San Diego’s 2026 Halloween season runs from mid-September through November 1, anchored by SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream and the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park, with LEGOLAND covering the family end. This guide covers the multi-day, ticketed events in San Diego County, sorted by opening date. Single-day events and home haunts are not listed. For home haunts, see my Southern California home haunts guide. For the full statewide list, see my Haunted Houses in California guide.
San Diego Haunts at a Glance
| Event | Location | 2026 Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Howl-O-Scream San Diego | SeaWorld San Diego | Sept 11 – Oct 31 |
| LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat | LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad | Sept 19 – Nov 1 |
| The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park | Balboa Park, San Diego | Sept 25 – Nov 1 |
| The Haunted Car Wash | Carlsbad | Oct 16 – Oct 24 |
Howl-O-Scream San Diego
Howl-O-Scream runs on select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026, at SeaWorld San Diego.
| Dates | Select nights, Sept 11 – Oct 31 |
| Location | SeaWorld San Diego |
| Lineup | 6 haunted houses, 8 scare zones, 5 vile vignettes, 2 shows, 6 bars and 5 speakeasies |
| Tickets | From $41.99 single night (details) |
| New for 2026 | Area 64: MOTHERSHIP house with an 80-foot facade, three all-new scare zones |
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat
LEGOLAND California’s Brick-or-Treat returns for the 2026 Halloween season on 12 select dates from September 19 through November 1.
| Dates | 12 select dates, Sept 19 – Nov 1 |
| Location | LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad |
| Tickets | Included with park admission on event dates (details) |
| New for 2026 | Brick or Treat Street, a walkthrough of six LEGO monster homes with a new Halloween light trail |
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park returns to Marston Point for its 27th year on select nights from September 25 through November 1.
| Dates | Select nights, Sept 25 – Nov 1 |
| Location | Marston Point, Balboa Park, San Diego |
| Lineup | Mile-long trail, the 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Maze, and the free Dark Carnival scare zone |
| Tickets | From $34.99 timed GA, $49.99 Fast Pass (details) |
| New for 2026 | The free-entry Dark Carnival returns for its second year, expanded |
The Haunted Car Wash
The Haunted Car Wash returns for its sixth season this October, expanding to four Southern California regions, including a San Diego County location in Carlsbad.
| Dates | Oct 16 – Oct 24 |
| Location | Eco Friendly Auto Spa, 6010 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad |
| Tickets | From $33.85 per vehicle with fees (details) |
| New for 2026 | First San Diego location in the event’s six-year history |
San Diego Haunt FAQ
What is the scariest haunted house in San Diego?
Howl-O-Scream is San Diego’s only major theme park haunt event and carries the biggest lineup, while the Haunted Trail’s outdoor trail through Balboa Park’s oak grove is the county’s longest-running professional haunt.
Are there family-friendly Halloween events in San Diego?
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND is built for young kids and included with admission, and the Haunted Trail’s Dark Carnival scare zone is free to enter. Want to work at one of these haunts? See how to become a scare actor.
