Looking for some fall fun in the San Francisco Bay Area? This guide to my favorite pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay will highlight everything you need to know for an autumn wonderland full of fall goodness. So throw on that fun fall outfit, sip on a festive drink (pumpkin spice, anyone?!), and grab a wheelbarrow — we’re going pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay!
Fall in SF? Pumpkin patches in San Francisco?! Yeah, I didn’t think so. We don’t really get the seasons around here (it’s either fog, or no fog), so when I’m feeling left out of all the fun — off to the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay we go!
And this year, we’re going all out — we’ve been feasting on maple streusel bread with pumpkin butter, getting crazy messy carving pumpkins, roasting those delicious pumpkin seeds, watching all our favorite Halloween movies, making semi-homemade apple pie — the works! And of course we snuck in a few mornings of pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay. Because, why not?!
Come September, the coast of Half Moon Bay basically turns into a haven for all things Autumn. Think pumpkin ice cream, tall corn stalks, challenging corn mazes, pumpkin beer, bumpy gourds, hay rides, and a whole bunch of pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay.
Read Next: 25+ Fun Fall Activities in the San Francisco Bay Area (all my favorite things to do in fall!)
So after visiting the best beaches in Half Moon Bay and doing a few hikes on the coast (since we do get Indian summer over here!), throw your towel in the car and go pick out your favorite pumpkin!
After moving to California almost a decade ago (whoa, time flies!), we FINALLY started missing the seasons, especially fall. Since we can’t always teleport ourselves back to the East Coast for all the fall foliage, we do the next best thing — a day (or two!) at the best pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay!
You’ll get all the info you need in this comprehensive guide to the Half Moon Bay pumpkin farms! So ditch the supermarket — let’s go pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay (it’s way more fun anyways)!
Read Next — all my favorite beaches in Half Moon Bay (think tide pooling, sunbathing, and tons of coastal walks!)
Where to Find the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Patches and Farms
The pumpkin farms in Half Moon Bay are kinda scattered throughout the area, with many right on Highway 1 (I’ve included exact addresses below to make things super easy)! There’s also a few a tad south in Pescadero if you’re itching for even more (don’t miss the famous artichoke bread).
But first things first, you gotta get yourself over to Half Moon Bay!
Thankfully, this sleepy coastal city isn’t terribly far from anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve included some of the most popular areas below:
- From Palo Alto: 35 minutes (27 miles)
- From San Francisco: 45 minutes (30 miles)
- From Oakland: 50 minutes (40 miles)
- From Santa Cruz: 1 hour (50 miles)
- From Napa Valley: 1 hour, 45 minutes (90 miles)
BUT these estimated driving times are without traffic. And there’s sometimes a whole lot of it. This is primarily because there’s only one way in and one way out of Half Moon Bay, depending on where you’re coming from. And the streets get backed up, like really backed up.
Suffice it to say, plan to leave home for HMB on the earlier side to avoid any traffic mishaps. And to be on the safe side, just expect some traffic. And take some dramamine if you’re prone to motion sickness and your route takes you on La Honda Road — there’s lots of windy tight turns.
When to Visit the Pumpkin Patches in Half Moon Bay
The Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches typically open for the season in mid-September. And yes, I realize that’s when summer is kinda just starting in San Francisco, but it’s one of the best times to go pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay! Because hello, no crowds!
Note: Some Half Moon Bay pumpkin farms open as early as September 1st, while others shut down for the season as late as Thanksgiving! You just gotta look at the opening dates of each specific farm and don’t assume they’re open if you don’t go in prime season (October).
Wanna wait until October when everything’s bound to be open and in full-swing? Just remember — the closer it gets to Halloween, the more crowded it’ll be, especially on the weekends.
Can’t stand crowds (like me!)? Plan to visit during the week early on in the season, or get to the farms as soon as they open on the weekend. We visited twice this season (mid-September and mid-October, both on the weekends), and it was noticeably more crowded in October (understandably).
Since there’s honestly not much fall fun in the Bay Area, everyone flocks to Half Moon Bay for pumpkin picking — meaning it gets crowded, easily!
Tips for Visiting the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Farms:
- Traffic: As noted above, plan for some traffic on the weekends. Go early to beat the masses!
- Bring along some cash. Not all the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay take credit cards or Venmo. Just be prepared!
- Weather: It’s always kinda a gamble in terms of the weather in HMB. One day it’ll be unseasonably warm and the next will be covered in fog and mist. It’s the coast and wildly unpredictable — even the weather apps have a hard time getting it right!
- What to Wear: Just your best fall outfit, of course! Plan to wear layers and always keep a jacket in the car — just in case! In terms of footwear, wear something comfy as lots of the pumpkin farms in Half Moon Bay have roots and uneven ground in the fields.
