10 Best Books by Stephen King to Pack for Creepy Small Towns

1. The Shining

Let’s start with a classic, one that has forever ruined the idea of a winter getaway, or twins. The Shining introduces us to Jack Torrance, a writer (of course, it’s a Stephen King novel) who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. But as the snow falls and the walls start whispering, Jack’s sanity takes a nosedive, and we’re left questioning whether it’s the isolation, the spirits, or just a really bad case of writer’s block.

Even if you’ve seen the movie, the book gets under your skin in a different way: slower, weirder, and with more psychological rot.

• Genre: Horror
• Year of Publication: 1977
• Why Buy It: The Shining is simply a rite of passage for horror aficionados. With its chilling atmosphere and psychological depth, it’s a perfect blend of supernatural horror and real-world fears. Side note: not one to pack for your snowy cabin trip unless you actively enjoy being creeped out by hotel carpets and long hallways.

2. It

Pennywise the Clown. Just reading the name is enough to make some people break out in a cold sweat. It isn’t just about a creepy clown, though, but more of a masterful exploration of childhood fear and the monsters that haunt us, whether they’re real or imagined. The story follows the Losers’ Club, a group of kids who confront a shape-shifting entity in their small town. And as adults, they have to return to face It once again. If you didn’t already fear clowns, you will after reading this.

Yes, it’s long. But the way King captures the terror of childhood (and the dread of returning to your hometown) makes it worth every page.

• Genre: Horror, Coming-of-Age
• Year of Publication: 1986
• Why Buy It: It is a tour de force that combines horror with an emotionally rich coming-of-age story. Best read during a quiet summer week when you’re far from sewers, clowns, or childhood friends acting strange.

3. The Stand

The Stand is what happens when Stephen King decides to play God with a post-apocalyptic landscape. After a superflu wipes out 99% of humanity, the survivors are drawn into a final showdown between good and evil. On one side, there’s the saintly Mother Abagail; on the other, the sinister Randall Flagg. And in between, King weaves a sprawling epic that explores human nature, society, and what happens when all the rules are thrown out the window.

Basically, this one either ruins you or converts you.

• Genre: Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Horror
• Year of Publication: 1978 (Complete & Uncut Edition: 1990)
• Why Buy It: The Stand is King at his most ambitious, creating a world where the battle between good and evil plays out on a grand, apocalyptic scale. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy epic storytelling with deep philosophical undercurrents.

4. Misery

Imagine your worst nightmare—now add a crazed fan, a remote cabin, and a typewriter. Misery tells the story of Paul Sheldon, a bestselling author who finds himself at the mercy of his number one fan, Annie Wilkes, after a car accident leaves him incapacitated. But Annie isn’t just any fan, she’s obsessive, controlling, and more than a little unhinged. What follows is a tense, claustrophobic thriller that will make you think twice about who you let into your inner circle.

• Genre: Psychological Thriller, Horror
• Year of Publication: 1987
• Why Buy It: Misery is King at his most intense, offering a chilling look at the dangers of fandom and the lengths some will go to when their obsession is pushed too far. It’s one of the best books by Stephen King to read if you’re somewhere remote and warm, and want to feel claustrophobic on purpose.

5. Pet Sematary

Sometimes dead is better. Those words echo through Pet Sematary, a novel that takes the idea of resurrection and twists it into something nightmarish. When Louis Creed’s son tragically dies, he discovers an ancient burial ground with the power to bring the dead back to life. But as the old adage warns, meddling with the natural order comes at a terrible cost.

It’s a gut-punch about grief and denial disguised as a ghost story. And it still hurts.

• Genre: Horror
• Year of Publication: 1983
• Why Buy It: Pet Sematary is one of the best books Stephen King has ever written. It’s a dark, haunting exploration of grief, loss, and the terrifying consequences of defying nature. Only read this on vacation if you’re emotionally stable and not within walking distance of any forest.

