Agritourism Activities: 50 Ideas Ranked by Startup Cost and Profit
Updated: Oct 4
Here is a number most lists of agritourism activities will never show you.
In 2022, 28,617 American farms earned money from agritourism. Nearly half of them, 13,645 farms, made less than $5,000 for the entire year. Meanwhile 6,601 farms, fewer than one in four, took home $1.14 billion. That is 91% of all the agritourism money in the country.
Same industry. Same weekends. Same families looking for something to do on a Saturday. Wildly different results.
The gap usually isn't land, luck or how pretty the farm is. It comes down to which activities a farm chooses, the order it adds them in, and what it charges for them.
That is what this list is for. You'll find 50 agritourism ideas, each ranked by the two things that decide whether it pays: what it costs to start and how much it can realistically earn. Where real numbers exist, you'll see them: USDA census data, university extension budgets, and prices that working farms published for the 2026 season.
Read it with a pen in hand. By the end you should know the two or three activities that fit your farm, and which ones to leave alone.
Agritourism by the numbers: is there real money in it?
Short answer: yes, but it isn't spread evenly. Here's what the most reliable data says.
$1.26 billion. That's what U.S. farms and ranches earned from agritourism in 2022, up 12.4% from 2017 after adjusting for inflation (USDA Economic Research Service).
$44,004. The average agritourism income per participating U.S. farm in 2022, up from $33,222 in 2017 (USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture).
About 1.5% of U.S. farms reported agritourism in 2022. The other 98.5% haven't started, so there is plenty of room.
57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income. This is not just a coastal or tourist-town business.
26,129 agriturismi were operating in Italy in 2023, hosting 4.5 million guests, 51% of them from abroad. The average one produced more than 71,600 euros that year (ISTAT; Coldiretti analysis of ISTAT data).
$8.1 billion to $15.8 billion. Grand View Research values the global agritourism market at $8.1 billion in 2024 and projects $15.8 billion by 2030, with Asia Pacific growing fastest. Treat market-research forecasts as estimates, not guarantees.
Two more findings matter when you choose activities. USDA researchers found that farms in more populated counties tend to earn more from agritourism, as do farms growing grapes, fruit and tree nuts, or specialty livestock, and farms near natural attractions. In plain English: who lives within an hour's drive of your gate matters as much as what you offer.
And remember the split from the top of this article. The average hides the truth. Most farms earn a little. A minority earn a lot. Everything below is about getting into that minority. If you want to see what the numbers could look like on your own land, read how much money you can really make from agritourism.
How each idea is ranked
Every activity gets two ratings.
Startup cost is the cash you'd typically need to open, assuming you already own the land and basic farm equipment:
Under $1,000: you use what you already have, plus signs, simple supplies and your time.
$1,000 to $10,000: modest equipment, materials, toilets, fencing or permits.
$10,000 to $50,000: a real build, such as structures, new plantings, staff or serious marketing.
$50,000 and up: buildings, licenses and a business plan your bank will want to read.
Profit potential is what a well-run version can gross in a year on a small to mid-sized farm. The bands mirror the way the USDA census groups agritourism income:
Low: under $5,000 a year. Useful as an add-on, rarely a business on its own.
Medium: $5,000 to $25,000 a year.
High: $25,000 to $100,000 a year.
Very high: $100,000 or more a year, usually with staff, a strong location and several activities stacked together.
The list runs from cheapest to most expensive to start. Inside each price band, the most profitable ideas come first. These ratings are informed estimates, not promises. Your costs depend on your country, your local rules and what you already own, and your income depends on your location, your pricing and how well you market. Use the ratings to build a shortlist, then run your own numbers.
All 50 agritourism activities at a glance
Scan the table, circle the ones that fit your farm, then read the details for each below.
# | Activity | Startup cost | Profit potential |
1 | Guided farm tours | Under $1,000 | High |
2 | Tasting experiences | Under $1,000 | High |
3 | Tour-operator and tour-bus stopovers | Under $1,000 | High |
4 | Pick-your-own from crops you already grow | Under $1,000 | Medium |
5 | School field trips | Under $1,000 | Medium |
6 | A farm stand that sells at retail | Under $1,000 | Medium |
7 | 'Farmer for a day' experiences | Under $1,000 | Medium |
8 | Farm birthday parties | Under $1,000 | Medium |
9 | Photo sessions and photographer access | Under $1,000 | Low |
10 | Sunset and stargazing evenings | Under $1,000 | Low |
11 | Picnic packages | Under $1,000 | Low |
12 | Nature trails and birdwatching passes | Under $1,000 | Low |
13 | Fishing pond day passes | Under $1,000 | Low |
14 | Scavenger hunts and kids' farm trails | Under $1,000 | Low |
15 | Farm-to-table dinners | $1,000 to $10,000 | High |
16 | Hands-on workshops | $1,000 to $10,000 | High |
17 | Cooking classes with farm ingredients | $1,000 to $10,000 | High |
18 | Seasonal festival weekends | $1,000 to $10,000 | High |
19 | Pumpkin patch | $1,000 to $10,000 | High |
20 | Corporate team days | $1,000 to $10,000 | High |
21 | Tent campsites | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
22 | RV and camper stays | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
23 | Sunflower and flower fields | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
24 | Animal feeding and petting area | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
25 | Hayrides and wagon rides | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
26 | Off-road and 4x4 farm adventures | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
27 | Choose-and-cut Christmas trees | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
28 | Craft classes | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
29 | Horseback trail rides | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
30 | Hunting leases and guided hunts | $1,000 to $10,000 | Medium |
31 | Corn maze | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
32 | Glamping tents | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
33 | A simple farm cabin | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
34 | Event space rentals | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
35 | Summer day camps | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
36 | Haunted trails and night events | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
37 | Multi-day retreats and courses | $10,000 to $50,000 | High |
38 | Farm cafe or snack bar | $10,000 to $50,000 | Medium |
39 | Play zone | $10,000 to $50,000 | Medium |
40 | Lavender and specialty flower destinations | $10,000 to $50,000 | Medium |
41 | Value-added products made on the farm | $10,000 to $50,000 | Medium |
42 | A pick-your-own orchard or berry patch planted from scratch | $10,000 to $50,000 | Medium |
43 | Wedding venue | $50,000+ | Very high |
44 | Farm stay guesthouse or B&B | $50,000+ | Very high |
45 | Winery, cidery or farm brewery tasting room | $50,000+ | Very high |
46 | Farm park with rides and attractions | $50,000+ | Very high |
47 | Glamping village or cabin cluster | $50,000+ | Very high |
48 | Farm restaurant | $50,000+ | High |
49 | Equestrian center or riding school | $50,000+ | High |
50 | Greenhouse destination | $50,000+ | High |
The 5 ideas I'd look at first on most small farms
If you have one free weekend and a small budget, start here. These give the best mix of profit and low risk on this list:
Guided farm tours (#1). Costs almost nothing, teaches you what visitors love, and becomes the spine everything else hangs on.
Tasting experiences (#2). Turns the crop you already grow into a premium-priced product.
School field trips (#5). Weekday income that fills the quiet days.
Hands-on workshops (#16). Small groups, high prices per head, and very little wear on the farm.
Tent campsites (#21). Turns unused land into overnight income, and overnight guests buy more.
Notice what's missing: the big builds. Not because they don't make money, but because they make money after you know your customers. Start cheap, learn who comes and what they will pay, then build.
Tier 1: Start for under $1,000
These ideas use what is already on your farm: your crop, your animals, your land and, most of all, your story. They are the safest place to begin, because the worst case is a quiet Saturday.
1. Guided farm tours
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: High
The single best first activity for most farms. Walk people through how your crop is grown, let them touch and taste, and tell the story only you can tell. Charge per person, not per car, and keep it short enough that guests leave wanting more. A tour is also your research lab: watch where people stop, ask questions and take photos, because that is what you will sell next. This is how my own durian farm in Bentong, Malaysia started welcoming visitors, and in season we now see about 50 to 100 visitors a week. Read why farm tours are one of the best entry-level agritourism products and how long your farm tour should be.
2. Tasting experiences
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: High
A bowl of fruit is a commodity. A guided tasting of five varieties, with the grower explaining why each one tastes different, is an experience people photograph and pay a premium for. It works with fruit, honey, cheese, coffee, tea, olive oil, maple syrup, anything with varieties and a story. In Italy, more than 6,500 agriturismi now offer tastings, and tasting was the fastest-growing of their three core services in 2023. Price the tasting as an experience, then sell the produce by the box on the way out.
3. Tour-operator and tour-bus stopovers
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: High
Tour operators need somewhere interesting to stop between the hotel and the next attraction. If you can host a coach group for 60 to 90 minutes with a short talk, a tasting and clean toilets, one booking can bring in as many people as a quiet weekend. Serving 40 people takes little more effort than serving 10; the income is four times higher. Offer operators a fixed group rate and a commission, make booking easy, and deliver the same quality every time. Here is how your farm can partner with hotels, resorts and tour companies.
4. Pick-your-own from crops you already grow
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Medium
If you already grow berries, apples, citrus, pumpkins or flowers, opening a block to pickers costs little more than containers, a scale, signs and clear rules. Visitors do the harvesting and pay retail. Strawberry prices posted by U.S. farms for 2026 ranged from about $2.50 to $8.25 per pound. Some farms also charge a small entry fee and credit it against the fruit picked, which discourages people who come only to graze. Here is what you need to know about creating a pick-your-own experience.
5. School field trips
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Schools book weeks ahead, arrive on weekdays when the farm is otherwise quiet, and send a busload of children home to tell their parents about you. Field trip prices published by U.S. farms for 2026 ranged from about $7 to $17 per student, usually with free teachers and a 15- or 20-student minimum. Build a 90-minute program around one simple lesson (pollination, where eggs come from, how a fruit grows) and let every child take something home. Here are the exact farm experiences schools happily pay for.
6. A farm stand that sells at retail
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Every visitor is a customer for your produce at retail price instead of wholesale. A simple stand at the exit, with good signs, sample tastes and a few easy add-ons (jam, honey, a bag of the fruit they just tasted), can quietly become one of your best earners. Put it where every guest walks past it on the way back to the car.
7. 'Farmer for a day' experiences
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Medium
City people will pay to do the chores you are tired of: collecting eggs, feeding calves, harvesting, pruning. Keep groups small, run it on a fixed schedule, and sell it as a premium half-day with a meal or a take-home box. It costs you almost nothing because the work needs doing anyway.
8. Farm birthday parties
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Parents are always hunting for a party venue that isn't another indoor playground. Offer a two-hour package for a set number of children: an animal visit, a short activity, a picnic table and cake time. Sell it at a fixed package price and charge extra per additional child. See how farms turn simple land into a kid magnet that parents happily pay for.
9. Photo sessions and photographer access
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Low
Orchards in blossom, rows of sunflowers, an old barn at golden hour: photographers want them for family portraits, engagements and graduation shoots. Charge a session fee, set time slots and require booking ahead. Small money, but almost pure profit, and every photo shared online is free advertising.
10. Sunset and stargazing evenings
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Low
Farms are dark and quiet in a way cities never are. A ticketed evening with a fire pit, hot drinks and a local astronomy club bringing telescopes makes money from land that sits empty after 6 pm. Run it on clear-sky weekends and sell a limited number of tickets.
11. Picnic packages
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Low
Set up a few shaded picnic spots and sell a ready-made basket of farm food, or rent the spot and a blanket for a flat fee. Picnics keep people on the farm longer, and the longer they stay, the more they buy.
12. Nature trails and birdwatching passes
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Low
If you have woodland, wetland or a creek, mow a trail, add a few signs naming plants and birds, and sell a day pass. On its own it is modest money. Paired with a tour or a cafe, it is the reason people stay for lunch.
13. Fishing pond day passes
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Low
An existing pond can earn from day-pass anglers and families. Check local fishing license rules and water-safety requirements first, and make sure children are always supervised near the water.
14. Scavenger hunts and kids' farm trails
Startup cost: Under $1,000 | Profit potential: Low
Print a picture checklist (find the beehive, count the goats, spot the scarecrow) and charge a small fee or include it with entry. It costs almost nothing to make and keeps children busy while their parents shop and relax.
Tier 2: Start for $1,000 to $10,000
Now you are investing in equipment, materials, toilets or permits. The ideas at the top of this tier are some of the best money in agritourism, because people pay a premium for small, skilled, hands-on experiences.
15. Farm-to-table dinners
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: High
A long table in the field, a local chef and food grown a few meters away. This is the top of the agritourism price ladder for a single evening. Outstanding in the Field, the touring farm-dinner series, sells seats from $385 each, and its dinners often sell out. You don't need that price to profit: a well-run dinner for 30 to 50 guests a few times a season is serious money for one evening's work. You will need food safety approval and possibly a liquor license, so check local rules first. Here is how to host farm-to-table dinners that showcase your produce.
16. Hands-on workshops
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: High
Jam making, cheese making, pruning, grafting, beekeeping, soap, bread. People pay to learn a skill from someone who does it for real. Keep classes small, charge per seat, and include something they make and take home. Workshops run well in the off-season, need little land and don't wear out your fields. Read the ultimate guide to hosting workshops on farming skills.
17. Cooking classes with farm ingredients
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: High
Pick it, cook it, eat it. A cooking class combines a harvest walk, a lesson and a meal, which lets you charge for all three. Partner with a local cook if cooking isn't your skill. You will need a kitchen that meets local food rules. Read about hosting cooking classes with ingredients grown on your farm.
18. Seasonal festival weekends
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: High
Blossom season, harvest season, fruit season: build two or three ticketed weekends a year around your farm's natural peak. A festival concentrates your marketing into a few dates, gives people a deadline to visit, and lets you charge entry plus extras. Here is how to organize a farm harvest festival.
19. Pumpkin patch
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: High
A favorite fall day out in North America and a classic combination: an entry fee plus pumpkins sold by size or weight. Pumpkins need a growing season, parking and good road access, and a patch near a town will always beat one an hour from anyone. Add a hayride and a photo area and you have a full fall outing.
20. Corporate team days
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: High
Companies pay for team-building days and staff outings, and they usually pay more per head than families. Package a half-day: a harvest challenge, a workshop or cooking session, and lunch on the farm. Weekdays work best, so it never competes with your weekend crowd.
21. Tent campsites
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Mow a level pad, add a fire ring, water and access to a toilet, and list it on a booking platform. Hipcamp, where about half the hosts are farmers and ranchers according to the company, says basic tent sites typically go for $20 to $40 a night and that most of its hosts earn over $10,000 a year. Then sell your campers breakfast, firewood and produce. Here is what it costs to set up a camping site.
22. RV and camper stays
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
If you have flat, firm ground near the farmyard, self-contained RVs and campervans need little more than a level spot. Hipcamp puts RV sites at about $30 to $75 a night or more, depending on hookups. Check zoning first, because some areas limit overnight stays.
23. Sunflower and flower fields
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
A field in full bloom is a magnet for photos. Farms charge admission to walk the rows and sell u-cut stems or buckets on top. U.S. sunflower fields posted 2026 admission prices from about $5 to $20 per person. Plant in waves so the bloom lasts weeks, not days.
24. Animal feeding and petting area
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Families with young children will drive a long way to feed a goat. Sell feed cups, charge a small entry, and let the animals do the selling. Budget for safe fencing, shade, signs and handwashing stations at the exit, because animal contact carries real health risks, especially for small children. Read about how to start an alpaca agritourism farm.
25. Hayrides and wagon rides
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
If you already own a tractor and a wagon, a ride costs you hay bales, safety rails and a trained driver. It is the easiest way to show off a big farm, and it works as an add-on to almost every other idea on this list. Here is the ultimate guide to farm rides.
26. Off-road and 4x4 farm adventures
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
On my own durian farm, we charge a small extra fee for a four-wheel-drive ride into the orchard. The muddy estate roads that once looked like a problem became part of the adventure. If your farm has rough terrain, a guided 4x4 ride turns it into a paid experience. Get proper seating, a careful driver and insurance that covers passengers before you take your first paying guest.
27. Choose-and-cut Christmas trees
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
A family tradition people repeat every year. The National Christmas Tree Association estimated that Americans bought 21.5 million farm-cut trees in 2023 at a median price of $80. The catch is time: trees take years to reach size, so this is a long game. Add hot drinks, wreaths and photo spots, and the trip becomes the product. Read about hosting a Christmas tree farm experience.
28. Craft classes
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Wreath making in December, flower arranging in spring, painting in the orchard in autumn. Craft classes use cheap materials, fit in a barn or shaded area, and attract a different crowd from your family visitors.
29. Horseback trail rides
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
If you already keep horses and have the skills, guided trail rides can earn well. Insurance and safety are the big costs. About 48 U.S. states have some kind of equine activity statute, according to the National Agricultural Law Center, but these laws vary and often require specific warning signs. Read about why farm rides on horseback are a must-have for agritourism.
