It’s that time of year again! The famed Carlsbad Flower Fields will open on Tuesday March 1st.
Due to the pandemic the Flower Fields implemented new procedures in 2021 to make visits as safe as possible, following the closure for much of the 2020 season.
As required in 2021, visitors must book tickets online in advance – no tickets sold at the gate. Tickets are purchased for a specific date and arrival time, and are available for purchase NOW!
The Flower Fields offered the U-Pick Blueberry Patch, with its own parking area, as a new feature last year. Again this year, as part of your visit to the Flower Fields you can enjoy picking blueberries. A 1 pint basket costs $5. You can also go separately using the new parking lot on Cannon Road at the North end of the Flower Fields. Be aware that blueberry picking may not always be available – look for the signs.
The fields won’t look like this photo on day 1 since the Carlsbad Flower Fields take a while to reach their peak. I’m not sure when it is but likely a few weeks out, depending on the weather. But they truly are amazing when at their peak bloom and a beautiful sign of spring!
Check out my video from March 2015 below.
The Carlsbad Flower Fields have been a popular tourist attraction for more 60 years, with about 55 acres of brightly colored Ranunculas – that’s millions of flowers. The changes during the year are fascinating to see. The fields change from a brown dirt hillside to green plants, then to vibrant colors, and back again to brown dirt when blooming season is done.
The Carlsbad Flower Fields are open each year, from March 1st until Mother’s Day, which is May 8th this year.
Here is some of what you can enjoy at the Flower Fields:
- A huge Poinsettia display
- An Orchid Greenhouse
- Artist Gardens and Bird Aviaries
- Multiple gardens – Butterfly, Mediterranean, Illusion, Sweet Pea Maze
- Strawberry Shack serving a variety of sweet treats
- The American Flag of Flowers field on the south side of the fields. It can be seen from Palomar Airport Road at Armada Drive by Costco
Visitors enjoy walking through the fields to experience the flowers close up.
But if you want a different view, or tire of walking, take a ride on the antique tractor wagon to appreciate the Flower Fields up close. Tickets $6 for adults, and $3 for children ages 3 to 10. You can purchase tickets once you are inside; use your mobile device or a credit card (no cash).
The Carlsbad Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are easily visible from the I-5 Freeway if you look eastward at the Palomar Airport Road exit (not while driving, of course) \. The fields are at 5704 Paseo del Norte, by Armstrong Gardens and the Carlsbad Outlets Mall. Just look for the windmill.
One of the best vantage points is looking down on the fields from Armada Drive, with the Carlsbad windmill, and 180 degree views of the ocean, in the distance. And it’s free.
Of course it’s not the same as walking through the fields on foot, but you can stop by whenever you want, even when The Fields aren’t open!