Cutting down our own Christmas tree is one of our favorite family activities during the holiday season, but finding the perfect tree can take some work. Now updated for the 2024 Christmas Season! If you’re wondering where to go this year, here are 13 Iowa tree farms where you’ll find the best Christmas trees!

You’ll Find the Best Christmas Trees at these Iowa Tree Farms

Why Choose a Real Christmas Tree?

Before diving into Iowa’s best Christmas tree farms, let’s explore why real trees are often the better choice for both your family and the environment:

Environmental Benefits of Live Christmas Trees

• Carbon Neutral: Live Christmas trees absorb CO2 while growing and are replanted annually
• Biodegradable: Real trees decompose naturally, unlike artificial trees that end up in landfills
• Habitat Creation: Christmas tree farms provide wildlife habitat and prevent soil erosion
• Local Impact: Most artificial trees are imported from overseas, while real trees support local ecosystems

Economic Benefits

• American Jobs: Supporting U.S. Christmas tree farmers helps maintain over 15,000 jobs
• Local Economy: Money spent at local tree farms stays in your community. There are about 100 Christmas tree farms in Iowa to choose from, with 150,000 across all 50 US states.
• Agricultural Preservation: Tree farms help preserve agricultural land from development

Sustainability Facts

• For every tree harvested, farmers plant 1-3 new seedlings
• Christmas trees take 8-10 years to mature, ensuring continuous farming cycles
• Tree farms often use otherwise unusable, steep terrain for cultivation
• Most farms practice sustainable farming methods to maintain soil health

There have been lots of changes in the last few years. Favorite tree farms like Kelly Tree Farm in Tipton and Barnes Tree Farm in Iowa City have closed permanently. Don’t fret, wee’ve found a few more spots for you to check out!

Dohmen Christmas Tree Farm

Updated for 2024: Located in Mechanicsville, Dohmen Christmas Tree Farm is a good alternative to Kelly Tree Farm which has sadly quit selling Christmas trees.

Location: 501 Delta Ave

Phone: (563) 432-7147

Features:

• Open Friday, Saturday, & Sunday after Thanksgiving
• Then weekends only 10 am – 4:30 pm
• All trees $55
• Family-owned operation
• Early tagging available
• Multiple tree varieties including pine, spruce, and fir

Get up-to-date information about Dohmen Christmas Trees on their facebook page.

Up North Pines – Quad Cities

2024 Update: Opening Black Friday (9 a.m.-5 p.m.), Up North Pines will be open 9 a.m. -5 p.m Friday – Sunday for three days only!

Location: 8319 Buffalo Ave., Davenport, Iowa

Quad Cities-area residents can bundle up the kids, grab a thermos of hot chocolate, and head off to Up North Pines in search of the season’s Christmas tree.

Features:

• All trees are $49
• 10 acres of pine trees
• Fresh wreaths & tree stands available
• Payment: cash/check/credit cards (extra fee for credit cards)

Follow Up North Pines on Facebook for up to date information.

Hainstock Christmas Trees – Delmar

For the 2024 season, Hainstock Christmas Trees will be open Saturday November 23 and Sunday November 24 from 10am to 4pm. Other times by appointment.

Location: 22700 110st Street, Delmar

Phone: (563) 320-7333

• Price: $50 for trees up to 7ft
• Multiple tree varieties including Canaan Fir, White Pine, Scotch Pine
• Payment: Cash/check/Venmo only

Follow Hainstock Christmas Trees on Facebook for up to date information.

Handley’s Holiday Hillside – Solon

2024 Update: Opening at 10 am on Black Friday and the following Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm until they’re out of trees!

Location: 1731 White Oak Ave NE, Solon

Phone: (319) 624-2888

NO dogs please! Bring cash or checks as Handley’s Holiday Hillside does not accept credit cards. Enjoy their warm cabin with homemade goodies! Most proceeds from the goodies sale goes to local church groups!

Follow Handley’s Holiday Hillside on Facebook for up to date information.

Honey Creek Timbers Christmas Trees & Wreaths – Morning Sun

Updates for the 2024 Christmas Tree Season: Honey Creek Timbers’ opening day will be November 23. They’re open 7 days a week from 9 am until 5 pm.

Location: 1501 L Avenue, Morning Sun

Phone: (563) 260-2634

Features:

• Homemade wreaths
• Choose-and-cut field featuring Scotch Pine, White Pine, White Spruce & Fraser Fir.
• Pre-cut trees also available
• Payment: cash, check, and credit card (Visa, Mastercard & Discover)

Follow Honey Creek Times on Facebook for up to date information.

Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market – Ely

2023 Update: Cedar’s Edge will open at 9 am on Black Friday, November 29. Regular hours are Fridays and Saturdays 9 am – 6 pm, and Sunday – Thursday, 1 – 6 pm until sold out.

Location: 2188 Ivanhoe Road in Ely Iowa (one mile off of Highway 30)

Phone: (319) 361-7967

Features:

• Custom wreaths
• Tall trees available, Scotch Pines White Pines, and Fir.
• Enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, cookies while choosing your tree

Follow Cedar’s Edge on Facebook for up to date information.

