Christmas tree farm guide
Christmas tree farms in Iowa.
From the Des Moines area to north-central Iowa, the Cedar Valley, Monticello, Sperry and Hawarden, these farms offer several ways to bring home a real tree. Choose a walk through the fields, a staff-cut tree or a quicker stop at a pre-cut display, with fresh greenery and warm treats at many of the farms.
Choose your tree
Howell’s crew does all the cutting, while Miller, Carlson and Strautman let you cut or ask for help. Myers pairs field-grown pines and Norway spruce with Michigan-grown pre-cut Fraser firs. Strautman has a 5ft minimum for cutting; its pre-cut shed offers other sizes. A&A’s living trees need advance payment and pickup arrangements by early November.
Budget and handling
A&A offers choose-and-cut trees for $85 and advance-order living trees for $185. Howell’s trees are individually tagged; Miller confirms the price after measuring, and Strautman’s arrival maps show prices by species, height and buying format. Myers charges extra for baling. Miller supplies twine, but you must secure the tree to your vehicle yourself.
Plan the timing
Miller’s pre-cut lot opens before its cutting fields. Howell begins tagging on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and closes Thanksgiving Day. Kragel offers an October reservation open house, while Carlson’s weekday visits require an appointment. Short selling windows and changing tree supply make it sensible to check the farm’s latest announcement before a long drive.
Enjoy the extras
Miller has weekend cocoa, campfires and walking trails; Howell’s shop includes a model train and Lego Christmas display. Kragel offers a barn shop and Santa Train, Strautman serves free cider and cookies, and T&S offers weekend tractor rides and complimentary treats. Leashed dogs are welcome at Miller, Strautman and Walnut Ridge; Howell and Carlson ask you to leave pets at home.
Monticello · Iowa
A&A Christmas Tree Farm
Choose a fresh tree near Monticello, with saws, cutting help and tree handling available. Pets are welcome to join the outing.
- Choose-and-cut tree
- $85
- Tree season
- Thanksgiving weekend and the first weekend in December.
Cumming · Iowa
Howell Tree Farm
Select a tree and let the Howell crew do the cutting and loading. The gift shop, model train and Christmas displays make a cheerful stop while you wait.
- Christmas tree
- Individually tagged
- Tree season
- Saturday before Thanksgiving–December 23; closed Thanksgiving Day.
Clear Lake · Iowa
Kragel Christmas Trees and Traditions
Explore the mown tree fields near the Winnebago River, or choose a harvested tree in the barn loft. Finish with wreaths, gifts and the Santa Train in the shop.
- Tree season
- Open house on the second weekend in October; harvesting on Black Friday and the three weekends following Thanksgiving.
Runnells · Iowa
Miller Tree Farm
Choose a tree in the fields or shop the pre-cut lot southeast of Yellowbanks Park. Weekend cocoa, a campfire and Jack Pine Trails give the family more to enjoy.
- Christmas tree
- Priced after measuring
- Tree season
- Pre-cut lot opens November 21; choose-and-cut fields open November 27, on Black Friday.
Cambridge · Iowa
Strautman Tree Farm
Explore 90 acres of tree blocks or browse the pre-cut building near Cambridge. Free cider and cookies await in the shed beside the gift shop.
- Christmas tree
- Varies by species and height
Indianola · Iowa
Walnut Ridge Farm
Take a hand saw and tree cart into the fields in Indianola, or browse the limited pre-cut display. Handmade greenery offers plenty of ways to dress the front door.
- Tree season
- Friday after Thanksgiving–December 14, closing at 5pm.
Belmond · Iowa
Aldrich Christmas Tree Farm
Drive into the fields to choose a tree, or pick a pre-cut tree by the barn at this family farm south of Belmond. Warm up in the heated barn, with crafts and food vendors during the Thanksgiving open house.
- Christmas trees
- $69.99
- Tree season
- Friday after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.
Hampton · Iowa
Carlson Tree Farm
Choose a tree on the Carlson family’s country farm near Hampton, with cutting and handling help available. Fresh wreaths, rustic greenery and flocked trees offer other holiday choices.
- Tree season
- November 22–23 and 28–30, plus December 6 if trees remain.
Sperry · Iowa
Myers Tree Farm & Potting Shed
Choose a pine or Norway spruce from the Sperry fields, or a Michigan-grown pre-cut Fraser fir. The Potting Shed adds handmade greenery and a small home-and-garden shop.
Fairbank · Iowa
Wapsie Pines Christmas Tree Farm
Find pine and fir choices at the Fairbank tree farm, with a warming shed, holiday greenery and an expanded craft shop to enjoy along the way.
- Tree season
- Black Friday–December 14.
Hawarden · Iowa
T&S Christmas Tree Farm
Choose and cut a tree on this family farm near Hawarden, then browse wreaths and ornaments. Weekend tractor rides and complimentary treats add to the outing.