Southern California is spoiled when it comes to Halloween haunt events. We’re basically the capital of Halloween between all the haunts and other home haunts. For today though, we’re going to rank the major haunts in the area. We’ve done this in previous years that showed off the pros and cons of some of these haunts, but the rankings have definitely changed for this year and we even added a new haunt to our experience with Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego.
Picking the best haunt has a lot that goes into it. You’ve gotta think about the lines, the mazes/houses, value, scares, ambiance, food/drink options, and how much fun the actual event is. With all those in mind, let’s dive into the best Halloween haunts in Southern California for 2026.
7. Six Flags Fright Fest
Read our full review for Six Flags Fright Fest 2026.
Six Flags Fright Fest is definitely undergoing some changes. While some of them are for the better, this year’s event was subpar. They added a new haunted maze with Wolves Blood but the maze was filled with AI-slop all over the walls and with the music. I was incredibly excited for this maze and it disappointed me greatly. Not only going the easy way out with the AI use but not even trying to cover up the fact that they used it. Not only is this house full of it, but all the merch is AI-slop. Its the statement that you have to ask all the time now. If they’re cutting corners with the designs by using it, what else are they cutting corners on to save a buck?
The new program to get into the houses was also a big problem leading to plenty of bloat around the entrances to mazes. The food and drink options were a highlight with some interesting options and some of the better food at these types of events. They have a Crown Jewel-type maze with The Conjuring Universe, but they need to make big changes for 2027.
6. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Read our full review for LA Haunted Hayride 2026.
The most beginner-friendly Halloween event came back with some tweaks to the formula and succeeded in presenting a good event. You can now buy alcohol at the Haunted Hayride, which is a plus for Food/Drink options. The Monty Revolta band plays with the whole band for every night of the event, which is another plus. The actual Haunted Hayride itself saw some good changes overall and is actually scary and thrilling in spots.
Hellbilly Halloween is starting to show some of its age and might need some improvements for a future year. And they did use AI again for Fallen Angel. I’m a gigantic fan of heavy metal music, the visuals and music they’re playing in the house in no way is the same as the era that the maze is supposed to be. Blast beats do not fit for a glam 80s heavy metal band. But the scares are there, which is more than I can say for Wolves Blood at Fright Fest.
The ambiance, the atmosphere, the slice of Halloween goodness that is the Haunted Hayride and Midnight Falls is great for all kinds of spooky enjoyment.
5. Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
Read our full review for Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor 2026.
This year’s Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor was a step up from previous years. You’re already on one of the most haunted and historical landmarks in all of SoCal, then they add some scares and a carnival atmosphere to the whole thing. The ship is the main character and while the houses might not be as scary as other events, the ambiance of the ship is the selling point here. There are some negatives though. The new maze, Shipwrecked, is not good. It has the big issue of multiple stopping points for “world-buiilding” that take too long and of course, you guessed it, AI-slop.
This event also feels like they’re kind of bleeding guests dry with all the add-ons and the hoops you have to jump through. Parking is also easily the worst for any of the events, Thirteenth Floor really needs to step up on that front. Make it clear which parking lots are open and which ones are closed for the dates.
Through it all, this is still a fantastic Halloween event.
4. SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream
Read our full review for SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream 2026.
This is the debut for SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream for me, I went to the event for the first time this year, and I’ll definitely be going back. They brought in their biggest IP ever for a haunted house with I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch. The only real awkward portion of the night was the opening. They let people into the park at 6PM but it doesn’t open until 7PM. So guests were slightly confused as to what they can do and what they can’t do.
The six houses at the park were all at the very least interesting with some being truly great haunt experiences. They do the same speakeasy thing as Queen Mary, but these ones you just need the password to get into, no payment required (besides for your drink). This was a huge bargain compared to the other events with tickets as low as $45.
3. Halloween Horror Nights
Read our full review for Halloween Horror Nights 2026.
Here’s a true upset for 2026, Halloween Horror Nights isn’t in the top two spots. That’s really not because the houses are bad, that’s because Universal has allowed it to get so incredibly packed on a nightly basis that its no longer realistic to go on the standard ticket and get everything done in one night. Past seasons saw “safe” times to go to the park that were usually in early September around when they opened. Now, that’s not the case. Every night is packed to the gills with wait times upwards of 75 minutes for at least two haunted houses.
When I went on the Sunday before Labor Day, every single house had a 90 minute wait at one point. The park is just too packed, there needs to be a change, whether that’s selling less tickets (yeah, right) or increasing the number of houses.
This is one of the best lineups of houses they’ve ever had in my time going to the event. It is just too damn crowded now.
2. Delusion: Den Of The Mosquito
Read our full review of Delusion: Den of the Mosquito.
Delusion is the best kept not-really-a-secret in Los Angeles when it comes to Halloween events. The interactive theater is basically the same amount of time you would spend inside a haunted house at an event like Horror Nights, but its all in one shot. And you get to act through a story alongside a small group. This year’s event included more interactivity than ever before, which only made it that much cooler. The show is about 50 minutes long, but that’s more actual scares than you’re going to get anywhere else.
Everything that’s made previous shows special is back here and then some. The actors are on top of their game and if this is any indication for the 2027 show, we’re going to eat good.
1. Knott’s Scary Farm
Read our full review of Knott’s Scary Farm 2026.
I called it the Undisputed King of Halloween, and that’s 100% right. Knott’s Scary Farm topped the 2025 list and it comes back with a vengeance with two new mazes that are exceptional. Smashing set design, tons of scare actors, the longest-running Halloween haunt knows exactly what to do for a great Halloween event. Knott’s has crowds, yes. But the rides at the event alleviate some of that, the fact that they have 10 houses does as well. This is a manageable event to go to and enjoy. I went on two separate occasions and did every house with time to spare.
So that’s the ranking of the various large-scale Halloween haunts in Southern California for you to enjoy this season. What’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
For more on Horror, make sure to check out Fright-A-Thon.
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