Farm Stay Vacation Spots for Families Around the Country

If you're looking for a vacation spot that allows your kids to roam free in wide-open pastures, hang with animals, and slow down and really connect with the natural world, consider a farm stay. These working farms provide interactive, kid-friendly experiences for visitors, such as collecting eggs, feeding the animals, and learning about farm functions.

There's something for every family on our list, from a Louisiana crawfish farm to a Hawaiian coffee plantation to a dairy farm near Los Angeles, where guests sleep in an Airstream and hike with goats.

Donavan Inn, Marion

Situated on a hay farm and cattle ranch on the Blackbelt Prairie, halfway between Montgomery and Tuscaloosa, the newly renovated 1880 Donavan Inn overlooks 1,000 acres of rolling pastures and woodlands. Families have full access to the onsite fishing club, which offers boats and seven lakes brimming with bass and catfish. After a day of hiking and birding—you'll spy wood storks, ibises, ospreys, and bald eagles—revel in the sweet-home-Alabama life on your private porch or glass-enclosed sun deck with a glass of Norton (known as the Cabernet of the South) from White Oak Vineyards. From $400/night for up to six guests.

Arctic Roots Farm, Fairbanks

Alaska's rich farming roots date back to 1935, when President Roosevelt's New Deal resettlement plan set forth an experimental farming community in the Matanuska Valley near Anchorage, where it has been flourishing ever since. Though there are more than 500 farms in The Last Frontier state, farm stays are rare. Fortunately, there's Onig's Cabin, located a 20-minute drive from Santa Claus House in North Pole and 10 miles from downtown Fairbanks. Guests share the 75-acre farm with yaks, horses, goats, and sheep and are welcome to pitch in with the daily activities or simply relax in a hammock, hike the pristine property trails, and take in the Aurora Borealis from the deck. From $184/night per four guests.

Three Sparrows Guest House, Prescott

Not far from the historic city of Prescott, once home to 40 saloons on famous Whiskey Row, Three Sparrows is an idyllic farm where kids can cuddle with baby goats and chicks, climb the cherry trees, pick vegetables from the garden, feed the mini Sicilian donkey Button, and milk Daisy, one of the Mini-Mancha goats (which produce delicious goat milk and cheese). Unwind on the cabin porch, which overlooks a field of sunflowers and Granite Mountain Wilderness beyond. From $129/night with a two-night minimum.

Heifer Ranch, Perryville

There are llamas and pigs, but this 1,200-acre educational farm is less about playing with animals and more about understanding issues of global hunger. The overnight programs run by the international nonprofit offer experiential activities—from building a fire to cooking meals and milking goats—in family villages named for places like Zambia or Appalachia. Kids can have an unforgettable farm-stay adventure while learning about the daily plight of impoverished people around the world. From $50/night.

Angeles Crest Creamery, Valyermo

Farm stays don't get much cooler than Angeles Crest Creamery, an under-the-radar retreat in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, just two hours from downtown Los Angeles. Imagine waking up in your own cozy Bambi airstream that sleeps two small kids and two adults. Breakfast is at the door; there's fresh-from-the-coop eggs scrambled with newly picked herbs, potato hash, apple salsa, and strong coffee with milk from the Nubian goats—who you can hike with on Saturday mornings. Other activities around the 70-acre ranch include feeding animals like Hank, the resident donkey, and canoeing on the lake. From $200/night.

Flamig Farm, West Simsbury

This agrarian destination is the complete package. There are piglets, pony rides, and baby alpacas in the on-site petting zoo—that you can have all to yourself after-hours—as well as walking trails, meadows, and a solar-powered farmhouse stocked with farm-fresh treats. Off the master bedroom, the second-story balcony has a grill and Adirondack chairs overlooking the farm. Though there's plenty here to keep you entertained, take a quick trip to Tulmeadow Farm Store for the best ice cream in Connecticut. From $270/night (with a two-night minimum).

The Covered Bridge Inn, Lewes

Not far from Delaware's scenic coastline, this recently updated 1830 farmhouse offers a luxurious family retreat in the land of milk and honey. Guests can enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the 500-acre dairy farm, which is home to goats, horses, and milking cows. There's a fire pit, hiking trails, a hearty farmhouse breakfast, and complimentary scoops of ice cream from the inn's Hopkins Farm Creamery. From $220/night for the Henlopen Room, which sleeps four.

