Pumpkin season in the Washington, DC area runs from mid-September through Halloween, and it is one of the best reasons to leave the city for a day. Piling the family into the car and heading for the farm country of Maryland and Virginia has become a weekend ritual for locals, and the 2026 fall festival lineup is as strong as ever. Whether you live in a rowhouse on Capitol Hill, a condo by Navy Yard, or a family home near Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, a pumpkin patch day trip is a wonderful way to embrace autumn while living in our Nations Capital.
Maryland Farms
Montgomery and Prince George's counties are home to some of the DMV's most beloved patch spots.
Butler's Orchard in Germantown
The DMV's most beloved pick-your-own farm celebrates its 46th annual Pumpkin Festival from September 19 through November 1. Expect hayrides, giant slides, corn and straw mazes, and rows of pumpkins ready for picking. Weekday afternoons and weekend mornings are the calmest windows.
Homestead Farm in Poolesville
A classic pick-your-own farm with pumpkins and apples through the end of October, plus hayrides for the little ones. Restored 19th-century farm buildings make it feel like a step back in time, even though it is only about 40 minutes from downtown.
Sharp's at Waterford Farm in Brookeville
A true working farm where weekend hayrides to the pumpkin patch are a beloved Montgomery County tradition. South of the District, Montpelier Farms in Upper Marlboro adds a corn maze and farm animals, and Gaver Farm in Mount Airy rounds out the Maryland list with a petting zoo and playground.
Northern Virginia Farms
Fairfax and Loudoun counties deliver big festivals and quiet patches alike.
Cox Farms in Centreville
Not far from the George Mason University campus, Cox Farms runs the region's biggest fall festival from September 19 through November 8, with hayrides, a famous corn maze, and the Fields of Fear haunted experience once the sun goes down.
Great Country Farms in Bluemont
Tucked into the Loudoun County countryside, Great Country Farms pairs pick-your-own pumpkins with apple picking and a corn maze through October 31, with the famous Pumpkin Chunkin' event in early November.
Wegmeyer, Leesburg & Temple Hall
Wegmeyer Farms in Hamilton is a dedicated pick-your-own pumpkin patch open Thursdays through Sundays. Nearby Leesburg hosts Pumpkin Village Fall Fest from September 19 through November 8, and Temple Hall Farm, run by NOVA Parks, spreads pumpkin patches and sunflower fields across the countryside.
Make a Day of It
Plan ahead, and the trip becomes the highlight of the weekend.
Most of these farms sit within an hour of downtown, which makes the drive feel like a true escape instead of a slog. Pack a picnic, dress everyone in layers, and stop by an orchard market for apple cider doughnuts on the way out. If you cannot make it out of the city, the Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market on Sunday mornings brings local pumpkins and autumn produce right into Washington, DC. On the way home you will pass the campuses of Georgetown University, GWU, and American University, plus hospitals such as MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Children's National Medical Center, where the city's rhythms carry on around you.
These crisp weekends are also a lovely time to continue a Washington, DC real estate search. The season brings a fresh wave of listings as families settle into school routines, and seeing neighborhoods in autumn light helps you picture daily life in a way summer showings never quite capture. Whether you are eyeing a rowhouse near Georgetown or a family home in the suburbs, the DMV feels smaller and friendlier this time of year.
Wherever you live in the DMV, my advice is simple: pick a Saturday in the next few weeks, load up the kids, and go get a pumpkin. These farms are where the community grows, literally and otherwise, and they are part of what makes living in our Nations Capital feel like home.
Looking for Your Own Patch of the DMV?
If your fall plans include a move, I would love to help you find the right neighborhood, the right home, and the right community for your family. Reach out anytime at robert.clarke@cbrealty.com or call or text (202) 681-9556. Happy pumpkin season!
Robert Clarke
Realtor . Coldwell Banker Realty . SP99196
Engineer turned real estate agent with a Master's from George Washington University. I help families find their place in the DMV with a blend of technical rigor and genuine local knowledge, from neighborhood deep-dives to hands-on relocation support.