. Even passing Whisky a Go Go felt different after hearing those stories—like every corner has its own secret if you listen long enough.

Top questions

How long is the Manson Family tour in Los Angeles?

The exact duration isn’t listed but expect several hours as it covers multiple sites across LA including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Benedict Canyon, Los Feliz, and more.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

No hotel pickup is included; guests meet at a central location but public transportation options are nearby.

Is lunch or food included on this tour?

No formal lunch is included but there is a stop at an old Hollywood hot dog stand once frequented by Charles Manson.

Are children allowed on the Manson Family tour?

The tour isn’t recommended for travelers sensitive to disturbing content; infants must sit on an adult's lap if attending.

What kind of vehicle is used for this tour?

The tour takes place in a real funeral limousine for added atmosphere.

Do we visit actual crime scenes during the tour?

You’ll stop outside former sites of key events like the Tate-Polanski residence and LaBianca home; some buildings no longer exist but locations are visited.

Is walking involved or mostly driving?

The majority of the tour is conducted from inside the limo with some short stops where guests can get out briefly.

Are guides knowledgeable about LA history?

Yes, local guides share detailed background stories and provide visual materials during the ride.