Halloween Escapes
Three Ways to Get Your Scare On This October

Halloween in Southern California has become a serious business. The region hosts some of the most ambitious haunted attractions in the country, and for good reason: the entertainment industry infrastructure, the mild weather, and a population that takes themed experiences seriously have combined to produce events that go well beyond the haunted house format most people grew up with.

Whether you are looking for a night out with your partner, a family evening the kids will talk about for years, or a full weekend escape built around the season, there is something within reach of Burbank right now. Here are three options at three different distances and three different registers.

Close to Home: Knott's Scary Farm

Distance from Burbank: About 45 minutes south on the 5.
Dates: Select nights September 17 through October 31, 2026.
Tickets: From $65 online. Thursdays and Sundays run cheaper than weekend nights.

Knott's Scary Farm has been running since 1973, which makes it the oldest Halloween theme park event in the country and one of the most refined. It operates separately from the daytime Knott's Berry Farm, transforming the park after dark into something genuinely different from what families visit during the summer months.

The 2026 edition brings 10 haunted mazes, five scare zones, and three live shows. Two new mazes debuted this season: Inked and Unearthed, which join returning favorites that the event has built loyal followings around over the years. The scare zones connect the mazes with roaming monsters and atmospheric staging that makes the walk between attractions part of the experience rather than just a commute.

Best for couples: Absolutely. The intensity level is calibrated for adults and the mazes are genuinely frightening in the way that requires someone to hold onto. The after-dark atmosphere, fog machines, dramatic lighting, and the controlled chaos of a well-run scare event make it a strong date night. Go on a Thursday or early Sunday to avoid the heaviest crowds and longest lines.

Best for families: Older kids and teenagers will love it, but this is not a young children's event. The scares are real and the content is adult-oriented. The park recommends it for ages 13 and up, and that is an honest assessment. If your kids are in that range, it is an exceptional Halloween night out. If they are younger, save this one for a few years.

Pro tip: Book online in advance. Weekend nights in mid and late October sell out, and prices are lower when purchased ahead.

Mid-Range: The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor

Distance from Burbank: About 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic, to Long Beach.
Dates: September 18 through November 1, 2026.
Tickets: From $50.99.

Dark Harbor has something the theme park Halloween events cannot replicate: a real ship with a real history. The Queen Mary has been docked in Long Beach since 1967, and the vessel's layered past, from luxury ocean liner to wartime troop carrier, has accumulated the kind of atmosphere that no amount of set design can manufacture from scratch.

Now in its 13th season, Dark Harbor transforms the ship and surrounding harbor into a Halloween festival spanning six haunted mazes, secret speakeasies tucked throughout the event, carnival rides, live entertainment, themed bars and lounges, and roaming performers. The new maze for 2026, Shipwrecked: Brace for Impact, simulates the experience of navigating a flooding ocean liner through flooding corridors and fractured hull sections, an unsettling concept made more effective by the fact that you are standing on an actual historic ship when you walk through it.

The speakeasies are one of Dark Harbor's more distinctive touches. Four new hidden bars have been added for 2026, accessible through the mazes and attractions for guests who know where to look. It adds a layer of adult discovery to the evening that goes beyond standard haunted attraction programming.

Best for couples: This is the strongest date night option of the three. The combination of the ship's genuine atmosphere, the hidden speakeasies, the harbor setting, and the overall production quality creates an evening that feels like more than just a scare attraction. Arrive early enough to explore the ship itself before the full chaos of the event takes over, and find a speakeasy before the crowds do.

Best for families: Better suited for teenagers than young children, though the overall atmosphere is somewhat less intense than Knott's. The carnival rides and live entertainment provide options for guests who want to step back from the scares. Families with kids in the 12 and up range will find enough variety to keep everyone engaged.

Pro tip: The harbor setting means it can get cold after dark in October, especially with the ocean breeze. Bring layers regardless of what the daytime temperature was. Parking is on site at the Queen Mary terminal.

The Full Weekend: Old Town San Diego Ghost Tours

Distance from Burbank: About two hours south on the 5.
When to go: Any October weekend, but the closer to Halloween the more atmospheric.
Tickets: Multiple tour operators, typically $25 to $35 per person.

Old Town San Diego is the oldest neighborhood in California, settled in the early 1800s on the site of the original Spanish mission and pueblo. By any measure it has accumulated enough history to earn its haunted reputation, and in October the neighborhood leans into that reputation with a full calendar of ghost tours, candlelit walking experiences, and historical storytelling that makes for one of the more genuinely atmospheric Halloween weekends available within driving distance of Burbank.

The ghost tours operate nightly and cover the neighborhood's historic adobe buildings, the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, and the Whaley House, which has been called one of the most haunted houses in America by multiple paranormal investigators and has been attracting curious visitors since the 1960s. Tours range from family-friendly historical walks to more adult-oriented investigations that take the haunted history seriously.

Old Town itself is worth the trip independent of the Halloween programming. The restaurants are strong, with some of the best traditional Mexican food in Southern California concentrated in a walkable area. The shops carry a mix of artisan goods and tourist offerings. The historic park is free to walk through during the day and provides context that makes the evening tours considerably more interesting.

Best for couples: A weekend in San Diego built around Old Town ghost tours is one of the more original fall getaway ideas available from Burbank. Stay in the Gaslamp Quarter or near the waterfront, spend Saturday exploring Old Town by day and on a ghost tour after dark, and Sunday along the harbor before heading back. It is a complete weekend with the Halloween element as the centerpiece rather than the entire point.

Best for families: This is the strongest family option of the three. The Whaley House and the historical ghost tours are genuinely interesting for children who are curious about history, and the scares are atmospheric rather than aggressive. Old Town's walkable layout and strong restaurant options make it easy to spend a full day there. Younger children can participate in the family-oriented tour versions without encountering anything too intense.

Pro tip: Book accommodations two to three weeks ahead for October weekends. San Diego is a popular fall destination and hotel availability tightens considerably as Halloween approaches. The ghost tour operators also fill up on peak weekends, so reserve those at the same time you book your room.

Choosing Your Halloween Escape

At a glance, here is how the three compare:

For couples looking for intensity: Knott's Scary Farm or Dark Harbor. Knott's for pure scare volume, Dark Harbor for atmosphere and the speakeasy experience.

For families with teenagers: Any of the three work. Knott's is the most thrilling, Dark Harbor the most unique, San Diego the most educational.

For families with younger children: Old Town San Diego is the clear choice. The history is engaging, the scares are manageable, and the overall weekend is genuinely enjoyable for a wide age range.

For a full romantic weekend: San Diego by a considerable margin, with Dark Harbor as the runner-up for a one-night outing closer to home.

October moves quickly. All three of these book up as Halloween approaches. Whatever you choose, plan it now and you will spend the month looking forward to it rather than scrambling for tickets on the 29th.

Burbank Escapes is Burbank Hills Living's guide to the best getaways from our corner of the valley.