Best Pumpkin Patches in New Jersey for Families
This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and head to a New Jersey pumpkin patch, where you're sure to experience other fall fun, including barnyard animals, corn mazes, and plenty of juicy apples that are ripe for the picking.
Find more Halloween activities in our New Jersey Halloween Guide and check out our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide for the best things to do with kids this autumn.
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Pumpkin Patches in North Jersey
1. Abma's Farm – Wyckoff, Hillsborough
This family-owned farm celebrates fall with hayrides and pumpkin picking starting September 28, 2024, on Thursday-Saturdays (closed Sundays, but open on some weekday holidays). Before leaving, savor some apple cider and doughnuts from the farm market. Advanced ticket purchases are required for a hayride, pumpkin picking, and the petting zoo. Kids ages 2 and under are FREE.
2. Alstede Farms – Chester
This NJ farm has lots to offer, including tons of activities for kids. You'll find a bounce house, wagon ride, corn maze, hay pyramid, and farm animals to feed—plus a farm stand and plenty of pick-your-own options, pumpkins included. Be sure to check the farm's calendar to see what events are happening that day and what produce can be picked. Reservations are recommended. It gets jam-packed on the weekends, so come on a weekday if you can.
3. Conklin Farm U-Pick – Montville
Conklin is a smaller venue, but it has all you could ask for in a chill setting: A pumpkin patch for picking, a toddler corn maze, and hayrides (regular and haunted hayrides—weekends only). A snack shack with hot cider, candy apples, and warm, homemade doughnuts keeps everyone full and happy. Visit them on the weekends and see if you can win a 100-pound pumpkin! The pumpkin patch opens on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
RELATED: Amazing Corn Mazes at Family-Friendly NJ Farms
Demarest Farms has pumpkins of every shape and size ready for you to seize. Photo courtesy of the farm
4. Demarest Farms – Hillsdale
This Bergen County farm is a fun place to take the family. Pumpkin picking season opens on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Reservations are required and include access to the pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a playground, and hay rides. Consider a late-day reservation and stick around for the Halloween Light Show.
5. Farms View Farm – Wayne
The perfect "starter" pumpkin patch for little ones, Farms View is an adorable road stand with a short hayride to pick pumpkins. Admission also includes a pumpkin and an apple. You'll also find animals in the barnyard and character cut-out photo-ops. The season runs from late September through the end of October.
6. Heaven Hill Farm – Vernon
Heaven Hill Farm offers pumpkin picking and tons more agritainment. Weekends are filled with fun courtesy of its Great Pumpkin Festival, with food concessions, pig races, carnival rides, paintball ranges, apple cannons, sand art, and more. During the week, you can enjoy farm animals, corn mazes (there's a mad scientist theme this year), and so much more. Book tickets online in advance.
7. Ort Farms – Long Valley
This sixth-generation family-run farm is quieter and less commercial than other destinations, yet it still offers tons of family fun, including pumpkin picking, hayrides, farm animals, an apple cannon, pony rides, a tractor play-set, and even monster truck rides. Purchase tickets for its Fall Festival online before visiting.
8. Riamede Farm – Chester
For some real pumpkin picking—the kind where you cut the pumpkin right off the vine yourself—go to Riamede Farm. This quiet, simple, laid-back apple farm includes a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Don't forget to bring your clippers! If you prefer not to cut them yourself, Riamede offers a pumpkin meadow with pre-cut pumpkins in all sizes, as well as a selection of pre-cut pumpkins at its store. Purchase your farm pass in advance online to guarantee admission.
9. Stony Hill Farms – Chester
Giant pumpkins are waiting to be picked at the Stony Hill Farms pumpkin patch or farm market. The Maze Fun Park is open daily in September and October with fence mazes, rope mazes, and a 10-acre corn maze. There are hay rides on the weekends and a "flashlight maze" on most Saturday nights in October.
