There’s something about the beauty of flowers that can add a little sunshine to your day. While we can easily spot flowers at nature centers or around our block, why not make it an experience with flower fields as far as the eye can see?
Beyond the Chicagoland area, you can take a drive out to see fields of tulips, lavenders, sunflowers and more. Note: Just be sure to check ahead on the farm’s website to double check to see if the flowers fields are in season and open for the day you’re visiting! Dates and hours may change depending on the weather.
If frolicking through the flower fields sounds like a fun time, then make sure to grab your camera and take note of these flower fields worth the drive from Chicago that will surely bring a smile to your face.
Looking for more kid-friendly activities? Check out our summer fun family guide!
Flower fields near Chicago
Richardson Farm Tulip Festival
Opens mid-April 2024
- Address: 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove
- Cost: 2024 pricing TBA
The Tulip Festival features hundreds of thousands of tulips just in time for spring. Each admission ticket includes one cut-your-own tulip. Explore the Richardson Gift Shop to find hand-crafted items. On the weekends, families can enjoy yard games and live music at the farm’s picnic area.
Midwest Tulip Fest
Opens April 27, 2024
- Address: 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park
- Cost: $15.99 online, $17.99 at the gate (Monday-Friday); $17.99 online, $19.99 at the gate (weekends)
Kuipers Family Farm’s spring fest is full of bright and pastel tulips that span five acres. You can stroll through the tulip farm and then check out their FunFarm attractions. On the weekends, you can also enjoy live music and food.
Holland Tulip Time Festival
May 4-12, 2024
- Address: Holland, Michigan
- Cost: Varies by location and event
If you’re looking for a fun day trip, don’t miss this southwest Michigan town’s most important event of the year — Tulip Time Festival! For an extra cost, you can visit various tulip fields like Tulip Immersive Garden, Windmill Island Gardens (our favorite!) and Veldheer Tulip Gardens.
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm
Opens mid-June 2024
- Address: 8255 Pioneer Road, Morris
- Cost: U-pick is $8 per bouquet (appointment only).
Located on 4 acres next to Nettle Creek, the small farm has been growing lavender for more than 20 years with more than 1,000 lavender plants blooming at various times during the summer. Find an herb display garden at the front of the property, a small apiary and walk around the field just behind the farm stand. You can also simply relax at the gazebo, benches or bistro tables located around the property. At the farm stand, they sell honey as well as other lavender and herb-inspired products using the honor system.
New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm
Opens mid-June 2024
- Address: E10766 County Road W, Baraboo, Wisconsin
- Cost: $5.50 per person, free for kids ages 5 and under
Conveniently located between Madison and Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo, New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm boasts more than 25 varieties of lavender, 10,000 lavender plants and 5 acres of wildflower fields. The lavender farm is a great diversion and perfect place to stop and stretch your legs, smell the flowers and indulge in lavender goodies such as homemade lavender ice cream or their homemade lavender and cherry pie.
Tom’s Farm Market
Opens March 18, 2024. Sunflowers typically bloom in July.
- Address: 10214 Algonquin Road, Huntley
- Cost: $12
Why wait for corn mazes when you get lost in a field of sunflowers? Tom’s 4-acre sunflower maze offers a fun family activity with photo opportunities along the way. They also have a small children’s play area and an option to cut your own sunflowers (tickets sold separately).
Stade’s Farm and Market – Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers
Opens July 2024
- Address: 3709 Miller Road, McHenry
- Cost: $2 each sunflower, $5 for 3 sunflowers
Simply wander through the sunflower field, take all the photos, then channel your inner Joanna Gaines by purchasing one of their awesome galvanized vases. For $25 per vase, you can fill it up with as many flowers, including zinnias, that your heart desires. Depending on the season, you might be able to do some berry picking while you’re there!
Thompson Strawberry Farm – Pick Your Own Sunflowers
Opens mid-July 2024
- Address: 6621 156th Ave., Bristol
- Cost: 2024 prices TBA. Children under 3 are free.
This famous strawberry farm has opened up a 15-acre sunflower patch. Walk through the paths, take in the natural beauty and find a dozen of your favorite sunflowers to bring home. With adult admission, you will receive a souvenir cup to fill with your cut sunflowers — just don’t forget to bring something to cut the flowers with! Child admission includes a shaved ice.
Keller’s Farmstand
Opens mid-July 2024
- Address: 2500 Johnson Road, Oswego
- Cost: $20/quart jar
Explore 3 acres of sunflowers at Keller’s Farmstand in Oswego. One pick-your-own sunflower is also included in each ticket. New this year, you can find even more flowers that you can bring back at home. Depending on the blooming season, flowers include celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, marigold, snapdragon, statice, zinnia and gladiolus.
Von Bergen’s Country Market Sunflower Festival
Opens July 2024
- Address: 9805 IL-173, Hebron
- Cost: $12/person. Children ages 3 and under are free.
Enjoy the lovely beauty surrounding you as you meander through the sunflower maze with ample photo stops including oversized chairs and platforms. After exiting the maze, continue the fun with more photo opportunities including one on a tractor.
Kids will likely head straight to the play area or the “train.” Say hello to their farm animals including their adorable pot-bellied pig. When hunger strikes, grab food at the Barnyard Grill where they serve food that uses homegrown produce and local ingredients.
Before you leave, take home some flowers from the large u-pick flower field which includes over 50 flower varieties.
Harvest Tyme Family Farm: Sunflower Festival
Sept. 7-8 & 14-15, 2024
- Address:17904 Grant St., Lowell, Indiana
- Cost: $2/sunflower, $10/6 sunflowers, $18/12 sunflowers, $20/mason jar (all you can fit!)
Frolic through the 4-acre wildflower meadow fields and sunflower fields. Taking a photo in front of the vintage truck full of flowers is priceless! Their U-Pick flower fields are bursting with color. A few of the flowers ready for picking include sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, marigolds and more. They also have a newer butterfly enclosure and weekend treats.
Richardson Sunflower Festival
2024 Dates TBA
- Address: 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove
- Cost: 2024 pricing TBA
Explore 13 acres of sunflower fields with 25 different varieties of sunflowers. When visiting, families can also enjoy food trucks, carousel rides, animals and live music (during the weekends). Friendly dogs on a leash are welcome.
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