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.
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UPDATED: This post was published in 2020 and has been updated in September 2024 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: Opens Sept. 15, 2024
Highlight: Small, family-owned farm with inexpensive pumpkins. There’s also a play area.
Admission: FREE
Wenninghoff‘s
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.
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.
Admission: FREE
Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch
Where: 11001 S. 48th St., Papillion, Neb. (12 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 14 through Oct. 31, 2024. Daytime Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 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. They’re open on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., as well.
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.
Admission: Daytime admission Monday through Friday is $12 a person includes tax (all ages), kids 2 & under free. Daytime admission on Saturday & Sunday is $20 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. 14 & 15) is $15 for single tickets to the Ranch of Terror or Haunted Hayride or $25 for the combo ticket.
Sept. 21 & 22 is military weekend with half of regular admission with Military I.D., plus 1 child half off, to the Daytime activities, and Ranch of Terror is half off on the nights of Sept. 20-22.
Welch’s Pumpkin Patch
Where: 17676 Sunnydale Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa (13 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 14 through Oct. 31, 2024
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, 2024. Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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.
Admission: Farm fee is $10 per person and includes all extra activities. Activities are available Saturday and Sunday from late August through October, weather permitting. Recent additions include bounce house, inflatable axe throwing, inflatable Connect Four, Bumper Balls, barrel cart rides, large yard games and a human hamster wheel.
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 starting on the weekends on Aug. 31, 2024. The Regular Season runs Sept. 13-Nov. 3, 2024; hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays & Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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.
Admission: Regular Season tickets are $21.99 from Mondays to Thursdays and $39.99 from Fridays through Sundays. Kids ages 2 and under are FREE. Save 15% off tickets by buying online.
Discounts: Active military personnel can purchase discounted admission tickets to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch at the Offutt Airforce Base Information Ticket & Travel Office. Season passes are $99.99 per person (but you can save $15 on passes by buying online); passes for weekdays only are $49.99. Vala’s Adventure Pass are $22.38 per person and include 10 apple shots and a paintball coupon for 30 shots. Save 30% off the separate in-person purchase price.
Kreifels Pumpkin Patch & Sunflower Fields
Where: 17906 S. 180th St., Springfield, Neb. (about 21 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 7 through Oct. 31, 2024; Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Highlight: Kids will like the petting zoo, as well as playing in the corn pool and bounce house.
Admission: TBD
Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch
Where: 3935 NE-133, Blair, Neb. (22 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 6 through Oct. 31, 2024; 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.
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.
Admission: Prices in September are Mondays through Thursdays, $14.95; Fridays through Sundays, $19.95. Price increases in October to $15.95 for visits Mondays through Fridays and $24.95 for Fridays through Sundays. Kids 24 months and younger are admitted FREE. Season pass is $58.95 per person.
Nelson Produce Farm
Where: 10505 N 234th St, Valley, Neb. (about 25 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Season usually runs through the end of October; hours are Sunday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Highlights: Kids will love the farm animals and running along the haybales.
Admission: Day passes are $10 (may be more on festival days). Season passes are also available for individuals ($45.99) and families (2 adults and 4 children, $199)
Mert’s Market & Farm
Where: 25870 W. Maple Road, Waterloo, Neb. (30 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 21 through Oct. 31, 2024; hours vary but expect them to be open for sure on the weekends from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Highlight: Bring your own clippers and wheelbarrows to pick pumpkins, or select pre-picked pumpkins and gourds.
Admission: FREE
Small’s Fruit Farm
Where: 1844 194th St., Mondamin, Iowa (37 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (but I recommend calling ahead of time to be sure they’re open, (712) 646-2723)
Highlight: This small, family-owned business grows a variety of produce each fall. The U-pick pumpkin patch will be ready in October.
Admission: FREE
Pumpkin Ridge
Where: 815 N. 60th Road, Nebraska City, Neb. (40 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Oct. 1-31, 2024
Highlight: Hayrides are free for single families who make a reservation on weekends from noon 6 p.m., and cost very little for groups.
Admission: FREE
Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard
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.
Highlight: Hay rides are included in with U-Pick or event/festival admission. They also have the great Pollinator Playground that kids will.
Admission: TBD
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 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
Admission: $15, adults; $12, kids (3-12); FREE for kids 2 and younger. Annual passes are available for individuals ($39), grandparents ($129), and families ($129).
Union Orchard
Where: 2405 S. Highway 75, Union, Neb. (40 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlight: There are wagon rides to the pumpkin field on the weekends, and kids can ride the barrel train around the store.
Admission: FREE
Bloom Where You’re Planted Farm & Pumpkin Patch
Where: 911 108th St., Avoca, Neb. (42 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 21 through Oct. 27, 2024; hours in September are Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sept. 27 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Hours in October are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Highlight: Farm-themed play areas, farm animals, and a couple fun themed weekends planned in 2023 including Grown-Ups Getaways.
Admission: $10 per person ages 3+, FREE for children under 3
3 Bees Farm
Where: 14922 535th St., Griswold, Iowa (43 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 7 through Oct. 31, 2024; Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday & Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Highlights: This small, family-run farm sells a variety of produce, and has a pumpkin patch and playground for kids.
Admission: FREE
Martin’s Hillside Orchard
Where: 2024 Ashland Road, Ceresco, Neb. (50 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Aug. 31 through Oct. 31 2024; hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Mondays except for Oct. 14
Highlight: The farm has a tire hill, kid-sized corn maze, wagon rides on the weekends and the Discover Trail.
Admission: $6 per person; kid under 2 admitted FREE
Camp Fontanelle’s Split Oak Hollow
Where: 9677 County Road 3, Nickerson, Neb. (44 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 28 through Oct. 27, 2024; hours are Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
Admission: $15 for adults ages 13+; $10 for kids ages 3-12; FREE for kids under 3.
Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch
Where: 1098 County Road N, Oakland, Neb. (about 70 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 15 through October 2024; 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.
Highlight: There’s a lot to choose from! There are jumping pillows, race tracks, a zipline, and so much more.
Admission: $12 for general admission; $9, seniors & veterans; and FREE for kids 2 and younger. Season pass is $25.
Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch
Where: 55275 837th Road, Norfolk (125 miles from Omaha)
Hours: Sept. 14 through Oct. 30, 2024; 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.
Highlight: There are a ton of activities and play areas at Poppy’s, including a petting zoo, kids’ zipline, and huge slides.
Admission: $11.99, general admission; $10.99 for seniors and military; and FREE for 2 and younger. Adult Night tickets are $18. Individual season passes are $30.
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…
