Why You Need To Visit A Sunflower Field This Year

Summer is NOT over yet, I repeat…SUMMER IS NOT OVER YET. This is coming from the Fall & Halloween Queen, so you should probably listen to me.

Summer not being over yet, means there is still a TON of time to visit a sunflower field this year and after scrolling through this post I guarantee you’ll be researching sunflower farms to visit near you!

Simone and I visited the North Fork mid Summer and immediately knew we wanted to add North Fork Sunflower Maze to our itinerary. It’s located in Mattituck and run by the family that owns North Fork Potato Chips (they use the sunflowers to make the sunflower oil for their potato chips so unfortunately you can’t pick sunflowers here, but you can buy flowers to take home). We visited on a Monday around noon so there weren’t there many people there and we could easily take as many photos as we wanted in their beautiful sunflower fields!

Sunflower season in New York usually starts in mid July and ends mid September so there’s still plenty of time to visit the sunflower fields closest to you this year. If you’re in Westchester County like me then scroll down to the bottom of this post for a list of sunflower farms in the area for you to check out.

Did you know that a sunflower head is made up of 1000-2000 individual flowers and each produces a seed?

Summer flower fields to visit in New York

Why You Need To Visit A Sunflower Field This Year

Not going to lie, my main reason for visiting a sunflower field this year is because it’s the PERFECT location for a photoshoot. I mean who doesn’t want an Instagram photo in front of beautiful sunflowers? But once I read up a little more about sunflower fields and their annual bloom I was even more excited. To be honest I can’t believe it took me this long to visit one!

Fun Fact: Growing sunflowers follow the movement of the sun across the sky from east to west, a process known as “Heliotropism”

Best Sunflower Fields to Visit in NY (within 3 hours of Westchester County)

North Fork Sunflower maze

Located in Mattituck, NY (on the North Fork of Long Island)
This is the sunflower field I visited and where all the photos in this post were taken!
Admission is $8 per person. Children under 10 are free. Admission includes an all day wristband which means you can also come back for sunset. No reservations needed.
Open to the public 7 days a week (Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday-Sunday 9am-sunset).
Pets are also welcome.
Photography is encouraged (drones not allowed).
More information can be found here!

Sunflower Valley Farm

Located in New Hampton, NY (in Orange County close to Woodbury)
Admission on Tuesday-Friday is $10 for adults and children over 12, $5 for children 5-12 & children under 5 are free. Admission on Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays is $12 for adults and children over 12, $5 for children 5-12 & children under 5 are free. Tickets available for purchase online.
Ticket includes 2 FREE Sunflowers (pick your own so bring a cutter).
Sunflower Valley Farm also has a petting farm, face painting for kids and lots more activities for the whole family.
Pets allowed.
Personal photography welcome, professional photo shoots require a booking.
More information can be found here!

Kelder’s Farm

Located in Ulster County just past Mohonk Mountain outside of New Paltz
Open Daily from 10am-6pm, closed on Wednesdays from August 6th through the beginning of September.
Tickets are limited and encouraged to be purchased ahead of time.
Admission includes access to 6 acres of sunflowers, farm attractions including the jumping pillow, petting farm, mini-golf and more.
No pets allowed.
More information can be found here!

Barton Orchards

Located in Dutchess County
$10 admission per person for ages 12 and up includes access to the sunflower field and three flowers to cut! Free admission for children up to age 12, flowers not included.
Barton Orchards also has a Tap Room on the Orchard that has local craft beer and hard cider on tap.
Sunflower fields only open on weekends in August.
Barton Orchards is also on my list of Best Apple Orchards Close to New York City
More information can be found here!

Waterdrinker Family Farm

Located in Manorville, NY on Long Island.
U-Pick Sunflower Fields! $15 admission to enter the field, children 2 and under are free! $2 per stem if you would like to pick sunflowers. Admission includes sunflower fields, barnyard animals, mini gold, tractor pedal cards and more.
Open daily from 9am-5pm. Open until sunset every Friday and Saturday.
Photography encouraged.
Pet friendly!
More information can be found here!

Rottkamp’s fox hollow farm

Located in Suffolk County on Long Island (close to Riverhead)
Open everyday from 11am-6pm.
Admission is $6 per person, children 5 and under are free!
More information can be found here!

Lyman Orchards

Technically not in NY, but still close in Middlefield, CT
Open daily from 9am-5pm.
Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 4-12 and free for children under 3.
More than 350,000 yellow, orange and red sunflowers make up their sunflower maze.
Sunflower maze only open through the end of August (Corn Maze from September-November)
More information can be found here!