Fall in the Midwest means one thing – time to pack up the family and head off to the nearest pumpkin patch. The Omaha area is lucky to have several outstanding pumpkin patches where you can spend an entire day. Here’s a look at a few of the best farms and pumpkin patches in Nebraska and Iowa, all within an easy drive from Omaha.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
UPDATED: This post was published in 2020 and has been updated in August 2023 with new times and prices. Before heading out, please ensure you check each pumpkin patch’s website or Facebook page for unexpected closures or hour changes.
Pumpkin Patches Near Omaha
Markman Pumpkin Patch
Where: 6424 N. 120th St., Omaha
Hours: Rumored to be done for the season (pumpkins are sold out)
Admission: FREE
Highlight: Small, family-owned farm with inexpensive pumpkins. There’s also a play area.
Wenninghoff Farms
Where: 6707 Wenninghoff Road, Omaha
Hours: Open until Oct. 31; hours are 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission: FREE
Highlight: This is first and foremost a produce farm. In addition to a variety of pumpkins, Wenninghoff sells fall decor like hay bales and corn stalks.
Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch
Photo Credit: Visit Omaha
Where: 11001 S. 48th St., Papillion, Neb. (12 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 16 through Oct. 31, 2023. Daytime Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, and Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Evening hours are Friday & Saturday from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. , and Sunday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Admission: Daytime admission Monday through Friday is $12 a person includes tax (all ages), kids 2 & under free. Daytime admission on Saturday & Sunday is $19 a person includes tax (all ages), kids 2 & under free. Ranch of Terror or Haunted Hayride tickets are $19 per person (kids 2 & under FREE), or a combo for $30. There are some new daytime and nighttime combo passes!
Discounts: Bring in one can of food and receive a $1 off admission any day of the week. Limit of one can per person and cannot be combined with other coupons. Admission on opening weekend (Sept. 15-17) is $15 for single tickets to the Ranch of Terror or Haunted Hayride or $25 for the combo ticket. Sept. 22-24 is military weekend with half of regular admission with Military I.D., plus 1 child half off, to the Ranch of Terror.
Highlight: By day, it’s a fun pumpkin patch with play areas and hayrack rides; by night it becomes the Ranch of Terror with haunted houses and the infamous Haunted Hayrides.
Pioneer Trail Orchard & Pumpkin Patch
Where: 21534 Chestnut Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa (12 miles from Omaha)
Hours: 2023 hours TBA
Admission: FREE
Note: The owners of Pioneer Trail announced retirement in August: “After 28 years of offering family fun at the Pumpkin Patch, we have decided it’s time to slow down and begin our journey into retirement. With this change we will no longer be charging admission, nor offering tractor rides, camp fire rentals or entertainment activities. Each fall moving forward we are returning to our traditional roots of simply offering pick your own apples & pumpkins, providing we have good crops. We will still be open for food at our Apple Jack’s at the Patch restaurant year round. Madness Haunted Farm will still be here and open from mid September through October, so be sure to check out their website for details!”
Highlight: Madness Haunted Farms, a haunted house, is located on the property; there is an admission fee for it.
Welch’s Pumpkin Patch
Where: 17676 Sunnydale Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa (13 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 11 through Oct. 31
Admission: FREE
Highlight: With a huge lawn of homemade yard games like giant Jenga, and a sprawling pumpkin patch, Welch’s is a low-key but fun afternoon for families. Pumpkins are also pretty inexpensive.
Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard
Where: 17676 Sunnydale Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa (13 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Through Oct. 31, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Farm fee is $7 per person and includes all extra activities. Activities are available Saturday and Sunday from late August through October, weather permitting. New additions include bounce house, inflatable axe throwing, inflatable Connect Four, Bumper Balls, barrel cart rides, large yard games and a human hamster wheel.
Highlight: The hayride to the pumpkins is always fun, but kids really enjoy the playground, goats, and huge corn maze. My favorite thing there is the apple cider donuts.
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard
Where: 12102 S. 180th St., Gretna, Neb. (20 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Vala’s opens early for the Cider & Sunflower Festival, Sept. 2-4 and Sept. 9-10. The Regular Season runs Sept. 15-Oct. 31, 2023; hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays & Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Admission: Regular Season tickets are $21.99 from Mondays to Thursdays and $43.99 from Fridays through Sundays. Tickets for the Cider & Sunflower Festival are $30.79. Kids ages 2 and under are FREE. Save 15% off tickets by buying online.
Season passes are $99.99 per person. Save $15 on passes by buying online. Vala’s Adventure Pass are $17.49 per person and include 10 apple shots, paintball coupon for 30 shots, and $5 off a pumpkin coupon. Save 30% off the separate in-person purchase price.
Discounts: Active military personnel can purchase discounted admission tickets to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch at the Offutt Airforce Base Information Ticket & Travel Office.
Highlight: Vala’s has a ton of atractitons and shows that are included with admission, as well as add-ons like a train ride and pony rides. They make their own hard apple cider, which is a nice appeal for adults, and they have monster-sized milkshakes.
Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch
Where: 3935 NE-133, Blair, Neb. (22 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 8 through Oct. 31, 2023; Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Flashlight Nights are Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m. Haunted Nights are Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m.
