Apple Picking, Pumpkin Patches, Hayrides & More
There is something about fall that makes me want to pack everyone into the car and head straight for a farm. Maybe it’s the apple cider donuts. Okay…it’s definitely at least partly the apple cider donuts. But fall in North Carolina also means picking apples straight from the tree, searching a pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin, bouncing along on a tractor-pulled hayride, getting hopelessly lost in a corn maze and spending an afternoon outside when the weather finally starts cooling down.
And you don’t have to drive across the state to find it.
If you’re looking for fall activities near Charlotte, NC, I’ve rounded up 20 North Carolina farms and orchards offering everything from apple picking and pumpkin patches to hayrides, corn mazes, farm animals, and playgrounds… all within roughly a two-hour drive of Charlotte. Check out this post for a list of Fall Festivals and Events this September that are within 2 hours of Charlotte, NC.
Some are simple working farms where you can grab a pumpkin and take a hayride. Others have turned fall into an entire day-long experience with dozens of attractions. So grab the flannel shirt even though it will probably still be 82 degrees outside, and let’s go find some fall fun.
Table of Contents
- Fall Farms Within About an Hour of Charlotte
- Fall Farm Fun in Cabarrus County
- More Pumpkin Patches & Fall Farms Close to Charlotte
- Fall Farm Day Trips About 1–2 Hours From Charlotte
- Apple Picking Near Charlotte, NC
- Apple Orchards & Fall Farms Near Hendersonville
- When Does Fall Farm Season Start Near Charlotte?
- Which Fall Farm Near Charlotte Should You Choose?
- Tips for Visiting a Pumpkin Patch or Apple Orchard Near Charlotte
- Find More Fall Things to Do Near Charlotte, NC
Fall Farms Near Charlotte at a Glance
| Farm | Area | Apple Picking | Pumpkins | Hayride/Wagon Ride | Other Fall Fun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodges Family Farm | Charlotte | — | ✓ | ✓ | Animals, hay bales, treats |
| The Hunter Farm | Weddington | — | ✓ | ✓ | Petting barn, Farm Fridays |
| Wise Acres Organic Farm | Indian Trail | — | ✓ | ✓ | Maze, animals, flowers, pizza |
| Almond Farm | Concord | — | ✓ | ✓ | Corn maze, jump pad, animals |
| Deer Run Farm | Midland | — | ✓ | ✓ | Corn maze, slides, corn pit |
| Midland Farms | Midland | — | ✓ | ✓ | Hay bale mountain, animals |
| Lineberger’s Maple Springs Farm | Dallas | — | ✓ | ✓ | Playground, hay bales, gourds |
| Carrigan Farms | Mooresville | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Petting zoo, flowers, haunted trail |
| Rural Hill | Huntersville | — | Seasonal | Seasonal | Large corn maze |
| Patterson Farm Market & Tours Inc | Mount Ulla | — | ✓ | ✓ | Corn maze, barnyard, 40+ attractions |
| Red Wolf Farm | Maiden | — | ✓ | ✓ | Corn mazes, inflatables, games |
| Shelby Corn Maze | Shelby | — | ✓ | ✓ | 8-acre maze, 40+ attractions |
| Alpha & Omega Corn Maze | Hamptonville | — | ✓ | ✓ | 30+ activities, animals |
| Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill | Morganton | ✓ | — | Seasonal | Bakery, cider mill |
| Perry Lowe Orchards | Moravian Falls | ✓ | — | ✓ | Mountain views, playground |
| Grandad’s Apples | Hendersonville | Select dates | ✓ | Seasonal | Corn maze, bakery |
| Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard | Hendersonville | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Corn maze, flowers, apple cannon |
| Sky Top Orchard | Flat Rock | ✓ | Seasonal | ✓ | Animals, playground, apple cannon |
| Jeter Mountain Farm Apple Orchard | Hendersonville | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Bakery, BBQ, cider, indoor play |
| Justus Orchard | Hendersonville | ✓ | ✓ | Select dates | Playground, cow train, apple cannon, Tap House |
Did I miss any? Leave a comment with the name of the farm, what they offer, and where they’re located so I can add it to the list!
Fall Farms Within About an Hour of Charlotte
If you don’t want your fall farm adventure to require an entire day on the road, start here. Several of these farms are only 30–45 minutes from Charlotte.
Hodges Family Farm
Charlotte, NC | Approximately 20–25 minutes from Uptown
You don’t even have to leave Charlotte to find a classic pumpkin patch.
