Best Family-Friendly Farms in Orange County
Orange County families are eager to enjoy the outdoors all year round. One of the best ways to spend this time as a family is to head out to a local farm where you can pet barnyard animals, pick your own produce and stock up at a farm stand.
Farms can be a great bonding experience for parents and kids alike as it brings everyone into the moment with one another, and there are plenty of options available to families in and around Orange County, including U-pick farms, petting zoos, and more! Below are our favorite family-friendly farms in Orange County, plus a few worth the drive.
Family-friendly farms at a glance
| Farm | City | Best for | Entry | Hours note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanaka Farms | Irvine | Barnyard, farm stand, seasonal festivals | Barnyard has a fee | Barnyard daily 9 AM–4 PM |
| Centennial Farm | Costa Mesa | Farm animals at the OC Fairgrounds | Free | Weekdays 1–4 PM, weekends 10 AM–4 PM |
| Great Park Farm + Food Lab | Irvine | Gardens, chickens, outdoor learning | Free | Tue–Sun 10 AM–3 PM |
| The Ecology Center | San Juan Capistrano | Farm stand, cafe, organic farm | Check site | Farm stand 9 AM–5 PM |
| Farmakis Farms | San Juan Capistrano | Friday farmers market, Christmas trees | Check site | Market Fridays 9 AM–1 PM |
| Smith Farms | Fountain Valley | Produce stand | Check site | Varies by season |
| Renewable Farms | Aliso Viejo, Anaheim | Workshops, volunteering | Check site | Email before visiting |
| South Coast Farms | San Juan Capistrano | U-pick strawberries | Check site | Reportedly closing; call to confirm |
| Underwood Family Farms | Moorpark, Somis | Pick your own, animals (worth the drive) | Check site | Daily 9 AM–5 PM |
Orange County farms
South Coast Farms U-Pick
Address: 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Dana Point Farm Stand: 24040 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point, CA 92629
Phone: 949-661-9381
Status: Reportedly closing after the 2026 season; call to confirm before visiting.
South Coast Farms is located right in San Juan Capistrano and is the perfect place to take everyone for U-Pick produce of all kinds! Among the most popular U-Pick items are their sweet and luscious strawberries, which are sure to leave you satisfied.
It's worth mentioning that they have other options for picking as well, including cucumbers, tomatoes, a variety of spicy peppers, carrots, and a few other veggies. The best part is that parking only costs $5 here, compared to other U-pick farms where entry can often be on a per person basis.
Among the many delightful aspects of South Coast Farms is that you can also pick up pre-picked produce when you and your kids are done enjoying an afternoon out in the sunny fields, but still want some extra goodies to take back home with you.
The farm fields are nestled right in the Tree of Life Nursery and are sprawling out nearly as far as the eye can see. However, the ground is often dusty and muddy, so it is recommended that you wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting muddy when you are visiting the farm.
When the U-pick Fields are closed, you can visit the Dana Point farm stand for fresh produce.
Smith Farms
Address: 9736 Ellis Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Phone: 714-962-3188
Hours: Hours vary by season; call to confirm.
Next up is Smith Farms! One of the best things about Smith Farms is how easily accessible it is to everyone who wants to visit. Located in Fountain Valley, Smith Farms is right on the side of the road so there are not any long dirt roads that you have to drive down to get to the farm. A second location is in Irvine at the corner of Jeffrey Rd. and Bryan Ave.
In spite of the fact that Smith Farms is not as big as the other family friendly farms in this list, it provides a wonderfully intimate experience for your family, letting you connect even more deeply with nature. They also make up for their small size by growing a whole host of different produce, from standard items like tomatoes and strawberries to more unique items like kohlrabi and Tuscano kale.
There’s no stop to the fun when fall and winter come around, as they bring a new collection of fruits and veggies to be harvested. They also have seasonal offerings on the lot like pumpkin patches and Christmas tree farms.
One of the most wonderful things during the holiday season is heading to Smith Farms to browse their collection of Christmas trees on the lot and grab some of their items of produce on sale (the honey they sell is a particular favorite of many visitors).
Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab
Address: 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: 949-724-6247
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., closed Monday; may close for weather
Admission: Free, with free parking
Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab is a wonderful learning experience for everyone who visits. Located in the wonderful Great Park neighborhood, the farm + food lab is a completely interactive farm where young kids and adults alike can learn how to grow their very own fruits and veggies.
