Southern California — The Haunted Car Wash returns for its sixth season this October, expanding to four Southern California regions. The drive-through Halloween experience turns real, working commercial car washes into live haunts at night. Drivers stay in their vehicles, get scared by costumed performers and effects as they roll through the tunnel, and their cars actually get washed on the way out. The 2026 season runs October 2 through October 31, with a new lower ticket price of $25 per vehicle.
Two of the four 2026 locations are open for ticket sales: Anaheim in Orange County and Lakewood in Los Angeles County. Two additional 2026 locations, in the Inland Empire and San Diego, have been announced but the specific venues are listed as “Coming Soon” on the operator’s site. This guide will be updated as the additional venues are confirmed.
What is the Haunted Car Wash?
The Haunted Car Wash is a drive-through haunted attraction staged inside a functioning commercial car wash. Guests remain inside their own vehicles for the duration of the experience. As the car moves through the wash tunnel, live actors in horror costumes appear around the vehicle and haunt-style special effects, lighting, and audio play in coordination with the wash cycle. When the car exits, it has been washed.
One ticket admits one vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers inside. The event is aimed at guests seeking a Halloween experience they can share with friends and family from inside a car, rather than a walk-through haunted attraction.
2026 locations and status
Anaheim (Orange County). Big Wave Carwash, 2219 Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801. Tickets on sale.
Lakewood (Los Angeles County). Carwood Carwash, 2729 East Carson Street, Lakewood, CA 90712. Tickets on sale.
Inland Empire. Location and venue TBA. The operator has confirmed the region is part of the 2026 lineup but the specific car wash has not yet been announced.
San Diego. Location and venue TBA. The operator has confirmed the region is part of the 2026 lineup but the specific car wash has not yet been announced.
The 2026 expansion to four regions is the largest footprint the Haunted Car Wash has run in its six-year history. Prior seasons have run in one to three locations at a time.
Dates and hours
The 2026 event runs October 2 through October 31. Historic operating hours have been 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on select nights. Per-night operating schedules for the 2026 season are published on each location’s Eventbrite page, which is linked from thehauntedcarwash.com.
Tickets and pricing
- $25 per vehicle. One ticket admits your entire vehicle regardless of the number of passengers.
- Advance online purchase is strongly recommended. Prior seasons have sold out well in advance of Halloween.
Watch the preview
Here is the operator’s 2026 season preview:
Vehicle restrictions
The Haunted Car Wash uses a real working commercial car wash tunnel, and standard car-wash vehicle rules apply. The following vehicles are not admitted:
- Vehicles taller than 7 feet 2 inches at maximum clearance
- Vehicles with lowered suspensions or extra-wide tires
- Vehicles with caked-on mud
- Vehicles with fifth-wheel connections
- Vehicles with body damage, loose parts, loose trim, or after-market accessories
- Dually trucks (dual rear wheel pickup trucks)
- Open-bed pickup trucks with loose items or debris in the bed (beds must be completely cleared before washing)
- Trucks with racks or hitches of any type
- Motorcycles
The operator reserves the right to refuse entry to any vehicle that could be damaged by, or damage, the wash machinery.
Safety rules
The Haunted Car Wash operates under strict in-tunnel safety rules that guests should read before arriving.
- All guests remain inside the vehicle at all times during the event.
- The vehicle must be placed in neutral by the driver when instructed.
- The driver keeps hands off the steering wheel and feet off the pedals while the vehicle is inside the wash tunnel.
- The Haunted Car Wash is not responsible for any damages to the vehicle.
- All posted signage must be obeyed.
How the Haunted Car Wash started
The Haunted Car Wash began in October 2020 as Tunnel of Terror OC, founded by Long Vo and Veronica Young during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Southern California’s theme park haunted events shut down (Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, Disneyland’s Halloween programming), the founders built a socially distanced Halloween experience where guests could stay inside their own vehicles.
The first season ran at Russell Fischer Xpress Car Wash in Huntington Beach and reportedly sold out. In 2021 the event moved to Anaheim’s Big Wave Car Wash, and in subsequent years it expanded to include locations in Fontana, Lakewood, and Montclair. The event rebranded from Tunnel of Terror to The Haunted Car Wash in 2023.
For more on how the drive-through haunt-through-a-wash format has expanded across the country, see HAN’s earlier feature, Suds & Scares: The Rise of the Haunted Car Wash.
Prior HAN coverage
- Suds & Scares: The Rise of the Haunted Car Wash. HAN’s feature on the drive-through haunt format
- SoCal’s Haunted Carwash Returns with TWO Locations for 2024. HAN’s 2024 season coverage
- Tunnel of Terror Haunted Carwash 2021. HAN’s coverage of the second season under the original name
Event details
- Event: The Haunted Car Wash 2026
- Regions: Orange County (Anaheim), Los Angeles (Lakewood), Inland Empire (TBA), San Diego (TBA)
- Dates: October 2 through October 31, 2026
- Cost: $25 per vehicle
- Format: Drive-through haunt inside a working commercial car wash
- Vehicle limit: One ticket per vehicle
- Tickets and location details: thehauntedcarwash.com