- Dogs: So many of the pumpkin patches allow dogs in the fields! Just be a courteous and kind human being — keep your dog on a leash and always pick up after them.
The Annual Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay
Every year, Half Moon Bay is transformed into the Pumpkin Capital of the World. And I mean completely transformed.
Expect to find enormous heavyweight champion pumpkins (this years winner was a whopping 2,000 pounds!), tons of entertainment, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bone-chilling Haunted House, harvest-inspired crafts, home-style foods, expert pumpkin carvers, pie-eating and costume contests, pumpkin carving, and tons more.
It’s kinda like fall threw up all over Half Moon Bay — and I’m all for it! I’ve heard there’s also pumpkin beer and pumpkin mac n’ cheese… so yeah, plan to go on an empty stomach (and wear your stretchy pants!).
The Annual Pumpkin Festival takes place in downtown HMB on Historic Main Street, not far from the Half Moon Bay pumpkin farms and stands.
But of course it’ll be extremely crowded, so if you don’t wanna join in on all the festival fun, choose a different weekend to visit the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay. Psst — it’s been sadly closed for the past two years because of current health precautions (2020 and 2021), but hopefully it comes back next year!
Pumpkin Patches in Half Moon Bay
And finally, what you probably came here for — the best pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay! Yes, they all have pumpkins (obviously), but they’re all kinda different in their own way. Some are like mini amusement parks with all kinds of attractions, while others are your classic, old-school pumpkin patch.
Don’t feel like you need to visit all these pumpkin farms in Half Moon Bay every season. Despite what I just said, a lot of them are very similar, so I’d pick 3 or 4 and make your rounds! And plus, you probably aren’t coming to stock up on hundreds of pumpkins, so just have fun and take lots of fun fall photos.
I’m organizing this list of Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches by location — north to south. But I’d have to say my favorites are Farmer John’s, Aratas, Bianchi Flowers & Pumpkin Farm (in Pescadero), and Andreotti’s (for the sunflowers as well!).
The best pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay, coming right up!
1. The Farmer’s Daughter
- Address: Pacific Coast Highway (just stick it into your GPS and you’ll find it, promise!)
- Admission/parking fees: none
- Main activities: pumpkin picking and a nice-sized produce stand
- Good for: everyone
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
Looking for a simple field filled with pumpkins to start off your day of pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay? Check out The Farmer’s Daughter! Sometimes the simplest spots are the best!
It’s a cute pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay with tidy rows of pumpkins backed by a sea of brussels sprouts! There’s also a corn stalk-flanked teepee that’s just perfect for kids and of course some fall-themed IG pics! Don’t leave without stopping by the farm stand to check out the local jams and produce (including fresh stalks of brussel sprouts — my all-time favorite!).
2. Andreotti Family Farms Pumpkin Patch
- Address: 800 Cabrillo Hwy N, Half Moon Bay
- Admission/parking fees: $30 per adult, $20 per kid (advance reservations required)
- Main activities: pumpkin and sunflower picking, farm to table lunches, professional photoshoots, 7-acre corn maze
- Good for: older kids and adults
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
Andreotti Family Farms is one of my favorite pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay — they’re a family-run operation and it’s evident just how much love and passion they’ve got for their land.
It all started in 1926 when their grandparents produced mostly artichokes — now the farm is over 90 years old and they grow almost every single winter vegetable you can imagine. Including, of course, plenty and plenty of pumpkins!
Andreotti’s is probably the most visually stunning of the bunch — they display the many (many!) varieties of pumpkins in perfectly laid out rows of ombre color and the hand-painted signs are just gorgeous!
They’ve got a huge sunflower field as well (where you can pick sunflowers higher than your head!) as well as a 7 acre corn maze (I’m dying to go to the Haunted Corn Maze nights — how fun does that sound?!).
I find tickets to be kinda expensive (at $30 per adult, $20 per kid), but each ticket includes unlimited access to the family friendly corn maze and a $10 shopping voucher toward any pumpkin of your choice. So in reality, the ticket isn’t really that bad considering all that you get… Purchase your tickets here.
Psst — Andreotti’s has a produce stand as well, but it’s not the same location. Don’t make the mistake and go to the wrong location! You’ll find the pumpkin patch right on Highway 1 (800 Cabrillo Highway).
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3. Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm
- Address: 850 Cabrillo Hwy N, Half Moon Bay
- Admission/parking fees: none
- Main activities: pumpkin picking, teepee photos, Bernese Mountain Dog Day, old tractor, hay rides
- Good for: everyone
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
The amount of pumpkins at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm is crazy — there’s tons and tons of different varieties! There’s those famous Atlantic Giants (sometimes weighing in at 250 pounds to a whopping 1500 lbs!), cinderella and fairy tale, jack be little, lumina (white pumpkins!), speckled gourds, and a ton of others.
