When October arrives, San Diego transforms into a city of chills, screams, and unforgettable Halloween adventures. From haunted houses and ghost tours to immersive VR horror experiences, this year’s lineup offers something for every thrill seeker. Whether you crave the adrenaline of live haunts or the intensity of free-roam virtual reality, these are the top Halloween experiences in San Diego for 2025 you won’t want to miss.
The Best Halloween Attractions in San Diego 2025
SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream
San Diego’s biggest Halloween event returns on select nights from September 12 through November 1, 2025. SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream delivers a massive after-dark transformation featuring haunted houses, themed scare zones, and eerie entertainment throughout the park. Guests can expect cinematic production value, live actors, and twisted themed bars that make it a must-visit for horror fans this season.
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
A San Diego Halloween classic, The Haunted Trail is a mile-long outdoor walk through Balboa Park’s eerie groves and twisting pathways. Before the trail, guests enter an indoor maze packed with scares to get the adrenaline flowing. Running from September 26 through November 1, it remains one of the most immersive haunted attractions in Southern California.
The Haunted Amusement Park
Located on the grounds of a former carnival, this haunt blends nostalgic fairground vibes with spine-chilling horror. Visitors navigate blacklight tunnels, freak show tents, and haunted rides while surrounded by roaming monsters. It’s a unique mix of carnival fun and fear that earns its place on San Diego’s list of best Halloween attractions.
Whaley House & Old Town Ghost Tours
Step back into the past at the Whaley House, one of America’s most famously haunted homes. October brings extended hours and guided ghost tours through Old Town San Diego, where visitors can learn about real-life hauntings and paranormal encounters that have made this site a national legend.
Hallways of Horror
A new addition to the San Diego Halloween scene, Hallways of Horror brings a fresh take on immersive terror. Guests move through intricately themed rooms filled with sensory effects, psychological twists, and cinematic design. It’s ideal for those who enjoy story-driven horror with a modern edge.
Immersive VR Horror Experiences at San Diego VR
When you’ve braved the city’s haunted houses, continue your Halloween adventure inside San Diego VR — home to the most terrifying virtual reality experiences in California. These free-roam VR games let you and your friends step directly into a living nightmare, where every shadow moves and every scream feels real.
Outbreak
Step into a city overrun by the infected. Outbreak combines survival, teamwork, and nonstop tension as you and your squad fight to contain a deadly virus. It’s the perfect Halloween pick for fans of apocalyptic horror and fast-paced action.
Haunted
Haunted redefines what it means to be scared. This free-roam VR experience drops you into a haunted mansion that shifts, breathes, and reacts to your every move. With whispers in the dark and rooms that rearrange themselves, Haunted delivers the same terror as a real haunted house — but with no escape until you find the exit.
Undead Arena
Think you can survive the apocalypse? Enter Undead Arena, a combat-style VR horror experience where you and your friends fight off waves of zombies for survival. Limited ammo and overwhelming odds make every round more intense than the last.
Space Marine
In Space Marine, you’ll battle alien lifeforms aboard a dark, abandoned starship. This sci-fi horror experience combines atmospheric storytelling, isolation, and suspense — perfect for fans of futuristic fear.
Manor of Escape
Uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and escape before it’s too late. Manor of Escape merges mystery and horror as players explore a cursed mansion filled with supernatural forces. Every clue brings you closer to freedom — or to something far worse.
Alien Infection
Set in a futuristic research facility, Alien Infection forces you to survive against a parasitic lifeform spreading through the station. The infection adapts, evolves, and hunts you. Only teamwork and quick thinking can save you from extinction.
Plan Your Ultimate Halloween in San Diego
San Diego’s 2025 Halloween season offers everything from traditional haunted houses to next-generation virtual reality scares. Combine outdoor haunts like The Haunted Trail and Whaley House Tours with VR horror games such as Haunted, Outbreak, and Alien Infection for the ultimate Halloween itinerary.
Visit San Diego VR’s Halloween page to see the full lineup of seasonal horror experiences, escape rooms, and special events. Book early — October weekends fill fast — and bring your bravest friends to face the city’s most terrifying experiences all in one place.
