Perhaps no fall pastime is more popular than paying a visit to a local pumpkin patch. Once the ‘ber months hit, we hit up our friends, cross-reference our calendars, and pick a day to trek out to a family-friendly farm to celebrate the season.
Luckily, in Baltimore we’re only a quick, scenic drive away from a number of pumpkin-picking destinations that go all out with harvest treats and activities—from apple cider and spice cakes to hayrides and petting zoos.
Below, browse our master list of area farms to find perfectly plump gourds, whether you want to bake pies, carve spooky jack-o-lanterns, or simply step up your porch decor this season.
Weekends in October: Baugher’s Orchards and Farms
1015 Baugher Rd. Carroll County/Westminster
Hours: Weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 32 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Pick-your-own pumpkins with a hayride to the patch, plus enjoy play zones, scarecrows, a petting zoo, and more. As always, sweets—including Baugher’s famous apple cider donuts—are a must.
Oct. 1-31: Brookfield Pumpkins
8302 Ramsburg Road. Frederick/Thurmont
Hours: Mon.-Thurs.: 3-6 p.m.; Friday- Sunday: 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Wagons to the pumpkin patch run hourly from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 44 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Pick your own pumpkins, gourds, and squash (priced from $1-40, based on size.)
Weekends in October: Buppert’s/Doran’s Chance Farm
6914 Ridge Road, Marriotsville
Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Weekends from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 18 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Hitch a hayride to the “U-Pick Patch,” select your perfect pumpkin, and enjoy unlimited rounds of family corn maze fun.
Sept. 19-Nov. 1: Butler’s Orchard
22222 Davis Mill Road. Germantown.
Hours: Wed.–Fri.: 1 p.m.– 6 p.m. (Last entry 4:30 p.m.)
Sat-Sun and Columbus Day: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Last entry 4:30 p.m.)
How Far From Baltimore City? About 33 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Enjoy pick-your-own pumpkins (priced at 79 cents per pound,) hilltop jump pads, pedal tractors, corn hole games, and straw maze mischief. Also available: pony rides, face paint, giant slides, and pumpkin cannons.
Weekends Sept. 19-Nov. 1: Chapel Hills Farm and Nursery
4356 Chapel Road. Perry Hall.
Hours: Sat: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 12 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Come for the pumpkins. Stay for the pony rides, kettle corn, fresh-baked goods, and frozen treats.
Sept. 18-Nov. 8: Clark’s Elioak Farm
10500 Clarksville Pike. Ellicott City.
Hours: Tues.-Fri.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Weekends: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 15 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Kiddos get a hayride to the pumpkin patch and one cute “kid-sized” pumpkin of their choice. They can also take a pony ride, climb aboard the cow train, and visit furry friends at the beloved petting zoo.
Sept. 4-Nov. 1: Gaver Farm
5501 Detrick Road. Mount Airy
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
How Far From Baltimore City? About 34 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Gaver Farm visitors can pick their own sunflowers, apples, and pumpkins. Also worth mentioning are mini mazes, jumping pillows, pedal karts, animals, and farm fresh grub.
Weekends through October: Knightongale Farm
3924 Solomons Island Road. Anne Arundel County/Harwood.
Hours: Check social media for weekend events and hours throughout the season.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 27 miles.
Harvest Highlights: In addition to pumpkins, be sure to take advantage of a moon bounce, pedal tractors, farm games, cow-milking, and petting zoo fun. And check out the giant spider.
Sept. 19-Oct. 26: Mary’s Land Farm
4979 Sheppard Lane, Ellicott City.
Hours: Mon.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 26 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Look out for animal encounters, hop on a wagon or train ride, and fly down the mega tandem slide. Weekends also feature food truck fare and live music.
Sept. 12-Nov. 8: Montpelier Farms
1720 Crain Highway North. Upper Marlboro.
Hours: Fridays: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (last admission 9 p.m.); Saturdays: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (last admission 9 p.m.); Sundays: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (last admission 6 p.m.)
How Far From Baltimore City? About 30 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Traverse a pick-your-own pumpkin patch (selections five pounds and under priced $3; others 60 cents per pound) or purchase a Fall Festival ticket to enjoy hill slides, pumpkin bowling, barnyard basketball, and more.
Sept. 26-Nov. 1: Summers Farm
7503 Hollow Road. Frederick/Middletown.
Hours: Times vary by day and month. See details, here.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 47 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Catch a wagon to the pick-your-own patch. Plus, get the kiddos riled up with everything from farmer mini golf and tug of war to an obstacle course and giant tunnel slides.
To Oct. 30: Valley View Farms
11035 York Rd. Cockeysville.
Hours: 8 a.m.-7p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 14 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Marvel at the storefront’s Halloween Village display, pick pumpkins of all sizes, and guess how many seeds are in the biggest one. As always, WBAL’s Tom Tasselmyer makes the final count. Winners take home gift card prizes.
Sept. 14-Nov. 8: Weber’s Cider Mill Farm
2526 Proctor Lane. Parkville.
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (10 a.m.-5 p.m. in November). Last entry at 4 p.m.
How Far From Baltimore City? About 9 miles.
Harvest Highlights: Pick pumpkins, sip on cider, and partake in a host of wholesome barnyard fun. (Think: play structures, face painting, mini mazes, gem mining, hillside slides, tire climbing and more.)
Additional reporting by Grace Hebron and Isabella Passalacqua