The farm + food lab is especially proud of its compost center, which is a place where you can bring your organic, non-gmo food scraps for feeding to their worms, which they use to help grow their crops.
One exhibit many kids love is their butterfly garden, where you get a hands-on look at everything butterflies (and many other insects) do for the natural ecosystem! The luscious garden also allows for some great family photos for everyone to enjoy.
One of the best parts about the Great Park Farm + Food Lab is that food harvested here is donated to local food pantries.
Tanaka Farms
Address: 5380 ¾ University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone: 949-653-2100
Hours: Produce Market Stand daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Barnyard daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (last entry 3:45 p.m.)
Hana Field (Costa Mesa): Closed for the season; check Tanaka Farms for updates.
There can be no doubt that Tanaka Farms is the most well-known farm on this list, and for good reason! The farm is owned and operated by a local family, and there are lots of activities at this farm for everyone in your family to enjoy.
Tanaka Farms offers ample parking for plenty of cars, as well as sprawling acres where you could spend the whole day roaming around in the fields. There are also sunflower fields to take selfies and photos with a stunning background.
Tanaka doesn't want to promise specific items due to the fluctuating nature of produce supplies, but some of the items you could be picking include: blackberries, carrots, radishes, cilantro, and, one of Tanaka's personal favorites, melon tours in the summer months. If you don’t feel like picking things yourself, but still want to enjoy the fresh, local produce, stop by their Produce Market Stand to buy fruits and vegetables picked earlier that day, along with a selection of items from partner farms and businesses.
If you don’t know what to do with the food you just bought, check Tanaka Farms’ site for any current farm-to-table offerings, or grab a bite at the on-site Tanaka Grill (hours vary by season).
There is a barnyard with plenty of animals to visit, open daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m. with last entry at 3:45 p.m. (admission applies; hours may vary during events). This is a great stop for the younger kids in your family.
Fall is one of the farm’s busiest seasons, with the annual Pumpkin Patch (2027 dates TBA). It typically features U-pick pumpkins and veggies, festival games and activities, wagon rides and more. In spring, Tanaka’s Spring Festival also returns (2027 dates TBA). See our Orange County pumpkin patches guide and Tanaka Farms guide for more.
Another one of the highlights comes during the holidays. Hikari - A Festival of Lights is one of the most stunning displays you can find in Orange County around Christmas time. A wagon ride takes you right through the middle of a wondrous light display before letting you walk through the land of 1000 lanterns.
Centennial Farm
Address: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: 714-708-1619
Hours: Monday–Friday 1–4 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Closed holidays and during all-grounds events.
Admission: Free; no reservations needed
Located right at the heart of the Orange County Fairgrounds, Centennial Farm offers year-round fun for the entire family, offering tours during the school year for both families and school field trips to see the inner workings of how Centennial Farm works.
The discovery days tours are designed for the whole family and are self-guided, with plenty of volunteers around to answer any questions you may have. As well as providing demonstrations throughout the day of how they take care of the animals, they also explain the agricultural side of the farm.
Centennial Farm also runs programs such as Discovery Days and Junior Farmer Tours; check its site for current offerings.
During the summer months, Centennial Farm becomes a part of the Orange County Fair and has even more to offer, including more animal exhibits with highlights like their Angora Goats, Breeding Sheep & Miniature Donkeys!
Renewable Farms
Gold Coast Farm: 110 Park Ave, Aliso Viejo, CA
Riverbed Farm: 1426 E Vermont Ave., Anaheim, CA
Visiting: Public hours aren’t posted; email Renewable Farms before you go.
Renewable Farms has two locations in Orange County, one in Anaheim and one in Aliso Viejo, and they are both incredible spots to stop by with your whole family! This nonprofit organization was started after its founder traveled around the world and saw the way that poverty and malnourishment were affecting communities far from home. He initially started to combat these issues by building farms in the communities where they were needed, but then decided that he could better use his skills by teaching more people how to start their own farms!
Volunteers are welcome to pitch in and help around the farm. The farms are great sites for youth groups and schools to visit on field trips, and they host community events and workshops.
You can also sign up for the community workshops that are offered on a periodic basis, with a focus on sustainable farming and living. They also offer some woodworking services to make goods like sheds, raised flower beds, and furniture! Please reach out to them to see if they are able to meet your needs for any new farming projects you wish to start, or if you’re just looking to liven up your home décor.
Both sites can be rented for holding private events. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a wedding or a family reunion, these are the perfect locations to hold your event with a lovely country feel without having to leave the city!
