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Fall Fun in Iowa: 10 Orchards, Pumpkin Patches, & Farms to Visit This Fall
There’s something about fall in Iowa that makes you want to grab a sweatshirt, pile in the car, and head somewhere you can pick an apple, wander through a corn maze, or find the perfect pumpkin.
Across the state, Iowa farms and orchards turn harvest season into an experience. Some are packed with activities that can keep a family busy all day, while others offer a quieter afternoon of apple picking, beautiful views, and fresh-from-the-farm treats.
If you’re ready to make the most of fall in Iowa, add these stops to your list. From western Iowa to the Mississippi River, here are 10 places to celebrate the season and experience a little more of rural Iowa along the way.
- Deal’s Orchard | Jefferson
If fall means apples, pumpkins, and a day spent outside with the family, Deal’s Orchard belongs on your list.
This family-owned orchard near Jefferson has been welcoming visitors for generations and offers plenty of ways to enjoy an Iowa fall day. Pick apples, search for pumpkins, explore the corn maze, visit the animals, and make time for the many family-friendly activities around the farm.
And don’t leave without checking out the Apple Barn. Fresh apples and seasonal goodies make it easy to bring a little taste of the orchard home with you.
EOH Explorer Tip: Annie and Shelly and their families have made Deal’s Orchard one of their own fall stops. Read their Explorer blog here: https://www.evolutionoftheheartland.com/eoh-explorer-series-deals-orchard/
- Center Grove Orchard | Cambridge
You may want to give yourself a full day for Center Grove Orchard.
Located near Cambridge, Center Grove combines an orchard and pumpkin patch with more than 40 farm attractions. Kids can hop aboard the train, tackle giant jumping pillows and slides, visit the animals, explore the corn maze, take a hayride, and, of course, pick out a pumpkin. Apple picking is also part of the experience when varieties are available.
Before heading home, stop at the Country Store for apples, baked goods, and other seasonal favorites.
EOH Explorer Tip: EOH Explorer Lindsey visited Center Grove with her family and shared why it has become one of their favorite fall traditions. https://www.evolutionoftheheartland.com/eoh-explorer-series-center-grove-orchard/
- Colony Acres Family Farm | North Liberty
Colony Acres Family Farm brings classic fall fun to Johnson County.
The family-owned farm offers a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and seasonal activities that make it an easy addition to a fall weekend in the Iowa City area. It’s the kind of stop where picking a pumpkin is only part of the experience. Give yourself time to enjoy the farm before choosing the one that gets to come home with you.
If Hawkeye football brings you to Johnson County this fall, consider adding a little rural Iowa adventure to your weekend with a trip outside Iowa City. Read the blog here about all the things to do in Johnson County: https://www.evolutionoftheheartland.com/beyond-kinnick-make-the-most-of-your-hawkeye-football-weekend-in-johnson-county/
- Gravert’s Orchard | Sabula
For fall scenery with your apples, point the car toward the Mississippi River.
Gravert’s Orchard is located near Sabula along Iowa’s Great River Road, making the drive part of the experience. The orchard overlooks the Mississippi River and offers numerous apple varieties throughout the season, including opportunities to pick your own.
Pick up fresh cider, caramel apples, pies, and other orchard favorites while you’re there. Then, instead of rushing home, keep exploring. Fall colors, river views, and small communities make this corner of Iowa especially worth wandering during autumn.
- Wilson’s Orchard & Farm | Iowa City
At Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, fall can easily turn into an entire afternoon.
The orchard has become a favorite Johnson County destination for visitors looking to experience Iowa agriculture firsthand. Depending on when you visit, you can head into the orchard to pick apples, explore the farm, enjoy seasonal food and drinks, and take in the rolling countryside.
One of the things we love about Wilson’s is that it can be part of a much bigger Johnson County getaway. Pair your orchard visit with other farms, food, shops, and experiences in the area, and suddenly your quick fall outing has become a weekend road trip.
- Appleberry Orchard | Donnellson
There’s a lot of history growing at Appleberry Orchard.
The orchard traces its roots back to 1852, when its first apple tree was planted, making it Iowa’s oldest working orchard. Today, visitors can pick apples, explore the historic 1882 barn and petting farm, and enjoy the slower pace of an afternoon at the orchard.
Save room for something sweet, too. The bakery, cider slushies, and Queen’s Apple are all good reasons to linger a little longer before hitting the road again.
- Harvestville Farm | Donnellson
If your idea of fall fun involves pumpkins, Harvestville Farm has plenty to choose from.
The southeast Iowa farm grows more than 125 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds across 35 acres. But picking out your favorites is just the beginning. Visitors can tackle a 12-acre corn maze, enjoy wagon rides, explore two large play areas, and discover more than 45 interactive activities.
With so much to do, this is one to plan some time for rather than squeezing it into a quick stop.
Road Trip Idea: Appleberry Orchard and Harvestville Farm are both in the Donnellson area. Consider visiting both and turning your fall outing into a southeast Iowa road trip.
- Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch | Cumming
A wagon ride into the pumpkin patch is a pretty good way to spend an Iowa fall day.
At Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch near Cumming, visitors can head to the fields to find a pumpkin, explore the corn maze, visit farm animals, and enjoy a variety of activities around the farm. Add in fall treats, plenty of fresh air, and room for kids to play, and you have the makings of a classic family fall outing.
The 2026 fall season runs September 12 through November 1, giving you plenty of weekends to fit a visit into your fall plans.
- Bloomsbury Farm | Atkins
If your family likes a lot of action with its pumpkins, Bloomsbury Farm delivers.
Its 2026 Iowa Fall Festival runs September 11 through October 31 and features more than 30 attractions. Explore an 18-acre u-pick pumpkin patch, make your way through the 10-acre corn maze, visit the sunflower field, and spend the day working your way through the farm’s many activities.
Looking for something a little scarier? Bloomsbury is also home to Scream Acres, its nighttime haunted attraction held on select dates in the fall.
- Plain Ol’ Pumpkins | Clear Lake
Sometimes the best fall fun is the simple kind.
Located just west of Clear Lake, Plain Ol’ Pumpkins was created to give visitors a taste of old-fashioned fun and the experience of growing up on a farm. Pick your own pumpkin, wind your way through the corn maze, take a hayrack ride, climb aboard a tractor, or let the kids tackle the grain truck slide, pedal karts, corn pool, hay pyramid, and more.
The farm’s 2026 season runs September 26 through October 31, making it an easy addition to a fall weekend in the Clear Lake area.
Road Trip Idea: Don’t make the pumpkin patch your only stop. Spend some extra time exploring Clear Lake and North Central Iowa while you’re there.
Make a Road Trip Out of It
The best part about these fall destinations? The orchard or pumpkin patch doesn’t have to be the whole trip.
Grab lunch in a nearby small town. Stop at a local shop you’ve never visited. Take the scenic route. Find a state park or trail nearby. Or pair a couple of destinations together and make a weekend out of it.
Fall doesn’t last long in Iowa, which might be exactly why we love it so much. Pick the apples. Find the pumpkin. Get lost in the corn maze. Eat the fall treat. And give yourself an excuse to wander somewhere in rural Iowa you haven’t been before.
Know Before You Go: Fall activities, hours, admission, and crop availability can change throughout the season. Check directly with each destination before traveling for the latest information.
Looking for even more fall adventures? Explore Evolution of the Heartland’s Seasonal Orchards & Patches listings to discover more places to experience fall across rural Iowa.