30. Hunting leases and guided hunts
Startup cost: $1,000 to $10,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Where hunting is legal and popular, landowners lease hunting rights by the season or run guided hunts. The USDA census counts hunting and fishing as part of agritourism and recreational income. It suits large, wooded or rough land that isn't earning much else.
Tier 3: Start for $10,000 to $50,000
Now you are building something. Each of these can earn serious money, but each also needs planning, permits and marketing to fill it. Run a cheaper idea first so you already have customers when you build.
31. Corn maze
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
The corn maze is one of the best-documented agritourism businesses. A Rutgers University sample budget for a five-acre maze put total costs at about $25,800 (growing the corn, a $1,500 professional design and cut, signs, toilets, insurance, marketing and staff) against $54,000 in admissions from 7,200 visitors at $7.50 each. That left about $28,000 from the maze, plus the corn harvested afterwards. Two warnings from the same budget: marketing was the largest single cost at $9,000, and the figures date from 2013, so update wages and prices before you rely on them.
32. Glamping tents
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
A furnished bell tent or safari tent with a real bed earns far more per night than a tent pitch. Hipcamp says glamping stays such as yurts, cabins and treehouses can bring in $100 to $300 or more a night. Budget for platforms, furniture, bathrooms and cleaning between guests, then sell breakfast baskets and farm activities to the people sleeping on your land.
33. A simple farm cabin
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
One well-placed, well-photographed cabin can earn all year where tents are seasonal. You don't need luxury. You need comfort, a view, and the farm experience right outside the door. Here is how simple cabins can outperform luxury farm stays.
34. Event space rentals
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
A cleaned-up barn, a covered pavilion or a lawn with power can host birthdays, reunions, workshops and company dinners. Rent the space by the hour or the day, and earn more by adding food, drinks or a tour. Check fire, building and occupancy rules before you take the first booking.
35. Summer day camps
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
Parents need childcare during school holidays, and a week on a farm beats a week indoors. Run themed week-long camps for a fixed fee per child. In Italy, 2,085 agriturismi run official educational farms, about 8% of the total, which shows how established farm education is as a business. You will need trained staff, safe ratios, first aid and the right insurance.
36. Haunted trails and night events
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
In October, a haunted trail, night maze or lantern walk draws a teenage and adult crowd that never comes for pumpkins, and it can be priced as a premium evening ticket. It needs lighting, actors or effects, and tight crowd and safety management.
37. Multi-day retreats and courses
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: High
Two- or three-day courses in growing, beekeeping, cheese making or farm business attract serious learners who pay for depth. If you have lodging on the farm or nearby, bundle it in. Your marketing can reach much further than a day trip's, because people will travel for a course.
38. Farm cafe or snack bar
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Coffee, cold drinks, ice cream and something made from your own produce. A cafe keeps people on the farm longer and lets you sell your crop at its highest value. It also brings food rules, equipment and staff, so start with a simple kiosk before you commit to a full kitchen.
39. Play zone
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Straw bale mountains, sandpits, swings, slides and tunnels keep children happy for hours, and happy children mean parents who stay and spend. Put it inside a paid admission area and inspect it every day. Equipment and safe surfacing add up quickly.
40. Lavender and specialty flower destinations
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: Medium
A field of lavender or tulips can become a regional attraction during bloom, with entry fees, u-pick and a shop selling oils, sachets and dried bunches. The bloom window is short, so plan products that sell for the rest of the year.
41. Value-added products made on the farm
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: Medium
Turn second-grade fruit into jam, sauces, dried fruit or juice and sell it in your farm shop and to visitors as gifts. You will need a licensed kitchen or a co-packer and labels that meet food rules. The margin is in the story: made from the trees you just walked under.
42. A pick-your-own orchard or berry patch planted from scratch
Startup cost: $10,000 to $50,000 | Profit potential: Medium
If you don't already grow a pickable crop, planting one is a multi-year investment in plants, irrigation and fencing before the first visitor arrives. It works best close to a town and planned alongside other attractions, where it can become the backbone of a seasonal business.
Tier 4: $50,000 and up
These are the big plays. They can transform a farm's finances, and they can also sink it. Every one of them is easier and safer once you have built an audience with the cheaper ideas above.
43. Wedding venue
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: Very high
The venue is often a couple's biggest wedding expense. The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study put the average reception venue cost at $12,900 for couples married in 2025. A barn, a field with a view and a dependable team can fill summer weekends with bookings. You will need parking, toilets, power, permits and possibly building upgrades, plus someone who loves weddings as much as you love farming. Read these tips for organizing farm weddings and special events.
