Best Halloween Events & Haunted Houses for Kids and Teens in San Diego

Get ready for a night of scares with the older kids and teens in your family when you attend Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego!

You’ll encounter themed decorations and dedicated scare zones with costumed actors waiting to jump out at unsuspecting guests, plus special attractions like haunted house setpieces and live shows. Of course, you can also still board the rides at night!

Howl-O-Scream is an annual fright fest event that takes place on weekend evenings throughout October, plus the weekends before and after. All the same attractions and shows run during all of the Halloween horror nights.

SeaWorld San Diego’s Halloween event is one of the biggest and best in all of San Diego, which is why we’ve chosen to feature it in our Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego.

Which Families Will Love It

SeaWorld recommends this event for ages 13 and up.

While it might be a little too scary for younger kids, it’s perfect for families with teens like my own, and I plan on attending in 2024 with my family so we can all get the pants scared off us together!

Where to Stay Nearby

Since you’ll be out late enjoying Howl-O-Scream, booking a nearby hotel is a little added convenience. We suggest the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Old Town / SeaWorld Area which has a gorgeous property that, like SeaWorld San Diego, really lights up at night.

Sesame Street fans can join the Halloween party at Sesame Place San Diego during The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular. It starts as early as mid-September, so it’s perfect to pair with other fall activities like visiting a pumpkin patch or checking out local fall festivals in the lead-up to the holiday.

You won’t have to worry about jumpscares or other haunted house style attractions here, since the whole event is designed with younger children in mind. And of course, it’s also full of Sesame Street characters singing, playing, and dancing in family-friendly Halloween attractions.

Kids are invited to trick-or-treat in costume around the iconic street, take photos with their muppet friends, and attend special theater shows, storytimes, and parties held during the event. There’s also a scavenger hunt and a costume contest with a parade so all guests can participate.

As a bonus tip for the cost conscious parents, Sesame Place San Diego is part of the Kids Free San Diego program that runs in October. So that means your kids can go to Sesame Place and attend The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular 2024 for free!

Which Families Will Love It

I haven’t been to Sesame Place’s Halloween event yet myself, but I’ve heard from other families that it’s a lot of fun for younger kids. Ages 7 and under will get the most out of attending.

Where to Stay Nearby

For families, one of the best hotels near Sesame Place is Ayres Hotel San Diego South - Chula Vista. This is even a pet-friendly hotel, so you can travel with your pooch and visit some of San Diego’s dog beaches while you’re there.

Getting active together is a great activity for families, which is why I’ve been down The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park myself a few times with the kids. This is a walking attraction similar to haunted corn mazes which includes multiple different setpieces, each with their own theme.

Before you can get to the trail, you’ll start off at The eXperiment Maze, which spans 3,500 square feet of twists and turns. As you work your way through the maze, you just might encounter a scary surprise.

Once you’ve conquered the maze, continue on to The Haunted Trail. This is one of the biggest trails of its kind at a mile long, and each stretch has its own challenges, from a foggy graveyard to radioactive pursuers.

Which Families Will Love It

The trail is a full mile, which isn’t too challenging for most kids but might be a little far for younger children. As for the intensity of the scares, the trail is recommended for kids 10 and older.

Where to Stay Nearby

Balboa Park is a tourist destination itself with tons of great hotels around it. But if you’re looking for something special, the marina, multiple swimming pools, and meditation and yoga classes of Paradise Point Resort & Spa make it a stand-out choice.

LEGOLAND California is one of the best San Diego attractions for young kids, and their Brick-or-Treat Monster Party is not to be missed - especially since the event is included with general park admission. Couple that with a Go City San Diego pass using our discount code GVSD5OFF and you’ll save even more on Halloween fun!

Limited-time attractions include themed shows, a new rollercoaster ride, and interactive games and LEGO builds.

Kids are encouraged to dress up for trick-or-treating at different stations around the park, and for the costume contest. This also makes for great pictures at meet-and-greets with LEGO monster characters.

LEGOLAND California is also part of the Kids Free San Diego program in October!

