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Keep in mind that 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 where 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.

Hudson Valley Pumpkin Patches

1. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard – North Salem

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. Pumpkin picking is available throughout the annual fall festival, which takes place during September and October weekends. An admission ticket includes entry to the pumpkin patch, which opens in mid-September, as well as live music, hay rides, and plenty of photo-ops. Free parking is available, but this farm is also reachable from the Metro-North Croton Falls Station.

2. Outhouse Orchards – North Salem

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, bounce houses, and a corn maze. For an additional fee, families can also pick their own apples, peaches, and flowers, and browse food vendors and fresh goods, which include apple cider doughnuts, gourds, mums, and more. Tickets are available on-site, but admission is cheaper if you purchase your entry online. No car? No problem! Take Metro-North to the Croton Falls Station and catch a cab to the farm.

3. Stuart's Fruit Farm – Granite Springs

About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
This family-run farm also offers no-frills apple picking daily. Pre-picked pumpkins are available in the farm store, along with various fall decor veggies like gourds, Indian corn, and corn stalks. The on-site bakery has a selection of freshly baked pies, apple cider doughnuts, and other delicious goodies. 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. There's no fee to park or enter the orchard, but do note that the farm only accepts cash or checks.

4. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm – Yorktown Heights

About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan; also accessible via Metro-North
Wilkens' pumpkin patch opens for picking Saturday, September 27, and apple picking is available through late October. The grounds are hilly, so be prepared for a hike. No reservations are needed, and there are no parking or admission fees. Make sure to check the harvest calendar on the website for updates. You can take Metro-North to the Croton-Harmon Station and then a 20-minute taxi ride to the farm. Be warned: The farm is closed on Tuesdays, and this location reportedly gets very crowded.

Find more pumpkin patches in Westchester and Hudson Valley.

Pumpkin Patches on Long Island

5. Elwood Pumpkin Farm – Huntington

About 50 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
The pumpkin patch at Elwood Farm opens on Sunday, September 21. Admission is $10 per person for everyone over age 4, and pumpkins are priced based on size. Kids can pick pumpkins off the vine right where they grow, take a wagon ride around the 20-acre Christmas tree farm (for an additional fee), and navigate a modest, child-friendly corn maze. Please note it's cash-only.

6. Lewin Farm – Calverton

About 1 1/2 hours by car from Midtown Manhattan
Pumpkin picking at Lewin Farm begins in September and continues through late October. Note that the pumpkin patch is two miles east of the farm stand. Along with pumpkins, you can also pick tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and apples at two orchards. There's also a farm stand with seasonal goods. Be sure to call in the morning to confirm availability. The farm's corn maze is open on weekends and holidays.

7. Albert H. Schmitt Family Farm – Dix Hills

About 1 1/2 hours by car from Midtown Manhattan.
Pick the perfect pumpkin from the field on this farm, which is decked out in charming autumnal decor. Hay rides, apple cider doughnuts, roasted corn, and all the other fall staples are available here, along with a farmstand loaded with mums, ornamental kale and cabbage, and freshly baked pies. Kids enjoy the animal train ride (seven days a week) and the duck races. Parking in its newly expanded parking lot is entirely free, as is admission to the farm, but there's a small admission fee for the pumpkin patch.

Find more pumpkin patches on Long Island.

Alstede Farms provides pumpkins, plus plenty of agri-tainment. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

Family-Friendly New Jersey Farms with Pumpkin Patches

8. Alstede Farms – Chester

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. Pumpkin harvest usually begins in mid-September. Check out the harvest schedule on its website for up-to-date picking information. Visitors can 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 24 hours in advance, and they're only available on weekends and holidays by appointment. Don't miss out on the homemade ice cream!

9. Secor Farms – Mahwah

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 offered from mid-September through early November and require separate tickets and reservations. Other attractions include a corn maze and a hay maze for younger children, as well as several cute photo-ops.

10. Riamede Farm – Chester

About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
Come early in the season, bring your shears, and snip a pumpkin right off the vine at this pumpkin patch near NYC. Several different varieties are available, including large ones perfect for carving, smaller decorative picks, and cheese and sugar pumpkins for cooking. There's a pumpkin meadow for visitors who prefer not to have to cut their own pumpkins. Entry includes access to all the pick-your-own fields (though picked produce is priced separately), the children's corn maze, and live weekend music. Check out the pumpkin house and apple slingshot, which are brand new this year.

11. Conklin Farm U-Pick – Montville

About 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
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 (but no apple picking), weekend hayrides, and warm, homemade apple cider doughnuts. The farm opens for the season on Saturday, September 20, and you can follow its Facebook page for updates on activities. Visit on the weekend to try your luck at winning a 100-pound pumpkin. Families with thrill-seeking older kids (over 10 years old) can take a ride on its weekend-only haunted hayrides for an additional fee.

12. Demarest Farms – Hillsdale

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 includes parking, a hayride, access to the adventure playground, and time with the farm animals. Reservations are required. Demarest Farms' Halloween Light Show is back for another season, playing nightly from Saturday, September 27, 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 pumpkin patches near NYC 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. Don't wait too long, though, or you risk coming home without a jack-o-lantern.

Originally published in 2017.