44. Farm stay guesthouse or B&B
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: Very high
Overnight guests stay the longest and spend the most across your farm. Italy shows how far farm stays can go: its 26,129 agriturismi hosted 4.5 million guests in 2023, and the average agriturismo produced more than 71,600 euros that year. In the U.S., Airbnb's new Farm to Stay grant offers selected farms $5,000 to $10,000 to start or expand farm stays (here is how to apply). Start with our step-by-step guide to starting a farm stay, and read why most farm stays are undercharging.
45. Winery, cidery or farm brewery tasting room
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: Very high
USDA researchers found that farms specializing in grapes tend to earn more agritourism income. A tasting room turns your crop into a premium drink sold by the glass, the bottle and the case. Alcohol also brings licensing, taxes and compliance costs that vary hugely by state and country, so get professional advice before you plant or build. Read wine, dine and stay: the secret to vineyard prosperity.
46. Farm park with rides and attractions
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: Very high
Jumping pillows, slides, pedal karts, a corn maze and a pumpkin patch under one admission ticket. The biggest fall farms run like small theme parks, and one ticket that covers everything makes the price feel like value. It also needs staff, ride inspections, serious insurance and parking for hundreds of cars.
47. Glamping village or cabin cluster
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: Very high
Once one cabin or tent is booked solid, a cluster of five to ten units with shared facilities turns overnight stays into a real hospitality business. It also means zoning approvals, utilities, housekeeping and a booking system. Grow into it; don't start with it.
48. Farm restaurant
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: High
A restaurant gives your produce its highest possible price and can make the farm a destination on its own. It is also the hardest business on this list to run well, with tight margins, staff and strict food rules. Most farms are better off proving demand with seasonal dinners (#15) or a cafe (#38) first.
49. Equestrian center or riding school
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: High
Lessons, livery, pony camps and trail rides can bring steady, year-round income. It needs arenas, safe horses, qualified instructors and strong insurance. Best for farms that already live and breathe horses.
50. Greenhouse destination
Startup cost: $50,000+ | Profit potential: High
A walk-through greenhouse of tropical plants, a butterfly house or a glasshouse cafe gives visitors a reason to come in winter or in the rainy season. It is expensive to build and to heat or cool, so it works best close to a city as part of a bigger farm offer.
How to choose your first agritourism activity
Fifty ideas is a menu, not a plan. Before you spend a cent, run every idea through three questions.
1. What do you already have? Your crop, animals, buildings, views, skills and story. The cheapest activity is the one built on something that already exists. If you grow a fruit people love, tastings and pick-your-own come first. If you have an empty field, think camping. If you have a big barn, think workshops and events.
2. Who lives within an hour's drive? USDA research shows farms in more populated counties tend to earn more from agritourism. A farm near a city can sell family weekends. A remote farm with beautiful views should think overnight stays, so people come for longer.
3. How many hours can you staff? Every activity needs someone at the gate, someone answering messages and someone cleaning the toilets. Be honest about your weekends.
Then follow three rules.
Test before you build. Run one simple version for one weekend, take bookings in advance, and see who actually pays. Here is how to test agritourism with a 60-minute MVP.
Stack, don't scatter. Look closely at successful farms and you'll usually find an entry, an experience and something to take home. A tour plus a tasting plus a box of fruit is worth far more than three unrelated activities. See what 40 real farms offer and what they charge.
Price for profit, not for friends. Underpricing is one of the most common mistakes in agritourism, and it is very hard to undo once regulars are used to a low price. Read how to price your agritourism activities and services.
The mistakes that sink new agritourism ventures
Building before testing. A $40,000 structure doesn't guarantee a single booking. Customers first, buildings second.
Ignoring insurance and local rules. About 40 U.S. states have some type of agritourism statute, according to the National Agricultural Law Center. Many limit your liability only if you post the required warning signs, and none of them replaces proper insurance. Talk to your insurer and your local authority before you open. Our guide to legal and safety basics covers the questions to ask.
Forgetting the basics. Parking, shade, drinking water and clean toilets shape your reviews more than most owners expect.
Trying to do everything. Ten average activities lose to two excellent ones.