So grab a hay-lined wagon and start filling it up! We found Farmer John’s to have some of the cheapest pumpkin prices in Half Moon Bay, so plan to stock up here.
Farmer John’s is recently under new management, and I can’t wait to see all the changes they make! There’s still the teepee, old tractor, and hay rides, so don’t worry, not too much has changed! It’s literally right next door to Andreotti’s, so if you go to one, definitely check out the other!
And once you get a few pumpkins, make sure to check out Farmer John’s family pumpkin recipes — from winter minestrone soup and bean stew to baked zucchini fries and pumpkin pie squares! Ugh now I want some pie…
4. Lemos Farm
- Address: 12320 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay
- Admission fees: $15 per adult, $20-$30 per kid (all access pass, sold online with limited passes available to walk-ins)
- Main activities: pumpkin picking, petting zoo, pony rides, goat yoga, train rides, haunted house, barn slide
- Good for: young kids and adults with young kids
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
Have little kids? Lemos Farm is for you — it’s by far the favorite of all the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay for those with young, energetic children. The farm turns into a mini fall-themed amusement park, and there’s so much for the kids to do. Think pony rides, a haunted house, a barn slide, train and hay rides, and even a petting zoo.
Kids will need to have an all-access pass, granting them access to just about everything at the farm! Just FYI — adults will need to buy an entrance pass, too. There’s no free attractions here.
No kids? Skip it. We found it pretty expensive just to enter (at $15 per adult), and obviously weren’t going to use all the kid-friendly amenities — we’ve got no kids after all! So we decided to simply take a quick peek (and not buy tickets) and moved on (after saying hello to the goats one last time of course).
I am thinking I’ll come back with friends sometime for goat yoga though! How cute are they?!
Pre-pandemic we had visited with my little nephew (who was about 2 at the time!), and we had such a fun morning on the hayride and watching him in excitement in the petting zoo.
5. Bob’s Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Farm
- Address: Cabrillo Hwy S, Half Moon Bay
- Admission fees: none
- Main activities: pumpkin picking and produce stand
- Good for: everyone
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
So, you come to Bob’s for one thing and one thing only — to go pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay! Bob’s Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Farm is a pretty basic pumpkin patch, and this typically translates to less crowds and better pricing! There was hardly anyone there when we visited in mid-September!
It’s not your usual crowded and overly commercial pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay — I’d say this is the least touristy of them all. A low key, well-run (and reasonably-priced) farm! Thankfully, the pumpkins are quite affordable, with prices ranging from $1 for the minis to $15 for the largest (almost unheard of!).
It’s got one of the only pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay where the pumpkins are still on the vines, so you can actually truly go pumpkin picking!
Plus, there’s pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens in a pen near the parking lot — it was so fun watching Kona look at them in confusion! Besides the pumpkins and pigs, there’s haystacks to climb on and some local honey/produce to pick up.
6. Arata’s Pumpkin Farm
- Address: 185 Verde Road, Half Moon Bay
- Admission fees: $20 parking pass ($10 can be redeemed towards a pumpkin purchase), a myriad of attraction packages and combos
- Main activities: corn maze, petting zoo, pony and hay rides, haunted barn, pumpkin picking
- Good for: everyone!
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
Arata’s Pumpkin Farm is pretty popular, so you’ll wanna plan your visit in advance. It is one of the oldest pumpkin farms in Half Moon Bay afterall! We went early in the season and it was pretty quiet — but on our last visit to the Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches in mid-October, it was crazy crowded!
So definitely visit this Half Moon Bay pumpkin farm in September or on a weekday if you wanna avoid the masses.
Come here if you want the full fall experience — the activities are adult friendly and it’s not as juvenile as Lemos. Although there’s always a bunch of kids there, so don’t expect an adults-only experience of course.
And there’s lots to do for the kids as well, making it a super family-friendly afternoon for everyone. Check out the different activity passes on the website to see what’s best for you and your family.
I think out of all the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay, Arata’s has the most variety. I swear, dozens upon dozens of different kinds. There were pumpkins in every single color and size imaginable — from teeny tiny white ghost pumpkins and beautifully-skinned orange ones to interesting green and yellow pumpkins.
Plus, all the gourds were crazy! Bumpy ones, smooth ones, striped ones, etc. I loved all the crazy varieties — especially the ones that looked fuzzy! I’ve never seen pumpkins like that before!
The one thing that separates Arata’s Pumpkin Farm from the rest — the famous Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze, a delightfully complex, 2-acre hay maze that changes every year. It’s seriously next level and honestly kinda hard; give yourself an hour or so to get out!
There’s also a petting zoo, pony rides, and a fun hayride through the corn stalks, as well as a spine-tingling Haunted Barn. You can’t miss the Pumpkin River in the corn field! Plus some fun photo ops, like a teepee made out of corn stalks, a giant pile of perfectly rounded pumpkins, and a tent with hay stacks to sit on.
