Agritourism & Farm Experiences near Ames, IA

Ames

DeMoss Pumpkin Farm grows pumpkins in Ames, in central Iowa's Story County, tied to the fall pumpkin-patch season common across the state's corn country.

Ames

La Mar Farms sells farm-fresh eggs year-round from its Ames location, then shifts into seasonal Christmas trees, pumpkins, and firewood as the calendar turns. It's a smaller operation built around whatever's in season rather than one big fall event, so egg customers can stop by outside of pumpkin and tree season too.

Madrid

The Cellar Winery makes wine from cold-climate grapes at its Madrid location, pouring in a tasting room open Friday 2 to 9pm, Saturday 2 to 7pm, and Sunday 1 to 7pm — closed Monday through Thursday. The winery hosts live music and weddings alongside regular tastings. Call 515-367-7777 for the current event calendar.

Cambridge

Center Grove Orchard grows more than 34 apple varieties across 20 acres outside Cambridge, open for pick-your-own from May into June and again August through December. Beyond apples, the farm runs a store with a restaurant and online ordering, plus pumpkins, a corn maze, hayrides, and farm animals for kids. It's built for repeat visits across two separate seasons rather than one fall trip.

Boone

Aaron and Jordan's Pumpkin Patch sits near the junction of Route 30 and T Avenue outside Boone. Beyond the name and location, hours and contact details aren't posted online.

Boone

The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad has run excursion trains through the Des Moines River Valley since 1983, along 11 miles of track crossing a 156-foot bridge over Bass Point Creek. Its fall Pumpkin Express is a themed ride rather than a farm visit — no patch, no hayride, just a scenic trip timed to the season. The nonprofit also runs a museum, dedicated in 2012, and the operation draws more than 30,000 riders a year.

Ankeny

Van Dyke Sweet Corn sells sweet corn from its stand in Ankeny, one of the fastest-growing suburbs north of Des Moines. No independent listing confirms current hours or season dates — check locally before visiting.

Boone

Timberlea Farm sits on SW Ringgold Street in Boone, a Boone County town along the Des Moines River known for its scenic railroad and river valley. It's a working farm running agritourism activities on the property.

Granger

Iowa Orchard grows more than 20 apple varieties, including Honeycrisp and Jonathan, on its Granger u-pick grounds, with a separate farm market in Urbandale selling homemade pies, preserves, and raw honey. The farm runs apple picking from September into mid-October, summer u-pick berries by appointment, and a pumpkin patch through Halloween.

Maxwell

Maxwell

Bondurant

Geisler Farms sits on NE 94th Avenue outside Bondurant, a fast-growing Polk County suburb northeast of Des Moines. It's a working farm running agritourism activities on the property.

Ankeny

Bob's Aronia Field grows aronia berries, also known as chokeberries, in Ankeny in the Des Moines metro area. Aronia is a small, tart, deep-purple fruit increasingly grown in the Midwest for juices, jams, and fresh eating.

Colo

Little Stone House Farm sits on 200th Street outside Colo, a small Story County town in central Iowa. It's a small farm operation running agritourism activities on the property.

Maxwell

Stewart Family Farm in Maxwell runs an on-farm market with u-pick, we-pick, and CSA pickup options rather than a typical roadside stand. Dan and Kirsten Stewart started the operation in 2018, growing it from a market garden into a full CSA and pick-your-own setup. Call ahead at 515-967-6963 to check what's ready for picking that week.

Urbandale

Spread across 500 acres in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, Living History Farms walks visitors through three centuries of Iowa agriculture — an 1700 Ioway farm, an 1850 pioneer farm, and a 1900 horse-powered farm — plus a reconstructed 1875 townsite, all staffed by costumed interpreters.

Des Moines

The Iowa State Fair runs each August at the fairgrounds on East Grand Avenue in Des Moines, drawing more than a million visitors over eleven days. It's one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country, built around livestock competitions, commodity displays, and the state's 4-H and FFA programs alongside midway rides and concerts.

Altoona

Upstream Gardens & Orchard sits on NE 88th Street in Altoona, on the eastern edge of the Des Moines metro near Adventureland. It's an orchard and garden operation in a fast-growing suburban corridor.

Altoona

Ericksons Orchard grows pick-your-own apples on NE 38th Avenue outside Altoona, backing the orchard with a bakery, fresh cider, and a country store. The farm hosts an annual Applefest with live music and food vendors and is open seven days a week, 9 to 4 Monday through Saturday and 9 to 2 on Sunday.

Mitchellville

Pumpkinville charges no general admission - walk in free and pay only for the corn maze, pumpkins, or produce you actually want. The fourth-generation family farm sits two blocks south of Casey's, about 12 miles from the I-80/I-35 interchange in Des Moines, with a full corn maze plus a smaller maze built for younger kids. Hayrides and seasonal decorations round out the visit, and the family has run the place for more than 30 years.