Sunflower Fields near Champaign-Urbana

Get your cameras ready: You can find sunflower fields a short drive from Champaign-Urbana

With locations in Champaign, Normal, Paris and more, sunflower field season is coming

We know several places within about an hour of Champaign-Urbana — including one right here in town — where you can experience a rolling field of sunflowers for a very short window of time. There’s something about the sunflowers’ fleeting presence and cheery posture that makes us swoon every year when sunflower season arrives. Pick a field your family can make a visit to when we get the “green light” and hear the sunflowers are in bloom.

A note about sunflower season: We encourage you to follow the social media accounts for the various locations listed below so you can run to the fields when they hit full bloom. As time goes on, the flowers begin to droop a bit and as with other flowers — we’re looking at you, cherry blossoms of spring — there are no guarantees of how long they’ll be blooming based on weather conditions and a variety of other factors. And we know of at least one field that is reporting early blooms, so act quickly and don’t miss the beauty.

A few tips when visiting any sunflower field

Be aware that sunflowers attract bees. There are PLENTY OF BEES in these fields. And other bugs too.
Bring your own sunscreen, bug spray, and water. Hats are a good idea too. Not a lot of shade in a field of flowers.
Not to overstate the obvious, but these are fields. Paths through them are unpaved. Terrain may be uneven and bumpy. Plan accordingly.
If it is rainy, make sure to wear closed-toe shoes or take something to clean your feet off when you get back to your car.
Remember that you are on private property; be respectful. Don’t take any sunflowers home, please. Leave the field as you found it.
Don’t forget to bring your camera — and your smiles. If you’re serious about your sunflower photography, be aware that mature sunflowers tend to face toward the east.

Clearview Farm, Champaign

A Champaign County favorite, Clearview Farm planted its sunflower field once again in 2026, including a sunflower maze celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The Clearview Farm Facebook page is where to watch for updates.

There are events planned at Clearview Farm during sunflower season. Sunflower Celebration will be announced soon (free!) and in years past, we have seen sunflower yoga sessions, along with other workouts, pop up.

And here’s the best part: Clearview Farm’s sunflower field/maze is free to visit.

HOW TO GET THERE

Clearview Farm is located near the intersection of Interstates 57 and 74, in Champaign. If you just want to stick it in your GPS and go, the address is 3605 N. Mattis Ave.

The sunflower field is shown in bright yellow on the map.

Visitors are asked to follow any posted signs — note that parking for Clearview is not allowed along Mattis Avenue. There are no permanent bathroom facilities here, but port-a-potties and trash cans are usually onsite during popular times, such as sunflower bloom season.

Also, don’t miss the unique, Illinois-shaped pollinator garden. Wind through the “rivers” of Illinois and take in the various pollinator plants.

Find out more about Clearview Farm here. Guests can observe and learn about other crops grown there during their visit, since many of them are uncommon in Central Illinois. Keep an eye on Clearview Farm’s social media for any special events planned to coincide with the sunflower bloom.

Prairie Fruits Farm, Champaign

Prairie Fruits Farm had its first sunflower maze in 2025. Not only will the blooms be beautiful, but this effort is part of a soil rehabilitation plan on the prairie. Last year, the maze was open during regular farm hours for $10 per person. Stay tuned on info for this year.

Mariah’s Mums & More, Clinton

Mariah’s Mums & More is opening up its sunflower field weeks earlier than projected this year. Enjoy the sunflower stroll beginning July 18. Follow on social to see what other events will be announced with this early opening.

Rader Family Farms, Normal

Rader Family Farms is known for its fall family fun. But for a limited time at the tail end of summer, visitors can enjoy the blooming sunflowers at the Sunflower Days Festival, which will be Aug. 15-16 and 22-23 this year. Rader Family Farms charges admission, and offers daily tickets, group tickets, and season passes; some activities may have an additional cost. Look for details of 2026’s special sunflower weekends to appear on its Event Calendar.

In previous years there have been dinners and other special events at Rader Family Farms during sunflower season. We recommend following the farm’s Facebook page for sunflower-related updates.

Paris Sunflower Field

Did you know there’s another sunflower maze in Central Illinois? The maze at L&A Family Farms just outside of Paris is already in bloom for the 2026 season — it will open to the public on July 17 — so don’t delay too long if you intend to visit. Keep up-to-date on the status of L&A Family Farms’ sunflowers through its social media.

L&A Family Farms charges admission: $10 per person on weekdays, $5 for kids 3-9; free for kids 2 and under. (Weekends may cost a little more.) Your family can reserve a sunset slot in the sunflower field on select weekdays. Bonus: if your family just wants to explore the farm’s self-guided nature trails, there is no admission charge. New this year: a combo ticket with u-pick flowers and entrance to the maze.

A few years back, our Chambanamoms sunflower expert wrote about her trip to the L&A sunflower maze, including other fun activities around Paris to make a day trip out of it.

Want to see more flowers in the Champaign-Urbana area? We have suggestions for where to see beautiful flowers and gardens.