Cozy Cabin, Miami

Given Miami's rising farm-to-table scene, perhaps it's not that surprising to find there's a full-fledged urban farm in the heart of the city. Guests stay in a quaint cabin—in the shadow of a Swiss Family Robinson-style treehouse that older kids might prefer to sleep in—and are invited to join nature classes, community potluck vegan dinners, or a game of volleyball. Though South Beach is just a 15-minute drive away, seeing the emus, chickens, pigs, goats, turkeys, beehives, and lush organic fruit gardens, you'll feel like you're in a jungle far from the surf and sand. From $75/night.

Hunter Cattle Company, Brooklet

With its rabbits, lambs, hogs, and horses, this sustainable family-run operation feels like zoo-topia for tots. In addition to the spectacular sunrises from your loft in a former tobacco barn, you can expect an exquisite breakfast of grits, bacon, sausage, gravy biscuits, and eggs, plus fishing in the pond and good times rolling up your sleeves with the kids. Beyond picking eggs and feeding the livestock, guests are invited to tend to the vegetable garden or help repair fences. From $110/night.

Holualoa Inn, Holualoa

Along the Big Island's historic Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Corridor, high above the crowded beaches and touristy luaus, you'll find a refreshingly different kind of Hawaiian vacation. The Southeast Asian–style B&B sits on a 30-acre working coffee farm, surrounded by 4,100 trees that grow a bounty of fruit, such as papaya, banana, figs, citrus fruits, avocado, lilikoi, and pineapple. Guests can tour the orchards and roasting mill, then enjoy unparalleled views of the ocean while sipping on fresh-squeezed juices and the inn's 100 percent estate Kona coffee. From $385/night, with a two-night minimum.

Seven Devils Lodge, Council

Riding a horse across the great Wild West expanse of Idaho—against a backdrop of high deserts, mountains, and striking gorges—is a thrill that truly lasts. At Seven Devils Lodge, one of only a few hotels in the state operating on a ranch, the kids will find many reasons to yell, "Yee-haw!" This all-inclusive property—located nine miles from Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America—offers a wide range of activities for all ages, such as mountain biking, 3D archery, sporting clay's, fly fishing, paddle boarding, and helping to move cattle. Babysitting services are available for parents wanting a night off, perhaps to dine at 8,000 feet over Eagle Cap Wilderness and the Seven Devils Mountains. From $225 per person.

Kinnikinnick Farm, Caledonia

The kids will be begging to go glamping more often after a getaway to this certified organic farm 85 miles west of Chicago. Guests are free to pedal around the property on loaner bikes, wander through the woods, befriend the pigs and sheep, climb apple trees, sway on the rope swing, gather eggs, and milk goats. Tent cabins accommodate families of six and are equipped with an outdoor wood-fired cooker, where you can build your own pizza using fresh ingredients harvested on Kinnikinnick Farm. From $600 per two nights during the week; $700 per two nights on weekends.

Amish Acres, Nappanee

The 66-room Nappanee Inn overlooks the only Amish Farm listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There aren't many places where, in the span of a day, you can go for a dip in the pool, play with lop-eared rabbits and baby calves, take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon, watch a Broadway musical at the Round Barn Theatre, and see apple cider turn into butter. Getaway packages from $99/night.

The Lesanville Inn at Ramsey Farms, Mount Ayr

You'll be transported to a bygone era at this 180-acre historic farm and village that recalls the culture of rural America between the late 1800s and the early 1950s. After a farm-style breakfast in your carriage house, ease into the simple, peaceful way of life with a horse and buggy ride, farm chores, a chuck-wagon lunch, fishing, fireside barbecues, barn dances, and ice-cream socials. From $65/night.

Flying W Ranch, Cedar Point

Whether wrangling a herd of longhorns on cattle drives, stargazing on horseback, or partaking in prairie burns, your little drover will love being immersed in the authentic cowboy life on this 7,000-acre cattle ranch in the heart of the Kansas Flint Hills. There are several lodging options for families as well as gentler adventures like wagon rides, fishing, hiking, and wildflower walks. From $25/child; $55/adult.

