Farms · Chester County
Kid-Friendly Farms in Chester County, PA
Chester County is farm country in the most literal sense — over 1,500 farms still operate across the county, and a meaningful number of them welcome families. The pick-your-own season runs from strawberries in June through pumpkins in October, and the county's natural landscape makes even a simple farm visit feel like a real outing rather than a theme park. Here's what we'd put on the must-do list.
Updated 2026-09-01 · Kid Friendly Chesco editors
Quick answer
Best for toddlers: Springton Manor Farm — Free, county-run, with real farm animals right at kid height and open fields for a wandering two-year-old — toddlers are completely in their element.
Best free option: Springton Manor Farm — No entrance fee, no crowds on weekdays, and a petting area near the barn that's the star of the show.
Best for pick-your-own: Linvilla Orchards — The gold standard for the county — strawberries in June, peaches, apples, and pumpkins through fall, plus a farm market worth a stop even off-season.
Best if crowds stress you out: Highland Orchards — Same pick-your-own concept as its bigger neighbor, noticeably less crowded even in October.
Picking a farm by season and crowd tolerance
Fall gets all the attention, but Chester County farms are worth visiting most of the year. Strawberry picking in June is underrated and far less crowded than October. Spring is the move if you want to see young animals. By the time September and October roll around for apples and pumpkins, you're competing with everyone else in the region for a parking spot.
Linvilla Orchards is the gold standard here — pick-your-own strawberries in June, peaches in August, apples in September, pumpkins in October, and a farm market worth a stop even outside pick-your-own season. It also gets genuinely packed on fall weekends; this isn't a secret, and the crowds are real. If that sounds like too much, Highland Orchards runs the same concept a few minutes away and is noticeably less crowded, even in October — a good first move if Linvilla feels overwhelming.
For toddlers, skip the orchards
The pick-your-own farms are built for kids who can walk a row and hold a basket — toddlers mostly tag along. For a 1-to-3-year-old, Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore is the better fit: free, open fields with nowhere for a wandering toddler to truly get lost, and actual farm animals at kid eye level with no entrance line to manage. The petting area near the barn is the whole trip for this age group. Milky Way Farm near Kennett Square is a smaller, more intimate version of the same idea — good if Springton Manor feels like too much ground to cover with a kid who insists on walking themselves rather than riding in a carrier.
Crowds: when to go
Peak fall weekends at Linvilla are a crowd sport — expect a walk from the far end of the lot. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday in late September and it's an entirely different, calmer experience, still with plenty picked. Springton Manor and Milky Way both stay manageable most of the time simply because they're smaller operations and less of a destination event; weekday mornings at Springton Manor are close to empty, and the animals are more active earlier in the day.
Skip it if
You're bringing a stroller-bound baby to Linvilla or Highland Orchards on a peak October Saturday expecting an easy visit — the lots and rows get genuinely crowded and it's not a relaxed outing at that specific time. Go on a weekday, or pick Springton Manor instead.
Before you go
- Milky Way Farm is a small operation — worth calling ahead to confirm hours and what's currently open before making the drive.
- Parking is easy at all four: free on-site lots, though Linvilla's fills up and requires a longer walk on peak fall weekends.
- Seasons: all four run spring through fall; none of this is a year-round activity, so plan around the calendar.
Compare the recorded details for 4 places
| Place | Price | Stroller | W. Chester | Exton | Downingtown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Orchards | $$$$ | — | — | — | — |
| Linvilla Orchards | $$$$ | — | — | — | — |
| Milky Way Farm | $$$$ | — | — | — | — |
| Springton Manor Farm | Free | Yes | ~30 min | ~20 min | ~15 min |
Drive times are approximate. Facts marked — haven't been verified by us yet.
West Chester·outdoor
Linvilla's slightly quieter neighbor. Same great pick-your-own concept — strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins — with a bit less of the crowd. The farm market is excellent. If Linvilla feels overwhelming on a fall Saturday, try here first.
Free lot on site.
Details →
Photo: Jim, the Photographer · 2012 · CC BY 2.0Resized and cropped for display; shows the location, not current conditions.
Media · nearby·outdoor
A seasonal farm option in Media, outside Chester County. Pick-your-own strawberries in June, peaches in August, apples in September, pumpkins in October. The farm market is worth a stop even off-season. Gets extremely busy on fall weekends — this is not a secret.
Large lot on site. On peak fall weekends, expect a walk from the far end.
Details →Chester County·outdoor
Milky Way Farm
$$$$A working dairy farm and creamery in Chester Springs (not Kennett Square) — more intimate than the big-name orchards, and better for very young kids because of it. Farm animals plus ice cream made on site are the draw. Hours shift by season (roughly Tue–Sun afternoons in summer, weekends-only by fall), so call or check the website before you go.
On-site lot. Easy.
Details →
Photo: Smallbones · 2011 · CC0Resized and cropped for display; shows the location, not current conditions.
Chester County·outdoor
A Chester County gem that most people outside the county don't know exists. Free, with actual farm animals (cows, goats, chickens), wide open fields, and a nice walking loop. Toddlers are completely in their element here. The petting area near the barn is the star of the show.
~30 min from West Chester · Free lot on site. Easy.
Details →Questions
Things parents ask
What farms in Chester County have pick-your-own for families?
Linvilla Orchards and Highland Orchards are the most well-known — both offer strawberries in early summer, followed by peaches, apples, and pumpkins in fall. Milky Way Farm near Kennett Square is smaller and more intimate. All three are genuinely good with young kids.
When is the best time to visit Chester County farms with kids?
Fall is the big season — September and October for apples and pumpkins. But early summer (June) for strawberry picking is underrated and less crowded. Spring visits to Springton Manor Farm are excellent for seeing young animals. Each season has a reason to go.
Which Chester County farm is best for toddlers?
Springton Manor Farm (free, county-run) is the top pick for toddlers — animals, open fields, no entrance fee, no crowds on weekdays. Milky Way Farm is also excellent for very young kids because of its smaller, more manageable scale.
How crowded do Chester County farms get in fall?
Linvilla is genuinely packed on fall weekends — peak October Saturdays are a crowd sport. Highland Orchards is a bit more manageable. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday in late September and it's a completely different experience. If crowds stress you out, weekdays are non-negotiable.