Although North Carolina can get ridiculously hot, the summer sunflower fields always get me out the door! So, if you are in search of where to find sunflower fields in North Carolina this summer, here is a list of some awesome farms to visit!
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Best time to visit Sunflower Fields in North Carolina
Before jumping in the car to visit all these Sunflower fields in North Carolina, it is probably best you know when sunflowers bloom in NC.
North Carolina sunflowers usually bloom during mid to late July and last until the end of August.
That being said, if you are planning your trip in September, you may still be able to catch a glimpse of the sunflowers. It’s just dependent on how much rain North Carolina has experienced. Additionally, some farmers plant their seeds later.
I would simply suggest checking with the farm’s website or social media before you visit!
Dorothea Dix Park Sunflower Fields
One of the best places you can visit sunflower fields in North Carolina is right in Raleigh at Dorothea Dix Park. During the summer, thousands of people flock to downtown Raleigh to hang out in the sunflower fields.
Another amazing aspect of this expansive open field is the Downtown Raleigh skyline views that come with it!
The sunflower field is completely free to visit and is open every single day of the week.
Because the sunflowers in Dix Park are so popular, it does get crowded – especially on weekends. However, the atmosphere is friendly, with most people enjoying picnics, taking photos, and walking their dogs!
There are a couple of rules to keep in mind. During the week, public parking is available in the gravel lot off Hunt Drive, and there are more spaces available in the parking lot by Magnolia Room. See the Dix Park sunflower field map here!
They also ask that you do not pick the flowers and keep dogs on a leash.
During the evening on the weekdays and on weekends, you can use any paved lot close by to the fields. The park is also easily accessible by walking or biking.
This park also has beautiful daffodils that bloom annually and start in February.
Sunflowers in NC Fun fact: In 2022, around 198,000 seeds were planted, which is an enormous 25 lbs of seed!
The sunflowers start blooming around July at this NC spot.
Address: 1987 Umstead Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603
Hill Ridge Farms Sunflower Fields
Another incredible sunflower farm in North Carolina is Hill Ridge Farms, located in Youngsville, NC, they offer an expansive field to pick several varieties of different sunflowers.
On top of that, they have loads of wildflowers to pick along with a whole separate section for kids. They also have farm animals and special events throughout the season.
These sunflowers are Upick, so bring a pair of sheers with you.
Address: 703 Tarboro Rd, Youngsville, NC 27596
Dogwood Farms Sunflower Fields
Dogwood Farms in Belews Creek offers beautiful sunflower fields in North Carolina. From Raleigh, the Dogwood Farms are around 1 hour and 15 minutes away, but the fields are worth the mini road trip! The father and son that run this farm go out of their way to make the experience easy for everyone.
They provide buckets and shears so you can pick the sunflowers and take them home with you! Sunflower Stems are just $1!
During the fall, they also have a pumpkin patch! Other beautiful flowers you can find at their farm include cosmos and zinnias.
The hours are 9 am- 12 pm Monday – Saturday and 4 pm- 9 pm on Sunday’s, however, the weather may determine whether or not they are open.
They are also dog-friendly and allow you to take photos and have a picnic.
See how their fields are doing from their Facebook Page!
Admission: Adults $8; 65+ $5; Children 6 years or younger are free; Active military and veterans are free. They accept cash or card. Weekends are $10 USD.
Dogwood Farms Address: 8096 Belews Creek Rd, Belews Creek, NC 27009
Dewberry Farms Sunflower Fields
While Dewberry Farms may be most well known for their tulips and barn weddings, they also grow sunflowers on their farm for the summer. Their 20-acre private farm offers tons of fun to be had.
The farm will usually open up to the public for seasonal events lasting around 2 weeks, and with 17 different varieties of sunflowers, including Dahlia’s and Zinnia’s, these fields are breathtaking.
But the flowers aren’t the only thing that they offer. Enjoy cute farm animals such as horses, chicks, and even miniature donkeys!
They also open the farm over Christmas for families to come and take photos for a charge of $25. You can choose whether or not you bring a photographer with you. They even supply props and give you access to 12 different Christmas-themed areas within the field.
Related: Best Tulip Farms in NC
Tickets must be purchased in advance on Dewberry farms website. To stay up-to-date with their opening dates, make sure to check their Instagram.
Admission: $5 for Adults; $3 for children (2 years old and under are free).
