father and son in corn maze
Photograph: Shutterstock
Photograph: Shutterstock

The 19 best corn mazes near Chicago

Plan an afternoon (or haunted evening) of fall fun at these local corn mazes.

Erin Yarnall
Contributor: Morgan Olsen
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Summer in Chicago is fun, but the city really stands out in the fall when the trees start to change colors, a slight chill permeates the air and there's an abundance of autumnal activities to take part in. One of the most fun ways to celebrate the season? Visiting a corn maze. It’s nearly impossible to find one in the city, as you need a pretty large field, but we've traveled just outside of Chicago to nearby suburbs to find find a wide array of farms and orchards that have creative and sometimes daunting corn mazes to get lost in (plus apple picking). Open through the end of October, some of them serve as a festive way to get into the Halloween spirit as well. So make the most of the season with a fun-filled day at the best corn mazes near Chicago.

RECOMMENDED: Find the best pumpkin patches near Chicago

The best corn mazes near Chicago

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Driving time from Chicago: About 70 minutes

Located in Woodstock, Illinois, All Seasons turns more than 10 acres of corn fields into a meandering maze. There are two paths to choose from: a shorter, easier version for little ones and a longer, more difficult path for adults in your group. This year, the farm is also paying tribute to country singer Luke Bryan. Your trip through this epic corn maze is included with Barnyard admission—priced at $9–$17, depending on which day you visit. Make an afternoon of it by going apple picking, taking a pony ride and wandering through the orchard’s sprawling pumpkin patch.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 75 minutes

At Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, visitors can take their time wandering and getting lost in the farm’s 28-acre corn maze, but they can also race at their fastest pace, too. Runners and corn maze enthusiasts alike can take part in the World’s Largest Corn Maze 5K on October 6, which weaves its way through 3.1 miles of a John Deere-themed maze. The farm’s massive corn maze features a different theme each year and is made up of four smaller mazes dotted with checkpoints to help you make it to the finish line. When you’ve made your way through, or just given up on ever getting to all the checkpoints, you can take a load off on a wagon ride or at Bunnyville, where dozens of fluffy rabbits run wild.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 45 minutes

Owned by the Siegel family for more than 100 years, Siegel's corn maze has more than 12 acres of twists and turns to get lost in on weekends from late September through Halloween. This year, the family farm themed their corn maze in honor of country singer Luke Bryan. After you make your way through the field, adults can grab a boozy beverage at Bubba's Bar and kids can fill up on fresh apple cider doughnuts and kettle corn.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 55 minutes

This spooky, nighttime-only walkthrough is dotted with ghouls and goblins whose only goal is to scare the living daylights out of you and your friends. Cruise the haunted corn maze for $20 or splurge on the Moonlight Combo Special, where $25 gets you admission to two mazes plus a moonlight hayride. This scary attraction is only open on select dates throughout the season, so check the schedule and plan your trip accordingly.

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  • Kids

Driving time from Chicago: About 50 minutes

This massive farm is an autumnal wonderland, complete with a sunflower patch, apple orchard and sprawling corn maze, located just over the border in Hobart, Indiana. The maze’s theme changes each year, and has previously centered around the Chicago Blackhawks, Cubs and even political figures. Youngsters will get a kick out of the Albanese Gummi Bear Maze, which is shorter and easier but still boatloads of fun. Top off the day with apple picking, a stop at the kids farm to pet some little pigs and goats, or snag a souvenir at the gift loft.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 55 minutes

This classic farm in Waukegan, Illinois, which is open from mid-September through the end of October, is a smart selection for families looking to fill a weekend afternoon with fall fun. Pick the perfect pumpkin before finding your way through the corn maze and hopping on a hayride. If you want to continue the fun at home, the farm also has a virtual maze game available on its app.

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  • Kids
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Driving time from Chicago: About 80 minutes

By day, this maze is fun for the whole family, but on weekend nights, the field turns into a haunted corn maze that's best suited for adults. The 21-and-over set can pregame the experience at the Cider House, where apple wines, ciders and ales can be sampled and sipped. If you’re not feeling up for frights, check out the orchard’s haunt-free corn maze during the day, which has nearly three miles of pathways.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 45 minutes

While Konow’s larger corn maze is more than three miles long and includes tricky twists and turns, the Illinois farm also has a second smaller maze (less than half a mile long) designed for young ones. Konow’s annual Fall Fest begins on September 14 and includes other seasonal activities like a straw playground composed of giant haystacks to climb all over, an animal farm and hayrides. With tons to do, this drive is totally worth it.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 45 minutes to South Barrington location, 55 minutes to Pingree Grove location

With locations in Pingree Grove and South Barrington, Goebbert’s Farm offer a selection of pumpkins and fresh veggies culled from the 200-acre farm. The venue's corn stalk maze, which comes included with admission to the farm’s Animal Land, can entertain the kids while you stroll through the market to stock the fridge. You can also visit the zoo or enjoy pony and camel rides—just be sure you don't leave without a box of homemade fudge.

