20 Best Places to Go Apple Picking in the U.S.

Apples in garden - stock photo — Photo:
Nikada / Getty Images

Apple picking is one of the most wholesome ways to mark the beginning of fall. And all over the country, farms supplement apple picking with seasonal entertainment and activities like live music, family-friendly festivals, corn mazes, hayrides, and cider sipping.

Just remember: That cool, crisp air isn't going to stick around forever. Most farms only offer apple picking until the first frost, so if you're wondering about the best month to go apple picking, you have from late August to mid-November to squeeze it in. This fall, take your pick of Paula Reds, Honeycrisps, and rare heirloom varietals at one of these 20 picturesque orchards across the United States.

Top 5 Can’t Miss

In addition to apple-picking, you can weave through a hedge maze at Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Massachusetts.
Through late September, you can also pick pumpkins, peaches, and fall raspberries at Applecrest Farm Orchards in New Hampshire.
Thirsty? Mercier Orchards in Georgia was one of the first farms in the state to grow, press, ferment, and bottle its own hard cider and wine.
Come for the apples, stay for the Halloween light show at Demarest Farms in New Jersey.
Many people swear Fishkill Farms has the best cider doughnuts in New York, if not the whole country.

Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow, Massachusetts

This gorgeous farm boasts 186 acres of apple varieties, including Sansa, Ginger Gold, Akane, and Red Gravenstein. Be sure to go on a hayride, check out the hedge mazes, visit the farm animals, and enjoy some hot cider and caramel apples while you're there.

Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire

Head to Applecrest in September and you'll find more than just apples ready to be picked. You can also gather pumpkins, peaches, and fall raspberries through late September. Shop for local produce and plants at the Farm Market, then tuck into delicious homemade ice cream at The Creamery.

Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, Georgia

North Georgia's magnificent countryside offers ample Blue Ridge views and excellent apple picking opportunities. Mercier Orchards, about a 90-minute drive from Atlanta, was one of the first farms in the state to grow, press, ferment, and bottle its own hard cider and wine. Don't forget to purchase a fried apple pie during your visit.

Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, New Jersey

About an hour's drive from New York City, this easy-to-access farm offers the chance to pick your own apples, peaches, and pumpkins. On certain nights in October, the site also hosts a popular Halloween light show. And of course, there are plenty of cider doughnuts to go around at the farm shop.

Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction, New York

Many people swear Fishkill Farms has the best cider doughnuts in New York, if not the whole country. Every weekend from mid-September through mid-October, the farm hosts live entertainment as well as pick-your-own apples (plus pears and blackberries), hayrides, and a specialty cider bar for the over-21 crowd. Stop by the farm store for seasonal jams, fresh pies, and other baked goods.

Shelburne Orchards in Shelburne, Vermont

McIntosh and Gala apples are ready for the picking at this lovely 60-acre Vermont farm. As a fall treat, the farm store offers cider doughnuts to complete your perfect picking day. You'll also find seasonal live music, hayrides, and a tasting room where homemade apple brandy is served.

Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, New Hampshire

Visiting Poverty Lane Orchards is like taking a trip back in time — the farm still operates much like it did in the 1950s. While the main focus here is its Farnum Hill Ciders, during the fall months, you can come pick your own apples and raspberries and enjoy free tastes of anything else the farm grows. Apple picking enthusiasts can even find lesser known, specialty heirloom varieties growing here.

Apple Dave's Orchards & Distillery in Warwick, New York

Apple Dave's Orchards & Distillery is a hugely popular apple-picking destination in upstate New York. The farm offers 12 different varieties of apples to choose from and has an adjacent distillery for all your hard cider and cocktail needs. Enjoy live music on weekends, go on wagon rides, eat your fill of cider doughnuts, and pay for however many apples you pick.

