Just Outside Los Angeles, This California Farm Lets You Pick Sweet Strawberries Straight From The Field

Strawberries taste better when you had to hunt for them yourself.

Not dramatically hunt. Just bend down, scan the rows, and feel weirdly proud when you find the red ones everyone else missed.

A California farm near Los Angeles can turn berry picking into the easiest little escape from traffic and boring weekend plans.

Kids get competitive fast. Adults do too, but they pretend it is “for the experience.”

One basket starts looking too small. Then the field keeps producing.

That is how a simple farm visit becomes a sunny afternoon with stained fingers and at least one person saying they are absolutely making dessert later.

Strawberry Picking In The Fields

There is something genuinely satisfying about kneeling beside a row of plants and pulling a perfectly ripe strawberry from the stem yourself.

At Underwood Family Farms, the pick-your-own strawberry experience gives visitors a direct connection to fresh food that a grocery store simply cannot replicate.

The farm provides containers for picking, though visitors are also welcome to bring their own.

Strawberry season at the Moorpark location typically begins around mid-January and can extend through early summer, though availability shifts with weather and crop conditions.

Checking the farm’s PYO This Week page before visiting ensures the berries are ready to pick on the day planned. Arriving early in the morning tends to mean better selection and fewer crowds sharing the rows.

Visitors pay for the strawberries they pick by the pound, in addition to the general admission fee.

Reasonable taste-testing while picking is allowed, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed and genuinely fun.

Pull wagons and wheelbarrows are available at no extra charge, making it easier to carry a haul across the field without any strain.

Wearing older shoes is a practical choice since the ground between rows can be uneven and occasionally muddy after irrigation.

Admission Pricing And What It Covers

Knowing what admission covers before arriving helps visitors plan their budget and avoid surprises at the gate.

Weekday admission at Underwood Family Farms is $8.00 per person, while weekend and holiday admission is $12.00 per person.

Children under two years old are admitted free, and parking is also free for all visitors.

Seniors aged 65 and older, military personnel, veterans, and emergency first responders receive a $2 discount on admission daily with valid identification.

General admission includes tractor-drawn wagon rides and access to the Animal Center, which makes the base ticket feel like solid value for a family outing. Weekend admission adds an Animal Show to the experience.

Strawberries and other pick-your-own produce are purchased separately by the pound on top of the admission fee. Some additional activities inside the farm may require separate tickets purchased on-site.

The farm is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with hours shifting to 5:00 p.m. starting November 1st.

The farm closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, so those dates are worth keeping in mind when planning a seasonal visit around the holidays.

Tractor-Drawn Wagon Rides To The Fields

Riding a tractor-drawn wagon out to the pick-your-own fields is one of those small details that turns a simple farm stop into something genuinely memorable.

The ride itself is included with general admission, so there is no extra cost involved.

For younger kids especially, the slow roll through the property with open air all around tends to be a highlight of the whole visit.

The wagon takes visitors out to the fields where seasonal crops are available for picking, which means the journey itself builds a little anticipation before the actual harvesting begins.

Adults tend to enjoy the pacing too, since it gives everyone a moment to take in the landscape before diving into the rows.

The farm covers a meaningful amount of ground, and the wagon ride makes accessing the farther fields much more manageable.

Visitors who walk deeper into the fields on their own often find larger crops and a wider variety of produce, so combining the wagon ride with a bit of independent exploration tends to produce the best results.

The ride operates during regular farm hours and does not require a separate reservation.

Arriving with a little extra time built into the visit makes it easy to catch multiple rides throughout the day without feeling rushed.

The Animal Center And Weekend Animal Shows

Farm animals have a way of making even the most skeptical visitor smile, and the Animal Center at Underwood Family Farms delivers plenty of those moments.

The center is included with general admission and features a range of farm animals that visitors can observe up close.

Baby goats and rabbits tend to draw the most attention from younger visitors, though the variety of animals on display covers more than just the small and fluffy.

On weekends, the farm adds an Animal Show to the schedule, which gives the visit a bit more structure and entertainment.

The show is included with weekend admission, making a Saturday or Sunday visit a slightly fuller experience compared to a weekday trip.