Which Families Will Love It

Like at Sesame Place San Diego, LEGOLAND California is best experienced with kids about 7 and under. Parents of young LEGO fans will have the best time, but there’s lots to capture kids’ attention even if they don’t yet know these friendly brick-shaped monsters.

Where to Stay Nearby

Nothing beats staying at one of the park’s official hotels, both of which have special Halloween activities. Take your pick of the LEGOLAND Hotel or, our team’s personal favorite for families, the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel.

I hardly need to convince you how excellent the San Diego Zoo is. But did you know the zoo has special shows and activities - plus evening hours - during Halloween?

HalGLOWeen happens every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening after 5:00 pm in October. We think it’s a must-see activity on our Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego.

Zoo tickets are part of the All-inclusive Go City San Diego pass year-round, but you can also get free admission to the event for your kids during the Kids Free San Diego program in October. That’s an unbeatable deal during the HalGLOWeen festivities!

During the event, families can learn about spooky animals at the Featured Creatures presentation, dance along with a Skeleton Band, and see live shows like the Boolahoops and Spider’s W.E.B. performances.

To me the real treat is the way the zoo lights up at night with glowing neon decorations. The brand new Enchanted HalGLOWeen Forest elevates the decor into a fully immersive walk-through experience.

Which Families Will Love It

The San Diego Zoo is very family-friendly, and anyone about 5 and up can enjoy the event, including adults!

I visit the zoo all the time and will be attending HalGLOWeen with the family in 2024.

Where to Stay Nearby

We have tons of recommendations on great hotels near the zoo, but if you really want to treat your family, I suggest you stay at The Westgate Hotel.

The hotel is located just 3 miles south of the zoo on the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter. It has a very nice outdoor pool and hot tub as well as award winning dining which would be a real treat for sure!

When I think about the fall in San Diego, I think of pumpkin patches. Carving jack-o’-lanterns is an annual tradition in my family!

We’ve put together a whole article on the best pumpkin patches in San Diego County, and we think they deserve a special shout-out here too. In addition to picking out a pumpkin, many farms also have kid-friendly seasonal activities - and you can’t go wrong with taking the kids to a corn maze.

The corn maze at Carlsbad Strawberry Company is my favorite and the biggest maze by far at 1.5 miles. There’s even a haunted corn maze on weekend nights for older kids and teens!

Other pumpkin patch locations with corn mazes include Summers Past Farms in El Cajon, Mountain Valley Ranch Pumpkin Patch in Ramona, and the two Pumpkin Station farms in Rancho Bernardo and Bonita.

Which Families Will Love It

Even the youngest kids can have fun picking out a pumpkin or taking a hay ride on a tractor.

For the corn mazes, we think they’re best for kids about 5 and older with the haunted corn maze versions being best for teens, though there are lots of other activities to choose from if you have younger kids.

Where to Stay Nearby

There are many different corn mazes to choose from, but if you’re only looking within San Diego’s neighborhoods, Carlsbad Strawberry Company is the clear choice.

For a great family hotel in Carlsbad, try the Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, which even has its own game room and a dedicated family pool.

The Whaley House is famous for being one of the Most Haunted Places in San Diego with countless reports of ghost sightings, and has even been called America’s most haunted house!

This isn’t your typical Halloween attraction, but the property’s paranormal reputation has secured its spot as a stop on many of San Diego’s Ghost Tours, including one of my favorites, the Haunted Ghost Tour by Bus.

You can tour the Whaley House by day, but if you’re hoping to see some ghosts or learn about the property’s history and the tales of its past inhabitants, book a nighttime tour. During special Paranormal Investigations, you’ll get to visit rooms that aren’t normally accessible and learn how to use ghost hunting equipment to see if there are any spirits still living in this San Diego haunted house.

In the lead-up to Halloween on October 31st, the museum also offers extended nighttime hours and additional themed tours.

Which Families Will Love It

This is another event that’s better suited for older kids, at about 15 and up. Some of the stories are intended for older audiences and may frighten younger kids.

Where to Stay Nearby

Why not pair your visit to this world-famous haunted attraction with a stay at a haunted hotel?

Old Town’s Cosmopolitan Hotel isn’t just an excellent historic hotel, but it’s rumored to be the site of some ghost encounters, too!