Cox Farms Self-Driven Hayride

We just returned from the Cox Farms self-driven hayride, a fantastic socially-distanced experience!

Visiting the farm for a day of fun is as much a part of our fall traditions as carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating. It doesn’t get much better than playing outside all day and devouring farm-fresh snacks, all while supporting a small business!

As the weather cooled and COVID-19 pressed on, we worried we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our usual traditions. Thinking we may miss a chance to perch on a hay bale and devour cider donuts or pick our own fattened pumpkins from the vine this year was just too much. It seems silly, but those traditions seemed to carry the weight of all the other lost traditions and familiar activities that this pandemic has chipped away at.

You can imagine my delight when I heard that Cox Farms had developed several creative (and socially distanced) ways to enjoy fall fun on the farm! Last weekend we visited, eager to try out the self-driven hayride and drive-through market for ourselves.

Before the Hayride

We didn’t even need to exit the car! We purchased our tickets online. They were sold for quarter-hour time slots.

We arrived 15 minutes early to our spot and were sent right on in.

We had the choice to drive through concessions before we begin the hayride, which we obviously took! With both cider and cider donuts in hand, we set off.

It’s also good to note that people who aren’t interested in the hayride can still drive through and purchase goodies. You don’t need a ticket to access concessions.

We also made a quick stop at the portapotties. They were noticeably clean.

The Self-Driven Hayride

The hayride path is marked by a white line on the road, which you’re supposed to follow by straddling. While Cox Farms informed us that we would essentially be going “off-roading” during the hayride, you can see the roads were well-maintained and not a cause for concern.

As we drove through the seemingly treacherous terrain, we discovered all kinds of interesting things! The scenes were not limited to fall-themed fun.

We also saw a few familiar faces.

We kept the windows open so we could hear the music and sounds, too!

Some of our farm favorites, like the floating faucet, were still around!

Some of the hayride scenes were spooky, but some just made us laugh.

Several scenes have live actors, which was an extra-special touch!

When we first set off, one of the farmers told us that he’d heard there were escaped aliens and lost sheep all over the farm! While enjoying the scenes, we kept our eyes peeled for these hidden creatures.

The alien and sheep hunts kept the hayride interesting for older kids. I could see how second-time riders could stay busy by hunting for them, too.

As you can tell, the road wasn’t at all crowded on the self-driven hayride. We only saw one other car! This was a particular surprise, especially for a weekend afternoon. I don’t know if Cox Farms manages how many cars are permitted at a time to keep the crowds low or if we just haven’t hit peak season for fall farm festivities, but it made for an enjoyable experience either way.

Cox Farms Photo Ops

At the end, we had the chance to take a few quick photos. In addition to the classic “How Tall This Fall?” sign, there were hay bale scenes with corn and gourds that could accommodate entire families.

Photo-takers were asked to wear masks, even while distanced. There are stones that marked the recommended spacing between parties in line to take photos. We were able to quickly hop out of the car, snap our photos, and hop back in!

Before you leave, you’ll have one last chance to use the restroom or grab a snack.

Plan Your Visit

Cox Farms
15621 Braddock Road
Centreville, Virginia 20120
website