Hodges Family Farm is a North Carolina Century Farm that has been operated by the Hodges family for more than 100 years, and every fall the farm opens its annual pumpkin patch.
For 2026, the pumpkin patch runs September 26 through October 31 and is open daily from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. There is no general entry fee.
You’ll find pumpkins, hay bales for climbing, barnyard animals, picnic areas and plenty of places to take fall photos. On Saturdays and Sundays, the farm also offers hayrides along with seasonal treats like kettle corn, apple cider doughnuts and lemonade. Weekend parking is $5 per car and hayrides are $5 per person, with children 2 and under riding free.
Why I Like This One: It’s one of the easiest options if you simply want pumpkins, animals and a hayride without paying admission to a huge fall amusement-style farm.
The Hunter Farm
Weddington, NC | Approximately 30 minutes from Charlotte
The Hunter Farm offers one of those fall experiences that feels like you actually escaped the city without having to drive very far. Their fall season centers around wagon rides to an interactive petting barn where families can meet and feed farm animals.
The farm sells a variety of North Carolina-grown pumpkins and gourds, and its popular Farm Fridays add live music, food trucks and adult beverages to the experience.
The season kicks off Friday September 25th and goes through Sunday November 1st. They are closed on Mondays and only offer the pumpkin patch on Tuesdays from 3-7pm. Wednesday through Friday you can visit 3pm-7pm with more activities happening on Friday nights. Saturdays the hours are 9a-7p and Sundays 11a-7pm.
Best For: Families who care just as much about meeting the animals as they do about getting a pumpkin.
Wise Acres Organic Farm
Indian Trail, NC | Approximately 30–35 minutes from Charlotte
If picking a pumpkin isn’t enough to keep everyone entertained, Wise Acres packs a surprising amount into its fall farm experience. Note that reservations are required!
The USDA Certified Organic farm opens its 2026 fall season on September 13. Fall reservations include access to the pumpkin and flower fields, farm animals, playgrounds, a scavenger hunt and a small sunn hemp maze. Wagon rides, a corn pit and barrel train can be added separately.
And here’s what makes Wise Acres a little different: wood-fired pizza.
You can book one of their fall packages that includes Wise Pie pizza, then hang out at the farm rather than having to leave the second everyone gets hungry.
Reservations are required for farm access.
Best For: Families who want a slower farm afternoon where you can eat, play and hang out instead of rushing through a pumpkin patch.
Fall Farm Fun in Cabarrus County
There are several great farm experiences on the Concord and Midland side of Charlotte, which makes this section particularly useful if you’re coming from Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg or the northeast side of Charlotte.
Almond Farm
Concord, NC | Approximately 35–40 minutes from Charlotte
Almond Farm is one of the closest options to Charlotte that gives you the full fall festival experience. Their 2026 Fall Festival runs September 26 through November 1, Wednesday through Sunday.
You can wander through the pumpkin patch, take a hayride, get lost in the corn maze, visit farm animals and let the kids burn off some energy on the jump pad and other attractions.
On Saturdays and Sundays, Almond Farm even holds a giant Candy Dump, where an excavator dumps candy for kids at 12pm and again at 3pm. This is one sweet experience you don’t want to miss! Because why calmly hand children candy when heavy machinery can get involved?
Best For: Families who want enough activities to stay for several hours.
Deer Run Farm
Midland, NC | Approximately 35–40 minutes from Charlotte
Deer Run Farm turns its working farm into a family fall festival with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, wagon rides and plenty of activities for kids. Expect attractions like a jump pillow, corn pit, slides, barnyard, trike track and farm-themed play areas in addition to pumpkins.
Opening weekend kicks off Saturday September 19! Hours are typically 1-6pm with the farm being closed on Monday and Tuesdays.
Best For: Younger kids who will want something to do after you’ve taken the obligatory pumpkin photos.
Midland Farms
Midland, NC | Approximately 40 minutes from Charlotte
Midland Farms is another Cabarrus County farm that goes big for fall, but its public fall experience is concentrated into special festival dates rather than an every-weekend pumpkin patch season.
The farm’s 2026 Fall Festivals are scheduled for October 3 and October 10.
Activities include tractor-drawn hayrides, a large pumpkin patch, a special toddler pumpkin area, hay bale mountain, big corn pit, farm playground, inflatable attractions, carnival games and an animal barnyard.
Tickets are limited, so this is one I would plan ahead for rather than deciding to show up on a whim.
Best For: Families looking for a one-day fall festival atmosphere.
