Strites Orchards

4.5 435 Google reviews Orchard

U-pick pumpkinsApple pickingCider and donutsFarm store

Local farm featuring a store for apples, berries and pumpkins, with U-pick options.

Rating breakdown

Strites Orchards is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 435 Google reviews. Here is how those reviews break down by star rating:

5 317

4 66

3 24

2 12

1 16

What to expect at Strites Orchards

Based on its listing, Strites Orchards offers u-pick pumpkin patch and apple orchard. Here is what each of those typically involves, and what to plan for:

U-Pick Pumpkin Patches

True u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. It is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertised as pumpkin patches are actually display patches, where pumpkins are trucked in and arranged on straw for photographs.

Apple Picking

Orchards that also run a pumpkin patch give you the longest season of any farm type: apples start in August in most regions and run through October, overlapping the pumpkin window entirely. Pricing is normally by the bag or the peck rather than per apple.

Visiting Strites Orchards

Like almost every pumpkin patch in the country, Strites Orchards runs on a compressed seasonal schedule — typically open from mid-to-late September through the first days of November, with the exact opening and closing dates shifting slightly year to year based on weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in. Hours are also prone to change week to week during the season: many farms extend their hours on the two or three weekends around mid-October, when demand peaks, and cut back to weekend-only or reduced hours toward either end of the season.

Because of that variability, the hours listed on this page — sourced from Strites Orchards's public business listing — are a strong starting point but not a guarantee. A farm can close early for a private event, shut the field after heavy rain, or sell out of pumpkins before the posted closing time. If the trip to Harrisburg, PA is more than a few minutes for you, it is worth a quick call to confirm the farm is open and the field is accessible before you leave.

Payment practices are another area where it pays to check ahead. A meaningful share of pumpkin patches — especially smaller, family-run operations — are cash-only or limit card payments to the main farm store while wagon rides and field admission are collected in cash. Carrying some cash covers you even if Strites Orchards does take cards, and avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.

If you are planning around young children, it is worth thinking about nap schedules and stamina rather than just the drive time — a two- or three-hour outing that includes a wagon ride, a walk through the field and a stop at a play area or animal pen tends to hold a toddler's attention better than a rushed visit squeezed between other errands. Groups with a wider age range often do best splitting up once on site, since older kids and adults can tackle a corn maze or longer walk while younger children stay closer to the main picking area.

Tips for a good visit

Go on a weekday morning if you can. It is consistently the quietest time at almost any pumpkin patch, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking.
Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy. Pumpkin fields are working farmland, not paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain.
Bring cash. Even farms that accept cards at the store sometimes run field admission and wagon rides as cash-only.
Call ahead after wet weather. Field access and hayrides are the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated.
Check what's actually running that day. Corn mazes and haunted attractions in particular often open later in the season than the pumpkin patch itself, or run on a more limited schedule.
Pack layers. Fall mornings can start cold and warm up fast once the sun is out over an open field, especially if you're there for a few hours.

Hours

Listed hours for Strites Orchards are below. As with any seasonal farm, treat these as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee — confirm directly if you are travelling any distance to visit.

Monday	8AM-7PM
Tuesday	8AM-7PM
Wednesday	8AM-7PM
Thursday	8AM-7PM
Friday	8AM-7PM
Saturday	8AM-5PM
Sunday	11AM-4PM

Getting to Strites Orchards

Strites Orchards is located at 1000 Strites Rd, Harrisburg, PA, 17111. Use the Get directions button on this page to route from your current location in Google Maps, or the map below to see exactly where the farm sits relative to nearby towns.

As with most pumpkin patches, parking is typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot, so allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic. If you are relying on a GPS app rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address — rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate or an adjacent property.

Frequently asked questions

What are Strites Orchards's hours?

Based on its public listing, Strites Orchards is typically open Monday 8AM-7PM, Tuesday 8AM-7PM, Wednesday 8AM-7PM, Thursday 8AM-7PM, Friday 8AM-7PM, Saturday 8AM-5PM, Sunday 11AM-4PM. Pumpkin patch hours change often during the season, so confirm directly with the farm before visiting, especially outside of peak October weekends.

How much does it cost to visit Strites Orchards?

Admission pricing is not listed for Strites Orchards. Pumpkin patches generally use one of three models: free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission that bundles attractions like a corn maze or hayride, or a wristband system priced per attraction. Call ahead or check the farm's website to find out which applies here.

When is the best time to visit Strites Orchards?

Weekday mornings are consistently the quietest time to visit any pumpkin patch, including this one. The two weekends on either side of mid-October are typically the busiest of the season nationwide, so expect longer waits for wagon rides and parking if you go then. Late October usually means a thinner pumpkin selection but shorter lines.

Does Strites Orchards accept credit cards?

Payment methods are not listed for Strites Orchards. Many pumpkin patches, particularly smaller family-run farms, are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store accepts cards, so it is worth bringing cash as a backup.

Where is Strites Orchards located?

Strites Orchards is located in or near Harrisburg, PA. See the address and map on this page, or use the Get Directions button to route there from your current location.

More farms in PA with similar attractions: