In case you missed it, it’s fall, y’all. So bring on the sweater dresses and the PSLs and get ready to head out to a pumpkin patch to pick your own gourd, jump on a hayride, nosh on a few apples, and maybe even get lost in a corn maze. But before you hop in a car or on the train to one of these autumnal spots in New York or New Jersey, there are a few things to consider—like what kind of atmosphere you’re looking for (serene and rural vs. amusement park status), or whether you want booze to be available (there are cideries for that). Fortunately, our list of the best pumpkin patches near NYC has a destination to float almost anyone’s boat.
The 16 Best Pumpkin Patches Near NYC
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Published Oct 5, 2022
1. F & W Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville, NY
- Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 15 minutes (35 miles) from Midtown Manhattan by car.
The annual fall festival at F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm begins on September 17 and goes until October 30. During this time, you can pay the farm a visit any day of the week and pick your own pumpkin for a $15 admission fee plus the cost of your loot. For the price, on weekends, you’ll get plenty of entertainment, including hayrides, corn mazes, pony rides, a petting zoo, mini golf and playground access to boot. There’s also a haunted house and haunted corn trail open throughout the fall festival during weekends for some extra spooky fun. Plus, free parking! (Note: Some additional activities are only available on weekends, so if you’re planning a weekday visit, be sure to check the site to see what’s on offer.)
- Distance from NYC: Roughly 1 hour (30 miles) from Midtown Manhattan by car.
A scenic hayride is required if you want to get to the pumpkin patch at Secor Farms, but chances are no one will complain—candy apples and beautiful views make for one sweet ride. Aside from the hayride, there’s also a petting zoo and corn maze, as well as a restaurant should you start to feel peckish after picking your perfect pumpkin. Running from 3 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends from mid-September through the end of October, the idyllic ride is sure to be a hit for the whole family. Guests can also schedule a group hayride for parties of 20 or more from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday—did someone say team bonding?
3. Alstede Farms in Chester, NJ
- Distance from NYC: Alstede Farms is 53 miles from Midtown and no more than 1 hour and 30 minutes by car; you can also take NJ Transit to the Gladstone station and hop on the free Alstede Farms courtesy coach that will take you straight to the pumpkin patch.
This New Jersey gem—a 600 acre swath of farmland—is open year round, so you can ‘pick your own’ in any season, provided you reserve a spot before you go. That said, pumpkin picking typically isn’t available until mid-September, but when the patch does open to the public, you’re sure to get a good gourd and much more from your visit to Alstede. The farm has both a corn and evergreen maze, a sunflower trail (if they’re still in bloom when you visit), farm animals for kids to feed, a cider mill and a winery that offers tastings to grown-ups who want to wind down with a little vino after all the fun. The owners recommend purchasing tickets online prior to arrival to ensure you get in (this is also where you can take advantage of a slight discount).
4. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard in North Salem, NY
- Distance from NYC: Roughly 50 miles from Midtown Manhattan and 1 hour and 45 minutes by car. You can also catch the Metro-North from Grand Central to Croton Falls and call a cab at the station for a six-minute ride to the farm, and a total travel time of 1 hour and 45 minutes max.
If you pay a visit to family-owned Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, you’ll be treated to live music, hard cider, a well-stocked farm store and a restaurant that features delicious brunch and breakfast dishes made with farm fresh eggs and the finest seasonal ingredients, as well as a new BBQ lunch with their very own farm fresh beef burgers. There’s a pumpkin patch and hayrides too, of course. Check out the scene from mid-September to late October and you won't be disappointed. Just make sure to get your $15 timed tickets online in advance for weekend trips or visit the patch for free during the week!
5. Outhouse Orchards in North Salem, NY
- Distance from NYC: 1 hour and 45 minutes (51 miles) by car or an 80-minute train ride on the Metro-North from Grand Central, plus a quick cab ride from Croton Falls station to the farm.
Good news for anyone who isn’t keen on traveling with tools: The pumpkins on this patch have already been plucked from the vine for easy picking. Better still, the atmosphere at Outhouse Orchards is downright festive, as the pumpkin patch typically boasts all manner of seasonal decorations. The farm stand is decked out in a similar fashion, but we think the array of fresh produce will make an even bigger impression than the decor. Hayrides, apple picking and a corn maze are also available for extra kicks—and definitely snag some tasty baked goods at the barn on your way out. (Mmm...apple cider donuts.)
