Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes Near Bloomfield, West Orange & Montclair (October 2026)

Looking for a pumpkin patch or corn maze this October? The best ones within easy reach of Bloomfield, West Orange, and Montclair are a 15-to-40-minute drive, and most run daily through October 31. This guide covers the closest picks, the biggest corn mazes, what each one costs, and where to buy pumpkins without leaving town, so you can plan a low-stress fall weekend with the whole family.

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Key Takeaways

Fairfield Farms in Fairfield is the closest full pumpkin patch, about 15 to 20 minutes from all three towns and the only one actually in Essex County.
Most farms run daily through October 31, 2026. Columbus Day, Monday October 12, is a bonus outing day at Fairfield and many other farms.
The biggest maze is Stony Hill Farms in Chester, with a roughly 10-acre corn maze about 35 to 40 minutes from Montclair.
If you're house hunting, a farm Saturday is a free town trial. Turnkey single-family homes start around $625K+ Bloomfield, $600K+ West Orange, $900K+ Montclair, and most sell over asking.

Which pumpkin patch is closest to Bloomfield, West Orange, and Montclair?

The headline answer is Fairfield Farms & Greenhouses, at 177 Big Piece Road in Fairfield, NJ 07004, about 15 to 20 minutes from Bloomfield, West Orange, or Montclair, and the only true pumpkin patch with a corn maze actually in Essex County. Its fall festival runs daily from September 19 through October 31, 2026, with the farm store open 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day. Festival activities (pumpkin picking, the corn maze, hayrides, and the play area) run 1:00 to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends and Columbus Day.

In recent seasons a wristband was $15 for adults, $15 for children, and $8 for seniors 65+, with the daytime Spooky Trail hayride a $5 add-on and a nighttime hayride around $15. On the grounds: pick-your-own pumpkins, a child-friendly corn maze, hayrides, a rope maze, Big Bale Mountain, a rolling tube ride, a pumpkin slingshot (hit the target and you win a pumpkin), a goat pen, and the farm's own cider, donuts, mums, and produce. It is paid admission, and it is the spot I send Essex County families who want the full experience without the long drive. Check the farm's website for the week you plan to visit, since weekend slots can sell out.

Where is the biggest corn maze near Bloomfield and Montclair?

If the maze is the whole point, Stony Hill Farms in Chester is your answer. Sitting on North Road in Morris County, about 35 to 40 minutes from Montclair, it runs one of New Jersey's largest corn mazes, roughly 10 acres, plus a separate Maze Fun Park with rides and games that typically operates from early September into early November. Its pick-your-own pumpkin field opens in the second half of September and runs through October.

Stony Hill is paid admission, and on nice weekends the maze park draws families from across the region, so buy tickets online ahead of time and arrive in the morning. Address: North Road, Chester, NJ 07930. Check stonyhillfarms.com for 2026 hours and pricing.

Which farm has pumpkins, a corn maze, and a Halloween light show near Montclair?

Demarest Farms, at 244 Wierimus Road in Hillsdale, Bergen County, is about 25 minutes from Montclair and is the farm that does it all in late October: pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and in past seasons a Halloween light display in the final weeks before October 31. Its apple season kicked off in late August, and the same farm carries pumpkins straight through the fall.

Because picking requires an advance online reservation, book your weekend slot a few days out rather than just showing up. It is paid, and it is also one of the farms I covered in my apple-picking guide earlier this fall.

Where can you take little kids for pumpkins and hayrides without a long drive?

Secor Farms, at 85 Airmont Avenue in Mahwah, Bergen County, is about 30 minutes north and a favorite for families with young children. It combines pumpkin picking with hayrides, a family-friendly corn maze, a petting zoo, and warm apple cider donuts in the farm market. The pace is relaxed, the fields are flat, and there is enough to fill a morning without it turning into a full-day expedition.

Secor is paid admission. October hours vary by week, so check the farm's website before you go, and arrive early on weekends to beat the crowds. Address: 85 Airmont Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 07430.

Where can you pick a pumpkin and watch cider being pressed?

Hacklebarney Farms Cider Mill, at 104 State Park Road in Chester, Morris County, is about 35 to 40 minutes from Essex County and adds a bit of old-school flavor: pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and cider-pressing demonstrations you can actually watch, which is a quiet, educational outing that works especially well with older kids who want to see how things work. The farm market is worth a stop for fresh cider and fall produce on the way out.

It is paid, and the 2026 season dates do shift with the harvest, so confirm hours on the farm's website or its social pages before you drive out. Address: 104 State Park Road, Chester, NJ 07930.

Why do families drive out to Alstede Farms for a full farm day?

Alstede Farms, at 1 Alstede Farms Lane in Chester, is the most full-service agritainment stop within reach of Essex County, about 35 to 40 minutes from Montclair. It pairs pick-your-own pumpkins and apples with a big corn maze, a kids' maze, tractor-drawn wagon rides, and a large farm market, which makes it a solid full-day outing with kids of every age. Entry is by pre-purchased timed ticket bought online, so buy ahead, especially on weekends.

Because I covered Alstede in detail in my fall farm days guide, I will keep it short here: it is the one to choose when you want the whole day, not just a pumpkin. Address: 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ 07930. Paid.

Don't want to drive? Where can you buy pumpkins in town?

You do not have to leave town for the fall feel. Montclair Farmers Market runs every Saturday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Walnut Street Train Station (86 Walnut Street) and stays open into late October; in past seasons the October markets have had pumpkins, gourds, mums, and all the harvest vegetables, free to browse with pick-your-own prices on the produce.

Bloomfield has its own option: the Bloomfield Community Farmers Market, Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6:30 PM in the library courtyard at 90 Broad Street, running through late October and accepting SNAP, WIC, and senior FMNP benefits. If a farm day does not fit your weekend, either market gets you the pumpkin on the porch and the neighborhood vibe that goes with it.

What should you check before heading to a pumpkin patch in October?

A little planning keeps a farm day fun instead of frustrating. Here is the short checklist I give clients:

Confirm dates and hours online or by phone. Crop timing shifts with the weather, so the week you plan to visit is what matters, not what a roundup said in August.
Book weekend tickets ahead. Fairfield, Demarest, Stony Hill, and Alstede all sell timed or reserved entry in busy seasons, and the first nice weekends go quickly.
Use Columbus Day as a bonus. Monday, October 12 is an extra fall day off for most families and a full festival day at Fairfield, which means you can spread the fun across the long weekend.
Dress for the fields. Patches get muddy after rain, so bring boots, water, and a wagon if you have kids in tow.

How can a pumpkin-patch Saturday help you compare these three towns?

When you are weighing Bloomfield, West Orange, and Montclair, it is easy to get stuck in the spreadsheet: taxes, commute times, square footage. But the quality of a Saturday belongs in the comparison too. These are towns where families load up for a farm day in October, where neighbors run into each other at the farmers market, and where the community calendar gives you reasons to get outside in every season.

If you are thinking about moving to Essex County, I would love to help you picture the real rhythm of the place: Bloomfield, West Orange, and Montclair each feel different on the ground, and a Saturday is a cheap way to test them. No pressure, just honest answers to your questions.

Talk soon,
Sorelle