Southern Grace Bed & Breakfast, Brandenburg

Long, unhurried days never felt so good at this elegant hillside B&B surrounded by farmland and blooming fields. Before bass fishing, feeding the animals, or paddle boating, have a homemade breakfast of sweet potato and pecan waffles, bacon and sunny-side-up eggs from the free-range chickens. Kids will love the butterfly gardens, friendly alpacas, and starry evenings roasting hot dogs and marshmallows around the fire pit. From $159/night for the family suite.

Crawfish Haven, Varmillion Parish

Forget milking cows and fetching eggs; when you're in the bayou state, it's all about crawfish. At the Crawfish Haven bed and breakfast, guests can hunt for crawfish in the backyard ponds the old-fashioned way (with a net and bait) or go out with a guide to catch the red crustaceans that will later be boiled up Cajun style. Book the Crawfish Room, which sleeps nine. From $125/night.

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe

Toddy Pond Farm could make an urbanite quit the city life, find a peaceful plot of land in Maine, and become a farmer. The cottage sleeps seven and sits amidst 500 acres of woods, wild blueberry bushes, and grass-fed cows. In between feeding apples to the pigs and learning about beekeeping, make sure to stock up on farm-fresh dairy products like kefir, raw milk, raw cream, cheeses, and grass fed-yogurt. From $285/night on weekends.

Starlight Llama Bed and Breakfast, Northampton

It's easy to unplug when you're surrounded by friendly llamas (and, well, a lack of Internet access). At the first solar-powered, off-the-grid B&B in Massachusetts, the day's highlights might entail watching a donkey take a dust bath, hiking to a replica of Henry David Thoreau's cabin, and chasing a flock of peacocks. Little guests are welcome to weed the garden or help bring in the hay, or just get lost on the 120 acres of preserved property that has belonged to one family for six generations. From $115/night.

Hillside Homestead, Suttons Bay

Take the kids back a century at this charming 1910 farmhouse retreat, where guests will be thoroughly entertained by the inn's proprietress and food historian Susan Odom. She leads classes on chicken butchering and jam making, as well as pig feedings, maple sugaring outings, and antediluvian dinners—think corn pudding, chicken fricassee, and jacket potatoes inspired by an 1880s cookbook. From $200/night.

The Fields at Wellsprings Farm, Annandale

The kids won't forget that time they slept in a "prairie dome" surrounded by a seven circuit walking labyrinth. At Wellsprings Farm, a 40-acre organic farm designed as a healing oasis of calm, there's an orchard, a red chicken barn, vegetable gardens, and endless room to run through the native prairie grasses dappled with guineas and cozy hermitages. From $65/night.

Meadow View Farm, Hernando

Here in the Hospitality State, proprietors Terry and Julie certainly make guests feel right at home on their eight tranquil acres of farmland. There are horses, flirtatious mini goats, and a flock of free-range hens that lay delicious eggs for your full country breakfast. After a day of hiking the surrounding trails, catching fish in the pond, and fluttering around the butterfly gardens, enjoy the hot tub (or an in-room massage) in the recently renovated farmhouse. From $119/night for the loft room.

Sycamore Valley Farm, Brunswick

In this quiet corner of the world, you don't need a meditation app to remind you to breathe deeply. A family farm since 1870, when a couple and their 12 children first settled, Sycamore Valley has rolling green meadows, rabbits, cows, chickens, and myriad activities, from fishing to swimming in the pool to sand volleyball and basketball. But best of all, children 12 and under stay for free. From $75/night.

Serenity Sheep Farm, Belgrade

One of the few farm stays in Big Sky Country, beloved for its beautiful locale just outside Bozeman, the Serenity Sheep Farm is run by sustainable agriculture activist LaVonne, who will deliver coffee and farm-fresh eggs to you each morning. Guests sleep in a repurposed antique sheepherder's wagon, which comes with a grill and magenta sunrises over the Bridger Mountains. From $99/night.

