For festive fall fun, Washingtonians are heading out of the city and spending crisp autumn Saturdays at pumpkin farms and apple orchards in Maryland and Virginia. In just an hour, you can reach dozens of farms packed with pumpkins, gourds, farm animals, hayrides and corn mazes.
Call ahead to verify that the produce you’re looking for is still available — apple season is nearing its end, so hurry out to locations still ripe for the picking. Ask about pricing and special activities for the kids, some of which we’ve included below.
Here is a list of the sweet-smelling destinations for family fun in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland:
Butler’s Orchard
22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown: 301-972-3299, butlersorchard.com
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Check out: Pumpkin picking and family festivities every weekend during the 29th annual Pumpkin Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 1.
Homestead Farm
15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville: 301-977-3761, homestead-farm.net
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in October, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays only in November
Check out: The wide variety of apples for the picking, plus pumpkins, hayrides and farm animals.
Miller Farm
10200 Piscataway Road, Clinton: 301-297-9370
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through the fall
Check out: Hayrides and an animal barn.
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm
4003 Jennings Chapel Road: 410-489-2572, sharpfarm.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends through Nov. 7, weekdays for school tours (others can join in) until 3:30 p.m. until mid-November
Check out: Apple and pumpkin picking, plus a full country store, corn maze, animals to feed and a nature trail.
Virginia
Cox Farms
15621 Braddock Road, Centreville: 703-830-4121, [email protected], coxfarms.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 through Nov. 8
Check out: CORNundrum cornfield adventure, baby farm animals and Fields of Fear at Cox Farms, featuring a haunted cornfield and nighttime hayride. Every day through Nov 8.
Crooked Run Orchard
37883 East Main St., Purcellville: 540-338-6642, crookedrunorchard.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
Check out: Variety of apples and pumpkins for the picking.
Great Country Farms
18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont: 540-554-2073, greatcountryfarms.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends in November
Check out: Oinkintucky Derby pig races on weekends through Oct. 31.
Krop’s Crops
11110 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls: 703-430-8955
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day through Dec. 24
Check out: The corn bin and petting zoo for kids. Pick-your-own pumpkins only.
Layng’s Flower Farm
23520 Evergreen Mill Rd., Aldie.: 703-327-0872, layngsflowerfarm.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Nov. 5
Check out: Moon bounce, maze, and unlimited popcorn plus pre-picked apples and pumpkins, mums, and pansies.
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park
15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg: 703-779-9372, [email protected], nvrpa.org/parks/templehall
Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through the end of November
Check out: Corn maze, pony rides, a horse-drawn wagon ride and hayride, plus pick-your-own pumpkins.
Ticonderoga Farms
26175 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly: 703-327-4424, [email protected], ticonderoga.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Dec. 24
Check out: Pick your own pumpkins at this organic farm, where kids can participate in candy corn hunts and other games.
Wegmeyer Farms
38299 Hughesville Road, Hamilton: 540-751-1782, [email protected], wegmeyerfarms.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through Oct. 31
Check out: Pick-your-own pumpkins and weekend hayrides.