Dewberry Farm Address: 2585 Dewberry Farm Ln, Kernersville, NC 27284
Galloway Farm Sunflowers
Located around an hour away from Myrtle Beach, Galloway Farm is a stunning sunflower field that has been open for over four years now.
The sunflowers at this 12-acre North Carolina farm usually bloom during August and September. This is the perfect location for getting those insta-worthy photos as they even provide props for you to use, including benches, swings, a claw foot bathtub, and more!
But the fields are not just for photos. You can U-pick flowers at this location at $1 per flower, purchase 5 get 2 free; buy 10 get 3 free or you can do a bucket for $20 to put as many as you like in the bucket, which is a great deal!
Depending on the level of heat, as this farm can get extremely warm during the summer, you may also get to feed and view the farm animals that live there.
This also is a great location to take young children as they have a ‘bee train’ for no extra charge and also a playground.
After enjoying the sunflower fields, you can eat a picnic at their covered pavilion. The farm offers water and drinks, or you to bring your own.
Galloway even has its own corn maze, which is one of the largest corn mazes in North Carolina.
This whole location has a lovely family vibe which has been passed down through generations.
The admission price for the sunflower fields is $8. Tickets are available for purchase in advance on their site and will be sold by day and time.
If they have leftover tickets, you can purchase them at the gate. Cash and card are accepted.
And finally, dogs are allowed to the farm as long as they are kept on leashes and you clean up after them!
Hours: Thursday -Sunday 8 PM – 7 PM (weather permitting)
Address: 372 Artesia Rd, Hallsboro, NC 28442
Pace Family Farms
Pace Family Farm has an annual Sunflower Day, but it didn’t happen last year due to extreme heat. Fingers crossed the sunflowers make a show in 2023!
Pace Family Farm works hard to make their farming methods sustainable, and they also provide food boxes to the public.
They also host strawberry picking events and even a Christmas craft fair!
Address: 12701 Buffalo Rd, Clayton, NC 27527
Hours: Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm
Phillips Farm Sunflower Fields
Phillips Farm is family owned and FULL with activities throughout the entire year and is such a fun place to visit, especially for families.
During the summer (and even in the fall), you can pick sunflowers!
Phillips Farm also hosts different festive events. In the fall, you can visit the haunted farm, see the lights and Christmas trees in winter and finally, in Spring, enjoy strawberry and peach fest!
They are located in Cary, North Carolina, and are a popular farm among locals.
Address: 6720 Good Hope Church Rd, Cary, NC 27519
Ken’s Korny Corn Maze Sunflower Fields
Another fun place to enjoy sunflowers fields in NC is Ken’s Korny Corn Maze. The sunflower fields at this maze are usually open in June and continue through September. You can always check for updates on their Instagram with dates that they are open to let you know.
They are well known for their corn maze, as you may imagine from the name, but their sunflower fields are also quite popular too!
The farm has photo opportunities with cute cutouts and scenes – which is really unique and great for capturing summer photos.
Due to the range of activities that the farm puts on, including rubber duck races and hay rides they do have an entry fee.
Admission: Age 6 and Up $15; Ages 3-5 $ 8; 2 and Under are free with Paid Adult
Address: 3175 Benson Rd, Garner, NC 27529
Hours: The hours are subject to change, so please check directly with the farm.
Lady Luck Gardens
Lady Luck Gardens are truly majestic. They describe their gardens as ‘carefully tended’ and pride themselves on their deep respect for art and ritual. This is a location where you can really connect with nature and the community in North Carolina.
The owners only open for special events like weddings, but they occasionally host community U-pick days, where they open up to the public to pick herbs and flowers.
The days vary as it is mainly dependent on the crops, but they usually add an update on their website or social media channels.
During this time, you can take your own photos and pick flowers. The farm requests that you keep your children supervised and not bring dogs with you.
The prices are for a 2-gallon bucket $45, bring your own bucket $40, and for a 5-gallon bucket $85 or bring your own bucket for $75.
Hours: This farm is open from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Address: 55 Lanzi Ledge Rd, Leicester, NC 28748
Eno River Farm Sunflowers
When visiting a farm to enjoy fruit and flower picking, there is no better place than Eno River Farm.
The farm allows you to purchase seasonal flowers all year round and last year opened up its service of U-pick sunflowers and Zinnias to the public for just $1 per flower!
Not only that but you can also purchase produce boxes filled with vibrant, fresh vegetables or depending on the time of the year, explore the strawberry fields and pick your own fruit.
