When autumn hits Maryland, the fun moves outdoors to the farms, where wagons haul families out to pumpkin patches and the cider starts flowing by the gallon. These nine farm markets do fall the right way, with pick-your-own pumpkins, warm cider donuts, hayrides, corn mazes, and market stands packed with pies and produce.
Some are family favorites that have been running for decades, others are big festival-style operations with slides and animals for the kids. Whether you want a quick pumpkin run or a whole afternoon of farm activities, there is a stop on this list for you.
Here is where to load up on the best of the season across the state.
1. Butler’s Orchard, Germantown, MD
Rolling hills in Germantown set the scene for one of Montgomery County’s busiest fall destinations. Butler’s Orchard leans hard into family fun, with hayrides, a corn maze, a pumpkin toss, animals, and slides that keep kids moving all afternoon.
The market and cafe are the real anchor here. Expect a large variety of goods, from cider donuts and cider slushies to kettle corn, pies, and fresh fruits and veggies.
Do not skip the caramels at the register, and grab a hot cider while you are at it. Pick-your-own pumpkins are part of the fall festival lineup, so you can head into the patch and haul home your own.
Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and closed Mondays. Parking is free on-site, which makes the whole trip easier when you are toting pumpkins and snacks back to the car.
2. Weber’s Cider Mill Farm Inc, Parkville, MD
Baltimore County families have a go-to spot in Parkville, and its famous apple slushy is the reason a lot of them keep coming back. Weber’s Cider Mill Farm pairs a bakery and market with a full slate of fall activities.
The bakery area is loaded with desserts, kettle corn, apples, and cider donuts. Add in ice cream for the kids and that signature cider slush, and you have snacks covered before you even get to the pumpkins.
And there are plenty of pumpkins. The patch offers a large selection, so picky decorators can find exactly the shape they want.
Kids gravitate toward the barnyard games, the boo barn, burlap slides, and barn animals, with a hayride rounding out the day. Food trucks often set up on-site too.
Open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, with free lot and street parking plus a paid option.
3. Larriland Farm, Woodbine, MD
Family history runs deep at this Howard County farm, which the Moore family started as a pick-your-own operation back in 1973. Larriland Farm still runs with several generations working the fields and the office today.
Depending on when you visit, you can pick flowers, herbs, vegetables, berries, apples, and pumpkins. The Red Barn holds the farm products and market goods, and you will find apple cider alongside the fresh produce.
Fall is the star season here. Hayrides, a straw maze, pumpkin picking, and food trucks make it a full outing, and there is even a little haunted house for the season.
The farm is also welcoming to all, listed as LGBTQ+ friendly with a gender-neutral restroom. Hours run Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, closed Mondays.
Parking includes free lot, free street, and paid options.
4. Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD
Cecil County’s northeast corner is home to a farm where the apple cider donuts might be the whole reason you make the drive. Milburn Orchards in Elkton is a favorite for pumpkin and apple picking, and the fall lineup keeps everyone busy.
The market is worth a real shopping trip. Loaf cakes, pies, popcorn, and pumpkins fill the shelves, and a gallon of apple cider to take home is close to mandatory.
Kids will find plenty to do, from feeding animals and crawling through tunnels to slides on the hill and the corn maze. The hayride and the farm animals are longtime highlights.
Prices on pumpkins and candy apples run a touch higher, but the experience earns it. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, closed Mondays.
Parking is free with paid options available.
5. Baugher’s Orchards, Farm & Bakery, Westminster, MD
Those mini apple fritters have a way of turning a quick stop into a full visit. Baugher’s Orchards, Farm & Bakery in Westminster combines pick-your-own produce with a market, hayrides, and a petting zoo.
The bakery keeps the sweet stuff coming with apple cider donuts, apple pie, and rhubarb treats. There is also a small gift shop and apple cider to round out your haul.
Kids get two playgrounds, a petting zoo, and wagon rides out to the fields. The tram takes you to the apples, while a hayride carries you to the pumpkin patch, which younger visitors tend to love.
Fall means pumpkins galore, and depending on the season you can harvest everything from berries to gourds. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 6 PM, closed Mondays.
Free lot and street parking, a restroom on-site, and a layout built for a quick, easy visit.
6. Gaver Farm, Mt Airy, MD
Come for the pumpkins, stay for the four hours of activities that seem to keep multiplying. Gaver Farm in Mt.
Airy runs a full Fall Fun Festival with a corn maze, farm animals, giant slides, mini mazes, bike tracks, and a jumping pillow.
The pumpkin variety here stands out, with different types and shapes for anyone who takes decorating seriously. Free hayrides carry you out to the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, and even a sunflower field.
The apple cider gets high marks, and the cider donuts pair perfectly with it. Apple picking is part of the fun too, and the market stocks everything you need to decorate your place for the season.
Gaver Farm operates seasonally, opening in the fall during September and October, then again for Christmas trees and wreaths. Hours are 10 AM to 6 PM daily during the season, with free and paid parking.
7. Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Thurmont, MD
Up near the Catoctin Mountains in Thurmont, this family-run orchard packs a lot into a compact stop. Catoctin Mountain Orchard offers pick-your-own fruit, vegetables, and pumpkins, plus baked goods, honey, and cheeses at the stand.
The variety is impressive. You can pick or buy apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, berries, pumpkins, and even seasonal flowers, along with maple syrup and donuts.
A cider slushy makes an easy companion for wandering the pumpkin patch. Regulars also point to the cider, the sandies, and the preserves as reasons to fill a bag at the market.
A tractor pulls a cart out into the orchards, flower fields, and pumpkin patch, which makes the picking part feel like an adventure. Open daily 9 AM to 5 PM, with Saturday afternoons being the busiest and weekday mornings the calmest.
Curbside pickup, a restroom, and free parking are available.
8. Montpelier Farms, Upper Marlboro, MD
Prince George’s County families looking for a weekend outing head to Upper Marlboro for the festival energy here. Montpelier Farms runs both a Fall Festival and a Sunflower Festival, with photo ops built into nearly every corner.
The activity list is long, including adorable animals, playgrounds, a Trike Track, Barnyard Basketball, Giant Hill Slides, and ride-on pig races. A corn maze, hayride, and pumpkin patch anchor the fall visit.
The farm market and bakery handle the food side, with fresh apple cider, apple cider slushies, and cider donuts among the favorites. You can also take home pumpkins, pastries, jams, jellies, and fresh honey.
Dogs are welcome inside, which is a nice bonus for anyone bringing the whole crew. Note the schedule: closed Monday through Friday, open Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM.
Free and paid parking are both available.
9. Miller Farms, Clinton, MD
Plentiful pumpkins at a fair price are what pull a lot of visitors to this Clinton farm. Miller Farms combines a market and bakery with fruits, herbs, vegetables, baked goods, and ice cream, then adds a corn maze and fall hayrides.
Pumpkin picking here is a hands-on affair, with kids wandering the field to find just the right one. Corn stalks are on hand too, so you can bundle up a full autumn display.
The food side pulls its weight, with a burger and hot dog stand serving half smokes alongside a highly regarded bakery. Hot apple cider is available where the food is sold, keeping you warm through the day.
Hayrides run every weekend during October, and events like Fall Family Fun Day bring bounce pads, slides, and the corn maze together. Open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Weekend afternoons are busiest, with free parking on hand.
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