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6 Spooky Things to do in San Diego for Halloween
2 days ago
6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Looking for spooky things to do in San Diego for Halloween? From haunted trolley rides and one of America's most famous haunted houses to terrifying scare trails and classic horror movies, San Diego has no shortage of ways to celebrate spooky season.
Whether you're planning a Halloween date night in San Diego, looking for something scary to do with friends, or simply love all things ghosts, haunted houses and horror, we've rounded up some of the best San Diego Halloween attractions and spooky experiences for 2026.
Here are seven spooky things to add to your Halloween bucket list this year.
1. Ride the Haunted Trolley on a Ghosts & Gravestones Tour
Ghosts & Gravestones Tour San Diego
If you want to combine San Diego history with a spooky Halloween experience, climb aboard the Ghosts & Gravestones "Trolley of the Doomed" in Old Town.
The approximately 90-minute tour takes guests through San Diego's darker history, with stories about notorious characters, legends and reported paranormal activity. The experience includes a walking portion through El Campo Santo Cemetery and a visit to the grounds surrounding the Whaley House.
One important thing to know: the standard Ghosts & Gravestones tour does not go inside the Whaley House. Instead, you'll explore the exterior and surrounding grounds before continuing the haunted journey through Old Town.
The tour is rated PG-13 and includes walking over uneven terrain, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Where: Old Town San Diego
Meeting point:Old Town Market, 4008 Twiggs Street
Length:Approximately 90 minutes
Reservations:Required
Book the Haunted Trolley
Tip: did you know that locals can ride for free if they have a guest in town paying a full admission price? Sign up for the Hometown pass!
2. Tour the Haunted Whaley House
Whaley House Museum
No list of haunted places in San Diego would be complete without the Whaley House.
Located in Old Town, the historic Whaley House dates to 1857 and has become famous for its reported paranormal activity. Today, visitors can tour the historic home and learn about the Whaley family, the building's history and the stories that have earned it its reputation as one of America's most haunted houses.
There are several ways to experience the Whaley House.
Daytime Tour
The daytime experience is a self-guided tour through the historic house and grounds. It's a good option if you want to learn more about San Diego history while exploring the building at your own pace.
Haunted Evening Tour
For a spookier experience, book the Haunted Evening Tour. This guided tour focuses more heavily on the home's dark history, legends and reported paranormal activity.
The evening tour is rated PG-13, and reservations are required.
After-Hours Paranormal Investigation
Want to take things a step further?
The Whaley House also offers an After Hours Paranormal Investigation. This approximately two-hour experience gives participants exclusive access to areas of the historic home and is designed specifically for guests interested in paranormal investigation.
Where: 2476 San Diego Ave., San Diego
Neighborhood: Old Town
Buy Whaley House Tickets
Tip: Pair the Whaley House with the Ghosts & Gravestones trolley tour for a spooky Old Town adventure. There is even a trolley + Whaley House package available.
3. Get Scared at Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego
If you're looking for a major Halloween event in San Diego, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego is one of the biggest nighttime Halloween experiences in the city.
When the sun goes down, SeaWorld transforms into a nighttime horror experience featuring haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, themed bars, speakeasies and nighttime coaster rides.
For 2026, Howl-O-Scream features six haunted houses, including the new I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch.
The event takes place on select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026.
Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed nighttime event. Guests can enter beginning at 6 p.m., with the event officially starting at 7 p.m.
There are several ticket options, including:
Single-night tickets
Any-night tickets
Unlimited Scream Passes
Current 2026 pricing starts at $45.99 for select single-night tickets, although prices vary by date.
Where: SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Drive
Dates: Select nights, September 11–October 31, 2026
Best for: Older teens and adults who want a full night of Halloween entertainment
Buy Howl-O-Scream Tickets
Important: Howl-O-Scream is not included with regular SeaWorld admission, and daytime admission is not included with a Howl-O-Scream ticket. Pass Members should check their member portal for available discounts.
You can read my full review here: https://www.socaltravelblog.com/single-post/howl-o-scream-at-seaworld-san-diego-1
4. Walk the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
For a classic San Diego haunted house and haunted trail experience, head to Balboa Park.
