Biggest Corn Mazes Near Chicago: Every Maze Ranked by Acreage (2026)
Four Chicagoland farms cut a real corn maze in 2026, and they are not remotely the same size. Siegel's Cottonwood Farm in Lockport is the biggest at 15 acres, Abbey Farms in Aurora runs 12 acres, Goebbert's cuts a smaller corn stalk maze in South Barrington, and Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up packs a 2-acre illuminated maze onto Goose Island. This guide ranks all four by size, tells you which ones are included with general admission, and explains which maze suits which group.
Every Chicagoland corn maze, ranked by size
Acreage is the single best predictor of how long a maze takes. As a rough rule, plan on roughly 20 to 30 minutes per 5 acres at a family pace, and longer if you are stopping at checkpoints or hunting for every punch card station. A 15-acre maze is a genuine hour-plus commitment; a 2-acre maze is a 20-minute walk you can do after dinner.
All four mazes below are included in the farm's general admission - you do not pay a separate maze ticket at any of them. That matters, because it means the cheapest way into a big maze is simply the cheapest admission.
| Maze | Farm & town | Admission | Drive from the Loop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 acres - 'State of Illinois' maze | Siegel's Cottonwood Farm, Lockport | $19.95 - $24.95 (includes 35+ attractions) | 40 mins (34 miles via I-55 S) |
| 12 acres - themed maze | Abbey Farms, Aurora | $16.00 - $22.00 (All Day Farm Park Pass) | 45 mins (38 miles via I-88 W) |
| Corn stalk maze | Goebbert's Farm, South Barrington | $18.00 - $25.00 (Animal Land & attractions) | 42 mins (34 miles via I-90 W) |
| 2 acres - illuminated urban maze | Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up, Goose Island | $22.00 - $38.00 (timed entry required) | 10 mins (3 miles from the Loop) |
One thing to know before you drive out
Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen is Chicagoland's biggest ride-based fall festival, but it does not run a corn maze. It is built around 14 mechanical rides, the Swifty Swine pig races, flying frogs, and tractor town instead. If a maze is the whole reason you are going, Lockport or Aurora is the drive to make.
Top Ranked Picks & Why We Recommend Them
Which maze fits your group
- Younger kids and strollers: Goebbert's corn stalk maze is the gentlest of the four, and it sits beside Animal Land, giraffe feeding and the magic show, so nobody has to commit to a long walk.
- Older kids and teens who want a real challenge: Siegel's 15 acres, without question. It is the only maze in the region large enough to feel genuinely difficult, and the target games and Zombie Paintball next door hold teen attention afterward.
- Adults and date nights: Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up. Illuminated after dark, cocktails on site, and no drive out of the city.
- Big mixed-age groups: Abbey Farms. The 12-acre maze is substantial, but the 40-acre park around it means grandparents and toddlers have somewhere to be while the teenagers finish.
Evening and after-dark maze walks
Only Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up publishes a permanently illuminated maze - its weekday hours run 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM and weekends 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, so the maze is lit for most of its operating day. Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago stays open until 10:00 PM on haunted weekend nights, though its after-dark draws are the Haunted Barn and Haunted Hayride rather than a maze.
The suburban farms all close at 6:00 PM most days, so if you want to walk corn in the dark, plan around Goose Island or a Sonny Acres haunted night and confirm the evening schedule with the farm before you drive.
Essential Checklist & Pro-Tips
- Closed-toe shoes with grip - maze paths are dirt and get churned to mud after rain.
- Go into a 12- or 15-acre maze with a charged phone; both Siegel's and Abbey are big enough that a map photo at the entrance is worth taking.
- Agree on a meeting point before you split up - the Abbey Farms bridge overlook is the obvious one there.
- Buy Siegel's tickets online 24+ hours ahead to save $5 per person.
- Suburban farms close at 6:00 PM; start a 15-acre maze no later than 4:30 PM.
- Under-2s are free at farms including Bengtson's and Goebbert's - check before you buy a ticket you do not need.
Guide FAQs
Essential facts, ticket details, and seasonal planning questions answered for Fall 2026.
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm in Lockport has the largest corn maze in Chicagoland at 15 acres, cut in the shape of the state of Illinois. Abbey Farms in Aurora is second at 12 acres. Both are roughly a 40- to 45-minute drive from the Loop.