There's a reason apple picking and pumpkin patches show up on nearly every Long Island fall bucket list: it's one of the easiest ways to spend a crisp afternoon outdoors with family, and Long Island has more options than most people realize — from a Melville petting zoo a short drive from Syosset, to full working orchards out on the North Fork, to pumpkin fields in the Hamptons. Below is a roundup organized by how far you're willing to drive, with what to expect at each stop.
Quick Answer: When Should You Go?
- Pumpkin patches and fall festivals generally open in mid-to-late September and run through the end of October, with Halloween weekend as the final push.
- Apple picking often starts earlier, sometimes late August, and continues into October — though which varieties are ready to pick changes week to week.
- Best time to visit: weekday mornings for smaller crowds; weekends bring the full festival atmosphere (live music, food vendors, hayrides) but also the biggest lines.
- Hours, pricing, and pumpkin patch availability shift from week to week and are weather-dependent, so it's always worth a quick call or website check the morning of your visit.
Closest to Home: Pumpkin Patches Near Nassau County
If you don't want to make a whole day of it, several well-known fall destinations sit just outside Nassau County, making them an easy after-school or weekend-morning trip from Syosset and the surrounding communities.
White Post Farms
A longtime Long Island favorite and one of the most popular fall stops for families with younger kids. White Post Farms is a working animal farm and petting zoo with a large pumpkin field, hayrides, a giraffe feeding experience, pony rides, and a full Fall Festival on weekends with food vendors and live entertainment. Pumpkins are typically priced by the pound and purchased at checkout rather than picked directly off the vine. Weekday visits (the farm is generally closed Mondays and Tuesdays in-season) tend to be far less crowded than weekend Fall Festival days. Note that many purchases on-site, including food and add-on activities, are cash-only.
Hicks Nurseries
A Nassau County institution known for its seasonal displays. It's not a u-pick farm, but it's a reliable, close-to-home stop for pre-picked pumpkins, mums, fall decor, and photo-worthy displays if a full farm outing isn't in the cards this week.
Queens County Farm Museum
Just over the Nassau border, this working historic farm hosts an annual fall festival with a corn maze, hayrides, and pumpkin picking, along with animals and farm history exhibits — a nice option if you want fall activities without the drive out east.
Worth the Drive: Apple Picking on the North Fork
For true pick-your-own apple orchards, the North Fork of Long Island (about 60–75 minutes east of Syosset) is where most of the region's working orchards are concentrated. It makes for a great full day out, especially paired with a farm stand stop or a local wine tasting.
Harbes Family Farm
One of the largest and most complete fall destinations on Long Island. The Mattituck orchard spans dozens of acres with dozens of apple varieties grown on dwarf trees, keeping fruit within easy reach for kids. Each Harbes location has its own personality: Riverhead leans into hayrides, live music, and a corn maze; Jamesport is known for its Honeycrisp orchard; and all three offer pumpkin picking, farm-made cider, and wagon rides through the season.
Lewin Farms
A true family-run farm offering pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, and a wide range of other seasonal produce depending on the week. It's a less polished, more classic "farm" experience than some of the bigger festival-style stops — call ahead to confirm which crops are currently available for picking.
Wickham's Fruit Farm
One of the North Fork's longest-running farms, with a well-stocked farmstand and u-pick apple orchard. A good stop to pair with wine tasting, since it sits in the heart of North Fork wine country.
Woodside Orchards
Known for the sheer range of apples on offer, from classic Cortlands to tart Winesaps, with orchard staff typically on hand to talk through flavor profiles if you're not sure what you're looking for.
Windy Acres Farm
A smaller, low-key orchard with a wide variety count — Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Granny Smith, McIntosh, and more — plus wagon rides on select days and a market selling fresh cider.
Farther East: Pumpkin Patches & Orchards in the Hamptons
If a North Fork trip turns into a full East End day, or you're already out near the Hamptons in early fall, a few farms there are worth the stop.
Milk Pail Orchard
A Hamptons farm stand with more than twenty apple varieties across September and October, plus pick-your-own pumpkins right off the vine and wagon tours through the orchard on weekends.
Hank's Pumpkintown
A Hamptons fall tradition built around its pumpkin patch rather than apples — expect a corn maze, farm animals, and plenty of photo backdrops among the pumpkins and gourds.
Seven Ponds Orchard
A quieter, more straightforward u-pick apple orchard experience for anyone who wants to skip the festival crowds and just pick fruit.
Tips for Planning Your Farm Day
- Call or check the website the morning of your visit. Pumpkin and apple availability, hours, and even whether picking is open at all can change with the weather and how busy the previous weekend was.
- Bring cash. Many farms, especially smaller ones, are cash-only for food, wagon rides, or add-on activities even if general admission accepts cards.
- Go early on weekends. Fall Festival weekends at the larger farms draw big crowds by midday; arriving at opening gets you a much shorter wait for hayrides and mazes.
- Dress for farmland, not the mall. Boots or sneakers you don't mind getting dirty beat anything open-toed.
- Weekdays are best for younger kids. Smaller crowds mean more one-on-one time with animals, shorter wagon-ride lines, and an easier pace for nap schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to go all the way to the North Fork to go apple picking?
For true pick-your-own apple orchards, yes — most of Long Island's working apple orchards are concentrated on the North Fork and in the Hamptons. Closer to Nassau County, spots like White Post Farms focus on pumpkins rather than apples, so if apple picking specifically is the goal, plan for the drive east.
Is pumpkin picking free on Long Island?
It depends on the farm. Some, like Hicks Nurseries, let you browse pre-picked pumpkins with no entry fee. Others, like White Post Farms, charge general admission to access the grounds and then price pumpkins separately (often by the pound). Always check current pricing directly with the farm before you go.
What's the best month to go apple picking on Long Island?
September is typically the sweet spot — early enough that a wide range of varieties are still available, but past the sometimes-unpredictable late-August start. By late October, many orchards are winding down apple picking in favor of pumpkins and holiday prep.
Are these farms stroller and toddler friendly?
Most of the larger destinations (White Post Farms, Harbes, Milk Pail) are used to families with young kids and offer wagon rides as an alternative to a long walk through the fields. Smaller, more rustic farms may have uneven or muddy terrain depending on recent weather, so a stroller isn't always practical — a front or back carrier can be a better bet at those stops.
Making the Most of Fall on Long Island
Whether you're new to the area or a longtime Long Islander, fall is one of the best times of year to fall in love with your neighborhood all over again — and if a Saturday at the orchard has you thinking about more space for holiday gatherings, a backyard for next year's pumpkin patch trip, or simply a fresh start somewhere new, Educators Realty is a local, Syosset-based resource for buyers and sellers throughout Nassau and Suffolk County.
Connect With Educators RealtyFarm hours, pricing, pumpkin and apple availability, and festival dates change frequently and are weather-dependent. Please confirm current details directly with each farm before visiting. Educators Realty is not affiliated with the farms listed above; this guide is provided as a community resource for Long Island families.