Minnesota's most affordable patch at $5 cash gate admission, built for budget-conscious families and short weekday visits; evenings are genuinely quiet.
$5 cash gate admission; cash only for onsite activities
Rough cost for a family of four: about $20.00 in admission alone at the posted starting rate, before pumpkins, food, parking or any add-on listed above. Most families end up well north of that once they are through the gate.
If you need proof that a pumpkin patch does not require 30 attractions or premium pricing to be worth your time, Anoka County Farms is it. Five dollars per person at the gate, a barrel train, pumpkin picking, and simple fall activities. Done. This is the anti-festival approach.
A family of four pays $20 to get in. At that rate, you’re already at a significant advantage over larger festival patches. Weekday evening visits—the farm opens at 4 pm Tuesday–Friday—mean even shorter, cheaper trips: arrive at 4:30, pick a pumpkin by 5:15, leave by 5:45. You’ve paid admission and picked your pumpkin in roughly an hour.
October in Minnesota gets dark early, but the farm is lit for evening operation. A weekday 4–7 pm slot means you avoid the Saturday-afternoon mob entirely. Your kids can walk the field without dodging a hundred other families. If you have work-from-home flexibility or can pick kids up early from school, this timing is a genuine advantage.
The farm takes cash for gate admission and on-site activities. No cards, no phone pay. This is not a bug if you plan for it, but it’s a constraint. Bring bills or know where the nearest ATM is before you arrive. For families already comfortable with cash-based farm culture, this is normal. For urban families, it requires a deliberate stop.
The barrel train express is a small, toddler-friendly ride. Pick-your-own pumpkins is straightforward. Pumpkin painting and hayrides are listed but not detailed in available sources. Call if specific age-appropriate activities matter.
The farm does not publish specifics on shade, shelter, parking surface, or crowding patterns in their online presence, so go in expecting a simple farm lot and open fields. Bring layers for Minnesota’s unpredictable fall evenings—comfort matters on a farm with minimal shelter.
If your group needs a full afternoon of entertainment, a free-roaming exploration, or card payments, the large festival patches (Pinehaven, Big Springs) are better bets. Anoka County Farms shines for quick, cheap, no-frills family time.
Weekday evenings (4–7 pm) to avoid crowds and maximize value; weekends fill quickly.
1–2 hours (shorter than festival patches)
Heavy on weekends; Tuesday–Friday evenings are genuinely quiet and your best bet.
Not specified; typical farm lot.
Not specified in available sources; call the farm for details on mobility access.
You want a full day of activities or cannot pay cash only.
Ham Lake is in Anoka County, 20 minutes northeast of downtown Minneapolis. Combine with a quick stop at a local restaurant or the nearby Coon Rapids Dam regional park.
Yes, $5 cash at the gate. Children and adults pay the same rate. This is Anoka County Farms' core strategy: low admission, keep it simple.
The farm operates cash-only for gate admission and on-site activities. Plan ahead; there is no ATM mentioned on-site.
A unique Anoka County Farms attraction—a ride across the property using a barrel train. It's a short, toddler-friendly alternative to a hay wagon or walking.
Yes, dramatically. The farm is open 4–7 pm Tuesday–Friday. Families visiting after work or school mean short crowds. Arrive at 4 or 4:30 pm for maximum peace.
September 19 – October 31, 2026. Saturdays and Sundays 10 am-6 pm; Tuesday-Friday 4 pm-7 pm; Mondays closed. Hours: Sat-Sun 10 am-6 pm, Tue-Fri 4-7 pm.
Admission starts at $5 per person. $5 cash gate admission; cash only for onsite activities
We track 11 patches in Twin Cities Metro. At $5 a head this one sits below the regional median of $15, undercutting 1 of the 2 paid patches we track here.
Its season runs about 43 days against a regional average of 32, so it is a notably longer window than most of its neighbours, which takes the pressure off picking a weekend.
What sets it apart locally: it has hayrides, rides and play structures, which most Twin Cities Metro patches on our list do not.
There is 1 other patch we track in Anoka County. All Twin Cities Metro patches →
Map pin is set to the town centre. Navigate to the street address above, not the pin.
anokacountyfarms.com · pumpkinpatchesnearme.com
Checked August 2026.