Switzer Ranch, Burwell

Surrounded by the sprawling grandeur of 48,800-acre Audubon's Greater Gracie Creek Important Bird Area, this isn't any ordinary cattle farm. Honored by The Nature Conservancy for being model stewards, Switzer Ranch instills the importance of land conservation as guests explore the striking Sandhills prairie on foot or in a guided safari-style jeep ride with Calamus Outfitters, which also offers river adventures and bird-watching tours (stay tuned to the wild "booms" of the greater prairie chicken). From $75/cabin, $400/lodge.

Cottonwood Guest Ranch, Wells

Far from the gambling and glitz of the Las Vegas Strip, this horse and cattle ranch has a 60-year history of hosting guests on outback adventures and cattle drives on the Jarbridge Mountain range. Families can kick up their hooves in the dust or luxuriate in the rustic, leather-bound lodge, where all meals are included in your stay. Various activities include arena games, roping, arrowhead hunting, fishing, nature walks, and hot tubbing under the stars. From $1,390/per person for an all-inclusive, four-night stay. RV camping from $35/day.

Inn at East Hill Farm, Troy

Tucked away at the base of Mount Monadnock in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire, this all-inclusive agrarian resort and farm school has many diversions, like water skiing, paddle boats, tennis, indoor/outdoor pools, hiking trails, horseback riding, and ice-skating. There's also a children's program comprising crafts, games, milking the cows, collecting eggs, and feeding the farm animals. Book the English Cottage, from $135/adult, $46/child. Kids under 2 stay free.

Tullamore Farms, Stockton

This bucolic escape will become a favorite place to bond as a family—even if you've never set foot on a farm. Nestled next to the Delaware River, this 200-acre homestead is a dream for adults and kids, who will adore the huggable animals, like Casper the roving goat. Guests sleep in a modernized 1700s Storehouse above a popular Farm Cooking School, which offers classes like French Brunch and Kids Cooking Saturdays. While Tullamore Farms is within walking distance from town, visitors will find it hard to leave. There are horseback riding lessons, hammocks and porch swings, a farmers market, and educational tours of the eco-minded grass-fed cattle operation. On Friday and Saturday nights, diners come from near and far for a seat at the farm's fabled Rosemont Supper Club. From $175/night with a two-night minimum.

Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, Albuquerque

This under-the-radar retreat has all the trappings of a bucket-list destination while remaining delightfully affordable. Between its rich history dating back to the 14th century, mesmerizing setting, and James Beard chef semifinalist plating some of the best farm-to-table fare in New Mexico, it's not hard to appreciate the allure of Los Poblanos. Not to mention there's a lavender farm, peacocks on rooftops, beekeeping, terrarium workshops, yoga, cruiser bicycles, cooking classes on lavender truffles and braising meats, guided bird walks, and fields brimming with things like Heirloom beets, carrots, mâche, fava beans, and three varieties of garlic. Rooms from $225/night.

Stony Creek Farmstead, Walton

At Stony Creek Farmstead, you are isolated from the world in the best possible way. Guests glamp in a canopied platform tent amidst an 85-acre plot of pure pastoral bliss. There is an open-air shower house near the tent, which sleeps six and is outfitted with a wood stove, full kitchen, and flushing toilets, but no electricity. Between swimming in the pond, egg collecting, milking cows, hiking the hills, playing board games, picking fruit, and brick oven pizza parties on Saturday nights around a campfire, the family will forget all about being off the grid. Plus, guests can create a meal using produce from the garden, which is a great way to engage kids in a truly authentic farm-to-table experience. From $235/night, minimum two-night stay.

Fickle Creek Farm, Efland

Little ones will be singing E-I-E-I-O as they skipthrough this 215-acre farm that they'll have all to themselves as the only guests of Fickle Creek, situated not far from Chapel Hill. Home to hens, goats, sheep, ducks, hybrid pigs, and herds of cattle, this is a great place to fully immerse the family in farm life, getting an up-close look at where food comes from alongside farmer Noah. From $85/night.

Coteau des Prairies Lodge, Havana

This well-appointed 13-room pine lodge is the stuff of off-the-beaten-path dreams. Next to Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, this cattle farm is tucked away on the northernmost hill of a 200-mile plateau of prairie flatlands, glacial lakes, and wind farms. It's easy to pass a day traipsing through the seemingly untouched landscape, where the only sounds are singing western meadowlarks and the echoes of guests trap shooting. From $200/night for the suite.

