A seven-day-a-week seasonal farm near Boston with a 4.5-acre corn maze, sunflower fields, pumpkin patch, and included hayride and pumpkin per adult, offering convenient family outings without the long drive.
Admission includes hayride, animal access, one small sugar pumpkin per adult
Hanson’s Farm is one of the closest pumpkin-patch operations to Boston—located in Framingham, just inside Route 495. It’s a year-round farm that pivots to fall festivals in September and October, operating seven days a week with extended hours (9am-6pm, 5:30pm Sundays).
Admission price is not published online, so you’ll need to call 508-877-3058 to ask. What matters is what’s included: every adult gets one small sugar pumpkin with admission, plus access to the 4.5-acre corn maze, a hayride, and farm animals. Larger pumpkins or multiple pumpkins cost extra. If you have a family of four, at minimum you walk out with four pumpkins (small, but still real pumpkins) included in your entry fee. That structure, even without knowing the admission price, signals better value than a farm that charges admission separately from pumpkins.
The 4.5-acre corn maze is a genuine attraction—not tiny, not a massive 7-acre undertaking, but substantial enough for a 45-minute puzzle or 20-minute casual walk. Sunflower fields are a late-September and early-October photo draw, particularly popular for family pictures before the flowers fade. These fields are not pick-your-own; they’re a photo backdrop and a visual change from corn-maze-and-pumpkin-patch repetition.
This is a practical advantage for families with conventional work schedules. Most pumpkin farms operate weekends and limited weekday hours. Hanson’s Farm is open every single day, 9am-6pm (5:30pm Sundays). If you work Monday through Friday, you can visit on a Tuesday evening after picking up the kids, which changes the crowd dynamics dramatically.
Framingham is close enough to Boston that weekends, especially October weekends, can be congested. Weekday mornings are far quieter—Tuesday through Friday mornings are genuinely mellow. Early September also tends to be less busy than late September or October, and the sunflower fields are typically at their peak mid-September through early October.
The advantage of proximity (20-25 miles from central Boston, under an hour from many suburbs) is balanced against the fact that “closer to Boston” also means “more developed, more commercial, less rambling farm.” Hanson’s is better thought of as a fall festival on a farm rather than an authentic pick-your-own orchard. That’s not a knock—it’s the right choice for some families and the wrong one for others.
Cider donuts are on-site and locally praised. Arrive early or go on a weekday to avoid concession lines.
September 1 through October 31, open daily 9am-6pm (5:30pm Sundays). Weekday mornings are significantly less crowded than weekends. Visit early October for foliage color without peak crowds.
Very close to Boston (Framingham, Middlesex County). Weekends can be crowded; weekday visits, especially weekday mornings, are substantially quieter. September weekends have lower crowds than October.
4.5-acre property is substantial, but it's also a year-round farm with other seasonal operations. No specific lot details available; expect parking fills on warm October weekends.
Farm operates seven days a week year-round, suggesting reasonably developed infrastructure. No specific accessibility details published; call 508-877-3058 to confirm if mobility access is important.
You're expecting a large pick-your-own orchard; this farm is better described as a festival farm with a corn maze, sunflowers, and pumpkin patch, not extensive fruit picking.
MetroWest commuter rail connects to Boston. Framingham downtown has restaurants and shops. Walden Pond State Reservation (Thoreau's pond) is nearby for walks.
Admission (exact price not published) includes the corn maze, hayride, farm animals access, and one small sugar pumpkin per adult. Larger pumpkins or multiple pumpkins cost extra.
Sunflower fields are a photo opportunity in fall, typically blooming into late September/early October depending on planting and weather. They're scenic but not pick-your-own.
The record describes a 'pumpkin patch,' likely a field where you select and cut pumpkins. Exact details on whether it's a large pick-your-own or a curated patch are not specified.
Framingham is Middlesex County, roughly 20-25 miles west of downtown Boston. From Central or South Boston, expect 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and day of week.
September 1 – October 31, 2026. Daily. Hours: 9am-6pm (5:30pm Sundays).
Admission pricing was not published when we last checked. Admission includes hayride, animal access, one small sugar pumpkin per adult
20 Nixon Road, Framingham, MA, in Middlesex County. It is one of 5 patches we track in Greater Boston.
We track 5 patches in Greater Boston, 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 61 days against a regional average of 58, so it is broadly in line with the rest of the region.
What sets it apart locally: it has u-pick fields, a market, bakery or taproom, which most Greater Boston patches on our list do not.
There is 1 other patch we track in Middlesex County. All Greater Boston patches →
hansonsfarmframingham.com
Checked August 2026.