10. Sussex County Strawberry Farm – Newton
The name of this farm can be misleading; Sussex County Strawberry Farm has pumpkins, too! Enjoy a pumpkin patch, weekend hayrides, fresh cider, and apples. Bonus: Pick-your-own raspberries are available in September and October.
11. Wightman Farm – Morristown
This is my family's go-to pick-your-own New Jersey farm. Wightman kicks off pumpkin picking in early September on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visitors to the farm must purchase fall festival tickets, which include hayrides, choosing one pumpkin, a variety of mazes, tunnels, and labyrinths, and entry to the apple orchard; pay for what you pick separately.
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Climb on the wooden train at Happy Day Farm's "Kids Korner." Photo courtesy of the farm
Pumpkin Patches in Central New Jersey
12. Happy Day Farm – Manalapan
You won't be bored at this Monmouth County farm. It's loaded with family activities, including pumpkin picking, pony rides, hayrides, a wooden train, pig races, swings, and an animal-feeding zoo. Weekends include animal feedings, cornhole, pedal carts, tractor rides, and tug-o-war fun. The fall harvest season runs through Sunday, November 3, 2024. Some activities are weekend-only, though pumpkin picking is available on weekdays in October. Purchase tickets online in advance. On-site farm purchases are cash-only.
13. Melicks Town Farm – Califon
This fun farm is a family favorite. Enjoy a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch to select your pumpkins straight from the vine. After pumpkin picking, be sure to check out apple picking and visit the cider mill to watch those apples get pressed into delicious cider.
14. Norz Hill Farm – Hillsborough
Pumpkin picking, hayrides, and farm animals are all part of the fall fun at Norz Hill Farm. Don't forget to try the 5-acre corn maze, which boasts a new design each season. At night, there's a scare farm for older children.
15. Johnson's Corner Farm – Medford
Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch daily through Halloween at Johnson's Corner Farm. Find plenty of weekend-only fall fun here, too, including a corn maze, live music, gem mining, and more. Stop at the market for cider doughnuts, pies, and more fall treats. Purchase tickets online in advance.
16. Oasis Family Farm – Robbinsville
Pick pumpkins, sample local honey, and enjoy FREE wagon rides, games, and more at this pumpkin-picking farm. There's a children's Fun Zone with a hay pyramid, farm animals, a not-so-spooky kids' trail, and wagon rides that are included with the admission price. Pumpkin picking runs on weekends from the end of September through October. General admission to the farm is $15 per child and $8 per adult.
17. Terhune Orchards – Princeton
Terhune is such a fun place to bring the family because of the breadth of kid-friendly things to do around the farm. The pumpkin-picking fields are located at the main farm on Cold Soil Road and open in September and October. Fall Family Weekends include fun happenings like pony rides, pedal tractors, a hay bale maze, and more. Timed-entry tickets must be purchased in advance. While you're there, be sure to visit the farm store and winery.
RELATED: Fun-Filled Fall Day Trips for New Jersey Families
Pair your pumpkin picking with a hayride at Duffield's Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
Pumpkin Patches in South Jersey
18. Duffield's Farm – Sewell
This South Jersey pumpkin picking farm offers fresh gourds for the taking through Halloween. Pair your visit to the patch with a hayride and freshly picked apples. Note that the farm is closed on Sundays.
19. Johnson's Locust Hall Farm – Jobstown
Head to Johnson's Locust Hall Farm for its Fall Harvest Park & Pick Weekends. Reservations are required and grant access to pumpkin picking, apple picking, the sunflower field, and a corn maze. Hayrides, live music, and food trucks are also available.
20. Hill Creek Farms – Mullica Hill
Visit the farm through November 3, 2024, for pumpkin picking, apple picking, sunflower picking, and more seasonal fall fun. Tickets can be purchased online in advance.
This post was originally published in September 2012 and has since been updated.
Places featured in this article:
Ort Farms
Stony Hill Farms
Norz Hill Farm
Happy Day Farm
Wightman's Farms
Oasis Family Farm
Springdale Farms