Family & Community · Explore Central Utah · Fall Guide
The best corn mazes in Central Utah — which one is actually right for your family.
Every fall the same question comes up in our house and in text threads with clients: which corn maze this year? Here's how the options actually compare — from Juab County all the way up the valley.
September in Central Utah has a specific smell to it — dry corn leaves, wood smoke, that first real cold snap after dark. For most families I know, fall doesn't officially start until they've walked a maze with a warm cider in one hand and a kid in the other.
The trouble is that "the best corn maze in Utah" depends entirely on what kind of afternoon you actually want. Some are working farms. Some are full-on amusement parks. Some are a 15-minute drive; others are a two-hour commitment. This guide sorts them out by drive time from Nephi, budget, and whether you want a quiet farm experience or the big fall production.
Hours, pricing, and open dates shift every year. Always confirm with each farm's website before you drive.
Section One
If you're in Juab County, start with Rowley's.
Rowley's Red Barn in Santaquin is the obvious closest option for anyone in Nephi, Mona, or Levan — a straight 20-minute drive up I-15. It's a working 4th-generation farm, not a festival built to look like one. The corn maze sits next to the pumpkin patch and the wagon-ride route, and the whole experience is anchored by the retail barn and the ice cream parlor most locals already know.
For families with young kids, this is usually the right call: short drive, real farm, and enough to do (ice cream, cider, the barn animals, pumpkin picking) that a wandering three-year-old doesn't stall the afternoon out.
Section Two
The Central Utah corn maze lineup, side by side.
Rowley's Red Barn
Santaquin · ~20 min north of Nephi
A working 4th-generation farm. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, wagon rides, and the ice cream everyone drives out here for.
- Typical price
- General admission around $10–$14
- Best for
- Juab County families who want the real farm experience without the theme-park crowd.
Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point
Lehi · ~55 min north of Nephi
The biggest fall festival in Utah — huge maze, 50+ attractions, night lights, food, pig races. More amusement park than farm.
- Typical price
- $25–$35 depending on day and add-ons
- Best for
- Older kids and teens who want the full production and don't mind lines.
Little Bear Bottoms
Wellsville (Cache Valley) · ~2 hr 40 min north
Farm-first fall festival with a corn maze, haunted river trail, and campfires. Quieter than Cornbelly's, longer drive.
- Typical price
- General admission around $14–$20
- Best for
- Weekend trip north — pair it with a Logan overnight.
Black Island Farms
Syracuse · ~2 hr 15 min north
Big Davis-County pumpkin patch and corn maze with hayrides and animal barn. Family-oriented, plenty of parking.
- Typical price
- General admission around $14–$18
- Best for
- Families combining a corn maze with a trip to the Ogden or Antelope Island area.
Jaker's Jack O'Lanterns
West Jordan · ~1 hr 20 min north
Smaller, cozier, and known more for the after-dark carved pumpkin trail than a massive maze. Beautiful at night.
- Typical price
- Around $14–$20
- Best for
- An evening date-night detour or a slower-paced family visit.
Prices are typical general-admission ranges and shift year to year. Special events, night mazes, and haunted attractions almost always cost more.
Section Three
The best time to actually go.
Opening weekend and the last two weekends of October are the busiest. If you want a real farm afternoon instead of a parking-lot wait, go on a weekday evening or the first Saturday of October when the corn is fully grown but the Halloween crowds haven't stacked up yet.
For families with young kids, the last hour of daylight is usually the sweet spot — long shadows on the corn, cooler temperatures, and a shorter wait for the wagon ride. If you're going for the after-dark experience (Cornbelly's Nightmare on the Farm, Jaker's carved-pumpkin trail), get in line right when the lights come on.
Section Four
What to bring, what to skip.
- Shoes
- Closed-toe, something you don't mind getting dusty. Corn stalk edges are sharper than they look.
- Layers
- Utah fall temperature swings 25° after sunset. A light jacket per kid, no exceptions.
- Cash
- Card readers cover admission at every major farm; food trucks and add-on games are still often cash-only.
- Flashlight
- For any after-dark maze. Phone flashlights work but drain fast in the cold.
- Stroller
- Only useful in dry weather. Baby carrier is a safer bet in October.
- Skip
- Costumes with long capes or floor-length skirts — they catch on the stalks and drag through the dirt.
FAQ
Corn maze questions we hear every fall.
Hours, pricing, and seasonal offerings change year to year. Always verify current details directly with each farm before visiting. This post is not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the farms listed. Dana Hoyt is a licensed Realtor® in Utah with Summit Keys Real Estate and Real Brokerage, LLC The Perry Group.