More Pumpkin Patches & Fall Farms Close to Charlotte
Lineberger’s Maple Springs Farm
Dallas, NC | Approximately 40 minutes from Charlotte
Want fall farm fun without immediately paying admission just to walk through the gate? Lineberger’s is worth knowing about.
Admission to the farm is free, and the fall pumpkin patch includes pumpkins and gourds along with hayrides, playgrounds, hay bale mountains, chickens to feed and picnic shelters. The farm store stays open through October 31, making Lineberger’s an easy stop when you want a casual pumpkin-patch outing rather than an expensive all-day attraction.
Best For: Budget-friendly fall fun.
Carrigan Farms
Mooresville, NC | Approximately 40 minutes from Charlotte
Carrigan Farms is especially interesting because you can visit the same farm for two completely different classic fall experiences.
September is apple season.
Their apple-picking experience includes a tractor-drawn hayride to the orchard, where dwarf apple trees make it easy for children to reach the fruit. Each participant fills a half-peck bag, and the experience also includes a stop at the petting zoo.
Then October becomes pumpkin season.
Carrigan Farms grows more than 20 acres of jack-o’-lantern pumpkins, and visitors take a hay wagon into the field to choose a pumpkin still attached to the vine.
And if your kids are older?
After dark, part of the property transforms into Scarrigan Farms, a haunted trail experience.
So Carrigan Farms can work for little kids during the day and teenagers who want something considerably less wholesome after sunset.
Don’t Miss: In 2026, Carrigan Farms is also offering U-pick flowers during part of September and fall.
Rural Hill Corn Maze
Huntersville, NC | Approximately 30 minutes from Charlotte
If your family is less interested in posing with pumpkins and more interested in getting completely lost in a field of corn, head to Rural Hill. The Rural Hill Corn Maze runs on weekends from September 5 through October 31, 2026.
The maze twists through acres of corn with game stations hidden throughout the paths. The 2026 design gives a nod to Rural Hill’s Scottish roots with a bagpiper and Highland cow theme.
Best For: Older kids and teens who may have outgrown the simple pumpkin-patch experience but will absolutely turn a corn maze into a competition.
Patterson Farm Market & Tours
Mount Ulla, NC | Approximately 45–50 minutes from Charlotte
Patterson Farm is another one to choose when you want an entire afternoon of activities rather than simply buying a pumpkin.
Their Fall Fun on the Farm season runs September 14 through November 21, 2026.
General fall admission includes a corn maze, wagon ride, barnyard, PawPaw Carl’s Playground, Tractor Track and dozens of other farm attractions. Depending on the ticket package you choose, you can add pumpkins, gem mining, paintball and other activities.
Patterson also offers educational pumpkin patch tours, homeschool days and special-needs programming during fall.
Best For: Families with younger children who want enough activities to turn the pumpkin patch into a half-day adventure.
Red Wolf Farm
Maiden, NC | Approximately 1 hour from Charlotte
Red Wolf Farm opens its pumpkin patch and corn maze to the public on select October weekends.
For 2026, public dates are October 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 24–25 and October 31.
Admission includes a surprisingly long list of activities: unlimited hayrides, a professionally designed corn maze, smaller kids’ maze, inflatables, pedal tractors, farm animals, corn house, pumpkin bowling and farm games.
The farm sits on 100 acres in the foothills outside Maiden, so this one also starts to feel more like a true day trip from Charlotte.
Best For: Families who want a lot included with one admission price.
Fall Farm Day Trips About 1–2 Hours From Charlotte
If you’re willing to drive a little farther, the number of options really opens up.
Shelby Corn Maze
Shelby, NC | Approximately 1 hour from Charlotte
Shelby Corn Maze may be one of the most activity-packed farms on this list. Their 2026 season runs September 19 through November 1, Friday through Sunday.
General farm admission includes an eight-acre corn maze, hayride to the pumpkin patch, jumping pillow and numerous courtyard activities. Altogether, the farm advertises more than 40 things to do and see.
There are also additional attractions like apple blasters, barrel train rides and kiddie ziplining.
And in October, things get considerably creepier after dark when the Trail of Terror opens on Friday and Saturday nights.
Best For: Families with kids of different ages and teens who want to come back after dark.
Alpha & Omega Corn Maze
Hamptonville, NC | Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Charlotte
If your main goal is to find a farm where the kids can stay busy for HOURS, Alpha & Omega needs to be on your radar. Their 2026 corn maze season runs September 12 through November 14.
