Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego vs. The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park

You can’t go wrong with either event’s location! But there are some factors that set these two event sites apart.

Getting Ready for Howl O Scream Sign at Seaworld San Diego

Where is SeaWorld San Diego?

SeaWorld San Diego is located in Mission Bay Park, which offers water views and easy access to water sports like standup paddle boarding and kayaking. It’s also located not far from the Mission Bay beaches and the Mission Beach beaches.

Parking is easy for the event which is a huge plus for me personally. And if you need a little help getting around the park, it’s quite flat and paved throughout. I’d say that SeaWorld San Diego is quite handicap accessible and they also have wheelchair rentals available.

Sign to the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park

Where is the Haunted Trail Located in Balboa Park?

The Haunted Trails are located in beautiful Balboa Park which features trails, museums, and green space right in Downtown San Diego.

The entrance for the Haunted Trail is located at Balboa Dr. & Juniper Rd., San Diego, CA 92101. The trail is just in one section of the park and it can be tricky to maneuver, if you have an electric wheelchair. Manual wheelchairs are recommended.

Comparing Locations: Howl-O-Scream Wins!

Howl-O-Scream is in a better spot just because it’s at an established location, with a designated parking lot that requires less walking to get to the entrance.

Plus, it has more paved sidewalks and roads so that it’s more accessible for everyone.

Both events are not short of scare-tastic attractions. It just depends on what you’re into and how far you want to walk! Let’s compare the things to do at each Halloween event.

Aliens at Howl O Scream Seaworld San Diego

Howl-O-Scream Attractions

Howl-O-Scream includes:

• 5 Haunted Houses
• 8 Scare Zones
• 6 Vignettes

Trust me, each one of these attractions is unique. I personally love all of the haunted houses, especially the new in 2025 Nightmare Experiment haunted house. And each scare zone has me falling over laughing and screaming at the same time. There’s truly something different around every corner.

One of the Haunted Houses at the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park

Haunted Trail Fun

The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park includes two attractions:

• The eXperiment Maze
• The mile-long Haunted Trail

While there are just two things you will be enjoying at the Haunted Trail at Balboa Park, the eXperiment Maze will take you 15-20 to navigate and the Haunted Trail itself is a mile long, much further than any other I’ve ever visited.

Both are lots of fun, and scares, offering plenty of terrifying surprises, just be sure to wear comfortable shoes!

More to See and Do: Howl-O-Scream

Howl-O-Scream offers more to do and see than the Haunted Trail. While I prefer Howl-O-Scream, my son likes the haunted maze of the Haunted Trail more in terms of scariness. He’s planning on going there with his friends instead of Howl-O-Scream this year!

Before you go, it’s a good idea to consider the size of the attraction so you have enough time to see it all.

Lots of Actors Walking Around Howl O Scream Seaworld San Diego

Visiting Howl-O-Scream SeaWorld San Diego

While the entire park is not open, Howl-O-Scream is still home to many rides, haunted houses, themed bars, and more. That’s a lot of ground to cover, trust me, I’ve done it before!

Inside the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park

Getting Around The Haunted Trail

The Haunted Trail has the maze and the mile-long trail itself. When I went with my family, it took us about 15 minutes for the maze. The trail takes a good bit longer, depending on how fast you walk and how many spooky encounters you have!

The Larger Attraction: Howl-O-Scream

Howl-O-Scream is much larger and for me, the clear winner. There is more to do and see, and you can stay a bit longer. The Haunted Trail is a one-and-done event. Once you go through, it’s time to go home.

Besides all of your expected events, it’s always nice when the Halloween event has unique offerings or special experiences.

Halloween Themed Beer at Howl O Scream in Seaworld San Diego

Special Experiences at Howl-O-Scream

Howl-O-Scream offers live entertainment that you won't want to miss. There are live singers themed around Jack the Ripper that are so unique. Plus, you have Halloween-themed bars stationed around the park.

Like I was telling you before, there are also some great upgrade ticket options. Some even include a souvenir cup! There is also reserved seating for the Monster Stomp music show.

Creepy Monster at the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park

Beyond the Trail

While there isn’t much beyond the maze and trail, the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is still a must-visit in 2025 because it has two haunting attractions in one spot.

There are also ticket upgrades to avoid annoying long lines. For just $15 more than the general admission ticket, the VIP Scream Pass provides an express line to get you in considerably quicker. I don’t know about you, but I hate to wait!

Where to Go for Unique Additions: Howl-O-Scream

Don’t get me wrong, both attractions have a lot of perks, but when you add music and themed drinks, Howl-O-Scream comes out on top here!

Monsters Appear Out of Nowhere at Howl O Scream Seaworld San Diego

Trust me, I like both of these events, but in a close battle, our team at Go Visit San Diego decided that when digging deep into all the details of both Halloween events, the more enjoyable overall is Howl-O-Scream.

I went last year and I can’t wait to go again! But this doesn’t mean I’m not going to trek over to the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park too. This one is always a fun Halloween event as well