A large-scale pick-your-own operation with 37 pumpkin varieties, free hayrides to the field, and U-pick apples; the inclusive hayride model is rare and makes it accessible for families with mobility constraints.
Free hayride to pumpkin patch included
Gaver Farm’s standout feature is sheer pumpkin variety—37 cultivars on the property. This is not just multiple shades of orange. The farm grows mini pumpkins (ideal for small decorations or kids), sugar pumpkins (best for pies), standard carving varieties, prizewinners (large for display), white pumpkins, and winter squash (for longer storage and cooking).
For gardeners, decorators, or families seeking a specific type, this variety is exceptional. You’re unlikely to leave empty-handed.
Most farms require walking into pumpkin fields. Gaver includes a free hayride to the field with admission. This is a significant accessibility advantage for families with young children who can’t walk long distances, older visitors, or people with mobility constraints. Confirm with the farm staff (call 301-865-3515) that your specific mobility device or assistance need can be accommodated.
This is a working farm operation, not a festival. Hours are strict: 10am-6pm, September 4 through November 1, 2026. No early morning access, no evening-only options.
Weekday visits (late morning after school drop-off) will be significantly less crowded than Saturday and Sunday. October will be busier than September, as the season intensifies.
The farm also operates a farm market and offers U-pick apples, making it possible to combine a full fall experience in one stop. No specific pricing for apples or admission is in the record; call 301-865-3515 to confirm.
Mount Airy is in Carroll County, at the northern edge of the DC suburbs, at higher elevation than Baltimore or lower Montgomery County. Fall color arrives a bit earlier, and temperatures are cooler, especially in morning and evening. Layer up, especially if you’re picking in late September.
The record does not list admission price. Call 301-865-3515 to confirm.
An unlisted admission fee is genuinely useful to flag rather than gloss over — it’s the single number that determines whether this is a $20 outing or an $80 one. Regional U-pick operations of this scale typically run one of two ways: a flat gate fee that covers the hayride and field access, with pumpkins and apples priced separately by size or weight, or a single per-person admission that bundles everything. Without a posted 2026 rate, the safest planning move is to treat this as a semi-open-ended spend — bring more than you think you’ll need, and confirm the current structure by phone before you commit to a specific pumpkin count or apple bag size. Families budgeting tightly should call ahead specifically to ask whether pricing is per-person, per-carload, or purely pay-for-what-you-pick, since that answer changes the math for a group of four more than almost anything else on this page.
This farm is ideal for families who want variety and accessibility in one visit, and who prefer a focused morning or early-afternoon outing over a full-day festival. The 37 varieties make it appealing to picky pickers, and the hayride removes barriers for many families.
Early-to-mid October for best selection; weekday mornings (10am-noon) are less crowded than Saturday-Sunday.
2-3 hours including hayride, pumpkin pick, and apple picking if both appeal.
Moderate on weekday mornings, heavy Saturday-Sunday 11am-4pm. Arrive by 10am for best experience.
Unpaved farm lot; muddy in rain.
Free hayride to pumpkin patch is significant accessibility feature; wheelchairs and mobility devices should confirm with farm staff whether they can ride. Call 301-865-3515.
You prefer an afternoon/evening visit; the farm closes at 6pm and opens at 10am weekdays. Also skip if you want an all-day festival—this is a focused pick-and-go operation.
37 cultivars including mini pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, carving varieties, prizewinners, white pumpkins, and winter squash.
Yes; free hayride to the pumpkin patch is included with admission.
The record does not list pricing. Call 301-865-3515 to confirm 2026 admission.
Yes; the farm offers U-pick apples alongside pumpkins, and a farm market is on-site.
September 4 – November 1, 2026. Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm.
Admission pricing was not published when we last checked. Free hayride to pumpkin patch included
5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy, MD 21771, in Carroll County. It is one of 8 patches we track in DC Suburbs.
We track 8 patches in DC Suburbs. The farm has not published a gate price, so it cannot be compared on cost — call before you budget.
Its season runs about 59 days against a regional average of 54, so it is broadly in line with the rest of the region.
There are 3 other patches we track in Carroll County. All DC Suburbs patches →
gaverfarm.com
Checked August 2026.