If you only recently moved to Raleigh, you may not realize it, but Raleigh is (or was) surrounded by farms. With all the growth of the past decade though, our landscapes and industries are slowly changing.
The farms may be fewer in numbers, but there are plenty still less than an hours drive away to visit for loads of Fall fun.
The Raleigh pumpkin picking season typically begins sometime in late September to early October, which is when the farms starting opening for their Autumn festivals and activities. It's one of the most popular things to do in Raleigh in the Fall!
As agribusiness is the number 1 industry in North Carolina bringing in $84 billion each year, this is the perfect time for us to support a vital part of our economy.
One of the classic fall activities in Raleigh, especially for families, is visiting pumpkin patches near Raleigh (and corn mazes). Instead of wasting your time searching pumpkin patches near me, we've done all the research for you! Keep reading to find the perfect pumpkin patch and corn maze for your Fall adventures.
Some of these farms near Raleigh also have incredible Halloween hauntings, which we'll be sharing soon in our guide for Halloween in Raleigh.
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As our girls are now older, we have only experienced a couple of the Fall farms. We will never outgrow buying pumpkins though!
Let's take a look at some of the best farms in Raleigh for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, Fall activities, and produce.
NOTE: I have done my best to include all relevant information. But always do your due diligence in case of any changes in hours, offerings, or cost. Inclement weather could impact each farm. I'll be honest, many of the websites for the farms aren't very good with providing up to date information.
One of the most well-known farms in Wake County for Fall attractions (including the spooky kind) is Phillips Farm in Cary. This family-owned farm has been serving quality farm products to central North Carolina for over 100 years.
Fall activities include a corn maze, family fun park, cow trains, giant pillows, feeding farm animals and picking your own pumpkins from the vine.
This Fall they have sunflower fields in bloom, while mpst places to see sunflowers in Raleigh are finished by the middle of summer!
Phillips Farmsalso have concessions that include treats like ice cream, snow corn, fresh kettle corn and hot apple cider.
Halloween lovers will want to visit the haunted farm with the Field of Lost Souls and Rebellion Trail. We'll share more of that in our Halloween guide for 2022.
Not far from Umstead State Park is this hundred-acre farm which has been family-owned and operated for over 100 years.
Fall activities include a five acre corn maze, slides on the mulch mountain, hayrides, playground, cow train and farm animals. Page Farms also sell hams, jellies, cider, vinaigrette and raw honey from their bees.
Naylor Family Farm & Giant Corn Maze offers a variety of outdoor fun including a 2,400 square foot Farm Market Barn, 10-acre giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, kids play area, jump pad, farm animals, hayride trail, a farm tower fort, and picnic areas.
You can even book a night flashlight adventure through the maze followed by a campfire (and 'BYO 'smores). New in 2022 is a super 150ft mega ride-n-slide.
DJ's Berry Patch is a family-owned and operated business located in Apex who offer U-Pick Pumpkins & Mums, produce and Strawberries.
Bring the family to pick your own pumpkin. They also have Raleigh's popular Fall flowering plant - Chrysanthemums, otherwise known as Mums. In Australia, we call moms, mums.
DJ's has a down-home atmosphere that captures the southern NC charm of an old-time roadside stand.
Having said that, DJ's is more of a market for purchasing pumpkins of all kinds rather than an attraction farm.
The Family Farm on Avent Ferry in Holly Springs has been in the same family for 6 generations. Here you can pick out your favorite carving pumpkin for your decorating needs.
They also sell a variety of specialty pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and hay bales. And onsite they have an 85 year old traditional cow barn and 100+ year old log tobacco barn.
Porter farms has been recognized for excellence in its ability to grow fall produce with several first place pumpkin growing wins!
They have a large selection of pumpkins and ornamental gourds in Raleigh. In addition to selling at the Farm Market in Willow Springs, Porter Farms retails mums and pumpkins at the Raleigh Farmers Market.
The Fall activities on Lazy Hound Farm include pumpkin hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, pumpkins for sale, playgrounds and tractor trains.
They also have several unique events throughout the season, including pumpkin carving with goats, hay bale painting, and the Harvest Festival with half price admission!
And, they have a flashlight corn maze on Friday and Saturday Nights this Fall for $6.
At 12 acres, the McKee cornfield maze is one of the largest in the Triangle, and definitely the most fascinating of the Fall farms featured from the photos! There is a smaller interactive maze for younger kids as well.
