Seven working pumpkin farms within about 90 minutes of Atlanta have posted 2026 details, and the price gap between them is enormous: Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville charges nothing to walk in or park, while an extended October weekend at Washington Farms in Bogart runs $21.95 per person before tax and fees. Which one is right for your Saturday depends less on the pumpkins — they are all good — and more on whether you want a ticketed festival or a field and a wagon.
North Georgia’s patches split cleanly into two types. The first is the pumpkin barn: free entry, a hillside of gourds, and an optional hayride you pay for separately. Burt’s is the archetype. The second is the ticketed fall festival, where one admission covers a corn maze, jumping pillows, animal barns and rides, and pumpkins are an add-on. Uncle Shuck’s, Washington Farms, Sleepy Hollow, Cagle’s, Buford Corn Maze and Southern Belle all work that way.
Two caveats worth knowing before you load the car. First, dogs are effectively out — five of the seven farms here ban pets outright or limit access to service animals, and the other two (Sleepy Hollow and Southern Belle) publish no policy at all, so plan on leaving the dog at home. Second, as of this check in mid-September 2026, two well-known operators have not published a 2026 season calendar at all. We say plainly below which ones, and what they published last season, rather than guessing.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cheapest way to come home with a pumpkin? | Burt’s Pumpkin Farm, Dawsonville — admission free, parking free, Sept 1–Nov 10, 2026. You pay only for the pumpkin. |
| Most expensive admission? | Washington Farms extended-hour weekends: $21.95 per person plus tax and fees, or $31.95 with the Mega Slide. |
| Closest to Atlanta? | Sleepy Hollow Farm, Powder Springs — roughly 35 minutes. $12 weekdays, $15 weekends, ages 2 and under free. |
| Can we bring the dog? | No. Burt’s, Uncle Shuck’s and Washington Farms prohibit pets; Buford and Cagle’s allow service animals only. Sleepy Hollow and Southern Belle publish no policy — call ahead. |
| Do we need tickets in advance? | Washington Farms sells activity tickets online only and they sell out. Uncle Shuck’s, Cagle’s and Buford also sell at the gate. |
| Which 2026 dates are still unannounced? | Buford Corn Maze (price posted, calendar not) and Southern Belle Farm (no 2026 fall tickets listed yet). |
| Best window to avoid crowds? | A weekday morning. Washington Farms runs Tue–Fri 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; Uncle Shuck’s opens at 10 a.m. Sun–Thu in October. |
Which pumpkin patch near Atlanta is actually free?
Only one of the big names: Burt’s. Washington Farms comes close on a technicality — the farm states that admission tickets are not required if you are only visiting the pumpkin patch, and that it is free to enter the patch and you pay only for the pumpkins you pick. Southern Belle likewise published free entry to its market and pumpkin patch, with tickets required only for the activity areas. Everywhere else, walking through the gate costs money.
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm, Dawsonville
Burt’s is open September 1 through November 10, 2026, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. through October and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. for the November days. Admission is free and parking is free. The hayride — the reason most families make the drive up GA 52 — is $10 per person plus sales tax, with children under two riding free. Pets and firearms are not allowed on the property.
Burt’s does not publish a payment-methods page, a stroller policy or a restroom list, so treat the wagon-and-gravel terrain as a bring-the-carrier situation with a toddler. The farm sits about 65 miles north of downtown Atlanta, roughly 75 to 90 minutes depending on how far up I-575 traffic has stacked, and it shares a corridor with Amicalola Falls State Park if you want to make a day of it.
Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze, Dawsonville
Uncle Shuck’s has published a full 2026 calendar: September 19 through November 8. In September and November it runs Fridays 4–10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; in October it opens Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Corn maze admission is $18, the Dark Rows haunted trail is $24, and a combo is $29. Ages four and under are free, and the posted prices already include tax.
That $18 buys the 15-acre maze, unlimited wagon rides, three shots at the corn cannon, the jumpy pad, tire mountain, the kiddie maze, animal viewing and an after-dark bonfire with marshmallows. Card payments carry a 3.5% service charge, so bring cash if you are counting pennies. No pets. Outside food and drink are prohibited except birthday cakes and cupcakes, and the farm states it will close for heavy or extended rainfall, or when a prior storm has left the grounds too muddy — worth a phone call after a wet week.
