Iowa’s Best Christmas Tree Farms
There’s something about walking a row of pines with a saw in hand that makes the holidays feel official. Iowa has roughly 100 choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, most of them small family operations of 3 to 8 acres, and it takes 6 to 12 years to grow each tree you take home.
We’ve rounded up the Christmas tree farms we could find across the state and sorted them into Eastern, Central and Western Iowa so you can find one close to home or plan a holiday road trip around one. Seasons, hours and tree supply change every year, so check a farm’s website or Facebook page before you go.
Eastern Iowa
From the Cedar Valley to the Mississippi River, eastern Iowa has the deepest bench of choose-and-cut farms in the state.
Wapsie Pines Tree Farm – Fairbank
WHERE: 2778 Whitetail Avenue, Fairbank
WEBSITE: wapsiepinestreefarm.com
Cut your own, let the crew cut it for you, or grab a pre-cut tree. Santa stops by, saws and tree shaking are provided, and the coffee and hot chocolate are on the house.
Kris Kringle’s Tree Farm – Cedar Falls
WHERE: 5220 W. Bennington Road, Cedar Falls
WEBSITE: facebook.com/kriskringlecedarfalls
A cut-your-own farm just north of Cedar Falls off Highway 218, with white and Scotch pine in the field and pre-cut Fraser fir. Santa visits on weekends, and you can warm up by the fire pit with cookies and a hot drink.
Pine Ridge Tree Farm – Nashua
WHERE: 2849 Cheyenne Avenue, Nashua
WEBSITE: Facebook page
A family-run choose-and-cut farm with more than 40 years behind it. It keeps a short season, usually Black Friday weekend and the first weekend of December, so plan ahead. Cash or check, and no restrooms on site.
Hoffman Tree Farm – Marion
WHERE: 9409 C Avenue, Marion
WEBSITE: hoffmantreefarm.com
Wander the fields for Fraser fir or white pine, or pick a pre-cut tree from the barn. Wreaths, garland and bundles of boughs round out the holiday shopping.
Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market – Ely
WHERE: 2188 Ivanhoe Road, Ely
WEBSITE: cedarsedgemarket.com
A good stop if you need a tall tree. Scotch pine, white pine and fir fill the fields, and the custom wreaths, coffee and cookies make it easy to linger south of Cedar Rapids.
Dohmen’s Christmas Trees – Mechanicsville
WHERE: 501 Delta Avenue, Mechanicsville
WEBSITE: facebook.com/dohmenschristmastrees
A small family farm in Cedar County with pine, spruce and fir and simple flat pricing. You can tag a tree early in the fall and come back to cut it.
Hainstock Christmas Trees – Delmar
WHERE: 22700 110th Street, Delmar
WEBSITE: Facebook page
A Clinton County farm with Canaan fir, white pine and Scotch pine up to about 8 feet. It opens on weekends from mid-November and tends to sell out early, so go before Thanksgiving if you can.
Up North Pines – Davenport
WHERE: 8319 Buffalo Avenue, Davenport
WEBSITE: upnorthpines.com
The Quad Cities’ cut-your-own option: about 10 acres of pines, one price for any tree, plus wreaths and stands. There’s a surcharge for credit cards.
Handley’s Holiday Hillside – Solon
WHERE: 1731 White Oak Avenue NE, Solon
WEBSITE: Facebook (search “Handley’s Holiday Hillside”)
A cozy hillside farm between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids where a warm cabin and homemade treats wait after the hunt. Cash or check only, and leave the dog at home.
Colony Acres Family Farm – North Liberty
WHERE: 2780 Front Street NE, North Liberty
WEBSITE: colonyacres.farm
Best known as a fall pumpkin patch, this Johnson County farm also offers choose-and-cut Christmas trees once the season turns.
Honey Creek Timbers – Morning Sun
WHERE: 1501 L Avenue, Morning Sun
WEBSITE: honeycreektimbers.com
A southeast Iowa farm with a choose-and-cut field, pre-cut trees and homemade wreaths. Cards are accepted.
Harvestville Farm – Donnellson
WHERE: 1977 Highway 2, Donnellson
WEBSITE: harvestvillefarm.com
This is a pre-cut stop rather than a cut-your-own field, but it makes a full outing: Santa visits, wreaths and roping, a gift shop and concessions in Iowa’s far southeast corner.
Central Iowa
The Des Moines metro is ringed with long-running family farms, and the line north through Ames to Clear Lake adds several more.
Howell Tree Farm – Cumming
WHERE: 3129 Howell Court, Cumming
WEBSITE: howelltreefarm.com
Planting trees since 1963, Howell’s has more than 2,500 evergreens on 50-plus acres just southwest of Des Moines. The gift shop, handmade wreaths and wreath-decorating classes make it a holiday destination. No pets.
Miller Tree Farm – Runnells
WHERE: 7404 SE Vandalia Drive, Runnells
WEBSITE: millertreefarm.com
Growing trees since 1954, Miller’s has three fields of white pine, Scotch pine, Norway spruce and Fraser fir. Walk the Jack Pine Trails, then roast marshmallows at the weekend campfire. Cash, check, Venmo or PayPal.
Walnut Ridge Farm – Indianola
WHERE: 1400 E. Hillcrest Avenue (Highway G-36), Indianola
WEBSITE: walnutridgefarms.com
One of the biggest selections in the state, with roughly 40,000 trees including Canaan and Fraser fir over 10 feet. Bring a hand saw or borrow one; chainsaws aren’t allowed. Leashed pets are welcome.
Hill’s Tree Farm – Minburn
WHERE: 19885 Midland Trail, Minburn
WEBSITE: Hill’s Tree Farm site
A Dallas County farm growing eight or nine varieties, from white pine to Douglas fir. The Tree Shed sells wreaths and trimmings, and there’s a fire pit for marshmallows.