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park combines two attractions in one admission: the 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Mazeand the approximately one-mile Haunted Trail through the trees of Marston Point.
This isn't a quick walk through a haunted house. You'll be outside in the dark, navigating the trail while encountering scare actors, special effects and unexpected scares along the way.
The 2026 season runs from September 25 through November 1.
Ticket options include:
Timed General Admission: starting at $34.99
Fast Pass: starting at $49.99
VIP Blood Red Carpet: starting at $99.99
Admission includes both the eXperiment Maze and Haunted Trail.
Where: Balboa Drive & Juniper Road, Balboa Park
Dates:September 25–November 1, 2026
Buy Haunted Trail Tickets
Good to know: This attraction includes high-impact scares, strobe lights, fog and other effects. It is not recommended for children under 10, and the attraction does not permit pregnant guests, infants or children being carried.
Tip: If you hate waiting in long Halloween attraction lines, consider the Fast Pass.
5. Explore The Haunted Amusement Park in El Cajon
The Haunted Amusement Park
Looking for a Halloween attraction that's completely different from the typical haunted house?
Head to The Haunted Amusement Park in El Cajon, located on the grounds of the former Marshal Scotty's Playland.
The attraction uses the remnants of the old amusement park as the setting for a one-mile Halloween scare trail. You'll walk underneath the old roller coaster, around the Ferris wheel and through the former bumper-car area, where you'll put on 3D glasses for a black-light experience.
The 2026 trail includes attractions such as:
CarnEvil
3D Black Light Bumper Cars
Spinning Vortex Tunnel
Freak Show Maze
House of Curiosities
Haunted Manor
Mausoleum
Graveyard
Witch's Cottage
Spider Cave
Rollercoaster Creepers
Zombie Land
Slaughter House
Farm Yard Massacre
Spooky photo opportunities
Everything listed is included with admission. Take note these are haunted spaces not amusement park rides. If you’re local you might remember the days that this was a functioning amusement park. It’s pretty nostalgic and super eerie to return to the space as a haunted maze!
The 2026 season opens September 25 and runs through November 1.
Where: 14011 Ridge Hill Road, El Cajon
Parking: Free on-site parking
Trail: Approximately one mile
Buy Haunted Amusement Park Tickets
The attraction warns guests to expect uneven terrain, stairs, ramps, narrow passages, blackout areas, strobe lights, fog, loud noises and other intense effects. Closed-toe shoes are required.
Tip: This is one to put on your list if you've already done San Diego's traditional haunted houses and want something with a genuinely unusual setting. Arrive about 30 minutes after the opening. The early birds will have cleared out and the line will be shorter.
6. Watch a Classic Horror Movie at the Balboa Theatre
Balboa Theatre
Not all Halloween activities need to involve running from monsters.
For something a little more sophisticated, spend an evening at the historic Balboa Theatre watching a classic horror film accompanied by live organ music.
On Monday, October 26, 2026, San Diego Theatres will present Silent Movie Mondays: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore.
The 1920 silent horror classic will be accompanied by live organist David Marsh, with a pre-show performance by guest organist Rosemary Bailey. A post-show conversation with David Marsh and film professor Jodi Cilley is also planned.
The film begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening one hour before the show.
Where: Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Avenue, San Diego
Date:Monday, October 26, 2026
Time:7 p.m.
Best for:A Halloween date night, classic-film lovers or anyone who prefers atmospheric spooky entertainment over haunted houses.
Get Tickets
Bonus: If you're looking for an elegant Halloween night downtown, grab dinner in the Gaslamp before the movie. Consider booking an evening at Freddy’s chophouse: https://www.socaltravelblog.com/single-post/freddy-s-chophouse
Tip: arrive early, concessions can take a little time!
Event dates, ticket prices and operating schedules can change, so it's always a good idea to check the official ticket page before heading out.
More Spooky San Diego Adventures
Whether you love ghosts, haunted houses, horror movies, scare trails or creepy local history, San Diego has plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween.
From the historic streets of Old Town to the dark trails of Balboa Park and the abandoned amusement-park setting in East County, you don't have to leave San Diego County to find a seriously spooky Halloween experience.
Which one are you adding to your Halloween bucket list?
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