Gaines Farm, established in 1782, is one of Vermont’s longest-operating farms, making it a genuinely historical property. When the research notes describe it as a “long-running local fall tradition,” that’s not marketing; it’s factual institutional continuity. Multi-generational families in the region may have visited this farm as children, bringing their own kids now—it’s genuinely rooted in the community in a way newer operations are not.
The 7-acre corn maze is the centerpiece, built in 10-foot-tall corn, which means reasonable visibility and navigation for families but not trivial difficulty. Expect 30-60 minutes for casual completion, faster if you’re racing.
The farm offers three distinct experiences: daytime maze (Sept 20-Oct 26, Saturdays-Sundays 11am-5pm, non-scary), twilight maze (Sept 20 and 27 only, Saturdays 6:30-8:30pm), and haunted maze (Oct 3-25, Fridays and Saturdays evenings). This range lets you choose your intended vibe: family-friendly daytime, atmospheric-evening, or spooky-scary.
The twilight experience (non-scary, flashlight-guided) on the first two Saturdays of the season is a clever positioning—it’s seasonal, limited, and creates early-season urgency if you specifically want that experience. If you’re interested, mark those dates (Sept 20 and 27) and book early.
The haunted maze and haunted hayride run October 3-25 on Fridays and Saturdays. This timing avoids the very end of October (when many families are focused on trick-or-treating) while catching the core Halloween-season enthusiasm. If your kids enjoy haunted houses and you’re in the region mid-to-late October, this is worth considering as an evening activity.
Note: haunted experiences vary in scare intensity. Call 802-257-0409 to ask what the farm’s approach to “scary” is—some farms are kid-friendly jump-scares; others are genuinely intense. Knowing your kids’ and your own tolerance is important before committing.
Admission pricing for daytime, twilight, and haunted events is not published online as of late August. These are likely differently priced (daytime probably cheapest, haunted events probably more expensive), and you need to know the actual cost before committing. Call 802-257-0409 to confirm separate rates for each experience type.
The farm lists “Weekends (Saturdays-Sundays) plus select weeknight events” as operating days. This means weekday visits are not guaranteed. If you need a weekday option, call to confirm. Peak weekends (mid-to-late October) will be the most crowded; early October weekends or the final week (Oct 20-26) offer quieter alternatives.
Guilford is in Windham County, in the woodsy, quieter part of southern Vermont near the New Hampshire border. It’s not a tourist-destination town, but it’s surrounded by hiking (Mount Monadnock is minutes away), charming villages (Newfane is nearby), and other southern Vermont orchards and farms. If you’re making the drive, consider staying for other regional activities.
Late September through mid-October. The farm opens September 20 and closes October 26. Peak foliage weekends (mid-to-late Oct) are busiest; early October offers a better crowd/selection balance.
2-3 hours
Weekends are the primary operating days. Peak-season weekends (mid-to-late Oct) will be busy. Early October and the final week (Oct 20-26) are quieter. Weekday operation is limited; call to confirm availability.
On-farm parking; expect it to fill during peak weekends.
7-acre corn maze requires navigation and walking. Call 802-257-0409 to confirm accessible routes and accessibility options for haunted events.
Gaines Farm is in Guilford, in Windham County in southeastern Vermont near the New Hampshire border. Pair with hiking in the nearby Mount Monadnock area (which straddles VT/NH), exploring Newfane (charming town nearby), or visiting other southern Vermont orchards and farms.
Admission pricing was not published on their website as of August 28, 2026. Call 802-257-0409 to confirm separate rates for daytime, twilight, and haunted-event admission.
No difficulty level is specified. For a 7-acre maze, expect 30-60 minutes for completion at a casual pace. Older kids and adults will likely complete it faster than families with very young children.
Daytime maze (Sept 20-Oct 26, weekends 11am-5pm) is standard; twilight maze (Sept 20 and 27, Saturdays 6:30-8:30pm) uses flashlights; haunted maze (Oct 3-25, Fridays and Saturdays evenings) adds spooky elements. Call to confirm times and what makes each distinct.
Yes—Gaines Farm has been operating since 1782, making it one of the oldest continuously operated farms in the region and a long-running local fall tradition.
September 20 – October 26, 2026. Weekends; select weekdays for haunted events. Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm daytime; 6:30-8:30pm twilight; evening haunted mazes.
Admission pricing was not published when we last checked.
6343 Coolidge Highway, Guilford, VT 05301, in Windham County. It is one of 9 patches we track in Southern Vermont.
We track 9 patches in Southern Vermont, 1 of which are free to walk into. The farm has not published a gate price, so it cannot be compared on cost — call before you budget.
Its season runs about 37 days against a regional average of 65, 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 corn or crop maze, an after-dark attraction, which most Southern Vermont patches on our list do not.
There are 6 other patches we track in Windham County. All Southern Vermont patches →
Map pin is set to the town centre. Navigate to the street address above, not the pin.
gainesfarm.com
Checked August 2026.