For members of our community who choose to celebrate Christmas with their families, consider supporting our local farmers by taking your family on an outing to one of the beautiful Christmas tree farms in the Twin Cities Metro area! Most farms have cut-your-own and pre-cut options, and many have added on fun activities to make your outing a memorable one.
Most farms allow photography, so take advantage of the gorgeous backdrop and get some family photos while you are out and about!
Fresh-cut trees are aromatic, have better longevity than trees from a lot (unless they are locally sourced), are environmentally friendly (93% of real trees are recycled, and Christmas tree farms absorb more than one ton of CO2 in their lifetime), and buying direct from the farm ensures farmers receive the profit.
For the best “cut your own” Christmas tree experience be sure to:
- Measure your space (height and circumference)
- Look for a healthy tree! If there is excessive needle loss, brittle limbs or flimsy needles, stay away! “Fresh trees,” says Minnesota Grown, “Should have flexible boughs and an abundance of crisp needles.”
- Provide the right care for your tree. If buying a pre-cut tree, when you get home, cut off at least 1” from the trunk. If you cut your own tree, be sure to place the trunk in water within 8 hours of the time you cut it.
- Keep the tree out of direct sunlight and away from heater vents or large-screen TVs
- Plain tap water is best for your tree
- Check the water level daily. If it goes dry, the trunk can reseal and will be unable to absorb more water.
Here’s our list of cut-your-own Christmas Tree Farms within 2 hours drive of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as approximate distance from our south metro Montessori schools and childcare centers, located in Prior Lake and Lakeville.
South Metro Christmas Tree Farms
Hampton Hills Tree Farm
Randolph, MN (Southeast: 24 minutes)
Hours: Open 7 days a week 9am-4:15pm (tree lot is open until 4:30pm)
Varieties: Balsam, Fraser Fir ($74.95). White, Scotch, Norway Pine ($59.95). Don’t miss the $3 off coupon on their website!
Saws, twin and tree shaking free of charge; tree netting for $1.95. Wreaths, garland, spruce tops, tree stands, tree bags and pre-cut tress also available.
Activities (the first two weekends after Thanksgiving): Free horse drawn hayrides, Santa visits, coloring books and candy canes. Food trucks available.
Giffords Tree Farm
Lakeville, MN
Hours: Open daily 10am-5pm
Cut your own spruce and precut fir available. $11/foot for cut your own. Precuts are $12-$15/foot.
Note: Photography with prior consent only.
Chippendale Farms
Farmington, MN (East: 15 minutes)
Revak Nursery
Elko, MN (South: 20 minutes) or Lakeville
Hours: Weekdays 1pm-6pm, Weekends 9am-6pm
Varieties: Balsam, Fraser, Canaan Fir. Blue Spruce. All cut your own trees are $79.95.
Enzenauer Evergreens
Kenyon, MN (South: 45 minutes)
Hours: Weekends 9am-5pm
Award Winning Balsam Fir, White and Scotch Pine, Black Hills Spruce. Free shaking and baling. Also available: wreaths, swags, planters and more. Starts at $49.95/tree for cut your own, dependent on variety (under 7 feet). Pre cut trees are $9.95/foot plus tax.
North Metro Christmas Tree Farms
Cornerstone Pines
Grey Eagle, MN (Northwest: 2 hours)
Hours: Friday and Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm
100 acres of land with Fraser, Balsam Fir, White Pine, Scotch, Spruce and more
Activities: Sledding hill (bring your own sled/tube), horse-drawn sleigh rides, Santa visits, petting zoo, straw tunnels, Santa’s sleigh, Mrs. Claus’ cottage.
Rum River Tree Farm
Oak Grove, MN (North: 1 hour, 10 minutes)
Hours: Open 7 days a week 9am-4:30pm (tree lot is open until 7pm)
Varieties: Balsam and Fraser Fir. White, Scotch, Norway Pine. Don’t miss the $3 off coupon on their website! Scotch/Norway/White Pine are $49.95 and Balsam/Spruce and Fraser Firs are $64.95.
Activities (the first two weekends after Thanksgiving): Free hayrides, pony rides and petting animals, Santa visits, coloring books and candy canes. Food trucks available.
Hansen Tree Farm
Ramsey, MN (North: 1 hour)
Hours: Fri-Sun 9am-5pm
Varieties include: White, Norway pines. Blue, Meyer Spruces. Balsam, Fraser, Canaan Firs. All trees regardless of size or species, are $140. Included in this price is your tree, hot cocoa and cider, Christmas sausage, hayrides, live music (specific dates), bonfire, shake/bale/tie, extra greens in bough shelter. You also can walk around the “Christmas village” of beautiful log buildings!
Stacy Tree Farm
Stacy, MN (North: 1 hour)
Hours: Friday-Saturday, 9am-5pm (weather permitting) through December 11
Varieties: Fraser, Balsam Fir. White Pine. Don’t miss the coupon on their website, making the trees $71.95 each (up to 10 feet). Saws, ropes provided. Free shaking. Pre-cut tress available.
Pinestead Tree Farm
Isanti, MN (North: 1 hour 15 minutes)
Hours: Vary by weekend, please see website
Varieties: Fraser and Balsam Fir. Blue and Black Hills Spruce. White Pine and Scotch Pine
Prices range for a 7-8’ tree, depending on variety, from $54.95 to $89.95.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there the first two weekends following Thanksgiving! You can also gather around the fire, visit the farm animals, and take pictures with the Christmas cut outs! Check out the model trains in the gift shop!
Activities: Food wagon, Santa Claus (check schedule), Photo ops on sled/toboggan/tractors, campfire, model trains running in the gift shop.
Newell Christmas Tree Farm
Scandia, MN (North: 1 hour)
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 12-5pm, Weekends 9-5
Varieties: Fraser Fir, Fraser-Balsam X, Korean Balsam. All trees are $100 regardless of size.
West Metro Christmas Tree Farms
KTrees & Nursery LLC
Hutchinson, MN (West: 1 hour 30 minutes)
Hours: Weekends, 9am-4pm
Varieties include: Balsam, Fraser, Canaan, Korean Firs. White and Scotch Pine. Black Hills, Norway, Colorado, Meyers Spruce. Shaking and baling included. Trees start at $59.99 and are tagged with individual prices per height, species and quality.
Activities: free coloring books for kids
East Metro Christmas Tree Farms
Kruegers Christmas Trees
St. Elmo, MN (Northeast: 45 minutes)
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 12pm-7pm and Friday-Sunday, 9am-7pm (Cut-Your-Own Fields close at 4:30pm). Reservations are required.
Varieties: Balsam, Canaan, Fraser, Korean, Siberian Fir. White, Norway and Scotch Pine. Prices range from $10-$14/foot.
Activities: Free wagon rides, shaking, baling, hot cider, tootsie rolls, bonfire, photo spots, fresh cuts, tree handling and tying the tree on your vehicle. Free custom ornament.
