Fall in New Jersey means one thing for a lot of families: piling into the car and heading out to pick pumpkins, get lost in a corn maze, and eat way too many apple cider donuts. The Garden State earns its nickname this time of year, with farms across the map opening their fields for hayrides, giant slides, farm animals, and pick-your-own patches.
Some of these spots have been family-run for generations, while others have turned autumn into a full-blown weekend event. If you have been trying to figure out where to spend a crisp Saturday, this list rounds up seven farms that give you a real reason to make the trip.
Grab your boots, bring your appetite, and let’s find your next fall adventure.
1. Alstede Farms, Chester, New Jersey
Few farms in the state pack as much into one visit as Alstede Farms in Chester. It runs as a working farm year-round, so the fall setup feels less like a pop-up attraction and more like the real thing.
Visitors can pick their own pumpkins, apples, and other fruits and vegetables straight from the fields. Hayrides carry guests out to the picking areas, which saves a long walk and makes the trip easier for younger kids.
The corn maze is a highlight, and the property also includes farm animals, a play area, and a farm market stocked with baked goods and seasonal produce. I like this stop because you can turn it into a full day rather than a quick photo run.
Weekends in October get busy, so arriving earlier in the day is a smart move. Chester sits in Morris County, making it an easy drive from much of northern New Jersey.
2. Von Thun Farms, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
A giant corn maze that changes its design every year keeps regulars coming back to Von Thun Farms in Monmouth Junction. The farm is known for its fall festival, which turns the property into a playground of activities during September and October.
Beyond the maze, guests find pick-your-own pumpkins, a hayride, farm animals, and plenty of games and attractions built with families in mind. There is a separate location in Washington Township as well, so it helps to double-check which spot you are heading to.
The Monmouth Junction site sits in South Brunswick, which makes it convenient for people coming from central Jersey. Admission is usually charged for the fall festival, and buying tickets ahead of time can save you a wait at the gate.
I would save this one for a family day when you want the kids fully worn out by dinner. There is enough here to fill several hours without repeating yourself.
3. Happy Day Farm, Manalapan, New Jersey
Sunflowers might be the surprise star at Happy Day Farm in Manalapan, since the farm rotates through seasonal flower fields that draw photographers all autumn long. When fall arrives, the pumpkins take center stage.
The farm builds a large corn maze each season and pairs it with pick-your-own pumpkins, a sunflower maze at certain times, and a lineup of family activities. It has grown into one of Monmouth County’s more popular fall destinations.
Tickets are typically sold online by date, which helps manage crowds on peak weekends. Checking the farm’s schedule before you go is worth the extra minute, since offerings shift as the season moves along.
What sets this place apart is the mix of flowers and pumpkins in one visit, giving you more than the standard patch. Bring a camera, because the fields tend to photograph well in afternoon light.
4. Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon, New Jersey
Tucked up in the northern hills near the New York border, Heaven Hill Farm in Vernon leans hard into its fall festival, and the mountain setting gives it a scenic edge over flatter spots.
The property features a corn maze, pumpkin picking, a hayride, and a large market packed with produce, baked goods, and fall decor. The garden center and farm store stay busy well into the season.
Vernon sits in Sussex County, close to Mountain Creek, so the area works well for a longer day trip if you want to explore more of the region. The drive itself gets prettier as the leaves change.
Families gravitate here for the combination of picking, playing, and shopping under one roof. I would pencil this one in for a weekend when you also want to catch some peak foliage on the way.
5. Johnson’s Corner Farm, Medford, New Jersey
Down in the Pinelands, Johnson’s Corner Farm in Medford has built a reputation as a go-to fall spot for South Jersey families. The wagon rides out to the pumpkin fields are part of the whole appeal.
Guests can ride out to pick pumpkins and other seasonal crops, wander the play areas, and visit the farm animals. The on-site bakery and market are a big draw, with fresh baked goods and prepared foods that make it easy to grab lunch without leaving.
Medford sits in Burlington County, which puts it within reach of Philadelphia-area visitors and much of the southern part of the state. Weekends fill up fast during peak pumpkin season.
Fresh doughnuts and cider round out the classic fall experience here. This is the kind of place I’d point people toward when they want a friendly, well-run farm day close to home.
6. Hallockville / Norz Hill Farm, Hillsborough, New Jersey
Zombies and a haunted paintball hayride give Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough a slightly different flavor than the typical family patch, though the daytime fun is still front and center for younger visitors.
The farm runs a corn maze, pumpkin picking, and a fall festival with hayrides, farm animals, and plenty of activities during the season. It also leans into after-dark attractions for older kids and adults who want a scare.
Hillsborough is in Somerset County, making it a manageable drive for central Jersey families. The daytime and nighttime offerings run on different schedules, so it pays to check which experience you are booking.
I like that one farm can cover both a mellow morning with the little ones and a spookier evening for teens. Just know the two crowds show up at very different hours.
7. Wightman’s Farms, Morristown, New Jersey
Running since the early 1900s, Wightman’s Farms near Morristown carries the kind of longevity that most seasonal attractions never reach. That history shows in how smoothly the fall operation runs.
The farm offers pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, hayrides out to the fields, and a farm market known for its cider doughnuts and fresh produce. The bakery alone brings people back throughout the season.
Located in the Morristown area of Morris County, it is an easy target for anyone in the northern half of the state. The apple picking makes it a strong pick if you want fruit as well as pumpkins.
Generations of Jersey families have made this a fall tradition, and it still delivers the classics without a lot of fuss. Come hungry, because the doughnuts tend to disappear quickly.
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