The Ecology Center
Address: 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: 949-443-4223
Hours: Farm Stand daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Campesino Cafe 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Located in San Juan Capistrano right next to the Trabuco Creek, The Ecology Center is a beautiful farm in the southern part of Orange County. Unlike others on this list, The Ecology Center is a non-profit organization, and is one of the only organic farms left in the area.
In spring, the Center has offered strawberry U-pick experiences; check its site for current seasonal programs and reservation details.
Throughout the year, the Center hosts a range of events and programs. Offerings change, so check its calendar before you go.
Before you head home, don’t forget to pick one of their Harvest Boxes, filled with their produce for the season. Their shop also stocks a number of other local goods, along with flowers from their gardens.
Worth the drive
Underwood Family Farms
Moorpark: 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark
Somis: 5696 E. Los Angeles Ave., Somis
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (check site for seasonal changes)
Underwood Family Farms also has two locations just outside of L.A.: one in Moorpark, and another in Somis. While both hold great sights and great fun, we will be focusing on Moorpark in this article, as it is their older and larger location.
The greatest highlight of the Moorpark location is their educational farm tours, which break down into three main categories of strawberry, vegetable, or pumpkin picking tours that you can mix and match. Included in the 2–4 hour tour is a presentation from one of the farmers, a visit to the Farm Animal Center, and coloring books for the little ones.
There are a number of other amenities and activities on the farm too, including wagon rides, play equipment, hay pyramid, gem and mineral mining, train rides, and more.
If you want to save some time while visiting the farm, there’s also self-guided pick your own experiences and have over a dozen options to choose from, and these offerings change monthly so it’s always worth checking their site to see what they have to offer!
They also have seasonal fun special events for the whole family, especially during the fall and winter seasons.
Farmakis Farms
Address: 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: 949-364-1270
Hours: Farmers Market Fridays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Christmas tree season opens Nov. 27, daily 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Pets: Service animals only
Located just off the I-5 in San Juan Capistrano, Farmakis Farms is a beautiful slice of farmland in Orange County. While they might be best known for their Christmas tree farm, they have so much more to offer all year round!
While they don’t grow produce on site, they host a Certified Farmers Market every Friday, hosting local farms and small business owners to sell their fruits and vegetables along with fresh fish and artisan breads. While you might not be able to pick things right off the vine, taking your time and choosing what you want to buy here can be just as fun!
If you’re looking for more than just food, check their events page for current happenings, such as line dancing nights in the barn.
And when it does come time to pick out a tree for the Christmas season, there is no better place! They grow both California Monterey Pine and Leyland Cypress trees in their farm and bring in several other species of pre-cut trees to meet your needs. After you’ve picked your tree, you can walk through their beautifully lit eucalyptus grove and rest at their huge barn! They also offer photography services that you can book in advance if you want to preserve the memory of your special day in their winter wonderland!
Check before you go
- Farm hours change by season, and some stands close for the season. Call or check the farm’s site first.
- Tanaka’s Barnyard charges admission; Centennial Farm and the Great Park Farm + Food Lab are free.
- Great Park’s Farm + Food Lab may close in bad weather.
- Farmakis Farms allows service animals only, no pets.
- South Coast Farms is reportedly closing after the 2026 season; call to confirm.
More farms in and around Orange County
Manassero Farms: Flagship market and event space, farm stands and seasonal U-pick.
- Irvine Flagship Market & Event Space - 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92618 (on Jeffrey); Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sun 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; 949-554-5103
- Irvine Stand - 5840 Walnut (closed for the season)
- Tustin Stand - 18921 East 17th Street (closed for the season)
Planning more farm days? See our guides to Tanaka Farms, U-pick farms, petting zoos, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree spots and farmers markets.
If you visit any of these farms, let us know by tagging us on Instagram at our handle @enjoyorangecounty or use the hashtag #EnjoyOC to be featured on our page!
FAQ
Which farms in Orange County are free to visit?
Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa and the Great Park Farm + Food Lab in Irvine are free to enter.
Which Orange County farms have animals?
Tanaka Farms has a barnyard (admission applies), and Centennial Farm has farm animals at the OC Fairgrounds. For more, see our petting zoos guide.
Is Tanaka Farms open in winter?
The Produce Market Stand and Barnyard are open daily, and the farm hosts Hikari: Festival of Lights during the holidays.
Where can we pick our own produce?
See our U-pick farms and orchards guide, and check each farm’s site for what’s in season.
