Only Through October Do These 6 Ohio Pumpkin Patches Offer Wagon Rides

A hand-painted sign, a gravel lot, and the smell of fresh donuts were all it took to turn a random fall drive into a favorite Ohio tradition. Pumpkin farms here can look ordinary from the road, but once you climb onto a wagon and bump out toward the fields, the whole day feels different.

The catch is timing, because most of these farms pack up their wagon rides once October ends. Here are six Ohio spots to plan around before the season slips away.

1. Ramseyer Farms, Wooster, OH

Five generations of one family have worked the ground outside Wooster, and each fall that history turns into a playground for the whole region. Ramseyer Farms counts more than 50 activities on its Wayne County acreage, but the hayride out to the u-pick patch is the thread that ties the day together.

What waits at the end of that ride? Rows of pumpkins in every shape, color, and size, some still clinging to their vines and most in good shape for carving.

Pick one straight from the field, then ride back with it on your lap.

The rest of the farm keeps kids moving. Corn mazes, a giant corn barn, big slides, pedal carts, a tire playground, live farm animals, and a potato slingshot fill the grounds, while food trucks handle lunch for picky and adventurous eaters alike.

A small shop sells gourds, jams, candy, shirts, and hats, and you can build your own scarecrow for an extra fee. Sunflowers and zinnias bloom in the fields earlier in the season.

Plan around the schedule: the farm typically closes Mondays and Tuesdays, opens Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and starts Sundays at 1 p.m. Hours can change, and the season wraps at the end of October.

Both free and paid lots handle parking.

2. Burwinkel Farms, Ross, OH

Picture a wagon rolling to a stop in the middle of an open field, with a sunflower maze on one side, a corn maze on the other, and a real pumpkin patch spread out ahead. That is the first half of the ride at Burwinkel Farms, set along Hamilton Cleves Road in Ross, a short drive northwest of Cincinnati in Butler County.

Budget-minded parents will like the pricing. A pumpkin comes included with entry, and only the bigger ones cost a little extra, so the total stays predictable even with a carload of kids.

Back near the barns, three separate mazes, sunflower walking trails, lawn games, farm animals, and a playground give families plenty to do between rides. Little ones gravitate toward the huge corn bin, which works like a sandbox filled with kernels, where shoes come off and climbing begins.

Hungry after all that? The farm market stocks apples and cider, along with sweet corn and other produce depending on the week, so grabbing snacks for the drive home is easy.

Posted hours run 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, though fall schedules can shift and weekend afternoons can get busy. Arriving early usually means a shorter wait for the wagon.

3. Lohstroh Family Farms, Mt Sterling, OH

Nobody hurries you off the field at Lohstroh Family Farms. The tractor drops families at the pumpkin patch, and there is no set time limit, so you can wander the rows, weigh your options, and simply catch a later wagon back whenever you are ready.

That easy pace makes the patch a natural spot for family photos. Bringing a throw blanket to spread between the vines is a smart move.

The drivers running the tractors are known for being friendly and patient with small riders.

Location matters for Columbus families. The farm sits right on State Route 56 near Mt Sterling in Madison County, southwest of the city and an easy drive through open farm country.

Snacks here have a following of their own. The apple cider slushy is the signature treat, and the pumpkin and cherry donuts go fast on busy weekends.

Prices can run a bit higher than a grocery store, so budget accordingly.

Beyond the ride, kids can tackle a corn maze, stroll the caterpillar walk, and visit the goats. Weekday hours typically run noon to 6 p.m., with weekends opening at 10 a.m., and a free lot handles parking.

Hours can change seasonally.

4. Schappacher Farms, Wilmington, OH

Free admission and free tractor rides are not the norm on the Ohio pumpkin circuit, which is exactly why Schappacher Farms stands apart. Families pay only for what they want, whether that means one carving pumpkin or a bag full of treats.

How much does a pumpkin run? Prices have been set by the pound, around 55 cents, though rates can change from year to year.

The patch itself is big, and the hayride out to it costs nothing.

Along State Route 73 outside Wilmington in Clinton County, the farm is an easy hop off I-71 for families coming from Cincinnati, Dayton, or Columbus. Cheerful fall decorations line the grounds once you pull into the free lot.

Kids stay busy with a corn maze, a straw maze, a pumpkin slingshot, and a pen of goats. The market area is well stocked and fairly priced, with apple juice sippers for little hands, hot cider for grown-ups, and bags of mini donuts to share.

Timing takes a little planning. The farm typically opens only on weekends, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so weekday visits are off the table.

Saturdays in October can get crowded, and hours may shift late in the season.

5. Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm, Radnor, OH

A snowless tubing slide at a pumpkin farm sounds like a mismatch until you watch a line of kids zipping down it in October sweatshirts. Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm, family owned and set along State Route 203 near Radnor in rural Delaware County, packs more than 40 attractions onto its grounds north of Columbus.

Getting to the pumpkins comes with choices. A train ride carries visitors into the field to pick their own, hay rides roll through the property, and anyone short on time can browse rows of already picked, washed pumpkins and gourds.

Older kids and teens tend to head straight for the swing line and the giant corn maze, which is big enough to get turned around in. Younger ones stick with the farm animals, bouncers, slides, tractor bikes, games, and slingshots.

Farm fresh food keeps everyone fueled.

Dogs are allowed, a welcome perk for families who travel with a pet. Parking is free, with an on-site lot plus street parking.

The season runs from the third weekend in September through the last weekend in October. Weekday hours are short, typically 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday, while weekends stretch from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Mondays stay closed. Check before leaving, since schedules can change.

6. Red Wagon Farm, Columbia Station, OH

Wagons are right there in the name at Red Wagon Farm, and the hay wagon ride is the heart of its fall season. The family-owned farm on East River Road in Columbia Station sits in the Lorain County countryside just south of State Route 82, a manageable drive for Cleveland families.

For many Northeast Ohio households, a trip here turns into an autumn habit. The routine is simple: ride the wagon out, pick a pumpkin, tackle the corn maze, and let the kids burn off energy at the activity areas.

Want to skip the crowds? Friday evenings tend to be the busiest stretch of the week, while Sunday mornings and weekday mornings are usually much calmer.

Hours run daily, generally from 10 a.m. until 6 to 8 p.m. depending on the day, though fall schedules can shift.

Practical details make the outing easier with little ones. Restrooms are on site, food is available on the grounds, and parking is free in the lot or along the street.

Fresh produce is sold too.

During the fall festival, admission has typically hovered around $10 per person, with toddlers two and under free and wagon rides included. Prices can change each season, so double-check before driving out.