Halloween Horror Nights vs. Knott’s Scary Farm: Which Southern California Haunt Event Is Worth It?
Choose Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood if you want cinematic, franchise-driven houses (this year, eight of them) and are willing to pay more, especially for Express access. Choose Knott’s Scary Farm if you want the lower ticket price, ten mazes, five scare zones, live shows, and the option to ride the park’s rides on the same night.
Southern California runs two of the country’s biggest Halloween events at the same time, and they feel very different. Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is a walk-through-the-movie experience built on licensed properties; Knott’s Scary Farm is a sprawling amusement-park takeover with a long local tradition. Here is how they compare for 2026 so you can pick, or plan both.
How do HHN Hollywood and Knott’s Scary Farm compare at a glance?
| Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood | Knott’s Scary Farm | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 dates | Select nights, Sept. 3 – Nov. 1 | 26 select nights, Sept. 17 – Oct. 31 (Thursdays through Sundays, except Sunday, Sept. 20) |
| Start time | 7 p.m. | 7 p.m.; closes 1 a.m. Thu/Sun, 2 a.m. Fri/Sat |
| Single-night ticket | Roughly $76–$82 general admission, rising through the season | From about $65–$69, depending on date |
| Skip-the-line option | Universal Express, from roughly $259 (Unlimited from about $299–$319) | Fright & Fast Lane, from $139 |
| Season pass | Frequent Fear Pass ($179, up to 35 nights) and Ultimate Fear Pass ($299, all nights) as reported | Scary Farm Pass, $164 ($155 for passholders) |
| Haunted houses | 8 | 10 mazes |
| Scare zones | Including Terror Tram and a Fortnitemares zone | 5, including a reimagined CarnEVIL |
| Rides open? | Limited; event is mostly houses, zones, and shows | Rides, shows, and park included with the ticket |
Prices and dates come from the events’ ticketing pages and travel-guide reports as of late September and change by date, so confirm on the official ticket page before you buy.
What are the haunted houses like at each event?
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
HHN builds its houses around big film and TV names. The 2026 lineup includes Sinners, Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, Dead Deader Deadest, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and Killceñera: Music by SLASH. If you like walking through sets that look like the source material, this is the draw. For house-by-house details, see our Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood 2026 guide.
Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott’s has ten mazes this year, including two new original ones, Inked and Unearthed, and returning favorites such as Mary: The Haunting of Worth Home, The Zoo, Room 13, and Cinema Slasher. The five scare zones (CarnEVIL, Ghost Town Streets, The Gore-ing ’20s, Forsaken Lake, and The Gauntlet) turn the park’s streets into a constant walk-through, and new shows including Occultum Curated by Magic Castle and Voodoo: Bayou’s Edge add a break from the queues. Our Knott’s Scary Farm 2026 guide covers each maze.
Which event costs less?
Knott’s generally has the lower entry price, and its season pass ($164) is a strong deal if you plan to go more than once. HHN’s general admission runs higher, and the cost climbs quickly once you add Express access. Whether that upcharge is worth it depends on how much of your night you want to spend in line; our HHN Express pass breakdown walks through the trade-offs. On either event, weeknights and Sundays are typically cheaper and less crowded than Saturdays.
Which event is better for first-timers, groups, or intense-scare fans?
- First-timers who like rides and variety: Knott’s, because the ticket covers the park as well as the mazes and shows.
- Movie and TV fans: HHN, where the houses are built around recognizable properties.
- Tight budgets: Knott’s, especially with the season pass or a discounted group ticket.
- Short on time: HHN with Express, since minimizing waits is the whole point of the add-on.
Not sure how scary either will be for your group? Our guide to the best haunted houses in America and the haunted houses near you directory can help you find other options in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Halloween Horror Nights or Knott’s Scary Farm scarier? Scare level varies by house and by night. HHN leans on cinematic set pieces tied to horror franchises, while Knott’s mixes intense mazes with scare zones and shows. Check each event’s guidance before bringing younger or sensitive guests.
Which is cheaper, HHN Hollywood or Knott’s Scary Farm? Knott’s single-night tickets start lower, from roughly $65–$69 versus about $76–$82 for HHN general admission, though both vary by date.
When do Knott’s Scary Farm and HHN Hollywood run in 2026? HHN Hollywood runs select nights from September 3 to November 1. Knott’s Scary Farm runs 26 select nights from September 17 through October 31.
Can I do both in one season? Yes. Their calendars overlap through October, so you can choose different nights for each.
Do I need Express or Fright & Fast Lane? Not required, but skip-the-line access can save significant time on the busiest nights. Choosing a weeknight or Sunday is a cheaper way to shorten your waits.
Ready to decide? See the full HHN Hollywood lineup or explore every Knott’s Scary Farm maze.
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