Washington Farms, Bogart
Washington Farms publishes the most detailed calendar of any farm here, and the most complicated. Its fall season at 5691 Hog Mountain Road in Bogart — the Athens-area site that many visitors still call the Watkinsville farm — runs weekends from September 19 to November 8 and weekdays from September 22 to October 30.
Weekdays are Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., at $13.95 plus tax and fees. Saturdays run 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Regular Sundays (Sept 20 and 27, Oct 4, Nov 1 and 8) are 1–6 p.m., while extended Sundays (Oct 11, 18 and 25) open at 10 a.m. Regular Fridays (Oct 2 and 30) run 4–8 p.m.; extended Fridays (Oct 9, 16 and 23) run 4–10 p.m. Regular weekend admission is $18.95, extended-hour weekends $21.95, and adding the Mega Slide takes those to $28.95 and $31.95 respectively. The farm opens on Columbus Day, Monday October 12, and closes the following Tuesday.
Three operational facts matter more than the price list. Activity tickets are sold online only and the farm warns they frequently sell out. The farm is cashless — cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cash App. And no pets are allowed anywhere on the property at any time, which is stricter than most.
Sleepy Hollow Farm, Powder Springs
The closest real patch to the west side of the metro. Fall Fest 2026 begins September 19 and runs through November 1, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesday to Friday is noon–6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., with last arrival at 5 p.m.; extended Friday and Saturday hours begin October 10. On Halloween the farm closes at 4 p.m. with last entry at 2 p.m.
Admission is $12 midweek and $15 on weekends, free for children two and under with a paying adult, taxes and fees added per ticket. That covers tractor rides, the corn maze, farm animals, kids’ games, pumpkin patch entry, the Nature Ninja play area and nine holes of mini golf; pumpkins cost extra. Credit cards are accepted, checks are not, and cash is taken at the gate until the farm reaches capacity.
Cagle’s Family Farm, Holly Springs
Cagle’s runs September 25 to November 1, 2026: Fridays 5–10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m.–6 p.m. General admission is $15 for ages three and up and covers the corn maze, mini-maze, pig races, yard games, swings and the animal barn. A tractor ride with bonfire and marshmallows is $5 more. Pumpkins are sold separately.
The farm takes cash and major credit cards, allows registered service animals only, and requires that children 14 and under be supervised — no drop-offs. At 362 Stringer Road in Holly Springs it is the easiest Cherokee County option from the north metro, about 45 minutes up I-575.
Which farms have not announced 2026 dates?
Two, and both are popular enough that the gap matters.
Buford Corn Maze (4470 Bennett Road, Buford) has priced its 2026 ticket at $18.52 before tax and states that all tickets include the Kids’ CORNer play area and unlimited hayrides, with children two and under free. Tickets may be bought online or in person, cash or credit. But its hours page still reads “Our Farm is closed for the season” and the homepage shows only an “Opening Soon” banner, so the 2026 operating calendar is not published. The one dated item on the site is a Butterfly Release on September 12–13 ($25 with a maze combo, $9.26 on its own, free parking). No pets; service dogs permitted.
Southern Belle Farm (1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough) has not published 2026 fall dates or prices either — its ticket booth currently lists only spring and summer 2026 products. Last published fall season, the market, bakery and pumpkin patch ran Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday 1–7 p.m., with activity admission at $18.95 on non-peak weekends and $24.95 on peak weekends for ages 3–64 ($16.95 and $22.95 for seniors 65+ and military), ages two and under free, and free entry to the market and patch. Treat those as last season’s numbers and check before you drive.
