We can’t fight the arrival of the Halloween season anymore, and what’s the holiday without a perfect pumpkin plucked from the vine at one of these pumpkin patches near NYC? Sure, you can grab a pumpkin from the local farmers market, grocery store, or one of the pumpkin patches in New York City, but for a more immersive experience, head to the country to one of these family-friendly farms with pumpkin patches near NYC. In addition to pumpkin picking, many of these farms and orchards offer additional activities for kids, including hayrides, corn mazes, and apple picking, too.
These 12 pumpkin patches near NYC are all about an hour from Midtown Manhattan by car. We even found a few reachable via public transportation. You can find even more options in our Guide to Farms near NYC and find plenty of New York City Halloween activities in our New York City Halloween Guide.
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Keep in mind, many of these farms set out pumpkins in a field for kids to “pick,” so the fruit has already been cut from the vine. We’ve noted that this is not the case, for purists looking for a more authentic (and labor-intensive) experience.
An important recommendation: Call ahead to confirm hours, pricing, availability, and attractions before heading out.
Pumpkin Patches near NYC in the Hudson Valley
1. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard – North Salem
914-485-1210
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan; also accessible via Metro-North
Located directly across the street from Outhouse Orchards (below), this family-run farm offers a variety of pumpkins and gourds. This farm is also near the Metro-North Croton Falls Station. Weekend visits require reservations and can be booked online up to 10 days in advance.
RELATED: How To See the Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze in 2022
Pumpkin picking at Outhouse Orchards has become a lasting family tradition for countless families. Photo courtesy of the orchard
2. Outhouse Orchards – North Salem
914-277-3188
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan; also accessible via Metro-North
This apple-picking favorite has added a pumpkin patch to its attractions, which also include hayrides and a corn maze. The pumpkin patch is already open this year, so head on up. There is a weekend parking fee of $23, but weekday parking is FREE. No car? No problem! Take Metro-North to the Croton Falls Station and catch a cab to the farm. Weekend visits require reservations, which can be booked online in advance.
3. Stuart’s Fruit Farm – Granite Springs
914-245-2784
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
Pre-picked pumpkins are available in the farm store, along with gourds, Indian corn, corn stalks, and more fall decor. This family-run farm also offers no-frills apple picking daily. Don’t worry if your little ones don’t have the energy to trek around: The place is stroller-friendly, and there are hayrides on weekends.
RELATED: Harvest Festivals, Pumpkin Patches, and Hayrides in NYC
Enjoy a free hayride to pick your pumpkin at Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
4. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm – Yorktown Heights
914-245-5111
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan; also accessible via Metro-North
Wilkens’ pumpkin patch opens for picking Friday, October 1 this year, and apple picking is available through late October. The grounds are hilly, so be prepared for a hike. No car? Take Metro-North to the Croton-Harmon Station and then a 20-minute taxi ride to the farm. Be warned: This location reportedly gets very crowded. Please note that the farm is closed on Tuesdays. Make sure to check the Harvest Calendar on the website for updates.
Find more pumpkin patches near Westchester and Hudson Valley.
Pumpkin Patches near NYC on Long Island
5. Elwood Pumpkin Farm – Huntington
631-368-8626
About 50 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Kids can pick pumpkins off the vine right where they grow, take a hayride, and navigate a modest corn maze. Bonus: There’s no admission fee. You pay based on the size of your pumpkin. Please note that it’s cash-only.
6. F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm – Melville
631-271-3276
About 50 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
This Long Island pumpkin patch near NYC is super popular thanks to its giant corn maze, pumpkin patch playground, small animals to pet, and hayrides (no apple-picking, though). There’s a scary haunted house for adults and a milder version for older kids. Visit the website for a complete schedule. F&W Schmitt’s Farm charges an admission fee of $15 per person. This includes a hayride, playground, mini golf, and photo-ops. All other activities are available for an additional price.
7. Lewin Farm – Calverton
631-929-4327
About 90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Pick pumpkins right from the vine at this quiet spot, where there is also plenty of other seasonal produce to choose from. Pumpkin picking begins in late September at Lewin Farm. Be sure to call in the morning to confirm the opening.
Find more pick-your-own pumpkin patches on Long Island.
RELATED: NYC’s Only Corn Maze and More Fall Fun at the Queens County Farm Museum
Alstede Farm is an awesome pick-your-own-farm destination. Photo courtesy of the farm
Family-Friendly New Jersey Farms with Pumpkin Patches
8. Alstede Farms – Chester
908-258-6245
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan; also accessible via New Jersey Transit
In addition to pumpkin and apple picking, this farm offers a ton of activities, including a 10-acre corn maze and barnyard animals. Plus, you don’t need a car to get there. Take New Jersey Transit to the Gladstone Station and call Village Taxi or hop on the Alstede Farms Courtesy Coach for a lift to the farm; reservations are required at least 2 hours in advance. There are various admission packages available. Pumpkin harvest usually begins in mid-September. Check out the harvest schedule on its website for up-to-date picking information. Book your pick-your-own admission in advance.
9. Secor Farms – Mahwah
201-529-2595
About 40 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
While this picturesque farm specializes in flowers and plants, it also grows a bumper crop of pumpkins accessible via a hayride. Hayrides are being offered this year from mid-September through the end of October. Other attractions include a corn maze and a hay maze for younger children.
10. Riamede Farm – Chester
908-879-5353
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
Bring your shears and snip a pumpkin right off the vine at this pumpkin patch near NYC during the early part of the season. As fall progresses, you can select from its pre-cut pumpkins. The farm offers a complimentary hayride to the pumpkin patch on weekends in October. You can also pick your own apples in several varieties, including heirlooms. Farm passes are required for admission to Riamede and can be purchased online in advance.
11. Conklin Farm U-Pick – Montville
973-400-9460
About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
Follow its Facebook page for updates on activities.
Conklin is smaller and calmer than many of the other pumpkin patches near NYC, while still offering everything you need for a great fall day out: pumpkin picking, weekend hayrides, and warm homemade apple cider donuts! If you visit on the weekend, you can try your luck at winning a 100-pound pumpkin. The farm opens for the season Saturday, September 24.
RELATED: 20+ Fall Weekend Family Getaways near NYC
Demarest Farms is the closest pumpkin picking patch to NYC. Photo courtesy of the farm
12. Demarest Farms – Hillsdale
201-666-0472
About 35 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Just across the Hudson River, this popular apple-picking spot in northern New Jersey also offers pick-your-own pumpkins. Admission is $7 and includes parking, a hayride, access to the adventure playground, and time with the farm animals. Reservations are required. Demarest Farms has launched its Halloween Light Show this year, which plays nightly through Halloween.
Find more pumpkin patches in New Jersey for kids.
Know Before You Go to these Pumpkin Patches near NYC
- We’ve said this before, but it’s important, so we will repeat ourselves: Make sure you call ahead to confirm hours, pumpkin availability, and attractions. Many orchards are small, family-run establishments that can close unexpectedly. A Mommy Poppins staffer once made a trip to a farm only to find the entire place shut down for a family funeral.
- Approximate driving times do not include traffic. And sadly, you’re probably going to run into some.
- Leave your pets at home. Most farms don’t allow them.
- If you’re thinking of packing a picnic, call ahead to make sure the farm allows you to bring your own food.
- Bring cash or call to confirm the farm accepts credit or debit cards. Some smaller farms are cash-only.
- The pumpkin-picking season usually starts in mid-to-late September, while some farms hold off until October 1. Don’t wait too long, though, or you risk coming home without a jack-o-lantern.
Originally published in 2017.