Courtesy of Fishkill Farms
6. Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction, NY
- Distance from NYC: 65 miles and 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan.
This one might ring a bell to New York City residents—namely because the top notch goods from Fishkill Farms have quite a presence at farmer’s markets and high-end grocery stores alike. Indeed, the folks at this Hudson Valley farm know what they’re doing, and you’ll have a great experience as a result. The pumpkin picking season—which enjoys considerable apple picking overlap and spans from mid-September through October—includes a few other attractions, like live music and hayrides. However, the focus at Fishkill Farms is really on the food, so you can mostly just expect gorgeous farmland and the chance to finish off your visit with a flight of hard cider and a premium cheeseboard.
7. Elwood Farm in Huntington, NY
- Distance from NYC: 1 hour from Midtown Manhattan by car. FYI, you can take public transit here, too, but it will add at least 3 hours to the trek.
This popular Long Island pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the other destinations on our list. In fact, it’s a little more low-key. That said, the landscape is beautiful, wagon and hayrides are par for the course, and there’s a kid-friendly corn maze, too. As for the pumpkins—they’re all out in the Elwood fields and still attached to the vine, so you can enjoy a proper pick-your-own experience. Again, the season typically begins around mid-September—but because this isn’t a full-blown farm with other produce on offer, you’ll definitely want to make sure pumpkins are there for the picking before you swing by. This year, the drought has limited pick-your-own to the front field, so come ASAP while the gourds are still there.
8. Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson, NY
- Distance from NYC: 2 hours and 20 minutes by car or 1 hour and 35 minutes by bus from Port Authority to New Paltz, followed by a 25-minute (13 mile) cab ride.
Come for the pumpkins, stay hours for the giant bouncy pillow and breathtaking views of the Kerhonkson countryside. Seriously, a visit to Kelder’s Farm is a whole day affair since the place is a veritable amusement park. If you have kids, it will be hard to tear them away from the aforementioned trampoline—but if you succeed, there’s plenty more to see. For starters, there’s a fun playground, a mini golf-course and a few other outdoor games just a stone’s throw from the bouncy business. The whole fam will also have a blast shooting apples out of the apple cannon—an activity that you’ll encounter en route to the sprawling pumpkin patch. (Note: There’s also a corn maze, in the event that anyone has energy left for it.)
Matthew Carasella Photography
9. Decker Farm in Staten Island, NY
- Distance from NYC: 50 minutes from Midtown Manhattan by car; 1 hour 20 minutes by bus.
Decker Farm, situated in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, is open exclusively for pumpkin picking on weekends throughout the month of October as well as Monday, October 10. At NYC’s oldest working farm, the environs are charming and picturesque, the pumpkins are plump and there are myriad attractions to keep the whole family entertained—including hayrides, arts and crafts and tasty fall food and treats. All in all, this is an easy trip to make from the city, and a pretty rewarding one at that—especially if you have young kids!
10. Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, NJ
- Distance from NYC: 1 hour from Midtown Manhattan by car.
Demarest Farms is home to one of the most popular pumpkin patches in New Jersey, and this year some beloved attractions are opening back up. Throughout the month of October, you can take a private hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick your own, check out the 10,000-square-foot farmers market and the petting zoo, taste some apple cider donuts, and more. For evening visitors, there’s a Halloween light show occupying 32 acres of farmland that you can tour in your vehicle. In other words, there’s something for everyone!
Courtesy of Queens County Farm
11. Queens County Farm in Floral Park, NY
- Distance from NYC: About 17 miles from Midtown Manhattan; visitors can drive about 45 minutes or take the Q46, Q36 or QM6 buses.