How do the farms compare on price, dates and dogs?
| Farm | Drive from Atlanta (approx.) | Cost | 2026 dates and hours | Dogs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burt’s Pumpkin Farm, Dawsonville | ~75–90 min | Free; hayride $10 + tax | Sept 1–Nov 10; 9–6, 9–5 in Nov | No pets | Just buying a pumpkin |
| Uncle Shuck’s, Dawsonville | ~60–75 min | $18 maze, $29 maze + haunt; 4 and under free | Sept 19–Nov 8; Oct Sun–Thu 10–6, Fri–Sat 10–10 | No pets | Older kids and teens |
| Washington Farms, Bogart | ~75 min | $13.95 weekday; $18.95–$21.95 weekend + tax | Weekends Sept 19–Nov 8; weekdays Sept 22–Oct 30 | No pets, anywhere, any time | Biggest activity list |
| Sleepy Hollow Farm, Powder Springs | ~35 min | $12 weekday, $15 weekend; 2 and under free | Sept 19–Nov 1; closed Mon–Tue | Not published | Shortest drive, west metro |
| Cagle’s Family Farm, Holly Springs | ~45 min | $15 age 3+; +$5 tractor and bonfire | Sept 25–Nov 1; Fri 5–10, Sat 10–10, Sun 10–6 | Service animals only | Friday-night bonfire |
| Buford Corn Maze, Buford | ~50–60 min | $18.52 + tax; 2 and under free | Not published | Service dogs only | Northeast metro, once dates post |
| Southern Belle Farm, McDonough | ~40 min | Not published for 2026 | Not published | Not published | Southside families |
Where do you park, and what does it cost?
Burt’s states plainly that parking is free, and Buford Corn Maze advertised free parking for its September butterfly events. No other farm in this guide publishes a parking charge, which in practice means parking is included with admission — but it also means none of them publish a lot surface, so expect mown field or gravel and shoes you do not mind dirtying. On a peak October Saturday the walk from the far end of a hayfield lot to the gate can be several hundred yards.
Can you bring a stroller or a wagon?
None of these seven farms publishes a stroller or wagon policy, which is itself the answer: assume nothing is paved. Working farms run on packed dirt, cut stubble and gravel, and an umbrella stroller will fight you the whole way. A hiking carrier or a wide-wheeled wagon is the reliable choice for under-threes. If you need genuinely flat, hard-surfaced ground for a stroller this time of year, our guide to stroller-friendly waterfalls in North Georgia is the better fall outing.
What should you do in your situation?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Only have two or three hours | Sleepy Hollow Farm, Powder Springs | ~35 minutes out, $12–$15, and last arrival is 5 p.m. so a late-afternoon run still works |
| Have a toddler | Burt’s, on a weekday morning | Free entry means no sunk cost if the visit lasts 20 minutes, and the hayride is the whole attraction |
| Are bringing the dog | Change the plan | Five of the seven ban pets or allow service animals only; Sleepy Hollow and Southern Belle publish nothing |
| Are on a tight budget | Burt’s or the Washington Farms patch only | Burt’s charges nothing to enter; Washington Farms states no ticket is needed to visit just the pumpkin patch |
| Get rain in the forecast | Call Uncle Shuck’s first | It publishes a closure policy for heavy rain or muddy ground; most others publish none |
| Want to avoid crowds | Washington Farms, Tue–Fri 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | Weekday admission is $13.95 versus up to $21.95 on an extended weekend, and the field is far emptier |
| Have teenagers | Uncle Shuck’s on an October Friday or Saturday | The Dark Rows haunted trail runs those nights; combo admission is $29 |
What else is worth folding into the same trip?
The Dawsonville farms sit inside the same weekend as the Ellijay orchards — see our guide to apple picking in North Georgia for what is actually pickable week by week. If you are timing the drive for color rather than gourds, our North Georgia fall foliage guide explains how peak moves down by elevation. For costumes and trick-or-treat alternatives, see Halloween events in Atlanta for kids, and for the big in-town option, the Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival. When the season turns, the same families tend to move on to Georgia Christmas tree farms.
FAQ
What is the cheapest pumpkin patch near Atlanta?
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville is the cheapest, because admission and parking are both free and you pay only for the pumpkin you carry out. The optional hayride costs $10 per person plus sales tax, with children under two riding free. Washington Farms is the other free-entry option if you skip the activity area and visit only the pumpkin patch.
Which pumpkin patch is closest to Atlanta?
