The Best Sunflower Fields Near New York City
When you think of summer, you probably think about barbecues, trips to the beach, maybe hiking? I think about sunflowers. These bright, yellow sunflowers are my favorite part about summer. If you live in NYC though, the most you’ll ever see them is in someone’s personal garden. The truth is, to wander through a true sunflower field, you will have to drive a little out of the city. Good thing there’s lots of options for you, and they’re all within just two hours away. Here are 10 of the best sunflower fields near New York City, along with the best times to see them, and how to get there!
When Can You See Sunflowers in Bloom?
Each year, photographers wait for that brief window when different flowers reach peak bloom — sunflowers being one of them. The good thing about sunflowers is that they bloom much longer than other popular flowers like roses and lavender. Typically, you can find sunflowers as early as the first weeks of July and as late as October. Some farms may have two “viewing seasons.” They plant some seeds earlier on, which bloom until early August, but their next set of seeds are ready for viewing by September. That being said, make sure to check the property’s website before heading out to make sure their sunflowers are ready.
Where Can You Find Sunflower Fields?
Manor Farm Huntington. 210 Manor Rd. Huntington, NY. 11743. Viewing begins late July.
Garden of Eve Farm. 4558 Sound Ave. Riverhead, NY. 11901. Viewing begins late June.
Another farm located on the North Fork, Garden of Eve focuses on producing organic veggies to its local residents. They also host different programs for all ages such as cooking classes and farm tours. After picking your own veggies, make sure to pick some sunflower stems from their fields!
Pindar Vineyards. 37645 Main Rd. Peconic, NY. 11958. Open every day 11am-6pm. Viewing lasts from late July-August.
Pindar Vineyards, as you can guess from the name is a winery located out on the North Fork of Long Island. Aside from a wine tasting room, Pindar Vineyards also has a sunflower field just around back. You don’t have to stay for a wine tasting, anyone can simply walk into the field for photos. You can also pick your own sunflowers for a small fee per stem (clippers are available inside).
North Fork Sunflower Maze. 8350 Wickham Ave. Mattituck, NY. 11952. Viewing starts in late July through early September.
You might not find this sunflower field if you type it into your GPS, because they are actually a generational family farm known for their production of potato chips. You will more likely find them under “North Fork Chips” online and on social media. Even though they are known for growing potatoes, they also have a very popular sunflower maze on the farm!
Rottkamp’s Fox Hollow Farm. 2287 Sound Avenue. Baiting Hollow, NY. 11933. Viewing starts late June through late July, then resumes early September through October.
This farm, known for producing fresh quality veggies for its local residents, recently opened up a new sunflower field. Double the size from its previous patch, Rottkamp’s has attracted hundreds of visitors since its opening. The farm has a little “intermission” in August, with enough time for a second batch of sunflowers to bloom in time for fall season in September (at which time you can also visit to pick your own pumpkins).
Sunflower Valley Farm. 366 County Rd 12. New Hampton, NY. 10958. Open 7 days a week. Viewing starts late July through September.
A perfect place if you’re visiting children, Sunflower Valley Farm is a family friendly place with lots of photo ops and activities to keep everyone entertained. The best part — it’s pet friendly as well! Dogs are welcome as long as they remain on a leash.
Water Drinker Family Farm & Garden. 663 Wading River Rd. Manorville, NY. 11949. Viewing from mid-July through September.
Another family friendly farm: Water Drinker features a “U-Pick” sunflower field, along with many more activities, like mini golf and the very popular jump pad.
The next three farms are located in New Jersey, but still within a two hour (or less) distance, just like all the New York fields!
Sussex County Sunflower Maze. 101 Co Rd 645. Sandyston, NJ. 07826. Viewing begins late August- mid September.
http://www.sussexcountysunflowermaze.com/
Happy Day Farm. 106 Iron Ore Rd. Manalapan, NJ. 07726 Viewing begins early July through mid-August, then resumes in mid September.
https://www.happydayfarmnj.com/sunflowerpicking
Happy Day Farm is one of my favorites from this list. I’ve visited both during lavender and sunflower season, and plan to return again for the fall season. This family farm is one of the most photo friendly, as it’s full with cute little props for a unique shot amongst the sunflowers. They also include a tractor ride to the fields with admission. During the summer sunflower viewing, they also have their berry fields open for raspberry/blueberry picking!
Holland Ridge Farms. 86 Rues Rd. Cream Ridge, NJ. 08514. Viewing begins in mid-September.
https://hollandridgefarms.com/u-pick-sunflowers/
Holland Ridge is the biggest u-pick field on the East Coast. Their tulip festival in the Spring draws hundreds of visitors across the tri-state area, but they are also known for their 50+ acres of sunflowers. They plant millions of seeds every week, which allows the sunflowers to last for about a month.
Well, that’s a wrap for the 10 best sunflower fields near New York City!
Have you visited any of these sunflower fields before? Let me know all about it in the comments below! Or, if you know of any more beautiful fields that should be added to this list, let me know as well! 🙂
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