6. Carrie

Carrie is where it all began. King’s debut novel introduces us to Carrie White, a shy, awkward teenager with a terrifying secret: she has telekinetic powers. As Carrie is pushed to her breaking point by her peers, her powers manifest in devastating ways, leading to one of the most unforgettable climaxes in horror literature.

The prose is raw, the structure strange, but there’s a reason it launched his career. Still punches above its size.

• Genre: Horror
• Year of Publication: 1974
• Why Buy It: Carrie is the novel that launched Stephen King’s career, and it remains a powerful exploration of bullying, revenge, and the darker side of adolescence. It’s also a fast, mean read, great for a solo beach day where you want drama, destruction, and no emotional strings attached.

7. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger is the beginning of King’s epic Dark Tower series, which blends fantasy, horror, and Westerns into a unique and sprawling narrative. The story follows Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, on his quest to find the Dark Tower, a mysterious structure that holds the key to all existence. Along the way, Roland encounters a host of strange characters and faces challenges that test his resolve and his very humanity.

This isn’t classic King by any means, and in fact it’s mythic, cryptic, and weird. But if it hooks you, you’ll be stuck for seven more books.

• Genre: Dark Fantasy, Western
• Year of Publication: 1982
• Why Buy It: The Gunslinger sets the stage for one of King’s most ambitious and beloved series. It’s really a fascinating mix of genres that showcases King’s creativity and world-building prowess. Read it when you want to start a journey and don’t mind being confused for 80 pages. Best on a plane or road trip.

8. 11/22/63

11/22/63 is a time-traveling tour de force that takes readers back to one of the most pivotal moments in American history: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The story follows Jake Epping, a high school teacher who discovers a portal to 1958 and takes on the mission of preventing JFK’s assassination. But altering history is no simple task, and Jake soon finds himself entangled in a web of unforeseen consequences.

Even people who don’t like King love this one. It’s weirdly romantic, deeply American, and full of dread you don’t see coming.

• Genre: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Why Buy It: 11/22/63 is a brilliant departure from King’s usual horror fare, and a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and historical thrillers. Bring it on a train ride or long weekend where you want to feel fully absorbed, and slightly out of time

9. Salem’s Lot

In Salem’s Lot, King takes the classic vampire myth and gives it a modern twist. The novel is set in the small town of Jerusalem’s Lot, where a writer named Ben Mears returns only to find that an ancient evil has taken root. As the town’s residents fall prey to this malevolent force, Ben must rally the remaining survivors to fight back.

This is where King proves he can do classic horror better than the classics. It’s a vampire story, but it’s also about decay and denial.

• Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction
• Year of Publication: 1975
• Why Buy It: this is King’s homage to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but with his signature style of blending the supernatural with small-town life. It’s an atmospheric, slow-burning horror novel that’s perfect for fans of Gothic fiction, making it one of the best books by Stephen King. Read it in a quiet village, a small Airbnb, or anywhere you might hear a knock on the window and wish you hadn’t.

10. Doctor Sleep

Doctor Sleep is the long-awaited sequel to The Shining, picking up years after the events at the Overlook Hotel. The novel follows a grown-up Danny Torrance as he grapples with the trauma of his childhood and his psychic abilities. Now known as Doctor Sleep, Danny finds himself battling a new set of horrors when he encounters the True Knot, a group of quasi-immortal beings who feed off the energy of children with the shining. As Danny confronts his past, he must protect a young girl with similar abilities from falling into the clutches of these monstrous beings.

Surprisingly moving, considering the villains drink children. It’s more about recovery and connection than terror but it still gets dark.

• Genre: Horror, Psychological Thriller
• Year of Publication: 2013
• Why Buy It: Doctor Sleep is a masterful continuation of one of King’s most famous stories, making it a must for fans and a fitting end to our list of the best books by Stephen King. Best saved for a quiet evening or an overnight trip, especially if you just re-read The Shining and need emotional closure.