Sleepy Hollow Farm at 628 Sleepy Hollow Road in Powder Springs is the closest in this guide, roughly 35 minutes from downtown. Its Fall Fest 2026 runs September 19 to November 1, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, at $12 per person on Wednesday through Friday and $15 on weekends, free for children two and under.
Burt’s Farm or Uncle Shuck’s — which is better with young kids?
Burt’s suits under-fives better: free entry, a short hayride and a pumpkin field, with no pressure to extract value from a ticket. Uncle Shuck’s at $18 a head is built around a 15-acre maze, a corn cannon and a jumpy pad, which rewards kids old enough to run. Its haunted trail is separate and aimed at teens.
Can you bring dogs to pumpkin patches near Atlanta?
No. Burt’s states that pets are not allowed, Uncle Shuck’s posts “sorry no pets,” Washington Farms bans pets anywhere on the property at any time, and Buford Corn Maze and Cagle’s Family Farm permit service animals only. Sleepy Hollow and Southern Belle do not publish a policy, so assume the same and call ahead.
Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
At Washington Farms, yes — the farm sells activity admission online only, states that anyone aged two and up needs a ticket, and warns that dates sell out. Uncle Shuck’s, Cagle’s and Buford Corn Maze all sell at the gate as well as online. Burt’s requires no ticket at all, since admission is free.
Which farms take credit cards?
Washington Farms is fully cashless and accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cash App. Cagle’s takes cash and major credit cards. Buford Corn Maze sells tickets online or in person by cash or credit. Uncle Shuck’s takes both but adds a 3.5% card service charge. Sleepy Hollow accepts cards and gate cash but not checks.
When do the 2026 pumpkin patches open and close?
Burt’s opened September 1 and closes November 10. Washington Farms and Sleepy Hollow both started September 19, closing November 8 and November 1 respectively. Uncle Shuck’s runs September 19 to November 8 and Cagle’s September 25 to November 1. Buford Corn Maze and Southern Belle Farm have not published 2026 calendars.
What if it rains on the day we booked?
Uncle Shuck’s is the only farm here with a published weather policy: it closes for heavy or extended rainfall, or when a previous storm has left the ground too muddy. B.J. Reece, in the nearby orchards, runs rain or shine. Everywhere else, call before you leave — and remember that a wet field makes a stroller nearly useless.
Is a weekday visit cheaper than a weekend?
Substantially. Washington Farms charges $13.95 on weekdays against $18.95 to $21.95 on weekends, and Sleepy Hollow charges $12 midweek against $15 on Saturday and Sunday. Uncle Shuck’s holds one $18 price all week. Weekday hours are shorter, though — Washington Farms runs only 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Are there pumpkin patches on the south side of Atlanta?
Southern Belle Farm in McDonough is the main one, about 40 minutes from downtown on a 330-acre farm at 1658 Turner Church Road. It has not yet published 2026 fall dates or prices. Last season it opened weekdays and weekends from mid-September, with free entry to the market and pumpkin patch and paid admission for activities.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Burt’s Pumpkin Farm — Plan a Visit (2026 season dates, hours, free admission and parking, hayride price, pet policy)
- Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze — Hours & Rates (2026 dates, admission, card fee, inclusions)
- Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze — FAQs (pets, payment, outside food, rain closures)
- Washington Farms — Fall Hours & Pricing (2026 weekday and weekend calendar and prices)
- Washington Farms — Visit in Fall (free pumpkin patch entry, cashless payment, online-only tickets)
- Washington Farms — Fall Events (Columbus Day and Homeschool Day pricing, Bogart address)
- Sleepy Hollow Farm — Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze (2026 Fall Fest dates, hours, admission, payment)
- Cagle’s Family Farm (2026 dates, hours, $15 admission, pet and payment policies)
- Buford Corn Maze — Tickets (2026 ticket price, age-free cutoff, payment methods)
- Buford Corn Maze — home page (pet policy, address, unannounced 2026 calendar)
- Southern Belle Farm — Fall on the Farm (last published fall hours and admission prices)
- Southern Belle Farm — Ticket Booth (confirms no 2026 fall tickets listed)
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