General admission includes a five-acre corn maze, hayride, giant bounce pillows, pig races, corn box, toddler area, hay bale pyramid, games, photo opportunities and dozens of additional attractions.
You can also purchase packages that add things like pony rides, animal feeding, paintball and cannon blasters.
Best For: Families who want maximum entertainment for their drive.
Apple Picking Near Charlotte, NC
Pumpkins get most of the attention once October hits, but I’d argue that apple picking is one of the best September activities near Charlotte.
You don’t even have to drive all the way to Hendersonville to do it.
Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill
Morganton, NC | Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Charlotte
Apple Hill Orchard is a great option when you want a mountain-ish apple-picking experience without driving quite as far as Hendersonville. The orchard’s 2026 U-pick season opened August 8 and is expected to continue into November, weather permitting.
An orchard access pass is required for U-pick. Apple Hill grows more than 20 varieties of apples throughout the season, and the farm market includes fresh-pressed cider along with a bakery making cider donuts, fried apple pies, apple cakes and other treats.
Best For: A dedicated apple-picking trip that isn’t quite a two-hour drive.
Don’t Miss: The bakery. You did not drive to an apple orchard to suddenly become disciplined.
Perry Lowe Orchards
Moravian Falls, NC | Approximately 1½ hours from Charlotte
Head toward the Brushy Mountains for another fantastic North Carolina apple-picking day trip. Perry Lowe is a sixth-generation orchard with approximately 100 acres of apple trees and around 30 varieties.
Their 2026 U-pick season opens Labor Day Weekend, with different apple varieties ripening throughout September and October. The farm’s schedule includes Honeycrisp, Gala, Early Fuji and Blondee apples early in September, followed by Golden Delicious, Mutsu and other varieties as the season progresses.
Local Tip: The U-pick orchard is at a different location than Perry Lowe’s Apple House store, so double-check where your reservation tells you to go before following your GPS.
Apple Orchards & Fall Farms Near Hendersonville
If your idea of the perfect fall day involves mountain views, apple trees and enough apple cider donuts to make the drive worthwhile, Hendersonville is hard to beat.
These farms sit right around the outer edge of this guide’s two-hour radius from Charlotte, so I’d treat them as full-day trips.
Grandad’s Apples N’ Such
Hendersonville, NC | Around 2 hours from Charlotte
Grandad’s combines an apple orchard with many of the things people picture when they think about a North Carolina fall farm. The 120-acre farm offers fresh apples, select U-pick opportunities, a corn maze, playground and country store. This is one of the more popular apple orchards in Hendersonville, so expect crowds on the weekends.
Then in late September, pumpkins arrive.
Grandad’s pumpkin patch has pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns in different shapes and sizes, while the bakery serves hot cider donuts, apple pies, hot cider and apple cider slushies.
Best For: Anyone who wants apples, pumpkins, a corn maze AND cider donuts in the same trip.
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Hendersonville, NC | Around 2 hours from Charlotte
If I were looking for one farm where I could check off the most items on a traditional fall bucket list, Stepp’s would be a serious contender.
The fourth-generation farm opens its 2026 fall season on August 15. You can pick your own apples along with seasonal pumpkins, grapes, sunflowers and zinnias. Weekend farm activities include a five-acre corn maze, apple cannon, jump pad and wagon rides.
Another nice bonus: there is no general admission fee for the farm itself. You pay for what you pick and whichever activities you choose to do.
Best For: Families wanting the classic apples + pumpkins + corn maze + wagon ride combination.
Sky Top Orchard
Flat Rock, NC | Around 2 hours from Charlotte
Sky Top is one of those apple orchards that has become a fall destination all on its own. It is the most well known apple picking orchard with the most amazing mountain views! But with the popularity comes the crowds…so arrive with some patience.
The orchard sits high in the mountains outside Hendersonville and offers U-pick apples along with a playground, barnyard, tractor-pulled wagon rides, apple cannon and gem mining. And then there are the apple cider donuts….no visit to Sky Top Orchard is complete without buying some fresh apple cider donuts!
In 2026, Sky Top introduced timed U-pick reservations to better manage crowds and fruit availability. You don’t need a reservation simply to visit the farm, bakery or attractions, but a reservation is the best way to guarantee you’ll actually be able to pick apples.
Planning Tip: September and October weekends can get extremely busy, and the orchard itself sits on mountainous terrain. Sky Top recommends visiting during the week if you’re looking for a more relaxed experience.
