Midwest Morel Season by State
Morel season begins in Missouri in late March and reaches Minnesota by mid-May — a 7-week window across the Midwest. Select your state for detailed season timing, key trees, habitat tips, and public land access.
Navigate by Map
Click any highlighted state to open its full guide. States without a guide are shown in gray.
State Guides
Eighteen Midwest, Appalachian, and Plains morel states — detailed guides with regional timing tables, tree associations, terrain tips, and FAQs.
Season Timing at a Glance
Typical peak windows for each state — use the live forecast for current conditions, as timing shifts 1–3 weeks year to year.
| State | First Finds | Typical Peak | Late Season | Primary Host Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | Mar 15–22 (W) | Mar 28–Apr 22 | May 10 | Elm, tulip poplar, ash |
| Missouri | Mar 20–28 (SE) | Apr 10–25 | May 5 | Cottonwood, elm, sycamore |
| Illinois | Mar 28 (S) | Apr 5–30 (S→N) | May 16 | Elm, cottonwood, ash |
| Indiana | Apr 5–15 (S) | Apr 15–May 3 | May 15 | Elm, tulip poplar (S), ash |
| Ohio | Apr 12–18 (SW) | Apr 22–May 5 | May 18 | Elm, ash (borer kills), tulip poplar (SE) |
| Iowa | Apr 14–20 | Apr 22–May 5 | May 14 | Elm, cottonwood, ash |
| Michigan | Apr 22–28 (S LP) | May 1–15 (LP) | Jun 5 (UP) | Elm, apple orchards, ash |
| Wisconsin | Apr 24–28 (SW) | Apr 28–May 18 | Jun 3 (N) | Elm, cottonwood, ash |
| Minnesota | Apr 28–May 5 | May 5–22 | Jun 5 | Elm, ash, cottonwood |
| Kentucky | Mar 25–Apr 5 (W) | Apr 10–28 | May 10 | Elm, tulip poplar, ash |
| West Virginia | Apr 5–12 (W) | Apr 15–May 5 | May 20 | Tulip poplar, elm, ash |
| Virginia | Apr 2–10 (Valley) | Apr 10–May 1 | May 18 | Tulip poplar, elm, ash |
| Pennsylvania | Apr 12–18 (SW) | Apr 18–May 15 | May 28 (NE) | Elm, ash, tulip poplar (SW) |
| Kansas | Apr 5–12 (SE) | Apr 15–May 3 | May 12 | Elm, cottonwood, sycamore |
| Oklahoma | Mar 20–Apr 1 (NE) | Apr 3–20 | May 1 | Elm, cottonwood, ash |
| Nebraska | Apr 10–16 (SE) | Apr 19–May 6 | May 16 | Cottonwood, elm, ash |
| South Dakota | Apr 18–25 (SE) | Apr 28–May 16 | May 25 | Cottonwood, elm, bur oak |
| North Dakota | Apr 24–May 2 (SE) | May 5–22 | Jun 1 | Cottonwood, elm, green ash |
Visual Season Timeline
Each bar spans from first finds to late season — sorted south-to-north. Click any bar or state name to pick it for comparison — first click sets State A, second sets State B.
Compare Two States
Select any two states to see their seasons side-by-side — great for planning a multi-state trip across the full window.
Understanding the Season Progression
📐 The 50°F Rule
Across all Midwest states, the single most reliable trigger is soil temperature reaching 50°F at 4-inch depth — combined with a recent soaking rain and nights above freezing. This thermal threshold is the common denominator across all regions, regardless of calendar date.
🧭 South-to-North Progression
The season tracks northward with spring warming — Missouri leads, Minnesota follows 6–7 weeks later. But within any state, south-facing slopes start 1–2 weeks ahead of north-facing hollows at the same latitude, creating a built-in within-state season extension.
🏔️ Elevation & Terrain
The Driftless Area (shared by SW Wisconsin, NE Iowa, SE Minnesota) produces the most complex local timing in the Midwest — south bluff faces vs. coulee bottoms can be 2 weeks apart at the same location. The more varied your terrain, the longer your local season.
🌧️ Year-to-Year Variation
Exceptional years shift everything 2–3 weeks. In a warm 2012-like spring, Missouri hunters found morels in mid-March; in cold late-spring years, even SE Missouri can see peak delayed to late April. The forecast score adjusts in real time — calendar dates are a guideline, not a guarantee.
Get a Live Forecast for Your Location
Enter your city or tap "Use my location" in the app for a real-time readiness score based on current soil temperature, rainfall, and overnight lows.