5 Best Pumpkin Patches With a Petting Zoo in Illinois
Jump to: 1. Negangard Pumpkin Patch 2. Market Six 3. Breezy Hill Farm 4. Schaefer Pumpkin Patch 5. Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm
The 5 best pumpkin patches with a petting zoo in Illinois are Negangard Pumpkin Patch, Market Six, Breezy Hill Farm, Schaefer Pumpkin Patch and Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm — farms tagged for farm animals kids can get close to, alongside the pumpkins. For toddlers and preschoolers especially, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. 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 Illinois, or browse pumpkin patches with petting zoos in every state on our Petting Zoos and Farm Animals near me page.
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Negangard Pumpkin Patch
Negangard Pumpkin Patch in Sidney takes the top spot, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 131 reviews. Visitors come here for petting zoo.
1883 County Rd 700 N, 61877
Petting zooNegangard Pumpkin Patch is ranked #1 on this list, located at 1883 County Rd 700 N, Sidney, IL, 61877. It carries a 4.9-out-of-5 rating on Google from 131 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Sidney. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for petting zoo, 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 Negangard 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: "Family-owned spot for pumpkins of all sizes and colors, plus squash, gourds and farm animals." Negangard Pumpkin Patch is one of the farms we track with a petting zoo, which typically means for families with toddlers and preschoolers, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. most are included with admission; feed cups usually cost a dollar or two..
Hours aren't listed for Negangard Pumpkin Patch 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 Negangard 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 Negangard 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.
Negangard Pumpkin Patch sits, near Sidney, IL, 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 Negangard Pumpkin Patch's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Market Six
Market Six, out in Chapin, is next up, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 40 reviews. Visitors come here for hayrides and petting zoo.
2101 Hefner Hills Rd, 62628
HayridesPetting zooFarm storeMarket Six is ranked #2 on this list, located at 2101 Hefner Hills Rd, Chapin, IL, 62628. It carries a 4.9-out-of-5 rating on Google from 40 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Chapin. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for hayrides, petting zoo 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 Market Six 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: "Seasonal farm with pumpkins and hayrides, along with animal petting and zip lines." Market Six is one of the farms we track with a hayride, which typically means hayrides run on a loop from the barn out to the pumpkin field, typically ten to twenty minutes, and at many farms they are the only way to reach the picking field at all. some are free with admission, some are a few doll…
Based on its public listing, Market Six is typically open Friday 10AM-5PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 12-5PM. 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 Market Six 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 Market Six 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.
Market Six sits, near Chapin, IL, 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 Market Six's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Breezy Hill Farm
Breezy Hill Farm near Benton rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 235 reviews. Visitors come here for hayrides and petting zoo.
14421 4 Mile Ln, 62812
HayridesPetting zooBreezy Hill Farm is ranked #3 on this list, located at 14421 4 Mile Ln, Benton, IL, 62812. It carries a 4.8-out-of-5 rating on Google from 235 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Benton. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for hayrides and petting zoo, 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 Breezy Hill 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. In the farm's own words: "Pumpkin patch featuring a maze made of corn and a petting zoo, plus hay rides." Breezy Hill Farm is one of the farms we track with a hayride, which typically means hayrides run on a loop from the barn out to the pumpkin field, typically ten to twenty minutes, and at many farms they are the only way to reach the picking field at all. some are free with admission, some are a few doll…
Hours aren't listed for Breezy Hill Farm 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 Breezy Hill 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 Breezy Hill 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.
Breezy Hill Farm sits, near Benton, IL, 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 Breezy Hill Farm's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Schaefer Pumpkin Patch
Also worth the drive: Schaefer Pumpkin Patch in Beecher City, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 77 reviews. Visitors come here for corn maze and hayrides.
2917 N 2210 St, 62414
Corn mazeHayridesPetting zooSchaefer Pumpkin Patch is ranked #4 on this list, located at 2917 N 2210 St, Beecher City, IL, 62414. It carries a 4.8-out-of-5 rating on Google from 77 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Beecher City. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for corn maze, hayrides and petting zoo, 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 Schaefer 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: "Family-friendly pumpkin patch offering a petting zoo, a corn maze, wagon rides, and other activities." Schaefer Pumpkin Patch is one of the farms we track with a corn maze, which typically means a corn maze is cut into a standing field in late summer and stays open until the stalks are harvested, which is why most mazes open a week or two after the pumpkin patch itself and close hard at the end of the season. si…
Based on its public listing, Schaefer Pumpkin Patch is typically open 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 Schaefer 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 Schaefer 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.
Schaefer Pumpkin Patch sits, near Beecher City, IL, 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 Schaefer Pumpkin Patch's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm
Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm in Waukegan is another strong option, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 368 reviews. Visitors come here for corn maze and hayrides.
13236 W Townline Rd, 60087
Corn mazeHayridesPetting zooCider and donutsKroll's Fall Harvest Farm is ranked #5 on this list, located at 13236 W Townline Rd, Waukegan, IL, 60087. It carries a 4.7-out-of-5 rating on Google from 368 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Waukegan. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo and cider and donuts, 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 Kroll's Fall Harvest 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. In the farm's own words: "Fall-themed family farm featuring corn mazes, a petting zoo, pumpkins, cider and hayrides for families." Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm is one of the farms we track with a corn maze, which typically means a corn maze is cut into a standing field in late summer and stays open until the stalks are harvested, which is why most mazes open a week or two after the pumpkin patch itself and close hard at the end of the season. si…
Hours aren't listed for Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm 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 Kroll's Fall Harvest 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 Kroll's Fall Harvest 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.
Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm sits, near Waukegan, IL, 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 Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
Conclusion
Negangard Pumpkin Patch is our top pick for a pumpkin patch with a petting zoo in Illinois, rated 4.9 out of 5, with Market Six, Breezy Hill Farm, Schaefer Pumpkin Patch and Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm rounding out the list. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and which animals are on site — and whether the barn is open that day — can vary week to week, so always confirm with the farm directly before you drive out. For more options, see every pumpkin patch we track in Illinois.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pumpkin patch with a petting zoo in Illinois?
Based on rating and review volume, Negangard Pumpkin Patch ranks first among the pumpkin patches with a petting zoo we track in Illinois, with a 4.9-out-of-5 rating. See the full breakdown above, or its full listing for hours and directions.
What animals are usually at a pumpkin patch petting zoo?
It varies by farm, but goats, sheep, alpacas, rabbits and barn cats are the most common. Larger farms sometimes add pigs, ponies or a small aviary. Feed cups are usually available for a dollar or two even when general admission is free.
Is the petting zoo included in admission?
At most farms, yes — the animal barn is bundled into general admission rather than ticketed separately. It's still worth confirming when you call, since a minority of larger destination farms do charge extra for it.
Are petting zoos safe for toddlers?
Generally yes, with normal precautions. Well-run farms provide hand-washing stations near the animal area and it's worth using them properly — animal contact areas are a recognized source of E. coli and salmonella exposure in young children. Strollers are frequently not permitted inside the enclosure itself, so plan for carrying.
Are these pumpkin patches good for young kids?
Yes — a petting zoo is one of the two features (alongside a dedicated kids' play area) that most reliably holds a toddler's or preschooler's attention. Check the listings above for hours, and call ahead if you're planning specifically around animal-barn access.