5 Bay Area Haunted Houses to Experience for the 2026 Halloween Season
Scary Fun with Friends and Loved Ones
We're already into the second week of October, and spooky season is in full swing. While families spend their weekends at pumpkin patches and trick-or-treat events, the rest of us are looking for something with a little more bite. Whether it's a date night with your partner or a group outing with friends, a good haunted house is one of the best ways to celebrate the season. With Halloween just a few weeks away, now is the time to lock in your plans before the best nights sell out.
Thankfully, I'm here to help. This isn't a ranking of the best, just recommendations based on location and what each experience offers. Here are five Bay Area haunted houses to visit with your partner or friends this Halloween season.
Haunted Houses of the Bay Area
Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House is a three-act Halloween experience that takes guests on a haunted journey through the famous mansion. The event transforms an estate long surrounded by rumors of the supernatural into a true haunted house. Beyond the themed sections, guests can enjoy food, games, and set pieces designed for photo opportunities. Bring your friends or family and treat it as the perfect reason to finally explore the Winchester Mystery House.
The event runs from now through November 1st, with nights every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, plus select Thursdays, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets for all open nights are on sale now, starting at $59.99.
The USS Haunted Hornet turns a real World War II-era aircraft carrier into a haunted house for the Halloween season. This year's theme, The Devil's Sea, sends guests below deck through dark corridors filled with twisted creatures and sudden scares. The attraction is fictional, but the ship has its own long history of unexplained footsteps, shadowy figures, and strange voices.
The event runs from now through November 1st aboard the USS Hornet in Alameda. Entry is timed, so booking your arrival window online is the best way to guarantee a spot. Passes start at $33.52, with lower early season pricing through October 15 and discounts for military and veterans.
Terror Vault turns the historic San Francisco Mint into a haunted attraction. This year's show traps guests inside an 80s slasher movie as guest navigate through abandoned schools, haunted campgrounds, forgotten video stores, and other iconic locations while confronting a masked slasher. The experience spans three floors, 29 sets, and more than 100 live actors each night. Afterward, grab a drink at Fang Bang, a vampire-themed bar built inside the Mint's old vaults.
The event runs from now through November 1st at 88 5th Street. Entry is timed, and guests must be 18 or older. Tickets range from $60 to $80 depending on the night.
Nightfall at Filoli tells one Halloween story across the entire Woodside estate. It begins with a harvest party in the Meadow, then moves into the historic House, where a witch's curse has left the rooms reclaimed by nature and the dinner guests missing. A redwood trail glowing with 1,000 jack-o'-lanterns leads to a hidden Witches' Village, and a new haunted railway sends eight miniature trains looping through the woods.
Nightfall runs nightly from now through November 1st (closed October 8), from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Weekend dates sell out quickly, so book your tickets early.
The Haunted Hangar at the Hiller Aviation Museum gives the Peninsula's home of aviation history a Halloween makeover. Kids can come in costume, explore a gallery of historic aircraft decked out for the season, and search for the Great Pumpkin. The final week brings a free Trunk or Treat on October 29th and a Halloween Kids' Festival on October 31st, ending at noon when the museum's witch drops a pumpkin from a helicopter.
The Haunted Hangar runs October 23rd through Halloween, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in San Carlos. It's included with museum admission, starting at $14 for youth and $22 for adults.
Your Bay Area Resource
These aren't the only haunted experiences you can visit this Halloween season, but they're the ones I know about. If you have a favorite, feel free to share it, since I'm always open to new recommendations. Knowing places like these comes with living and working in the Bay Area. Whether you need help navigating the real estate market, finding a good contractor, or choosing after-school activities for your kids, reach out and I'll be happy to help.