7. Blue House Farm UPick and Farmstand (Pescadero)
- Address: 950 La Honda Road, San Gregorio
- Admission fees: free admission and free parking
- Main activities: farmstand, pumpkin picking, strawberry picking
- Good for: everyone
- Dogs Allowed: Yes, but not in field
We had never heard of this pumpkin patch near Half Moon Bay and just kinda stumbled upon it as we were driving to Pescadero one morning! The best kind of finds!
As soon as we pulled up, we were greeted with such a gorgeous barn with super high beams and tons and tons of fresh produce! There were black radishes, gorgeous looking onions, all kinds of winter squash, multicolored cherry tomatoes, and about a million types of potatoes!
If we hadn’t just gone food shopping I would have gladly bought a bunch of veggies! All the produce and flowers are Certified Organic and grown by Blue House Farm on over 70 acres of land in San Gregorio and nearby Pescadero.
And plus, besides the pumpkin patch (more info below), there’s also u-pick strawberries here! This has been on my California bucket list forever! Note that dogs are not allowed in the field in order to keep the produce organic and fresh (makes sense), so since we had Kona with us, we couldn’t go in. Just something to keep in mind.
I definitely want to go back (probably earlier in the season) without the pup to pick some fresh strawberries!
Let’s get back to the pumpkins though! The pumpkin patch had a whole bunch of pumpkins, although they didn’t have as many varieties in the field as other farms. Pumpkin prices varied by size ($3 for mini – $25 for jumbo), which I thought was pretty reasonable compared to other prices we’d seen that day.
But I kinda feel like the delicious-looking produce in the farmstand and strawberry picking in the back field are the main draws here (not the pumpkins). Not all pumpkin farms in Half Moon Bay can be exactly the same, and I love how Blue House Farm stands out from the rest.
8. Bianchi Flowers & Pumpkin Farm (Pescadero)
- Address: 243 Butano Cutoff, Pescadero
- Admission fees: free admission and free parking
- Main activities: pumpkin picking, sunflowers
- Good for: everyone
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
Another one of those random finds on the side of the road — and it just so happened to be one of our favorite pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay! Surprise, surprise! Funny how life works that way, right? Why’d I love it so much? It felt especially homey and so many of the pumpkins were still on the vine! All homegrown right there on the farm!
Bianchi’s Flowers & Pumpkin Farm is made up of a husband and wife team — we met the husband and he was very friendly, telling us about the different types of pumpkins on the field and which are best for cooking, carving, etc.
He didn’t pressure us to purchase anything, which I especially appreciated (don’t you just hate that). The family’s been growing and selling pumpkins for over 40 years, so they definitely know their stuff.
The farm has SUCH a great deal if you’re planning on going home with a whole bunch of pumpkins. You can fill up a whole wheelbarrow or wagon for one price — whatever you can fit in it, you get! I thought this was a really good deal — $65 for the smaller size, $85 for the larger.
We saw someone fill one up a wagon and I swear they had over 25 pumpkins of all shapes and sizes in there!
Make sure to go on the other side too — there’s a small field of sunflowers and brussel sprouts on the stalk (for such a good price I might add)! And a gorgeous pile of hay for photos that I loved!
Other things to do in Half Moon Bay and Pescadero
We LOVE Half Moon Bay, and visit quite often (no matter the season)!
If you’re by chance visiting when the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay aren’t open for the season just yet, don’t fret, there’s lots to do here instead! And if you’ve got some time between all the pumpkin picking and fall fun, check these out. Here’s my favorite things to do in the area besides visiting the pumpkin farms of Half Moon Bay.
- Relax in adirondack chairs and indulge in lobster rolls with a view (the absolute BEST) at Sam’s Chowder House (there’ll probably be a long wait, but I promise you, the lobster rolls are well worth it)
- Don’t miss running through the wild mustard fields of Half Moon Bay in February! Add this to your Bay Area bucket list pronto!
- Check out the beautiful property of the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay (have a cocktail or two) and then walk a portion of The Coastal Trail for sweeping views of the Pacific
- Pick sunflowers in September at Andreotti’s Family Farms (there’ll probably be some pumpkins out already, too!)
- Take a walk on the beach and dip your toes in the ocean! There’s so many sandy spots to pick from! We love Poplar, Miramar, and hanging out by the harbor near Sam’s! Just remember — the Pacific is COLD and Half Moon Bay weather is finicky, so don’t expect many true beach days here.
- Drive down to Pescadero for some delicious artichoke bread from Arcangeli Grocery Company and to check out Pigeon Point Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast!)
Hope this helps you plan your fall-themed day to the Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches and farms! Are you a fall-fanatic like me?!
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