Hoping people will find you. In the Rutgers corn maze budget, marketing was the largest single cost. The cheapest marketing of all is word of mouth, and an Oregon State University study of farm visitors found it beat social media and online search. Read about the cheapest marketing tool in agritourism and 21 ways to encourage visitors to your farm.
Your next step
Don't try to do 50 things. Pick one idea from Tier 1 that you could run next month, and one from a higher tier that you'd like to grow into. Then test the first one.
Not sure which part of your farm to work on first? Take the free Farm Quiz. It shows you which areas of your farm are ready for visitors and which to fix first.
Want to go deeper on the activities that pay? My ebook 10 Profit-Driving Farm Activities walks you through ten farm activities built to bring in money.
Prefer to talk it through for your own farm? Book a consultation session.
Download your free ebook: The 21-Point Agritourism Blueprint
Want a step-by-step plan to go with this list? My free ebook, The 21-Point Agritourism Blueprint, shows you how to attract premium guests, structure your offers and grow your farm's revenue without losing your peace of mind.
Getting it is easy. Scroll to the bottom of this page, enter your first name and email in the free ebook form, and it's yours. It costs nothing, and it's the fastest way to turn the ideas in this article into a plan for your own farm.
P.S. If you do only one thing after reading this, set a date for your first paid farm tour. Invite ten people, charge a fair price, and watch what they love. That afternoon will teach you more about which of these 50 ideas fits your farm than any list ever could.
Agritourism activities: frequently asked questions
What are agritourism activities?
Agritourism activities are paid experiences that bring visitors onto a working farm, ranch, orchard or vineyard: tours, tastings, pick-your-own, workshops, festivals, farm stays, events and more. They earn income alongside the farm's normal production.
What is the most profitable agritourism activity?
Farm stays, wedding venues and large fall attractions tend to earn the most in total, but they also cost the most to start. For most small farms, the best return on the money comes from guided tours, tastings, workshops and farm-to-table dinners, because they cost little and command premium prices per person.
What is the cheapest agritourism activity to start?
Guided farm tours, tastings, pick-your-own from a crop you already grow and school field trips can all start for under $1,000, provided you already have the land, the crop and basics such as toilets and parking.
How much do agritourism farms make?
In the U.S., farms with agritourism income earned an average of $44,004 from it in 2022, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture. The spread is wide: nearly half earned under $5,000, while about 23% earned $25,000 or more and took 91% of the total.
Do I need insurance for agritourism?
Yes. A standard farm policy may not cover paying visitors, so ask your insurer directly. About 40 U.S. states have some type of agritourism law, but these usually require warning signs and never replace proper insurance. Check your local rules before you open.
What agritourism ideas work on a small farm?
Small farms do best with high-value ideas that need little space: guided tours, tastings, workshops, cooking classes, birthday parties, school trips, and a few campsites or one cabin. Sell the experience, not the acreage.
Written by Stephen Loke of AgritourismSuccess.com, whose farm is featured in Bloomberg News and Asahi Shimbun. Figures come from the sources below, and farm prices were taken from farms' own websites for the 2026 season. Costs and rules vary by country and region, so always check your local numbers before you build.
Sources
USDA NASS: 2022 Census of Agriculture, Table 7, Income from Farm-Related Sources: 2022 and 2017
Penn State Extension and NERCRD: U.S. Agritourism and Direct-to-Consumer Sales Census Update
Il Punto Coldiretti: analysis of the ISTAT 2023 agritourism report
Grand View Research: Agritourism Market Size, Share and Trends Report, 2025-2030
Grand View Research: Asia Pacific Agritourism Market Size and Outlook
Rutgers Cooperative Extension: Budgeting for a Corn Maze (E343)
Lancaster Farming: digital portals for farmers who want to host campers (Hipcamp host profile)
Outstanding in the Field: Frequently Asked Questions (ticket prices)
LancasterOnline: Outstanding in the Field's Lancaster dinner sold out
The Knot Worldwide: 2025 Real Weddings Study press release (venue as the biggest investment)
The Washington Times: Christmas tree prices, citing National Christmas Tree Association estimates
National Agricultural Law Center: webinar on equine activity and agritourism statutes
National Law Review: limited liability statutes for agritourism destinations
2026 pick-your-own strawberry prices: Hanulcik Farm Market and Orchard
WBUR: strawberry picking near Boston, 2026 (entry fee credited against fruit)
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