There's a particular kind of morning that tells you fall has landed in New Mexico. The air turns crisp before the sun burns it off, the chile roasters start popping up along the highway, and every kid you know starts asking when you're taking them to pick a pumpkin. Luckily, this state doesn't skimp on options, from a working farm outside Las Cruces to a corn maze that doubles as a tribute to New Mexico agriculture.
Below you'll find the five best fall activities across the state, all confirmed to be open for the 2026 season, with the dates, hours, and admission details you actually need before you load the car.
1. Mesilla Valley Maze: Las Cruces, NM
If you only make it to one pumpkin patch near Las Cruces this year, this working farm just outside town is the one people keep coming back to. The Mesilla Valley Maze runs its 2026 season on Saturdays and Sundays, October 3 through October 25, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. General admission runs $12 for adults and $10 for youth under 12, and kids 2 and under get in free. Military members get a $2 discount with ID, and groups of 50 or more pay $8 per person with a reservation.
Beyond the pumpkin patch itself, where you can cut your own straight from the vine, there's a giant corn maze, hayrides, gem mining, duck races, a flower field, and a handful of giant slides. The farm hosts two festival weekends this year: a Fall Festival on October 3 and 4 and a Pumpkin Festival on October 24 and 25, both with extra entertainment layered on top of the regular activities. It's a cash-, debit-, and credit-friendly spot, and there are ATMs onsite if you need one. The farm sits at 3855 W Picacho Ave, just west of downtown Las Cruces off I-10.
2. Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch: Rio Rancho, NM
Head north to the Albuquerque metro, and you'll find one of the most kid-focused patches in the state, set up in the upper parking lot of the Rio Rancho Events Center. Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch opens for a preview weekend on September 26 and 27, then runs daily from October 1 through October 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $13.99 for adults, $11.99 for children ages 3 to 17, and $12.99 for seniors and military with ID. A season pass runs $29.99. The patch is cashless, so bring a card or a mobile wallet.
Nearly everything here is included in the ticket price, from the giant corn pit and duck races to pedal cars, cornhole, and an axe-throw area. Only the petting zoo and paintball cost extra. Families with young kids tend to gravitate toward the animal corral and the tricycle track, while older kids beeline for the corn pit that holds thousands of pounds of loose corn.
3. La Union Maze: Anthony, NM
As one of the best pumpkin patches near Las Cruces, right along the Texas border, La Union Maze has been a fall staple for over two decades, and it's back for a 27th season in 2026. The farm opens September 26 and runs through November 8, with hours generally Friday evening, Saturday late morning into the evening, and Sunday afternoon (check the site for the exact daily schedule, since hours shift slightly through the run). This year's 13-acre maze design is a tribute to New Mexico agriculture, worked around symbols like chile, a roadrunner, and the Zia sign.
A wagon ride carries visitors out to the pumpkin patch to pick their own pumpkins and flowers, and the grounds also have jumping pillows, slides, pedal cars, a cow train and pig races. Teachers, military members, veterans, and first responders get 50% off admission during opening weekend. The season wraps up November 7 with a fireworks and drone show. La Union Maze is a cashless venue, so plan to pay by card or mobile wallet
4. McCall's Pumpkin Patch: Moriarty, NM
East of Albuquerque on old Route 66, McCall's Pumpkin Patch has built a reputation as one of the biggest pumpkin patch operations in the state, and it's confirmed open for 2026. The daytime Pumpkin Patch runs Saturdays and Sundays, September 19 through October 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., plus select Fridays (October 9, 16, 23 and 30) from noon to 6 p.m. A separate after-dark Haunted Farm opens Friday and Saturday nights starting September 25, running 7 p.m. to midnight.
The farm's signature attraction is its corn maze, which has been ranked among the top mazes in the country in past seasons, but there's plenty else going on too, including a pumpkin train, jumping pillows, a ropes course, pedal karts, and a candy cannon. McCall's sits at 34 McCall Dr in Moriarty, less than an hour east of Albuquerque.
5. Heirloom Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch: Artesia, NM
Down in southeastern New Mexico, Heirloom Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch has been run by the same farming family for more than a century, and the pumpkin patch side of the operation started up in 2019. In fact, it's one of the best pumpkin patches near Carlsbad, hands down. The 2026 season runs October 3 through October 31, with hours Friday 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 2 to 8 p.m. A general admission ticket covers the 8-acre corn maze, the pumpkin patch, the Bee Line kiddy zip line, a jumping pillow, the Grain Train, and the yard games. Only concessions, pumpkin purchases, the corn cannon, and campfire reservations cost extra.
Pumpkins here are grown right on the farm and sold by weight at 65 cents a pound, with minis and gourds priced separately. The farm sits about a mile east of Artesia on US Highway 82, and it's a solid stop if you're already headed toward Carlsbad for the weekend.
Are there other pumpkin patches in New Mexico you plan to visit in 2026? How about tackling a fall foliage road New Mexico road trip?