Strautman Tree Farm – Cambridge
WHERE: 58976 290th Street, Cambridge
WEBSITE: strautmantreefarm.com
Established in 1964, this 90-acre farm north of Des Moines offers cut-your-own fields and a heated shed of pre-cut trees. Kids will like the goats and pallet maze, and the free cider and cookies.
THE Christmas Tree Farm – Maxwell
WHERE: 33459 663rd Avenue, Maxwell
WEBSITE: christmastreehunter.com
About 4,000 pine, fir and spruce trees, with tagging starting in October. The crew handles the sawing and shaking, and Santa visits on select weekends.
Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson
WHERE: 1102 244th Street, Jefferson
WEBSITE: dealsorchard.com
The Greene County orchard switches to trees for the holidays, with Scotch pine, white spruce and Canaan fir to cut. The Apple Barn adds hot cider, ornaments and gifts, plus a Santa’s sleigh photo spot.
Poweshiek Pines Tree Farm – Brooklyn
WHERE: 3314 V18 Road, Brooklyn
WEBSITE: poweshiekpines.com
Halfway between Brooklyn and Chelsea, about 9 miles north of I-80. Kids can hand-feed live deer, and the hot cider and candy canes are free. Tag a tree early in the fall if you like.
G&R Plantation – Osceola
WHERE: 1439 Liberty Highway, Osceola
WEBSITE: instagram.com/g.r.plantation
A south-central farm with an unusually long list of species, from balsam fir to eastern red cedar. Open the Friday after Thanksgiving, then weekends through December. Cash or check.
Aldrich Tree Farm – Belmond
WHERE: 1941 Taylor Avenue, Belmond
WEBSITE: aldrichtreefarm.com
Roughly 15,000 fir and pine trees in Wright County, one price for any tree, and a crew that shakes, nets and ties it to your vehicle. Warm up with refreshments in the barn.
Carlson Tree Farm – Hampton
WHERE: 867 130th Street, Hampton
WEBSITE: carlsontreefarm.com
Cut your own or have it cut for you: white pine, Fraser fir and Scotch pine. Trees are shaken, netted and tied on. Open from Black Friday; no pets.
Fisher Christmas Tree Farm – Forest City (and Clear Lake lot)
WHERE: 22631 Oakridge Valley Road, Forest City; pre-cut lot at 3 Four Winds Drive, Clear Lake
WEBSITE: northiowachristmastrees.com
The Forest City farm offers choose-and-cut on a few weekends around Thanksgiving. The Clear Lake lot sells pre-cut trees daily for anyone short on time.
Dillon Tree Farm – Alden
WHERE: Alden (Hardin County); see website for address
WEBSITE: dillontreefarm.com
A choose-and-cut farm near Iowa Falls. Check the website for this year’s dates and varieties.
Homestead Evergreens – Eldora
WHERE: Highway 175, about 5 miles west of Eldora
WEBSITE: None listed; phone 319-240-7965
Scotch and white pine to cut, plus pre-cut balsam and Fraser fir. Open daily from noon to 5 p.m. starting the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Western Iowa
Farms are farther apart out west, which makes each one worth the drive, from the Loess Hills near Council Bluffs to the northwest corner.
Dappen Tree Farm – Council Bluffs
WHERE: 20873 Greenview Road, Council Bluffs
WEBSITE: dappentreefarm.com
More than 2,400 mature Scotch pine, white pine, spruce and fir. Tractor rides, free hot chocolate and handmade wreaths make it a family favorite on the Omaha side of the state. Cash only.
Hawthorn Hills Tree Farm – Red Oak
WHERE: 1993 A Avenue, Red Oak
WEBSITE: None listed; phone 712-623-5647
Seven miles west of Red Oak, cross the railroad bridge and look for the big silver gates. Choose-and-cut Scotch and white pine, a petting zoo, kids’ games and free hot cider.
Evergreen Acres – Denison
WHERE: 2931 O Avenue, Denison
WEBSITE: Facebook page
A wide mix of spruce, fir and pine to cut yourself or have cut for you. Hot apple cider, fresh-baked cookies and a gift shop wait in the barn. Weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve; call ahead on weekdays.
Country Pines Tree Farm – Marcus
WHERE: 707 520th Street, Marcus
WEBSITE: countrypinestreefarm.com
Scotch pine in the field and pre-cut Fraser and balsam fir up to 10 feet. The warm barn smells of evergreen and cider, and the gift shop sells ornaments and Iowa-made jams. Short season, so check dates.
Pine Creek Christmas Tree Farm – Orange City
WHERE: 1001 7th Street Avenue NW, Orange City
WEBSITE: None listed; phone 712-737-2498
A choose-and-cut farm on the west edge of Orange City with Austrian, Scotch and white pine and white spruce. Winter hayrides, a gift shop and snacks add to the visit.
T&S Christmas Tree Farm – Hawarden
WHERE: 20593 C12, Hawarden
WEBSITE: Visit Iowa Farms listing
A second-generation, 11-acre farm in Sioux County with spruce, cedar, fir and pine. Cut your own or choose a pre-cut tree. Open roughly mid-November until Christmas week or sellout.
Before You Go
- Measure first. Trees look smaller in the field. Know the height and width your room can hold.
- Dress for the field. Sturdy boots, warm layers and gloves.
- Bring cash. Many small farms take only cash or check.
- Check hours. Most farms open the weekend after Thanksgiving and close when the trees run out, and weather changes plans.
- Water daily. A fresh tree can drink up to a gallon a day, so keep the stand full.
For more farms, see the Iowa Christmas Tree Association’s Find a Farm map.