Strautman Tree Farm – Cambridge

2024 Update: The family farm ranks among the most popular Christmas tree farms in Iowa. Strautman Tree Farm opens for business Saturday, November 23rd, daily 9am-5pm through December 23rd

Location: 58976 290th Street, Cambridge

Phone: (515) 383-4675

Features:

• 90+ acres with thousands of trees
• Heated shed with pre-cut options
• Hot cider and cookies
• Gift shop with ornaments and wreaths
• Precut trees are available in a heated shed if you don’t want to cut your own.
• Price Range: $60-75 per tree
• Tree Types: Fir and Pine varieties

With thousands of trees to choose from over 90 acres, finding the perfect fir or pine to decorate for the holiday season may be the most challenging part of a visit to Strautman Tree Farm in Cambridge, about 30 minutes north of Des Moines.

Find up to date information about Strautman on Facebook.

Aldrich Christmas Tree Farm – Belmond

2024 Update: Located about 40 minutes southwest of Clear Lake, the Christmas tree farm is open noon until dark daily, from Friday, Nov. 29, until Christmas Eve.

Location: 1941 Taylor Ave. Belmond

Phone: (515) 571-3286

Features:

• 15,000 fir and pine trees to choose from
• All trees are priced $59.99 no matter type or size!
• You can walk or drive your vehicle through the tree farm
• Enjoy hot cider and popcorn while you browse vendors’ holiday wares
• Your tree will be prepped with netting and tied to your vehicle

Find up-to-date information about Alderich Christmas Tree Farm on facebook.

THE Christmas Tree Farm – Maxwell

2024 Update: THE Christmas Tree Farm will open on Black Friday, November 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Then, it will be open 3-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends through Dec. 18. You can pre-tag trees starting on Oct 1 and pay when you retrieve them.

Location: 33459 663rd Ave, Maxwell

Phone: (515) 387-8778

Features:

• 4,000 trees, including Scotch Pine, White Pine, Fraser, and Concolor Fir
• Santa visits (Thanksgiving weekend)
• Free hot cider
• Pre-tagging available from October 1st
• Precut trees and holiday greenery is also available

Find THE Christmas Tree Farm at their website for up to date information.

Miller Tree Farm – Runnells

2024 Update: Opening Day is Saturday, Nov 18th for the pre-cut lot.

• Cut your own hours: Thanksgiving: 3pm – 5pm & Black Friday: 9am – 5pm
• Thereafter, Saturdays: 9am – 5pm, Sundays: 12pm – 5pm; Monday-Friday: 3pm – 5pm

Location: 7404 SE Vandalia Dr, Runnells

Phone: (515) 266-9881

Features:

• Types of trees: White Pine, Scotch Pine, Concolor Fir, and Fraser Fir
• See Santa, decorate sugar cookies, take a walk through the forest, and roast a marshmallow at the fire!
• Pre-cut options & fresh wreaths
• Payment: cash, Venmo, PayPal, or check

For more than 60 years, Miller Tree Farm has greeted visitors seeking the perfect tree for the holiday season. Get most up-to-date information on Facebook.

Walnut Ridge Farm – Indianola

Update 2024: Opening on Black Friday (8 am-5 pm), Walnut Ridge Farm is open weekdays (2-5 pm), Saturdays (8 am-5 pm), Sundays (noon-5 p.m). Last day Sunday Dec. 15!

Location: 1400 Hilcrest Drive, Indianola

Phone:

Features:

• Types of trees: White Pine, Scotch Pine, Concolor Fir, and Fraser Fir
• Handmade fresh greenery/wreaths and tree stands are also available
• Payment: Cash, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and Apple Pay
• Leashed pets are allowed

Go to the Walnut Ridge Farm website or follow their Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson

Update for 2024: Deal’s Tree Farm opens November 23 from Mondays – Saturdays, and Sundays 1-6 pm.

Location: 1102 244th St Jefferson

Phone: (515) 386-8279

Features:

• Scotch Pine, White Spruce, Canaan Fir, and Douglas Fir
• Fraser Fir available as pre-cut only
• Visit the Apple Barn for apple cider, model train display, shopping, and santa’s sleigh photo ops

These are some of the things you can do in addition to finding and cutting down your Christmas tree at Deal’s Orchard.

Follow Deal’s Orchard on Facebook for up to date information.

Howell Tree Farm – Cumming

Update for 2023: Howell Tree Farm opens Nov. 23 (Saturday before Thanksgiving) and will be open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Dec. 23. The farm will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Location: 3129 Howell Court, Cumming

Phone: (515) 981-4762

Features:

• 50+ acres with over 2,500 beautiful trees
• “Marriage Saver” tree stand service
• Professional cutting service
• Gift shop
• Make and Take classes
• No pets, please.

Take a look at Howell Tree Farm’s website for up to date information.

Frequently Asked Questions {#faqs}

When is the best time to buy a Christmas tree in Iowa?

Most farms open the Friday after Thanksgiving. For best selection, visit that first weekend as many Iowa Christmas Tree Farms are only open Thanksgiving weekend.

How long do real Christmas trees last?

With proper care, a fresh-cut tree can last 4-6 weeks. Keep it watered and away from heat sources.

Tips for Choosing the Best Christmas Tree

1. Measure your space before visiting
2. Check tree freshness by gently pulling needles
3. Look at the tree from all angles
4. Consider needle retention characteristics
5. Ask about species best suited for your needs

What’s you favorite Iowa Christmas Tree Farm? Share in the comments.

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