Admission: Prices in September are Mondays through Thursdays, $13.95; Fridays through Sundays, $18.95. Price increases to $22.95 for Fridays through Sundays in October. Kids 24 months and younger are admitted FREE. Season pass is $54.95 per person.
Highlight: There’s a lot to do, from pedal carts and slides, to corn maze and pumpkin shooter. There are fun evening events on Fridays and Saturdays.
Nelson Produce Farm
Where: 10505 N 234th St, Valley, Neb. (about 25 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Season runs through Oct. 29, 2023; hours are Monday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Day passes are $15 (or $20 on festival days). Save $5 when purchasing tickets online. Feed cups are $5.
Highlights: Kids will love the farm animals and running along the haybales.
Mert’s Market & Farm
Where: 25870 W. Maple Road, Waterloo, Neb. (30 miles from Omaha)
When: Mid-September through Oct. 31, 2023; check their Facebook page for hours since they vary
Admission: FREE
Highlight: This is a new pumpkin patch to the list! Bring your own clippers and wheelbarrows to pick pumpkins, or select pre-picked pumpkins and gourds.
Small’s Fruit Farm
Where: 1844 194th St., Mondamin, Iowa (37 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Highlight: This small, family-owned business grows a variety of produce each fall. Pumpkins are ready in October and if the tractor and wagon are available, you can take a ride through the orchard.
Pumpkin Ridge
Where: 815 N. 60th Road, Nebraska City, Neb. (40 miles from Omaha)
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Highlight: Hayrides are free for single families, and cost very little for groups.
Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard
Photo Credit: Visit Nebraska
Where: 5995 G Road, Nebraska City, Neb. (40 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check fruit picking schedule to see when the pumpkins are ready.
Admission: TBD
Highlight: Hay rides are included in with U-Pick or event/festival admission. They are available Saturdays and Sundays in September and October. They also have the great Pollinator Playground that kids will.
Tree Adventure at Arbor Day Farm
Where: 2611 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, Neb. (40 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Fall Hours (September.-October) are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: $14, adults; $12, kids (3-12); FREE for kids 2 and younger.
Highlight: A hayride to the pumpkin patch is just one of many things to do at the Tree Adventure. There’s the TreeTop Village, kids’ natural playscape, trails for hiking and a large apple orchard.
Union Orchard
Where: 2405 S. Highway 75, Union, Neb. (40 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Highlight: There are wagon rides to the pumpkin field on the weekends, and kids can ride the barrel train around the store.
Bloom Where You’re Planted Farm & Pumpkin Patch
Where: 911 108th St., Avoca, Neb. (42 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 23 through Oct. 31, 2023; hours in September are Sept. 23 & 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours in October are Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Service Appreciation Day is Sept. 24with half-off admission with valid ID.
Admission: $10 per person ages 3+, FREE for children under 3; military members, police officers and fire/rescue volunteers receive $1 off per immediate family member during regular hours, when presenting ID.
Highlight: Farm-themed play areas, farm animals, and a couple fun themed weekends planned in 2023 including Grown-Ups Getaways.
3 Bees Farm
Where: 14922 535th St., Griswold, Iowa (43 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Highlights: This small, family-run farm sells a variety of produce, and has a pumpkin patch and playground for kids.
Martin’s Hillside Orchard
Where: 2024 Ashland Road, Ceresco, Neb. (50 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Opens Sept. 9, 2023; hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Mondays except for Oct. 9 and 16.
Admission: $6 per person; kid under 2 admitted FREE
Highlight: The farm has a tire hill, kid-sized corn maze, wagon rides on the weekends and the Discover Trail.
Camp Fontanelle’s Split Oak Hollow
Where: 9677 County Road 3, Nickerson, Neb.
Hours: Sept. 18 through Oct. 30, 2023. They’re open Saturdays from 1 to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. (Groups can make reservations outside of regular hours).
Admission: $13 for adults ages 13+; $10 for kids ages 3-12; FREE for kids under 3.
Highlights: There are a lot of activities including a 9-acre maze, laser tag, jumping pillow, bounce houses, petting barn, hayrack rides, 350 foot zip lines, pedal karts, barrel train rides, slides, and free camp fires.
Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch
Photo Credit: www.harvestmoonoakland.com
Where: 1098 County Road N, Oakland, Neb. (about 70 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 17 through Oct. 31; hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday & Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
Admission: $12 for general admission; $9, seniors & veterans; and FREE for kids 2 and younger. Season pass is $25.
Highlight: There’s a lot to choose from! There are jumping pillows, race tracks, a zipline, and so much more.
Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch
Where: 55275 837th Road, Norfolk (125 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 9 through Oct. 29, 2023; Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pumpkin patch will be closed Sept. 11-15, 2023.
Admission: $9.95, general admission; $8.95 for seniors and military; and FREE for 2 and younger. Family Season Pass is $80
Highlight: There are a ton of activities and play areas at Poppy’s, including a petting zoo, kids’ zipline, and huge slides.
With impressive pumpkin patches in the area, you may find it difficult to choose just one to visit. Since the pumpkin season runs about six weeks, that should be enough time to maybe, I don’t know, visit each of them. Just imagine how many jack-o-lanterns you and the young ones can make. And how many pies and pumpkin bread you can make. And pumpkin cookies. And pumpkin bars. And…