Other Fall activities include hayrides, a pumpkin patch, animals, barrel train ride, play areas, corn hole, ice cream, snacks, and picnic areas. You can even try milking Bessie the cow!
On opening day (Sept 24) there is a pumpkin festival fun run in the maze and closing day (Oct 30) is a pumpkin carving and kids costume contest.
McKee Cornfield Maze is located about 10 miles north of Hillsborough.
Celebrate Fall at the Life and Science Museum in Durham with a trip to the Museum's pumpkin patch!
Pick the perfect pumpkin to decorate. Enjoy a variety of activities such as a hay maze and duck races. Then, climb aboard the train for a ride back to the station on the Ellerbe Creek Railway!
Spring Haven Farm is all about goats. Movies with goats? You got it! Pumpkin carving with goats? Why not! Baby goat festivals? Sign. Me. Up.
The farm will be full of goats, pumpkins, Fall fun and spooktacular decorations!
Carve your pumpkin with all the cute goats. I have done goat yoga before in the Finger Lakes and can highly recommend any kind of goat activity
Find the perfect pumpkin and then take it into the goat pasture to carve it with all the cute, friendly goats!
All farm activities including snuggle with baby goats, feed fluffy Highland cows, relaxing by the fire and the Tractor Train Rides are included in the ticket price
This 17-acre farm is home to many animals including chickens, sheep, goats, ponies, donkeys, pigs, bunnies, alpacas and llamas.
They have a combined kid-friendly Halloween Fall trick-or-treat event with pumpkins, animals in costume, story time, pumpkin carving, haunted gemstone mining, and more. Costumes encouraged.
I like the sound of the Apothecary class and the Spooky vet clinic experience (additional fees).
You can Donate non-perishable food for PORCH Chapel Hill and paint your pumpkin for FREE.
Sonlight Farms offers activities like corn mazes, tractor rides, and pumpkin picking and games like corn hole, pedal kart racing, and bouncing castles.
There is quite a lot for families to do and we enjoyed the corn crib and corn maze. We had a bit of trouble finding our way out.
Our girls loved the corn crib at Sonlight farm, and we couldn't find our way out of their corn maze either!!
30-minutes west of Cary is the Huckleberry Trail Farm featuring several classic Fall farm activities including a 4.5 acre corn maze, a tractor-drawn hayride, a real pumpkin patch where you can pick pumpkins off the vibe.
About 45-minutes northwest of Cary (between Durham and Mebane) is the pumpkin patch at Camp Chestnut Ridge where you'll find animals, a campfire, family fun, a hayride, and pumpkins!
The Hill Ridge Pumpkin festival includes Hayride, Hay Jump, Jumping Pillow, Giant Mountain Slide, Colorful Maze, Jump Pad, Corn House, all play areas in the park.
Gemstone panning, train rides and the carousel is available for an additional price or as part of the super value pass. Free pumpkin is included with admission.
About an hour south of Raleigh in Lillington is the family-owned Cathis Farm.
They have a themed 3 acre corn maze - this year it's Mad Science Adventure. You'll find interactive game stations throughout the maze about real scientists thought to be mad and their discoveries!
They also have other fun activities like Jump Pad, Zombie Tag, Barrel Train Rides, Kids' Spooky Wooded Walk, Bubble Station, games and more!
Plus pumpkin picking and concession stands with delicious farm-raised options, snacks, and warm mini donuts.
While here stock up on organic farm meats raised outdoors on pastures that are rotated to maintain soil health. They also have a glamping tent you can rent!
Time to navigate this 10-acre corn labyrinth, one of the largest in the region. Over the 4 miles of winding pathways are puzzles. Solve the mystery of missing Farmer Joe and collect evidence to find the weapon, suspect, and location of the crime.
Walk right out of the corn maze to the pumpkin patch and pick your own.
The farm has other Fall activities like pedal karts, playgrounds, slides, a hayride, pumpkin jumps and a picnic area, and concession stands with homemade ice cream and beverages.
While this North Carolina farm is just over an hour from Raleigh (80 mins), the Fall Festival packs in a lot of value.
Hubbs Farm's 15 acre giant maze is made from hybrid sorghum which means a thicker and greener maze. Inside are three individual mazes with different themes and scavenger hunts. Nighttime flashlight mazes are also on offer.
The farm also has a lot of extra fall activities like giant slides and jumping pillows, mini zip line, rope mountain, toddler town, farm animals, wagon rides, and a pumpkin patch.
Limited concessions on weekdays so you can bring outside food and drink for a picnic.