Four corn mazes, 10 miles of paths and 28 reward checkpoints hidden in the stalks make Exploration Acres near Lafayette a fall day trip for families who like a challenge. The farm’s 22-acre maze complex is the main draw, with pumpkin picking, wagon rides and hands-on play filling out the rest of the visit. This is a place to make the maze the main event.
The 2026 fall season runs select days Sept. 18 through Nov. 1. The farm sits just south of Lafayette, roughly an hour to an hour and 15 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, depending on traffic and route.
Four mazes and 28 checkpoints to find
Exploration Acres divides its maze complex into four mazes, with about 10 miles of paths across the property. The farm describes it as Northwest Indiana’s largest corn maze.
The checkpoints give families another goal beyond finding the exit. Find a post marked on the maze map, punch the matching business logo on your card and move on to the next one. Present the punched card at participating businesses to redeem their offers.
The 2026 rewards include 20% off a frozen yogurt at The Pink Walrus in Lafayette, limited to one yogurt per map card, and a free day pass at Climb Lafayette. Most offers are valid through Dec. 31, 2026, unless otherwise noted. Keep the card after the visit and check the current maze rewards list for individual terms and expiration dates.
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Pedal carts, duck races and a slide down the hill
The activities included with admission give families places to take a break from the maze. Kids can race pedal carts on a track in the woods, work hand pumps to move rubber ducks down water troughs, jump into a mound of straw or climb a hill with a rope before sliding 35 feet down a tube slide.
Younger children have their own options: a tractor train, a shelled corn bin for scooping and pouring, pony swings and a trike track reserved for toddlers and small children. That mix makes the farm worth considering for siblings with different interests, even if everyone isn’t equally invested in finding checkpoints.
The corn cannon, gem mining and Combat Zone laser tag cost extra. Families can stick with the included activities or budget for those separately.
Pumpkin picking and a fire pit break
The 11-acre pumpkin patch grows more than 38 varieties, ranging from 1 to 200 pounds. Pumpkins are sold separately for 45 cents per pound. At that rate, a 200-pounder runs $90, which is worth mentioning before anyone falls in love. Small wagons help with hauling, and included wagon rides pulled by an antique tractor connect visitors with the maze and pumpkin patch.
A Saturday visit offers the most room to spread things out: start with the maze, take a play break and save pumpkin picking for later. Families meeting friends can reserve a private fire pit as a gathering spot between activities.
Fire pits cost $35 per reserved time block, prepaid and in addition to admission. Each comes with one picnic table and firewood, and staff start the fire. Time blocks vary by day and fire pit. Cancellations require at least one day’s notice; if the farm closes for weather, it refunds the reservation when rescheduling isn’t possible.
A family farm for more than a century
Lewis and Hazel Beeler established the farm in the early 1920s, and their grandchildren, Tim Fitzgerald and Mary Branstetter, run Exploration Acres today. The family opened the property to visitors in 2008 with a 15-acre maze and a small activity area as a way to help restore and preserve its original farm buildings.
Plan your visit to Exploration Acres
- Address: 6042 Newcastle Road, Lafayette, IN 47905.
- 2026 season: Sept. 18 through Nov. 1 on scheduled operating days.
- Hours: Thursdays in October, 6 to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.
- Gate admission: $17 for ages 13 and older; $14 for ages 6 to 12; ages 5 and younger are free. Taxes and fees are additional.
- Purdue Saturday discount: Wear Purdue apparel on a Saturday for $14 admission, saving $3 off the regular adult gate price. Purchase at the on-site admission booth; this discount cannot be combined with other offers or coupons.
- Additional purchases: Pumpkins, fire pit reservations, the corn cannon, gem mining and laser tag.
- Pets: Only service dogs are permitted.
- Tickets and discounts: See Exploration Acres admission details.
For a daytime outing, choose Saturday or Sunday. Thursday and Friday visits begin at 6 p.m. Secure phones and keys before heading into the corn; the farm warns that dropped items may be difficult to find. Check the farm’s trip-planning information and official Facebook updates before making the drive, since weather can affect opening hours and admission tickets are final sale.
Related Article: Fall Fun Bucket List Ideas in Indianapolis