Bring your own bag for daily admission-free pumpkin picking October 1 through 29 at this family favorite. Located in Queens (obviously), this historic 47-acre farm is great for sight-seeing, as it’s the city’s largest remaining undisturbed tract of farmland that still functions as a farm today. Pick some pumpkins, check out the Amazing Maize Maze—or the Maze by Moonlight for the more adventurous visitors—take a hayride, feed the livestock, tour the centuries-old farmhouse, or visit the farmstand for fresh produce. And here’s the most magical part: Queens County Farm is a certified monarch waystation, which means you might be able to catch a glimpse of one of the thousands of monarch butterflies migrating this autumn!
Courtesy of Hank’s Pumpkintown
12. Hank’s Pumpkintown in Water Mill, NY
- Distance from NYC: About 80 miles, or a 90-minute drive.
Hank’s Pumpkintown might be the most action-packed patch on our list. Here, you can pick pumpkins and apples, plus check out three interactive corn mazes and hop on a corn train or wagon ride. And let’s not forget about the wood play structures, candy cannon, apple blasters, gem mining, hay bale hoist, pedal carts, corn diggers, animated tractors, and more! If that’s not enough, Hank’s also makes their own apple cider and pumpkin spice donuts, in addition to other festive treats—like roasted corn and apple cider slushies—plus Hank’s Hard Cider for adults. What’s not to love? Pumpkin-picking is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Courtesy of Stuart’s Fruit Farm
13. Stuart’s Fruit Farm in Granite Springs, NY
- Distance from NYC: 49 miles north of NYC, or an hour’s drive.
While we could go on (and on) about the pumpkins and apples ripe for picking at this long-running, family-owned farm, we think we should focus on the real star of the show: the bakery! Enjoy fresh fall delights, like apple cider donuts, apple pies and plenty of other pumpkin-spiced baked goods every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or go pumpkin-picking daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’re making the trek on a Saturday or Sunday, you might be able to catch one of the weekend hayrides. Trust us, you’ll love it—they’ve been making the most of autumn for locals since 1828, after all.
Courtesy of Happy Day Farm
14. Happy Day Farm in Manalapan, NJ
- Distance from NYC: About 50 miles from Midtown Manhattan, or an hour drive.
It’s all in the name, isn’t it? We have to say, Happy Day Farm is by far one of the most Instagrammable spots on the list. With several stacked pumpkin houses, vintage cars and trucks, flowers for picking, and plenty of entertainment, like pig racing, a 10-acre corn maze, tractor rides, a three-lane fun slide, a feeding zoo, giant Jenga and checkers, and so much more, you don’t want to miss their Fall Festival happening on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (plus Columbus Day) from September 10 through October 30. Visitors can also come by during weekdays for a more intimate view of the farm, though there are less fall attractions. Just be sure to bring a few dollars, as it’s cash-only!
Courtesy of Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm
15. Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm in Aquebogue, NY
- Distance from NYC: 80 miles from Midtown Manhattan, about a 1.5-hour drive.
A little fun fact about Stakey’s: It started in 1976 with just over an acre and has grown into a spacious 26-acre field with 18 varieties of pumpkins on the vine. Located just west of the Hamptons, this family farm is the perfect excuse to take a scenic drive (or train ride) out to the East End of Long Island this fall. With hayrides, corn mazes, face, hand and arm painting, plus a bounty of flowers in their flower house, it’s an autumn wonderland. And then, there’s the pumpkins—pick your own is open daily from September 17 to October 30, though if it looks like it’s going to rain, they may close for the day so be sure to call ahead.
16. Green Meadows Farm in Brooklyn, NY
- Distance from NYC: About 20 miles from Midtown Manhattan, or a 45-minute drive, or an hour via the 2 train and the Q35 bus.
That’s right, there’s a picture-perfect pumpkin patch waiting for you in Brooklyn! Ideal for kids and families, Barren Island’s Green Meadows Farm’s admission is $14 for kids ages 2 and up, which includes a pumpkin. Visitors can check out the Happy Hayride, the Bumpy Roller Slide, a whole bunch of tractors great for sitting and adorable photo ops, as well as all the alpacas, llamas, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, and ponies in the petting zoo. The farm is open for pumpkin-picking on October 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16. Additionally, the farm is hosting a candy hunt (costumes encouraged!) on October 22, 23, 29 and 30, plus a pumpkin smash and pony ride on November 5, 6, 12 and 13. If possible, make sure to print out your ticket before you come.