Visitors who come during the week still have full access to the Animal Center but will miss the live performance component.

The staff maintains the animal areas with clear attention to cleanliness and animal care, which tends to make the environment feel comfortable for both kids and parents.

A small charge may apply for certain hands-on animal interactions such as feeding stations, so carrying a few extra dollars is a practical idea.

Spending time at the Animal Center after the strawberry fields creates a natural rhythm to the visit and keeps the energy high for younger guests throughout the day.

The Farm Market And Fresh Produce

After spending time in the pick-your-own fields, the farm market offers a natural second stop before heading home.

Stocked with fresh produce and farm goods, the market gives visitors a chance to pick up items that may not be available for self-picking on a given day.

The selection tends to reflect what is currently growing on the property, which means the inventory shifts with the seasons.

Fresh vegetables, fruits, and a variety of other farm products fill the market shelves, and the quality tends to be notably fresh given how close the source is.

Visitors who want to bring home more than just strawberries often find the market a convenient way to round out their haul without spending extra time in the fields.

The pricing at the market has generally been described as reasonable relative to what is available.

Browsing the market also gives families a quieter wind-down moment after the more active parts of the visit. The space has a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that feels different from a typical grocery run.

Picking up a few extra items to take home extends the farm experience beyond the day itself and turns a fun outing into a practical one as well.

Planning Your Visit Around Strawberry Season

Strawberry season at the Moorpark farm location generally begins around mid-January and can extend into early summer, though the exact window depends on weather patterns and how the crop develops each year.

Checking the farm’s PYO This Week page before making the drive is the most reliable way to confirm that strawberries are available on a specific date.

Calling the farm directly at 805-529-3690 is another solid option for up-to-date crop information.

Mid-spring tends to be a popular window for strawberry picking, and weekday mornings generally offer a calmer experience with more berry selection compared to busy weekend afternoons.

Planning to arrive close to the 9:00 a.m. opening time gives visitors the first pick of the ripest fruit before the day warms up fully. Berries tend to be sweetest when picked during cooler morning hours.

Dressing in layers is a practical approach since mornings in the Moorpark area can start cool even during spring months.

Planning for a three to four hour visit gives enough time to pick berries, explore the farm, and browse the market without feeling rushed.

Kid-Friendly Activities Beyond The Berry Rows

Haystacks, tricycles, slides, and tunnels give younger visitors plenty to do between the more structured parts of the farm experience.

These play areas are accessible with general admission and tend to keep kids entertained long after the strawberry picking wraps up.

The open layout of the farm means children have room to move freely without feeling crowded or contained.

Climbing on haystacks has a particular appeal for kids who want a physical challenge that feels different from a typical playground.

The slides and tunnels are low-key enough for a wide age range, and the tricycles add a bit of independent movement that younger kids especially seem to enjoy.

Parents tend to appreciate that the farm covers so much ground and so many types of activities in a single visit.

The combination of animal interactions, physical play, field picking, and market browsing creates a natural flow that fills a half-day without any gaps in engagement.

Families with children of different ages often find that each kid gravitates toward something different, which makes managing a mixed-age group easier than expected.

Getting There From Los Angeles

Moorpark sits in Ventura County to the northwest of Los Angeles, making it a manageable drive for most parts of the city.

The farm is located at 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark, CA 93021, and the address pulls up easily in most navigation apps.

Depending on traffic and the starting point within the greater Los Angeles area, the drive typically takes somewhere between 45 minutes and just over an hour.

Leaving earlier in the morning tends to make the drive smoother and the arrival more relaxed, especially on weekends when traffic on the 101 and connecting roads can build up.

The route passes through a stretch of open hillside terrain that already starts to feel like a shift away from the city before the farm itself comes into view.

Parking at the farm is free, which removes one of the usual stress points of an LA-area outing.

Weekday visits generally mean a quieter experience both on the road and inside the farm, though some weekend-only features like the Animal Show will not be available.

Planning the return trip for mid-afternoon rather than waiting until closing time helps avoid the heavier evening traffic heading back toward the city.

The overall distance makes this a realistic half-day trip rather than a commitment that eats up an entire weekend.