  • Kids
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Driving time from Chicago: About an hour

With different levels of corn maze difficulty to choose from at Kuipers, there's something for everyone in your group. While kiddos will love the thrill of the quicker maze, teens and adults can get lost inside the tougher attraction. Admission to the corn maze includes the pumpkin farm’s other activities, like pig and duck races, hayrides and train rides. Make a second visit later in the season for freshly harvested Christmas trees and Thanksgiving pies.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 35 minutes

One of the closest corn mazes to the city of Chicago, Odyssey Fun Farm in Tinley Park is home to a bevy of autumnal activities, including a journey through a massive corn maze. If your little one is sick of walking after tackling the maze, have them take a ride on the farm’s cow train, or have the older ones soar through the air on the zip line, which smoothly soars to its landing spot three stories down.

12. Windy Acres Farm

Driving time from Chicago: About one hour

Most farms and orchards are primarily focused on celebrating fall festivities, but Windy Acres Farmstand in Geneva has events going on all year round, including visits with Santa at Winterfest and an abundance of flowers in the springtime. Still, the farm really stands out in autumn. Fall Fest, which runs from mid-September through the end of October, has mini golf, a zip-line and a long list of other autumnal activities including a corn maze and, for the little ones, a mini straw maze.

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13. Elzinga Farm and Greenhouse

Driving time from Chicago: About 40 minutes

Just a quick drive over the Indiana border is Elzinga Farm and Greenhouse, a farm that’s been in the Elzinga family for four generations. The family makes a celebration out of fall every year with its fall festival, featuring a seriously tricky corn maze, as well as a corn pit for the little ones to play in. For Halloween thrills for all ages, there’s a haunted house as well as a hayride through Scarecrow Forest.

14. Abbey Farms

Driving time from Chicago: About 40 minutes

For six weeks in the fall, Abbey Farms in Aurora is home to Pumpkin Daze—an activity-packed festival that celebrates all things autumnal and includes the largest corn maze in Kane County. Abbey Farms isn’t just open for fall fun; stop by in the winter to pick out your own Christmas tree or grab brunch at the farm’s cafe in the spring.

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15. Dave's Pumpkins

Driving time from Chicago: About one hour

Dave’s Pumpkins mini corn maze may be smaller than others, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t well worth the drive out to Huntley to try it out. The attraction—big enough for kids to have a blast in but small enough that they won’t get too lost—is free for visitors. When the kids have finished up the maze, try a round of pumpkin bowling, which is also free, or hop onto the haunted hay ride for a spooky journey around the farm.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 90 minutes

Many farms and orchards have a corn maze every fall, but Royal Oak Farm in Harvard does something a little different. Instead of maze goers wandering through tall corn stalks, the farm is well known for its apple tree maze. The farm plants its apple tree maze in an espalier (a hedge-like system), which allows visitors to get lost along the 1.5 miles of walking trails in the maze. The trails pass by several activity areas as well as a climbing tower, and feel free to pick some of the nine varieties of apples growing in the maze. If you’re hungry when you finish the maze, don’t forget to pick up some apple cider donuts in the farm’s shop (and maybe a dozen for home, too).

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Driving time from Chicago: About 80 minutes

Stade’s Farm and Market, in McHenry, is a maze lovers dream. The farm has a maze made out of hay bales and also offers visitors a chance to make it through a maze made of connected cattle trailers. But one of its main attractions is the corn maze that spans two acres on the farm. For visitors who can’t get enough of the farm’s fall festivities, Stade’s Farm and Market offers a season pass for $55, which allows visitors to take part in autumnal activities every weekend in September and October.

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Driving time from Chicago: About 75 minutes

Boasting the "world's largest" corn maze, Richardson Adventure Farm offers 28 acres of corn stalks and five different maze games. This year's theme pays homage to agricultural icon John Deere, and past mazes have been dedicated to the Chicago Cubs and Jurrasic Park. There are plenty of other activities to enjoy at the adventure farm as well, including train rides, jumping pillows and a carousel.

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19. Jerry Smith Farm

Driving time from Chicago: About 70 minutes

With a corn maze that takes up more than six acres, there’s plenty of room to get lost in at Jerry Smith Farm, just over the border in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The maze is open during the farm’s Fall at the Farm festival. The season-long event costs $7 Monday through Thursday and $13 on the weekends, and runs from September 14 through the end of October. And the fun doesn’t end when you finish the corn maze—enjoy the farm’s petting zoo, bite into some festive baked goods or take a ride around on one of its hayrides, which come included with entrance.

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