Family-Friendly Farms Near Jersey City
There are many things for families to do in New Jersey during the fall season. This includes apple picking, pumpkin picking, as well as Halloween activities. Luckily, there are also a ton of family-friendly farms that provide fun activities and a lot more to enjoy this festive season including hayrides, wine tasting, corn mazes, petting zoos, live music, pumpkin bowling, and a ton more.
Happy Day Farm
106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Happy Day Farm is open for the season starting June 8 for Lavender and Raspberry picking. Join them at this most Instagrammable farm. Their pumpkin houses and pumpkin patches are ready for you to enjoy. Tractor rides are included with admission. Their Fall Festival Days include Pumpkinville, corn maze, pig races, tractor rides, fun slide, feeding zoo, etc. Over 35 activities are included with admission. Some activities like Pony Ride, Paint Ball, Pumpkin Blaster, etc. are available for additional fees. Tickets are required to enter all areas of the farm.
Heaven Hill Farm
451 State Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462
Heaven Hill Farm is about an hour and a half away from downtown Jersey City. There are many activities at Heaven Hill Farm including pumpkin picking, a hay maze, farm animals, a farm store, hayrides, a duck race, and more. Their Great Pumpkin Festival runs from September 14 to November 3. And their Trick or Treat Trail and Costume Contest is on Sunday, October 27. Carnival Rides, Pony Rides, Paintball Range, Apple Cannons, Gem Mining, etc are activities that will require additional fees. Check their website for busy days when there will be wait times. Buying tickets in advance saves some money as compared to buying at the door.
Minard’s Family Farm
250 Hurds Road, Clintondale, NY 12515
Located an hour and a half from Downtown Jersey City, Minard’s offers a ton of fun fall activities. The ripening schedule is approximate, depending on the growing season. Check out the U-pick calendar to verify which varieties are available for picking at the farm stand. Your purchase of a regular or super wristband includes unlimited play at the bouncy pillow, sand pit, chalk bus, petting zoo, spider web, pony hop, barnyard football and baseball, tug of war, tic-tac-toe, apple checkers, pumpkin bowling, tire mountain, peddle carts, corn maze, corn hole, and lots more. One of this farm’s unique offerings is that it often hosts appreciation and fundraising events for first responders, healthcare providers, veterans, and others.
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road Princeton, NJ 08540
Terhune Orchards is the perfect place to enjoy fall-related activities at any age. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, cider, pies, farm animals, pick-your-own, field trips, farm market, gift baskets, and more can be found at the Mount Family’s 200 fruit- and vegetable-producing acres noted for quality products and country-style service. They even have a winery. They also have a ton of events happening in the fall months. Weekend activities include music, pony rides, scavenger hunts, and a corn maze. Take a look at the Pick-Your-Own Schedule to check on availability. Pumpkin picking is available at the main location on Cold Soil Road. Sign up for the newsletter to keep up to date on all of the things happening at Terhune.
Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Rd Hillsdale, NJ 07642
Visiting Demarest Farms is one of the best things you can do with your family this fall season. Needless to say, it is worth the 30-minute trip from Jersey City. Activities include pumpkin picking, apple picking, fresh apple cider donuts, hayrides, and more. They also have a petting zoo. Be sure to check out the drive-through Halloween Light Show from September 23 to October 31. Make sure to make reservations online before you visit.
Alstede Farms
1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ 07930
Another one of our favorites is Alstede Farms in Chester, NJ. It should take you just under an hour to get there by car. First and foremost, you must pre-purchase a PYO ticket by going to their website. Each guest that enters the fields has to have a ticket with them that includes an entry. They offer everything from free use of pull wagons to transport your harvest from the fields to a free scenic hayride shuttle to the picking fields and orchards. You can go picking but after you’re done picking, check out the fun farm activities! Activities include pony rides, wagon train rides, corn kingdom, corn maze, farm animals, bunny run, and more! Here is the link to their event calendar.
Johnson’s Corner Farm
133 Church Road, Medford, NJ 08055
Johnson’s Corner Farm is open for year-round activities and lots of fun family activities at their farm and the drive from downtown Jersey City is just about an hour and a half. You can go apple and pumpkin picking, go on wagon rides, get lost in a corn maze, and visit the barnyard, animal farm, and a fully stocked farm store! They also offer Fall Field Trips for groups.
Snyders Farm
586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Snyders Farm is about an hour away from Jersey City. It offers many activities, including pumpkin picking, giant corn mazes, live music, duck races, a fall festival, and many more. Check out the visitor information on the website before you arrive. You can also sign up for a newsletter on the website. Please note, that they do not accept credit cards.
Stony Hills Farms
5 North Road Chester, NJ 07930
Stony Hills Farm is about an hour away from Jersey City. At Stony Hill Farm Market, fall means it’s time to get lost in a corn maze and enjoy all these exciting activities. The Farm Market opening day is June 1! Their 10-acre corn maze features a new theme every year. Maze Fun Park & U-Pick entry is only guaranteed with tickets purchased in advance. Not only do they have picking, but they also have games, hayrides, and more. Get your tickets here and plan your visit to these family-friendly farms near Jersey City
Donaldson Farms
358 Allen Road Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Visit Donaldson Farms for a day of family fun at their 500+ acre family-owned and operated farm and market. Enjoy their pumpkin and apple season with u-pick, hayrides, corn maze, delicious treats, and other activities as you delight in the natural and authentic farm setting! You can enjoy picking pumpkins, corn, and apples. Here is a list of all the fun attractions they offer. They also have a giant corn maze that cannot be missed. The calendar lists all of the upcoming events.
Norz Hill Farm
120 S Branch Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844
Norz Hill Farm and Market is about an hour from downtown Jersey City. It consists of 1200 acres of owned and rented ground. They have pumpkin picking, corn mazes, pony rides, animals, a kid’s corner, a food stand, and more. Kids Corner is a fun area for your children to visit for sure. They have the ever-popular Kids Bale Maze, Corn Boxes for the young ones to play in, and more. The farm is a perfect place to take the perfect family photo and on weekends they have a DJ to keep everyone entertained. And if you are looking for some spooky Halloween season fun be sure to visit their Scare Farm!
Conklin Farms
10 Vreeland Avenue, Montville, NJ 07045
Conklin Farms, opening September 2024, is a great option for a day of fall fun! Come to the farm and pick your pumpkin! They have thousands of pumpkins in all shapes, colors, and sizes! Head out to the field and pick your pumpkins or visit the barn store for the best selection of painted pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, jams, and much more. They also have fresh apple cider and donuts. And if you are a thrill seeker, go on a Haunted Hayride (not recommended for children under 10 years old; held Saturday and Sunday only and the last ticket is sold at 5:30 pm)
Visiting a farm is one of the best ways to start the fall season off right. Here are some other activities to get you in the fall spirit! Doing some apple picking, visiting a pumpkin patch, or maybe even conquering a corn maze are great ways to commune with nature and reconnect with the family away from the hustle and bustle of the city. As fall approaches, you would want to catch up on camping, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Happy Fall!
*Please note: All the businesses listed above are JCFamilies’ recommendations. Please be sure to double-check information related to, for instance, hours of operation, on the individual websites of the recommended businesses before visiting.
Updated July 22, 2024
