Shrieks of fear and delight fill Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens each year as the weather cools and ghouls flood the streets. Both parks have their own unique flare, and gore groupies gather at each eerie event just to enjoy the Halloween festivities before it’s too late. Some prefer Busch Gardens’ iconic rides with a terrifying twist; others enjoy Kings Dominion’s menacing mazes. But which is truly the chilling champion? 

Before the screams and shivers, though, we need to address the wait. I found longer wait times (I had a quick pass and was able to skip the lengthy lines with ease). At Kings Dominion, I was surprised to find it wasn’t worth buying a quick pass since the lines only lasted for five to ten minutes, with the longest line being 30 minutes total.

Kings Dominion has more haunted houses overall compared to Busch Gardens with a 6:5 ratio. Taking into consideration Kings Dominion has one additional house, they also have an overall better scare factor. My greatest spooks and screams were at Kings Dominion’s Condemned featuring an abandoned hotel. While Kings Dominion has the better haunted houses, Busch Gardens didn’t back away from frightening this fan. My most notable cries and fears are credited to Busch Gardens’ Witch of the Woods Scorched. 

For originality I would have to give it to Busch Gardens considering all the attractions have been revamped over the years. 

When it comes to overall theme, Kings Dominion takes the cake for keeping attraction ideas, decorations and scare actors original and on theme. 

If you’re looking for a family trip, I would recommend Kings Dominion on select dates as they have Trick or Treat for the children. 

As for teens, I recommend Kings Dominion for the haunts and wait time lines. 

If you want to get authentic food, European themed lands, and a land for just kids, I recommend Busch Gardens. 

This year, the loudest cries and biggest screams go to Kings Dominion as the scariest amusement park. While Kinds Dominion has taken the crown this year, I’m excited to see what the parks have to offer next year, and if Kings Dominion will reign supreme for another year. Next spooky season, take these suggestions into consideration when planning your Halloween extravaganza.