5 Best Pumpkin Patches To Pick Your Own Pumpkin in Minnesota
Jump to: 1. Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota 2. Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch 3. Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm 4. Waldoch Farm 5. Gilby's Nursery & Orchard
The 5 best places to pick your own pumpkin in Minnesota are Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota, Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch, Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm, Waldoch Farm and Gilby's Nursery & Orchard — farms tagged for true u-pick, where you cut a pumpkin straight from the vine instead of choosing from a pile by the barn. Below, each gets a closer look — what it offers, how it's rated, and how to get there — followed by answers to the questions we hear most about visiting. See every pumpkin patch we track in Minnesota, or browse u-pick farms in every state on our U-Pick Pumpkin Patches near me page.
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Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota
Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota in Janesville takes the top spot, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 172 reviews. Visitors come here for u-pick pumpkins and kids play area.
35482 W County Line Rd, 56048
U-pick pumpkinsKids play areaAutumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota is ranked #1 on this list, located at 35482 W County Line Rd, Janesville, MN, 56048. It carries a 4.9-out-of-5 rating on Google from 172 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Janesville. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for u-pick pumpkins and kids play area, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Family-friendly farm with a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, plus games for kids." Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota is one of the farms we track with a u-pick pumpkin patch, which typically means true u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. it is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertis…
Hours aren't listed for Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota in our data. Most pumpkin patches run daily or weekends-only from mid-September through the first days of November, but the surest way to know is to call ahead or check the farm's website before you drive out. Admission pricing isn't listed for Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota sits, near Janesville, MN, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch
Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch, out in Austin, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 131 reviews. Visitors come here for hayrides and u-pick pumpkins.
90537 273rd St, 55912
HayridesU-pick pumpkinsFarm storeKids play areaFarmer John's Pumpkin Patch is ranked #2 on this list, located at 90537 273rd St, Austin, MN, 55912. It carries a 4.8-out-of-5 rating on Google from 131 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Austin. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for hayrides, u-pick pumpkins, farm store and kids play area, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Casual pumpkin farm and shop offering free hayrides, kids' slides and U-pick berries." Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch is one of the farms we track with a u-pick pumpkin patch, which typically means true u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. it is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertis…
Based on its public listing, Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch is typically open Monday 3-6PM, Tuesday 3-6PM, Wednesday 3-6PM, Thursday 3-6PM, Friday 3-6PM, Saturday 12-6PM, Sunday 12-6PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch sits, near Austin, MN, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm
Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm near Lino Lakes rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 71 reviews. Visitors come here for u-pick pumpkins.
8174 Lake Dr, 55014
U-pick pumpkinsJoyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm is ranked #3 on this list, located at 8174 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, MN, 55014. It carries a 4.8-out-of-5 rating on Google from 71 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Lino Lakes. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for u-pick pumpkins, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm is one of the farms we track with a u-pick pumpkin patch, which typically means true u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. it is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertis…
Based on its public listing, Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm is typically open Thursday 10AM-5PM, Friday 10AM-5PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-5PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm sits, near Lino Lakes, MN, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Waldoch Farm
Also worth the drive: Waldoch Farm in Lino Lakes, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 444 reviews. Visitors come here for u-pick pumpkins and farm store.
8174 Lake Dr, 55014
U-pick pumpkinsFarm storeWaldoch Farm is ranked #4 on this list, located at 8174 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, MN, 55014. It carries a 4.7-out-of-5 rating on Google from 444 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Lino Lakes. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for u-pick pumpkins and farm store, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Waldoch Farm yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. Waldoch Farm is one of the farms we track with a u-pick pumpkin patch, which typically means true u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. it is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertis…
Based on its public listing, Waldoch Farm is typically open Monday 9AM-6PM, Wednesday 9AM-6PM, Thursday 9AM-6PM, Friday 9AM-6PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-5PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Waldoch Farm either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Waldoch Farm can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Waldoch Farm sits, near Lino Lakes, MN, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Waldoch Farm's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Gilby's Nursery & Orchard
Gilby's Nursery & Orchard in Aitkin is another strong option, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 142 reviews. Visitors come here for u-pick pumpkins.
30069 MN-210, 56431
U-pick pumpkinsGilby's Nursery & Orchard is ranked #5 on this list, located at 30069 MN-210, Aitkin, MN, 56431. It carries a 4.7-out-of-5 rating on Google from 142 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Aitkin. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for u-pick pumpkins, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Recurring themes in reviews of Gilby's Nursery & Orchard include apples, corn maze, hayride, apple picking and hay bale jumping — not a direct quote from any single visitor, but the topics that come up most often when people describe the farm. Gilby's Nursery & Orchard is one of the farms we track with a u-pick pumpkin patch, which typically means true u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. it is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertis…
Based on its public listing, Gilby's Nursery & Orchard is typically open Monday 9AM-4PM, Tuesday 9AM-4PM, Wednesday 9AM-4PM, Thursday 9AM-4PM, Friday 9AM-4PM, Saturday 9AM-4PM, Sunday 9AM-4PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Gilby's Nursery & Orchard either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Gilby's Nursery & Orchard can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Gilby's Nursery & Orchard sits, near Aitkin, MN, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Gilby's Nursery & Orchard's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
Conclusion
Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota is our top pick for picking your own pumpkin in Minnesota, rated 4.9 out of 5, with Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch, Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm, Waldoch Farm and Gilby's Nursery & Orchard rounding out the list. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and hours, admission and what's actually running on a given day can vary week to week during the season — always confirm with the farm directly, and ask specifically whether the field is still open for cutting, before you drive out. For more options, see every pumpkin patch we track in Minnesota or browse u-pick pumpkin patches near you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin in Minnesota?
Based on rating and review volume, Autumn Acres Farm - Pumpkin Patch Mankato Minnesota ranks first among the u-pick pumpkin patches we track in Minnesota, with a 4.9-out-of-5 rating. See the full breakdown above, or its <a href="/minnesota/janesville/autumn-acres-farm-pumpkin-patch-mankato-minnesota/">full listing</a> for hours and directions.
What does "u-pick" actually mean at a pumpkin patch?
True u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself, rather than choosing from a pile of pumpkins trucked in and arranged near the barn. Both are common — if cutting from the vine matters to you, call ahead and ask whether the field is still open, especially late in the season.
When is u-pick season in Minnesota?
Most u-pick fields open alongside the rest of the pumpkin season, roughly mid-to-late September through the first days of November, and smaller growers can pick out and switch to a pre-picked pile before the season officially ends. Check the listings above or call ahead to confirm the field is still open.
What should I bring to pick my own pumpkin?
Gloves and, ideally, your own shears — pumpkin vines are prickly, and a cleanly cut stem two to four inches long keeps a pumpkin fresh far longer than one twisted off by hand. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy, since fields are working farmland, not paved lots.
Are these u-pick patches good for young kids?
It depends on the farm and how far the field is from parking. Check the individual listing pages above for feature tags like a petting zoo or kids' play area, and call ahead if you're planning around young children or strollers.