Raise your hand if you love fall! We can’t get enough of pumpkins, hayrack rides, bonfires, and apples. Head to a local orchard or pumpkin patch and start a family tradition.
Looking for other things to do this fall? Don’t miss our Ultimate Fall Bucket List!
Here’s a list of our favorite places to get pumpkins and enjoy the season in Des Moines and Central Iowa.
Berry Patch Farm
62785 280th Street, Nevada
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Features:
- hay ride
- U-pick pumpkins, apples, and raspberries
- baked goods
Center Grove Orchard
32835 610th Avenue, Cambridge
Open: Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: $9.95 Monday – Friday; $12.95 Saturday and Sunday
Features:
- hay rides
- train rides
- jumping pillows
- corn maze
- pumpkins and apples
- super slides
- and much more!
Geisler Farms
5251 NE 94th Avenue, Bondurant
Open: Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: ages 3 and up
- Option A: Corn Maze, Fun Zone & Hayride: $8
- Option B: Fun Zone & Hayride (2 and younger free): $5
Cash, credit, and debit cards are accepted. Cash preferred at concessions.
Features:
- corn maze
- hayride
- family fun zone
- pumpkin patch
Howell’s Pumpkin Patch
3145 Howell Court, Cumming
Open: September 10–October 31 open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission (24 months & older): $10 per person
Features:
- old-fashioned wagon ride
- pumpkin patch
- corn maze
- Corn Indy pedal go carts
- pony rides
- kiddy korral with friendly farm animals
- duck races
- bonfires
- cafe and gift shop with homemade goodies
Iowa Orchard
9875 Meredith Drive, Urbandale
Open: daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Family Fun Weekends September 23 – November 5: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tours: September 11 – November 5: Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $4/person or $15 for a family of 4; $3 for additional family members; no charge for ages 2 and under
Farm Fun Zone includes:
- hay bale slide
- corn box
- tire obstacle course
- face painting
- badminton
- horseshoe toss
- award-winning apples and baked goods (for purchase)
North River Adventures
2768 Hwy 65/69, Carlisle, Iowa
Open: September 30–October 29; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: 21 acres of Maze & Jumping Pillow: $11
Jumping Pillow Only: $5
Kids 3 and Under: Free
Free to come purchase Pumpkins, Gourds, & Mums
Credit Cards Accepted – MasterCard, Visa, Discover
Features:
- corn maze
- jumping pillow and kid’s zipline
- pumpkin patch
- games and family activities
- picnic tables and campfire rings available for rent
The Pumpkin Ranch
2425 Hiatt Apple Trail, Winterset
Opens September 22, Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 a.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m.
Admission: $9/person on Saturdays and Sundays; $7/person on Fridays. Includes all activities offered on the day you attend. Children 2 years old and younger are free
Features:
- hayrack rides
- horseback rides
- corn maze
- zip lines
- tire tower
- climbing obstacles
- playground
- face painting
- professional photos
- jump pillow and jump pad
- tennis ball launchers
- concession stand
- pumpkins
- fire pit reservations (for a fee)
Upstream Gardens & Orchard
5987 Ne 88th Street, Altoona
Open: Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission: Free
Features:
- natural growing practices
- pumpkins
- U-pick apples and already picked
- pumpkin patch – pick in the field
- pumpkin patch – already gathered from the field
- honey from hives on the farm
- cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises)
Williamson’s Pumpkin Paradise
4012 62nd Avenue, Ankeny
Opens September 30, Monday – Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (through October 31)
Payment: Cash only
Features:
- pumpkin patch
- pumpkins for sale in the shop or farm stand
- train rides
- straw or hay bale maze
- tractor-pulled hay rides
- wagon rides
- fresh eggs
- U-pick and already picked, concessions / refreshment stand
- porta-potties
- petting zoo and farm animals
- birthday parties
- school tours
Wills Family Orchard
33130 Panther Creek Road, Adel
Open September 23 – October 14, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free. Hay rides and other events have a fee
Features:
- U-pick pumpkins
- corn maze
- barnyard
- apple picking
- a shop full of delicious treats