A free-admission, 28-acre working farm near Lawrence with free hayrides and a free hay maze — genuinely no-cost family activities on top of whatever pumpkins you buy.
No admission fee to enter the farm. Free hayrides and free hay maze. Pumpkins picked from 28-acre field valued at typical market prices.
Free to walk in. Your spend here is whatever you choose — pumpkins, food, and any paid activities. That makes it a low-risk stop if you are not sure how long the kids will last.
Schaake’s is a genuinely free-to-enter, 28-acre working farm in Douglas County, just outside Lawrence. Free admission, a free hay rack ride to the field, and a free hay maze put it in a different category from patches that charge a per-person gate fee before you’ve picked a single pumpkin — your budget here is entirely about the pumpkin itself.
Beyond the hay rack ride and hay maze, the farm has a playground, swings, and a straw romp — enough for younger kids to stay occupied while older family members focus on picking. This isn’t a sprawling activity list like some commercial operations offer, but everything listed is included at no charge, which is unusual in this dataset.
Weekday hours (Monday–Thursday, 12pm–6pm) start later than the weekend, which runs Friday through Sunday from 9am to 6pm. If you want the longest single-day window, plan a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday visit rather than a weekday one.
The 28-acre scale and free-activity model point toward an operation built around straightforward pumpkin picking rather than a festival-style attraction. If you’re looking for zip lines, corn cannons, or a long list of paid add-ons, this isn’t that farm — but if you want a genuine field, a free ride out to it, and no gate fee, it’s a solid fit.
Since admission itself costs nothing, your entire visit budget comes down to the pumpkins you choose. Current per-pumpkin pricing isn’t broken out in what we found — call (785) 843-2459 if you want a number in hand before you go, especially if you’re picking for a large group.
September 27 through October 30, 2026. Monday–Thursday 12pm–6pm, Friday–Sunday 9am–6pm. The Friday-through-Sunday morning window (starting at 9am) gives you the most time on the farm; weekday visits start later at noon.
Two to three hours for pumpkin selection and field exploration on 28 acres.
Free admission tends to draw steady traffic; weekends (Friday–Sunday 9am–6pm) likely see more visitors than the shorter weekday afternoon window (Monday–Thursday 12pm–6pm).
Not specified in what we found.
You want a large activity roster beyond hayrides, a hay maze, and playground basics — this is a simpler, traditional farm experience, not a multi-attraction festival.
Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, is a short drive away for a meal or additional stops if you're making a full day of it.
No. Entry to the farm, the hayride, and the hay maze are all free. You only pay for the pumpkins you pick.
Monday–Thursday 12pm–6pm, Friday–Sunday 9am–6pm, from September 27 through October 30, 2026.
A free hay rack ride out to the field, a free hay maze, a playground, swings, and a straw romp area.
Pumpkins are priced at typical market rates once picked from the 28-acre field — call (785) 843-2459 to confirm current pricing.
September 27 – October 30, 2026. Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM; Friday-Sunday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Admission is free. No admission fee to enter the farm. Free hayrides and free hay maze. Pumpkins picked from 28-acre field valued at typical market prices.
1791 N 1500th Rd, Lawrence, KS 66046, in Douglas County. It is one of 7 patches we track in Kansas City Region.
We track 7 patches in Kansas City Region, 2 of which are free to walk into. Entry here costs nothing, which puts it in the minority even in a region with several free options.
Its season runs about 34 days against a regional average of 35, so it is broadly in line with the rest of the region.
There are 4 other patches we track in Douglas County. All Kansas City Region patches →
schaakespumpkinpatch.com
Checked August 2026.