Eno River Farm itself is a fun experience where you can enjoy tailor-made smoothies and homemade ice cream which are created using ingredients that they grow and nurture on the farm.
The farm requests that you follow the signs for parking and do not park along Saint Mary’s Rd and Lawrence Street as you will be ticketed. This farm is also not pet-friendly.
They also have tulip picking in the Spring!
Address: 2127 St Marys Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Firefly Farm
Firefly Farm is a huge 26 acres of blooming flowers, hills, farm animals (including horses, donkeys, and goats), and sustainably grown fruits and vegetables!
During spring and summer, you can visit these NC sunflower fields and leave with a bucket full of fresh flowers that you can pick yourself and enjoy the scenic views whilst eating a picnic!
The U-picking experience is available from May to September.
If you’re going to be close by during the fall then this farm also hosts ‘The Witches Haunted Barn,’ for a spooky Halloween experience!
Address: 4911 Hunt Road, Hillsborough, NC
Hours: Check their official website or social media platforms to get updates on their open farm days.
Page Farms Sunflower Patch
Located in Raleigh, Page Farms is another popular farm to enjoy sunflowers in NC. While their main focus is pumpkin picking during the bloom months, you can still enjoy sunflower patches while walking over to the pumpkin patch.
This is a great place for families because they have a lot of family-friendly activities to enjoy.
Throughout the year, you can also enjoy strawberry picking in the Spring, blackberries in the Summer, and then picking a pumpkin from the vine during the fall.
Address: 6100 Mount Herman Rd Raleigh, NC 27617
Hours: Friday – Sunday 9 AM – 6 PM; Wed-Thurs. 9 AM – 1 PM
Odom Farming Company
Odom Farming Company is a farm that has been passed down through generations and love being able to let other families enjoy it.
The lovely sentiment behind the business is that they love to educate children on where the food they eat actually comes from!
This NC farm has a pick-your-own strawberry patch in the spring, a fun sunflower maze during the summer, and a seasonal pumpkin patch in the fall!
Address: 1426 Claridge Nursery Rd, Goldsboro, NC 27530
NC Museum of Art Sunflower Patch
The North Carolina Museum of Art is one of the best places to enjoy sunflower fields for free in Raleigh. After enjoying the sunflowers and wildflowers, you can enjoy the giant outdoor sculptures or even head inside this free museum to enjoy additional art pieces.
It is very popular to picnic and even bring your fur babies!
Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
What To Know Before Visiting The Sunflower Fields
Are you a North Carolina sunflower field first-timer? Here is everything you need to know before visiting the sunflower-filled fields in North Carolina.
- I highly recommend wearing close-toed shoes and ones that you won’t mind if they get dirty. The weather in North Carolina varies a lot and the fields can get very muddy.
- Try your best not to trample on the flowers and respect the rules of which flowers you can pick. The more that people are respectful to the farms, the more they are happy to open up again the next year!
- Bring a hat, reusable water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen (my favorite natural sunscreen)! These flowers look so great because they grow directly in sunlight, and the heat in summer can be very extreme!
- Don’t wear fragrant perfumes or cologne, or you might attract bees!
- Carrying on from the bees, please try not to swat the bees away – we need them to pollinate the flowers!
- Please clean up after yourself and take all your belongings with you! These fields are usually very large, and keeping them free of trash is a lot of work, so it’s always nice to do your part.
How To Get To The Sunflower Fields In North Carolina
Now that you know the best places to see sunflower fields in North Carolina, you may wonder the best way to get around. When traveling around North Carolina, I 100% recommend driving.
The roads are very interconnected and will easily take you from place to place. If you do not have a car then Uber and Lyft are available – but can be expensive.
Fun Sunflower Facts
Here are some cool sunflower facts that you may not know!
- Sunflowers have been cultivated in North Carolina since as early as 3000 BC.
- Sunflowers for years have been used for medicine, food, dye, and oils.
- Sunflowers grow best if they get 6-8 hours of sunlight, but they ideally need even more!
- On average, sunflowers grow to around 16 ft.
- Sunflowers move so that they soak up as much sun throughout the day.
- Sunflowers come in a variety of colors, including red and white.
Wrap-up: Sunflower Fields in North Carolina
Thats it! I hope you feel inspired to visit these sunflower fields in North Carolina and enjoy the various activities!
Other North Carolina Guides:
Do you have any other recommendations that should be added to this list? Let me know in the comments!
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