Agritourism & Farm Experiences near Iowa City, IA

Iowa City

This bicycle tour once routed riders through Iowa City-area farms for tastings of local produce and fermented foods, pairing a 30-mile paved "Cherry Tomato" loop with a 60-mile paved-and-gravel "Beet-it-Up" route. The event has since been rebranded as the RadTour Bike Ride and still raises money for the Farm to School program and youth cycling groups. Search for RadTour to find current dates and routes.

Lovely Bunches operates out of a Newport Road property northeast of Iowa City, in Johnson County's mix of farmland and small acreages. The name points to a flower-growing operation rather than a produce farm.

Dean and Katie Colony run Colony Acres as third-generation farmers on ground their family has worked in North Liberty for close to a century. The farm grows pick-your-own pumpkins and a corn maze each fall, sells Christmas trees in winter, and closes down between seasons. Reach the farm at (319) 626-6091 or [email protected].

North Liberty

Colony Pumpkin Patch bills itself as 'a little country in the city,' running a five-acre corn maze alongside pumpkin hunting, hayrides, and a playground just outside North Liberty. It's a compact operation aimed at families who want fall activities without driving out to rural farmland - eastern Iowa's version of a pumpkin patch reachable in fifteen minutes from Iowa City or Cedar Rapids.

Iowa City

Walker Homestead farms 80 acres outside Iowa City, growing produce for its own kitchen and grapes for wine made on-site, then serves both through farm-to-table dinners and private events. The farm opens to the public Thursdays only — 5 to 9pm April through October, 4 to 8pm November through March — with other times available by appointment. Reach them at 319-351-4791 or [email protected].

Lone Tree

Sand Road Farm operates under a new name on Sand Road SE in Lone Tree, on ground long known as Bock's Berry Farm & Country Gifts for u-pick apples, blueberries, and strawberries plus a gift shop and fresh eggs. Some directories list the u-pick operation as no longer active, so confirm current status before planning a visit.

Lone Tree

Solon

Shima Pumpkin Patch is a seasonal pumpkin farm on Highway 382 outside Solon, in Johnson County's cluster of fall patches. Hours and current offerings aren't posted online, so a call ahead is worth it before visiting.

Solon

This cut-flower farm sits between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, growing blooms it turns into wedding flowers from May through October. Brides can buy wholesale stems for do-it-yourself arranging or order finished bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and full ceremony-and-reception florals directly from the farm.

Riverside

Sass Family Farm sits on 160th Street outside Riverside, the small Washington County town that jokingly claims to be the future birthplace of Captain Kirk. It's a family-run farm operating agritourism activities on the property.

Oxford

Blueyah grows 300 blueberry bushes under organic practices on a small u-pick farm 15 minutes west of Iowa City. Picking works by appointment: an $11 reservation fee applies $10 of it toward your total, with a $10 minimum purchase, or a group of five or fewer can pick for $6 a pound. It's a scenic, small-scale operation, not a commercial-size pick-your-own.

Swisher

Honey Creek Acres is a Swisher-area farm categorized under tree-fruit and crop production in business directories, with honey listed among its offerings. Specific products, hours, and contact details aren't published online — confirm directly before planning a visit.

Mount Vernon

Bass Farms sits on Highway 30 West outside Mount Vernon, in Linn County's stretch between Cedar Rapids and the Lincoln Highway corridor. It's a working farm running agritourism activities on the property.

Mount Vernon

The Marti family grows 2,200 apple trees across 20-plus varieties on their property west of Mount Vernon, and the on-farm store sells what the orchard doesn't move as fresh fruit — fried donuts, baked goods, and honey. It's a weekend operation, open Saturday and Sunday, closed the rest of the week, which keeps the pace closer to a small family orchard than a full-time retail operation.

Lisbon

Wild Prairie Acres is a small farm in Lisbon, in Linn County in eastern Iowa, near the Cedar River corridor between Cedar Rapids and Mount Vernon.

Marion

East Post Pumpkins started in 2009 as a hobby patch and has grown into a self-serve roadside stand in Marion, open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through the season. Alongside specialty pumpkins and mums, the farm grows fresh cut flowers — zinnias, sunflowers, strawflowers, peonies — plus honey and lavender, sold on the honor system rather than through a staffed stand.

Palo

Meadowview Farm, Inc. has worked its Covington Road ground outside Palo since being registered in 1996, growing field crops as a general crop operation. Mary Goodlove runs a WIC-approved store on the property, making it one of the area stops where WIC benefits cover farm-grown food. Phone 319-396-2010 for current availability.

Williamsburg

Kinze Innovation Center sits just off I-80 at Exit 216 in Williamsburg, where the farm equipment maker displays its history under one roof. Exhibits include Big Blue, a 640-horsepower twin-engine tractor, the company's original grain cart, and a replica of the founder's first welding shop. The center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday mornings until noon.

Williamsburg

Walking Stick Adventures runs Tipi Camp on a working farm outside Williamsburg - four acres of restored prairie set up for overnight stays in an actual tipi rather than a tent. Rates run $35 to $75 a night. Beyond camping, the farm hosts kids' outdoor activities, birthday parties, scout workshops, and school field trips, making it as much an outdoor-education stop as a campground.