Fall outings have a way of costing more than they look like they will -- and pumpkin patches and apple orchards are a repeat offender. Admission alone can range from about $7 to over $20 per person depending on the farm, and that's often before you've picked a single apple or pumpkin.
How much does apple picking cost per person in 2026
Pricing varies by day of the week as much as by farm. In the Chicago area, for example, one orchard charges $11.99 per person for weekday gate admission versus $14.99 for online weekend and holiday tickets -- a pattern that shows up across most regions: weekends and holidays cost more than weekdays at the same farm.
Pumpkin patch prices 2026: why the range is so wide
Pumpkin patch admission is where the real variation shows up. Some farms charge as little as $7 per person just to get in; others charge $20 or more per head, which for a family of four can mean over $100 before a single pumpkin is purchased -- a jump some visitors have flagged as a "new cover charge" that wasn't there in past seasons. One Chicago-area farm's 2026 admission ranges from $19.99 to $29.99 depending on the day.
Family fall outing budget: what admission doesn't include
The ticket price is usually just entry. What you actually pick -- apples by the quarter-peck, pumpkins by the pound -- is typically billed separately, and pumpkins in particular are often priced by weight (roughly $1.38/lb in some markets, meaning a 10-14 lb pumpkin can run $14-$20 on its own). Budgeting for admission alone will usually undercount the real total.
Apple picking vs pumpkin patch cost: doing both in one trip
Some farms bundle both activities, with combined packages starting around $35.99 per person in the markets we checked -- often a better deal than paying full admission at two separate farms if both are on your list for the day.
Since exact pricing varies so much by farm and region, the Pumpkin Patch & Apple Picking Family Outing Cost Calculator uses party size, weekday/weekend, and a low/mid/high regional price tier -- grounded in real 2026 pricing -- to give a fast ballpark instead of a single misleading number.
Try the Pumpkin Patch & Apple Picking Cost Calculator →
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times ("Apple picking 2026," Sept. 28, 2026); Chicagoland pumpkin patch pricing guides (Little Chicago Guide, Homer Glen farm guide); family outing cost commentary (Welcoming Simplicity blog).