With summer behind us, it's time to think about the best pumpkin patches in North Carolina. While the list is extensive in the Tar Heel State of endless rural areas with beautiful farms, at least one of these is the "best North Carolina pumpkin patch near me," depending on your search. Let's take a look at these 10 excitement-packed spaces offering hayrides, corn mazes, flowers, and more than we can ever imagine at a pumpkin patch.

1. DJ's Berry Patch, Apex

Bring the family to one of the best pumpkin patches near Raleigh, where you can buy chrysanthemums, and pumpkins for decorating or home-baked pumpkin pies for those ambitious bakers out there. Visit this cool place throughout the fall season.

2. Harvest Farm, Valle Crucis

We love this rustic farm setting, where we can harvest a pumpkin and walk through the corn maze. The Harvest Farm fall season starts on September 9, 2024.

3. Nix Pumpkin Patch, Hendersonville

Starting in early September, pick a pumpkin off of the vine, choose one already picked, bring home other fresh fall produce, and purchase some pretty flowers at this pumpkin patch. The Nix Pumpkin Patch Facebook page will announce the specific dates soon.

4. Johnny Wilson Farm, Granite Falls

The pumpkin patch opens in mid-September, offering farm animals, corn and hay mazes, and pumpkins. Also, check out the roadside stands at Johnny Wilson Farm and pick up something fresh to bring home.

5. Gross Family Farms, Sanford

Beginning September 4 and running until November 3, 2024, the Gross Family Farms corn maze and pumpkin patch feature a sophisticated corn maze covering a little more than four miles of winding pathways. The pumpkin patch is right next to the maze, where we can pick our own.

6. Lantern Farm, West Jefferson

Snack on some fresh corn, take a hayride, walk the challenging corn maze, and bring home a pumpkin to carve for Halloween from mid-September to late October at Lantern Farm.

7. Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill

For an unforgettable autumn adventure, sign up for carving pumpkins with goats. What??? The farm becomes a Halloween wonderland, where we can ride the tractor train, roast s'mores, and search for gems at the mining sluice. Spring Haven Farm will announce the 2024 fall season schedule shortly.

8. Briley's Farm Market, Greenville

From the last week in September through the first week in November, head out to the pumpkin patch. Admission includes a hayride, a giant tube slide, sunflowers, and pumpkins. Briley’s Farm Market is the place to be this fall season.

9. Red Wolf Farm, Maiden

This fall season (dates TBA), you can enjoy hayrides, a corn maze, pumpkin bowling, and farm animals. Red Wolf Farm will have updates about the seasonal activities shortly.

10. Hawks Pumpkin Patch, Winston-Salem

Folks enjoy a variety of fall activities here, including food trucks, and we get to take home a pumpkin and other goodies.

Look for opening day on the Hawks Pumpkin Patch Facebook page

For those who visit one of the best pumpkin patches in North Carolina, please let us know about the experience in the comments. Get some pumpkin-carving tools and a fat pumpkin and let your creativity flow! Now, get out there and explore the beauty of fall in North Carolina:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/most-beautiful-fall-destinations-in-nc/