Every September, as the mornings cool and the scent of cinnamon lingers in coffee shops, I find myself searching for the best pumpkin patches near me. Visiting a farm to pick out that perfect orange gourd is a tradition that’s both timeless and surprisingly modern.
While pumpkins have been cultivated for thousands of years, Native peoples were growing them long before European settlers arrived, the pumpkin patch as we know it today only really began in the 1970s and ’80s.
Now, pumpkin patches are at the heart of fall agritovurism. According to the USDA, agritourism generated more than $4.5 billion in 2022—a 33% jump in just five years. A big part of that comes from pumpkin patch activities: hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos, and of course, picking pumpkins. Whether you’re snapping photos among towering sunflowers or letting your kids get lost in a corn maze, these farms offer more than just pumpkins—they offer memories.
Having traveled through New England and down into New York and New Jersey, I’ve had the chance to visit some of the best pumpkin patches and family-run farms in the Northeast region (and most of them have a u-pick pumpkin field as well)!
Each has its own personality, history, and seasonal magic.
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New England
Just like New England has some of the best fall foliage in the USA, New England is rich with some of the best pumpkin patches in the country. (Honestly, if you live for everything fall, you should probably just pack up and move to New England at this point!)
7-Generation Adams Farm in Cumberland, Rhode Island
In the small town of Cumberland, Adams Farm surprised me with its scale. As the largest pumpkin patch in Rhode Island, it is truly astounding. The farm, over a century old, is more than just pumpkins, there are lots of other pumpkin patch activities to enjoy with the fam: hay towers for climbing, winding mazes, and friendly farm animals to feed.
And while your kids are getting lost in a hay bail, you'll be happy to hear they have their own brewery on-site. Perfect for you and the hubby to sip a local beer while kids burn energy in the corn maze (the largest in the state).
A fall time wonderland, there is something for both you and the kids to enjoy!
Isham Family Farm in Williston, Vermont
Just outside Burlington this is one of my absolute favorite pumpkin patches in Vermont. Isham Family Farm spreads across 108 acres, and it feels like the heart of Chittenden County. Known for weddings and live performances in their barn theater, the farm also offers classic pumpkin patch activities: pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and even a sugar house where you can learn how maple syrup is made. I loved that blend of Vermont traditions—pumpkins in the field and syrup in the bottle.
And while you are in Vermont, check out these fall hiking trails for families.
The Best Corn Maze at Jones Family Farm in Shelton, Connecticut
Founded in 1858, Jones Family Farm is a seventh-generation farm that ties history into its fall experience. Their Pumpkinseed Hill section is where the magic happens. Rows of pumpkins, fields of sunflowers, and a 20-minute hayride that passes by their Christmas tree farm.
You can also learn more about Indigenous history with the “Tale of Three Sisters.”
Treworgy Family Orchards: Voted The Best Pumpkin Patch in Maine
Treworgy Farms Orchards has bragging rights: it’s been voted the best pumpkin patch in America three years in a row. They even have apple picking available, and if you have read my apple picking in Quebec story, you'll know how much I love myself an apple orchard!
Walking through the fields, you’ll find miles of pumpkins and squash, plus award-winning corn mazes that had my kids giggling and occasionally frustrated (the best kind of maze).
Pumpkin Valley Farm in Dayton, Maine (near Portland)
A quick trip from Portland, Pumpkin Valley Farm felt like a hidden gem. It’s budget-friendly, with a five-acre corn maze, a cow train for kids, and playful spaces like the corn pit and jumping pillow. For me, it was one of those farms where the kids didn’t want to leave, which is always the sign of a successful fall outing.
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Fall Carnival at Stowe Farm in Millbury, Massachusetts
At Stowe Farm, you don’t just get pumpkins. Oh no, you get an entire fall carnival! After wandering through apple orchards and pumpkin patches, we hopped on a train ride along the Blackstone River Valley, soaking in fall colors. Stowe also offers horseback riding lessons, pony rides for kids, and even a mechanical bull for the adventurous. It felt like a mash-up of harvest traditions and fairground fun.
New York and New Jersey
New England may have charm, but New York and New Jersey take scale and creativity to a whole new level.
Heaven Hill Farm – Vernon, New Jersey
Home to the Great Pumpkin Festival, Heaven Hill Farm is Northern New Jersey’s largest fall celebration. Beyond pumpkin picking, the farm dazzles with stunt dog shows, a giant corn maze, and quirky activities like the spider web crawl.
It’s a place where kids never run out of things to do, and parents can actually sit back and enjoy the festive chaos.
Demarest Farms – Hillsdale, New Jersey
Founded in 1886, Demarest Farms is a legend. Known for its dazzling 32-acre Halloween light show, crooked house village, and spooky hayrides, it manages to feel both historic and thoroughly modern. When we went, we booked an online field reservation for pumpkin picking, which made the whole experience seamless and crowd-free.
Happy Day Farm's "Pumpkinville" in Manalapan, New Jersey
Ten acres, three miles of pathways, and themed corn mazes that change every year—that’s the Happy Day Farm experience. Alongside pumpkin picking, you’ll find whimsical pumpkin houses in Pumpkinville and quirky games like pumpkin bowling. It’s the kind of place that makes you laugh at the sheer creativity behind “pumpkin patch activities.”
Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck, New York
If you’ve ever wanted to pick your pumpkin straight off the vine, Harbes Family Farm is the place. Their eight-acre patch is full of plump pumpkins, while a Wizard of Oz-themed corn maze and a gnome maze entertain the kids. Plus, their petting zoo adds that extra dose of charm. If the perfect pumpkin isn’t there, staff happily direct you to one of their other two farms.
Decker Farm in Staten Island, New York
Walking into Decker Farm feels like stepping back in time. Established in 1810, it’s New York City’s oldest continuously working family farm, doubling as a living museum. After picking pumpkins and wandering through its historic grounds, I couldn’t resist trying “pumpkin chucking”—a cathartic and oddly hilarious tradition.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson, New York
While you can’t pick pumpkins here, the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is an experience every fall-lover should see at least once. Imagine more than 7,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack-o’-lanterns set to music, with life-sized pumpkin dinosaurs and a glowing riverside atmosphere.
Parents grab a drink at the Headless Horseman’s Hideaway while kids stare, mouths open, at the spectacle. It’s theatrical, almost surreal, and unlike any other pumpkin patch experience.
Why Pumpkin Patches Matter
Pumpkin patches and apple cider is just one of many reasons to appreciate the fall season. If you’re searching for the best pumpkin patches near me this season, New England, New York, and New Jersey offer an abundance of choices. Each one blends history, community, and creativity in its own way—and no two patches are quite alike.
