A 145-acre North Shore farm offering free admission, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins (by weight at $0.69/lb), award-winning hard cider, homemade cider donuts, and weekend-only hayrides—best value for fall families who can visit weekdays.
Pumpkins priced at $0.69 per pound
Rough cost for a family of four: about $2.76 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.
Free to walk in. Your spend here is whatever you choose — pumpkins, food, and any paid activities. That makes it a low-risk stop if you are not sure how long the kids will last.
Cider Hill Farm is a 145-acre North Shore operation in Amesbury known for award-winning hard cider produced on-site, pick-your-own fruit, and cider donuts. The biggest practical value here is free admission—you walk the grounds and pick at your own pace, paying only for what you take home. This fundamentally changes the calculus of a fall farm visit.
This matters more than it sounds. Most pumpkin-patch festivals charge admission ($10-20 per person), often including activities you may or may not want. At Cider Hill, you decide what you do. Spend 20 minutes picking pumpkins, stay for hayrides and cider donuts, or just browse the stand. With three kids, the free entry removes a major friction point for a casual fall outing. No pressure to “get your money’s worth” by staying longer than you want, and no guilt if your toddler decides they’re done after 30 minutes.
This pricing model also makes a weekday visit feel efficient. You can stop on your way to somewhere else, grab some pumpkins and apples, and leave—all without the sense that you’ve “wasted” an admission fee.
The farm offers pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. Pumpkin pricing is published: $0.69 per pound. This means a 10-pound decorative pumpkin runs $6.90, and a 20-pound cooking pumpkin around $13.80—straightforward pay-by-weight with no hidden fees. Apple pricing is not specified; call for rates.
The pumpkin stand (open early September through mid-October) stocks additional sizes if you want to browse before picking. A longstanding tradition here is the annual pumpkin wagon photo—a seasonal photo backdrop that works for families and holiday cards.
Weekend hayrides run Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am-4pm, from September 3 through October 19. If hayrides are a must, you need to visit Saturday or Sunday. Cider donuts are homemade and worth the trip alone—especially if you’re already on the North Shore for another reason.
The farm also sells hard cider, local cheese, and seasonal produce from the stand. The hard cider is their signature product and has won awards; it’s the kind of detail that distinguishes this from generic pumpkin patches. If you’re interested in the cider side—production process, varieties, tasting—the farm is worth exploring beyond just the pumpkin patch.
The North Shore draws mostly local and Greater Boston traffic, not heavy tourist volume. Weekdays are genuinely quiet—you’ll have the orchard almost to yourself on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Weekends are moderately busy, especially during peak color weeks (early October). Come on a weekday if you can; you’ll have better apple and pumpkin selection and a calmer experience. Saturday and Sunday mornings (before 11am) are quieter than afternoons.
The season runs September 3 through October 19, meaning late-October visits are not possible here. If late October is your target, this farm won’t work.
From Boston, take Route 1 north toward the New Hampshire coast. The location is close to Route 495, making it accessible from the south shore, though farther than some Central Massachusetts options. North Shore beaches and Amesbury’s local restaurants and antiques shops make this easy to combine with a half-day outing. The town of Salisbury is nearby, offering additional food and shopping options.
September through early October. Admission is free; best value is weekday morning visits when crowds are light and fruit availability is freshest. Hayrides run weekends only; plan accordingly.
North Shore location draws local and Greater Boston traffic but less tourist volume than Cape Cod farms. Weekdays are quiet; weekends moderate to busy during peak color.
145-acre property suggests ample parking, but no details available. Sunday afternoons can get congested.
Large property with petting farm animals accessible to visitors. Hayride accessibility depends on wagon design; call to ask if mobility access is needed.
You need weekday hayrides; they run Saturday and Sunday only. If you want a hayride without weekend crowds, that conflict can't be resolved here.
North Shore beaches, Salisbury, Amesbury downtown, local dining and antiques.
Pick-your-own apples pricing is not specified, only that pumpkins are $0.69 per pound. Call for apple pricing.
Cider Hill is known for award-winning estate hard cider produced on-site. They sell bottles on-site. If you're interested in cider beyond the donuts, this is worth a visit even without picking.
No. Hayrides operate Saturday and Sunday only, 9:30am-4pm, September 3 through October 19. Weekday visitors can pick fruit and enjoy the grounds, but no hayrides.
Yes. According to the research notes, a pumpkin wagon for annual family photos is a tradition at this farm—a seasonal photo opportunity.
September 3 – October 19, 2026. Saturday, Sunday. Hours: 9:30am-4pm.
Admission is free. Pumpkins priced at $0.69 per pound
We track 5 patches in Greater Boston, 1 of which are free to walk into. At $0.69 a head this one sits below the regional median of $10, undercutting 1 of the 1 paid patches we track here. Entry here costs nothing, which puts it in the minority even in a region with several free options.
Its season runs about 47 days against a regional average of 58, so it is a shorter window than most of its neighbours — miss it and the nearest alternatives will still be open.
What sets it apart locally: it has a market, bakery or taproom, which most Greater Boston patches on our list do not.
There are 3 other patches we track in Essex County. All Greater Boston patches →
Map pin is set to the town centre. Navigate to the street address above, not the pin.
ciderhill.com
Checked August 2026.