Orchard House, Granville

Perched on 12 picturesque acres of farmland outside Columbus, this 1850s manor has a cosmopolitan-meets-country verve, a nightly wine-and-cheese hour, and round-the-clock perks like coffee, tea, and homemade banana bread. When not picking fruit from the cherry, apple, pear, and peach trees, guests can pull on a pair of borrowed Wellies and help care for animals like sheep, llama, goats, pigs, and chickens. For those looking to get closer to nature, Orchard House has a cozy forest tent that comes with a farm-fresh gourmet breakfast and a solar shower. From $195/night for the Carriage House Suite; $135/night for the forest tent.

Turtle Rock Farm, Red Rock

At this supremely eco-conscious farm, it's easy to reconnect with the great outdoors while hiking, kayaking, and taking classes about composting, beekeeping, and building raised gardens. Guests can stay in a 100-year-old farmhouse with a breathtaking prairie panorama or shack up in an adobe hut made of straw and clay. $60/night.

The Kitchen at Middleground Farms, Wilsonville

This unique culinary retreat is just 25 minutes from Portland yet a world away from home. When kids aren't with the Nubian dairy goats, pigs, chickens, and George the llama, they're in the two-story red barn during public cooking classes and baking camps tailor-made for families. If there are available spots, guests can attend for free. From $95/night.

Mountaindale Farm, McClure

A popular gathering place for family reunions, this secluded 175-acre farm in Central Pennsylvania is flanked by state parks and wide open pastures dotted with sheep, goats, cattle, horses, geese, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, and chickens. There are six quirky houses to choose from, including turn-of-the-century cottages and a log house built in the mid-1800s. Families can pitch in with chores or simply enjoy the farm and its activities, be it bird-watching, hiking, cross-country skiing, foraging for berries, or paddle boating on the pond. From $75/night, with a two-night minimum.

Sakonnet Farm, Tiverton

Tucked away on the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay, Sakonnet Farm offers accommodations in the Old Tiverton Four Corners Schoolhouse No. 1, a beautifully restored two-bedroom home built by one of the original founding families of the town in 1800. Beyond playdates with baby goats and feathery friends in the new aviary, explore the 5.8-mile Weetamoo Trail loop less than a mile from the property. Make sure to stop by the daily farm stand, which is generously stocked with items like apple pie jam and free-range chicken eggs. From $150/night.

Sunrise Farm Bed and Breakfast, Salem

Set on 10 serene acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Sunrise Farm B&B has five separate sleeping quarters in a large 1890 Victorian farmhouse. During the property tour, led by the farmers' young daughter and "chief cookie baker," guests will be charmed by animals like Miss Penelope Pigglesworth the potbellied pig, Cisco the Bolivian llama, Elvis the pygmy goat, and Oreo the miniature horse. Consider a quick outing to Whitewater Falls, Devils Fork State Park, or Oconee Station Historical Site. From $106/night.

Circle View Guest Ranch, Scenic

This 3,000-acre family-run cattle ranch is the perfect basecamp for adventures in Badlands National Park, located just six miles away. However, there's plenty to do around the property, from fossil-hunting tours to horseback rides, burro encounters, and storytelling around the bonfire. Enjoy daily locavore breakfasts of whole-wheat blueberry pancakes and blueberry almond granola infused with homegrown honey. Book one of the three cabins, like the original 1880 Homestead Cabin, perched on the edge of the White River. From $55/night.

A Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch, Dunlap

Your kids won't feel so tiny sitting tall on their horse, looking down at 360-degree views of the Sequatchie Valley. When not clip-clopping, guests can collect eggs, milk cows, and take old-timey cooking classes on rolling oats and grinding wheat for homemade bread. After a day of horsing around—and perhaps visiting nearby Chattanooga or Fall Creek Falls State Park—families can huddle around the campfire eating s'mores and identifying constellations. From $225/night.

Blisswood Bed & Breakfast Ranch, Cat Spring

Located an hour west of Houston, this lush 500-acre ranch might be the most luxuriously affordable retreat in the state. There are 12 uniquely decorated lodgings throughout the property, but each feels like your own secret hideaway on the range: there's the StarView Cowboy Cabin, with its hot tub and giant telescope; an 1800s-style cedar Log Cabin with a wood-burning fireplace and antique claw-foot tub; and the Dog Trot House with a private pool and BBQ pit. Continental breakfast is included, and there's horseback riding, biking, fishing, archery, scrapbooking, hiking, trapshooting, and picnics in the gazebo at Enchanted Lake. From $69/night.

