A Guide to Pumpkin Patches in and Near Carlsbad
Every October, our family has the same debate: big farm day or quick pumpkin run? The good news is that around Carlsbad, you can have both.
We've got two pumpkin patches right here in town, plus a handful of favorites just a short drive away. Here's where to go, what it costs, and which patch fits your kind of day.
Quick Picks
If you want…
The full farm day in Carlsbad: Carlsbad Strawberry Company, Carlsbad
The easy after-school, local patch stop: Pumpkin Palooza, Carlsbad
Family friendly: Tom’s Pumpkin Patch, San Marcos
The classic patch: Bates Nut Farm, Valley Center
Pumpkins + a glass of wine: Fallbrook Pumpkin Patch, Fallbrook
Pumpkin Patches in Carlsbad
Carlsbad Strawberry Company
This is the big one, and it's a Carlsbad tradition for a reason. Admission is $20 on weekdays and $25 Friday through Sunday in October, which covers the pumpkin patch, the marigold and celosia flower fields, a tricycle racetrack, a hay pyramid and plenty of photo ops.
The corn maze, tractor ride and animal petting are extra, or grab the $25 Farm Activity Bundle for all three. Add Jurassic Fright, the brand new Fantasy Fright, the dinosaur corn maze, if you have dino fans. Open daily through November 8, with late hours until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October.
Good to know: Weekdays are cheaper and calmer. Go in the late afternoon for golden-hour photos over the fields. There is a hidden speakeasy hidden in the corn maze (follow Pacific Coast Spirits for the nightly password)
Pumpkin Palooza
Smaller, simpler and seriously convenient. Admission is just $3 a person (babies 12 months and under are free), and it's open weekdays from 2 to 8 p.m., which makes it the perfect after-school stop. Weekends run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Rides and attractions are paid at the door: six inflatables, a big blue slide, a mechanical bull, wagon rides, a corn pit, a petting zoo and carnival games. Weekends add food trucks and movie nights. Reach out to them if you are interested in Field Trips (on Fridays) or Birthday Parties. Open through October 31.
Movie Nights Under the Stars (7 PM, bring blankets + chairs)
Oct 9 Coraline · Oct 10 Harry Potter · Oct 11 Halloweentown · Oct 16 How to Train Your Dragon · Oct 17 Ghostbusters · Oct 18 It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown · Oct 23 Corpse Bride · Oct 24 The Nightmare Before Christmas · Oct 25 Hocus Pocus · Oct 28 Monster House · Oct 29 Hotel Transylvania · Oct 30 Coco
Pumpkin Patches Near Carlsbad
Mellano Farm Stand [Oceanside]
A real working family farm about 20 minutes from Carlsbad, and fall weekends here feel like a full festival. Every Saturday and Sunday through November 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Pumpkin & Marigold Harvest Festival brings a pumpkin patch, a 2-acre corn maze with six hidden stations to find, U-pick marigolds, tractor rides, live music and local food vendors. There’s beer and sangria for the grown-ups and lemonade for the kids. Festival parking is $5, and activities are priced individually (see their pricing page).
Good to know: Weekdays are quieter. On Thursdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the $25 Weekday Duo Pass covers two corn maze entries, two marigold field passes, two pumpkin patch entries and a U-pick bloom bucket. October 17 and 18 is their Día de los Muertos festival weekend (check their events page for details). The farm is loose dirt and gravel, so leave the stroller at home, and dogs are allowed on the patio only.
5714 North River Road, Oceanside (About 20 minutes from Carlsbad)
Tom's Adventures Pumpkin Patch [San Marcos]
Neighborhood pumpkin lot with bounce houses and a big selection of pumpkins, traditionally next to San Marcos High School. A family pumpkin patch for $2 entry and free parking. They allow outside food (no alcohol).
1360 Discovery Street, San Marcos (About 20 minutes from Carlsbad)
Fallbrook Pumpkin Patch [Fallbrook]
We stumbled across this one a few years ago and it instantly became a favorite.
This small-town patch sits at The Vineyard 1924, about 40 minutes from Carlsbad, and it offers a few grown-up beverage options. A glass of wine while you peruse the pumpkins. Entry and parking are free. The pumpkins are the star, from $3.99 minis to 100-pound prize winners.
Weekends bring face painting, kids’ crafts, pumpkin carving, paint-and-sip and local workshops (check their website or Instagram for each weekend’s lineup).
Good to know: It’s dog friendly, light snacks are welcome, and the bar pours wine from the on-site vineyard, so it’s a great pick for a date or a moms’ afternoon too. Open Wednesday through Sunday through November 1. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and weekday hours start at 4 PM.
1924 E. Mission Road, Fallbrook (About 40 minutes from Carlsbad)
Bates Nut Farm [Valley Center]
The old-school North County pumpkin patch, located about 45 minutes from Carlsbad. Admission is free, with parking fees on some weekends and separate tickets for activities like hayrides, pony rides, the straw maze and bounce houses. Don't skip the free farm zoo or the nut and candy store. Open through October 31.
15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center (About 45 minutes from Carlsbad)
My Pick
We do both Carlsbad patches every year. Pumpkin Palooza is our easy weeknight stop after school, and the Strawberry Company is our big Saturday, corn maze and all.
Want more fall plans? See our full Fall Things to Do in Carlsbad guide.
Dates and prices were checked in early October 2026 and can change, so confirm with each farm before you go.
