Field Of Dreams Iowa: A Baseball Fan's Paradise

If you’re a fan of the sport of baseball and the iconic 1989 movie Field of Dreams, you must “go the distance” and visit Dyersville, Iowa. This small town is a hidden gem among Iowa attractions and a dream destination for baseball travel enthusiasts looking for their Field of Dreams Iowa.

They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack. — Terrance Mann from the movie, as portrayed by James Earl Jones.

Field Of Dreams Iowa Planning

People have been making the trek to this rural town in Northeast Iowa since the movie’s release in April 1989. If you’re a baseball fan, the Field of Dreams in Iowa movie site needs to be added to your bucket list. It’s the perfect stop on any baseball vacation or movie site tour.

The Field of Dreams movie site, looking very similar to how it was in the 1989 movie.

The movie site today still has the look and feel from the film. The surrounding area is being developed, so we can only hope that this destination maintains the charm it had on our visit. Youth baseball fields are going up, and they are constructing a stadium on adjacent properties as they capitalize on the popularity of the movie with fans.

Much like what was described in the movie, you literally pull into the driveway of the farm. You’re greeted by a local volunteer, and a $20 donation is suggested to visit. They offer various incentives for donating beyond the suggestion, including posters, baseballs, and even your choice of corn or infield dirt from the Field of Dreams.

Driving in, you’ll immediately feel like you’re inside the movie. You’ll see the idyllic white farmhouse on the top of the hill. The backstop, bleachers, and baseball diamond in the midst of a cornfield are off to your left. Sure, they’ve also added a gift shop and restaurant to the complex, but the visual as you drive in is very reminiscent of the film.

Bring Your Glove

We were able to walk right onto the field and play catch. Our schedule had us arriving on a Monday morning, and the crowd was minimal. We had plenty of opportunities to take photos, pitch from the mound, stand in the batter’s box, and pretty much do whatever we wanted on the field. It’s a full-sized baseball field, so there is plenty of room to find your space and relax. One area of disappointment was that you cannot go into the cornfield and then walk onto the field.

A little hard to read, but the carving spells out “Ray loves Annie” which was featured in the film. The carving was actually done by actor Kevin Costner while filming Field of Dreams.

While you’re there, you also have the opportunity to tour the Field of Dreams house. This is an additional charge, around $20, but we found it informative and entertaining. Our tour guide was Tom, who gave us and a small group a 30-minute tour of the house and a lot of background history on how the movie was made.

The tour is very accommodating, allowing for all kinds of photos to be taken. Our guide made sure everyone who wanted a photo of their group in the porch swing was taken care of.

The farmhouse swing overlooking the Field of Dreams baseball diamond in Dyersville, Iowa.

If you really want to get immersed in the movie, you can even spend the night in the Field of Dreams Airbnb. They have turned the Kinsella family household into a rental that can hold up to nine people a night—for a price.

As mentioned, they have a restaurant called The Dugout for snacks or a meal while you’re on the site. Next door to that is a Field of Dreams gift shop, featuring a wide assortment of shirts, hats, and other items. The Field of Dreams movie site is operated as a non-profit, so when you’re donating entry money or spending a few bucks at the restaurant or gift shop, you are helping to keep this organization going. Field of Dreams tickets are not required for general entry, but donations are encouraged.

From inside the Kinsella house from the movie Field of Dreams, you get to see that same view of the field featured in the film.

The movie site is open from sunrise to sunset year-round. While it wasn’t crowded while we were there, it will get crowded, especially around special Field of Dreams events held throughout the summer. The calendar of events will help guide you on crowd sizes and opportunities to enjoy things like concerts and other special activities. There are plenty of signs around Dyersville and the area for the movie site, but in case you want the actual address, it is 28995 Lansing Road, Dyersville, Iowa 52040.

More Things To Do In Dyersville

Once you’re done at the movie site, you’re not necessarily done in Dyersville Iowa. Go into town and check out the If You Build It museum and exhibit, also known as the Field of Dreams museum. Located at 310 2nd Street SE in Dyersville, this small exhibit provides more details on the making of the movie, along with profiles of the cast members and a glimpse of baseball history.

Cost is only $5, and you’ll get to walk through this small exhibit and take some fun pictures too. This small museum exudes Midwest charm, with very friendly staff. The exhibits are very interactive and do a great job of telling how the movie came about. Since you cannot walk out of the cornfield at the actual movie site, the If You Built It exhibit has set up some props including fake corn stalks and old-time baseball uniforms to stage your photos. We highly recommend it!

The If You Build It exhibit in Dyersville, Iowa tells the story of the movie being made, as well as some baseball history. Plus you get a chance to dress up like one of the ghost players from the movie.

Dyersville, Iowa has embraced Field of Dreams, which you’ll see all over town. Be sure to drive around and check out some of the artwork around town too.

If you’re a baseball travel fan like we are, check out some of our other baseball travel experiences including stadium tours, spring training and more!