Victorian Farm, Tremonton

An hour north of Salt Lake City, there's no noise, no traffic, just quiet rural roads and lots of wildlife. In addition to conversing with the chickens, turkeys, bunnies, horses, and goats, kids can take pony rides, bottle-feed the lambs, sheer the sheep, collect eggs, and help harvest the garden. After a breakfast of strawberry French toast, bacon, sausage, and cheesy scrambled eggs, rent a four-wheeler, take a joy ride to buffalo-filled Antelope Island, or go rock climbing in Logan Canyon. For a more rugged adventure, there are tipis and canvas wall tents that sleep two to six people. From $75/night.

Green Mountain Girls Farm, Northfield

Don't be surprised if your kids leave this small sustainable sanctuary babbling away about becoming farmers. Little ones will be enthralled with fun responsibilities like goat milking and caring for baby chicks, and learning all about the fascinating nitty-gritty farm practices. Make time for catching fireflies, as well as salamandering and frog hunting by the pond. Before cooking up a feast using produce from the organic farm—like eggs, kale, and pasture-raised meat—go for a trail walk through the property's beautiful woodlands. Guesthouse is $300/night and Farmhouse Inn is $475/night.

Fiesole Farm, Middlebrook

Little ones will feel like the guardians of a vast, important place on this private farm in the heart of Shenandoah Valley. There are hundreds of acres for children to roam free and plenty of animals to cuddle with, from goats and alpacas to horses and cows. The three-bedroom farmhouse with an enclosed sleeping porch dates back to the late 1700s, and there's a pool, fire pit, and playground. From $150/night.

Hey Day Farm, Bainbridge Island

A short ferry ride from Seattle's waterfront will land you on this heavenly 25-acre sustainable farm, home to a micro-creamery, greenhouse, and pasture for cows and hens. Guests sleep in an 1890s four-bedroom farmhouse, surrounded by lavender fields and raspberry bushes. Hey Day Farm is all about culinary revelry and community, so expect dinner and dancing in the barn with locals, live acoustic country and blues classics, and a bounty of food from the talented Farm House Kitchen. From $159/night.

Capon Springs & Farm, Capon Springs

This all-inclusive, eco-friendly mountain resort dates back to the 1940s and features 14 cottages and every family activity imaginable: fishing, hiking, swimming, tennis, croquet, badminton, basketball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, ping-pong tournaments, dances, and campfire sing-a-longs. There are free-range hens that roost in "eggmobiles," pig feedings at Hog Heaven, shaggy big-horned Scottish Highland cattle, and hayrides pulled by a 1952 Oliver Row-Crop tractor. From $93/night per person.

Circle M Market Farm B&B, Blanchardville

Just 30 minutes north of Monroe, the cheese capitol of Wisconsin, this bustling farm will teach kids the true meaning of hard work. Guests can get up with the crowing roosters to milk the goats, jump on the tractor to till the soil, and feed animals like the sheep, chickens, and hogs. The proprietors Kriss and Shannon insist on making their farm feel like your home, so you'll eat like "rural royalty" and be well fueled for all the fun. In addition to a morning fitness boot camp, there's hiking, canoeing, and biking on scenic rails-to-trails bike paths in nearby New Glarus and Mount Horeb. Slow down the day on a tree swing or the front porch, taking in the restored oak savanna prairie with a glass of herbal lemonade. From $135/night.

Rimrock Ranch, Cody

Everything is taken care of at the Rimrock Ranch in Cody, the "Rodeo Capital of the World," from the airport transportation to the family-style meals to the guided tour of Yellowstone National Park, located just 26 miles away. In addition to riding through the Cowboy State on your own steed, there's whitewater rafting, fishing for cutthroat trout, a game room, and a heated pool. Rustic chic cabins on the banks of Canyon Creek sleep three to 10 guests. $1,975/per adult, $1,775/child, with a one-week minimum.