Jeter Mountain Farm
Hendersonville, NC | Around 2 hours from Charlotte
Jeter Mountain Farm is much more than an apple orchard. Honestly, you could easily spend most of the day here.
Their 2026 fall season runs September 3 through November 1, Thursday through Sunday.
Jeter grows more than 25 varieties of U-pick apples along with other seasonal fruits, flowers and pumpkins. A tractor-pulled wagon carries visitors out to the picking areas.
Back at the main farm area, you’ll find a 6,000-square-foot indoor play area, bakery, coffee house, hard cider, barbecue, burgers, a farm market and a huge covered back porch. Weekend live music adds even more reason to stay awhile.
There is no admission charge simply to visit Jeter Mountain Farm, but reservations are highly recommended if you want to participate in U-pick.
Best For: Turning apple picking into an entire family day trip.
Justus Orchard
Hendersonville, NC | Around 2 hours from Charlotte
Justus Orchard is another good option if you have family members who don’t want their entire afternoon to revolve around picking apples….and if you need something a little extra to entice dad to join in the fun. The main feature that has Justus Orchard standing out from the rest is the Tap House featuring locally crafted wines, beers, and ciders…they even have their own custom blend!
You can still pick your own apples, along with other seasonal produce and pumpkins, but the farm also has an adventure playground, jumping pillow, jump pad, apple cannons and weekend cow train rides. Then head to the bakery for cider donuts, fried apple pies, cider and cider slushies, or hang out at the taproom while you’re there. On the weekends they even have live music out on the porch. So you can truly turn this into a full day of fun for the whole family.
Justus occasionally offers special horse-drawn hayrides through the orchard as well, so check the farm’s event schedule if that sounds like your kind of fall afternoon.
Best For: Families with older kids, couples and multigenerational groups because there is something to do besides picking apples.
When Does Fall Farm Season Start Near Charlotte?
You don’t have to wait until October to start enjoying fall fun around North Carolina. Apple season generally gets going first. Several orchards begin picking in August, with September being prime apple-picking season.
Corn mazes and full fall festivals begin opening in September, particularly during the middle and second half of the month. Pumpkin season really ramps up from late September through October. Some farms open pumpkin patches in September, while others intentionally wait until October when the pumpkins are ready.
That means you could realistically visit a different kind of farm every few weeks: apple picking around Labor Day, a corn maze in late September and a pumpkin patch in October.
Which Fall Farm Near Charlotte Should You Choose?
If you want apple picking without driving two hours, I’d start with Carrigan Farms, Apple Hill Orchard or Perry Lowe Orchards.
If you want the full pumpkin patch experience close to Charlotte, look at Almond Farm, Wise Acres, Patterson Farm or Shelby Corn Maze.
If you want something simple and affordable, Hodges Family Farm and Lineberger’s are great places to start.
If you have younger children who need LOTS to do, Patterson Farm, Shelby Corn Maze, Alpha & Omega and Almond Farm offer enough additional activities to make the farm itself the destination.
If you have teens, I’d lean toward Rural Hill’s corn maze, Shelby Corn Maze or one of the farms that adds haunted attractions in October.
And if you’re willing to make it a full North Carolina fall day trip, head toward Hendersonville and combine apple picking with mountain views, a bakery and a few stops around town.
Tips for Visiting a Pumpkin Patch or Apple Orchard Near Charlotte
Fall farms are working farms, not theme parks, and that’s part of what makes them fun.
Wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Check the weather. Bring sunscreen even when it feels like fall. Don’t assume strollers will work well in an orchard or pumpkin field. And most importantly, check what’s actually available before you leave home.
U-pick crops can disappear quickly on busy weekends.
If a farm says reservations are recommended, I wouldn’t gamble on showing up Saturday afternoon and hoping for the best.
And if fresh apple cider donuts are involved?
Get them first.
I have learned that lesson the hard way.
Find More Fall Things to Do Near Charlotte, NC
Fall is one of the best times to explore North Carolina because you can turn almost any Saturday into a quick day trip.
Pair this guide with my Things to Do in North Carolina in September Within 2 Hours of Charlotte for fairs, festivals, cultural events and early Halloween activities happening throughout the month.
And keep checking back throughout the season. I’ll continue updating this guide as North Carolina farms announce additional 2026 pumpkin patch dates, hayrides, corn mazes and special fall events.
Have a favorite North Carolina farm within two hours of Charlotte that I need to visit? Let me know in the comments, I’m always looking for another excuse to eat an apple cider donut.
Leave a Reply