Looking for pumpkin patches near Dallas-Fort Worth that promise a fun family day? The first step is to decide exactly what your crew can handle. Do you want a short visit with pumpkins, photo ops, maybe a game or two? Or do you want a day trip to experience the full farm festival?

While there are dozens of small "patches" in DFW where you can grab your future jack o' lantern, if you want to visit a patch with extra activities, our guide has everything from the patch where you can actually pick a pumpkin to the ultimate fall extravaganza, complete with corn mazes, apple cider, scarecrows, carnival rides, and of course, farm animals galore. 

If you're looking for ways to spend time with the kids, check out our fall guide to family fun in DFW.

Mommy-and-me classes are the absolute best because not only will your little one have a chance to learn something new, but you'll be able to spend quality time with them and meet other parents (a total bonus). If you're having a hard time picking a daddy-and-me or mommy-and-me class, we've rounded up a few of our favorites. Not only are they engaging for both you and baby, but most of these classes have locations all over DFW, making it even easier to get out of the house for a little fun! 

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Springfield, MO, and the surrounding areas are known as the gateway to the Ozarks: a stunning region in the heart of America filled with caves, springs, forests, and vast limestone formations. It’s also home to Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro, and one of the country’s most important conservationists.

His foundation has created nature parks and important educational institutions that put the spotlight on his home state far more than a certain Netflix show could ever hope to do. And while I loved watching Jason Bateman captain his boat among the fingers of the Lakes of the Ozarks, it was by exploring the land preserved by Mr. Morris’s that I was able to truly understand the historical and natural impact and wild beauty of the Ozarks.

Springfield, along with the nature preserves that fall under the Johnny Morris Foundation umbrella, is just an eight-hour drive northeast of Dallas, near Branson, one of the most popular Ozark tourist attractions for North Texans. If you’re planning on exploring this beautiful part of the country on your next vacation, include the gateway to the Ozarks in your itinerary.