Terhune Orchards in Princeton, New Jersey

Apples at Terhune Orchards — Courtesy of Terhune Orchards

This beautiful orchard offers a variety of apples to pick (Honeycrisps, Early Fuji, Gala, Jonathan, Empire, Crimson Crisp, and Golden and Red Delicious), as well as pumpkins and fresh flowers to transform your home for the autumn equinox. Visitors can spend time with the farm's animals (a favorite activity among children) and attend Fall Family Fun Weekends through September, featuring hayrides, corn mazes, live music, and, of course, cider doughnuts.

Solebury Orchards in New Hope, Pennsylvania

Rain or shine, Solebury Orchards is open for apple and flower picking in the fall. Visit on the weekend to try a few of the farm's 32 varieties — check the website to see which are ready when, as it really depends on how far along you are in the season. Pixie Crunch and Jonathan apples are popular picks in mid to late September, for instance, while Granny Smith and Fuji are top choices from late October to early November.

Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, North Carolina

Not only does this orchard have scenic views and ponds full of ducks and geese, it also boasts a bamboo forest. Apple picking, hayrides, and plenty of cider doughnuts are all part of this perfect family-friendly destination.

Stribling Orchard in Markham, Virginia

Stribling Orchards — Courtesy of Stribling Orchard

This well-loved orchard has been in the same family for more than 200 years, and it's the perfect place for fruit picking, picnicking, and sightseeing in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Families can also stop by the farm to visit the animals, and, in September, enjoy fresh cider and pumpkin picking.

Weston's Antique Apples in New Berlin, Wisconsin

Open most fall weekends until early November, this 16-acre orchard has more than 700 trees with 30 varieties of apples to choose from in September and more than 60 in October. Call ahead for details of the volunteer picking days — after picking a bushel for the orchard, you'll get to keep two pounds of apples as a thank-you. Want to learn more about the grove's oldest trees? The orchard offers a self-guided history tour. It also hosts special Historic Days in September and its annual Applefest in October, both featuring themed activities and seasonal products.

Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, Minnesota

Apple Jack Orchards is home to an impressive selection of apples, including unusual varieties like SweeTango and KinderKrisp. The farm also has fall raspberries available for picking until the first frost. Once you've filled your basket, visit the goats, then check out the jumping pillows, corn maze, ropes course, and apple cannons.

Aamodt's Apple Farm in Stillwater, Minnesota

This family-owned farm is the best place to sample its housemade brand, Thor's Hard Cider, named for the farm's founder. Along with apple picking and a slew of family-friendly fall activities, you can also tour the winery and enjoy tastings at the adjacent Saint Croix Vineyards.

Mt View Orchards in Mount Hood, Oregon

At Mt View Orchards, you can pick your own apples (they've got a whopping 125 varieties) as well as peaches, sweet corn, carrots, beets, blueberries, pumpkins, squash, plums, and pears — all while enjoying impressive views of Mount Hood. Once you've had your fill of picking, take a tractor ride around the property, sip wine at the Grateful Vineyard Tasting Room, and grab some cider and doughnuts to take home.

Swans Trail Farms in Snohomish, Washington

An apple in a tree at Swans Trail Farms — Courtesy of Swans Trail Farms

Swans Trail Farms, a roughly 50-minute drive from Seattle, has more than 4,000 apple trees, comprising four varieties spread out over five acres. Apple picking begins in mid-September, with two Apple Festival weekends leading up to the Fall Festival, which takes place from late September through October. Families can enjoy corn mazes, pick-your-own pumpkin patches, apple cider doughnuts, a petting zoo, and hayrides. The orchard also plants shorter trees so children of all ages can reach the apples, too.

Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, California

While most people associate apples with cooler weather, rest assured that there are plenty of prime picking opportunities to be had in Southern California, too. Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen has Gala and Mutsu apples on rotation, and is a great place for nature walks.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard in Gretna, Nebraska

About a 25-minute drive from Omaha, Vala's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard honors the season with its annual Cider and Sunflower Festival, held most weekend evenings in September. Expect live musical entertainment, guided tours of the orchard, sunflower picking and photo opportunities, and a celebration of all things apple cider. Take a tractor ride out to the fields, then pick as many Honeycrisp, Gala, and Pixie Crunch apples as you can. Adults can also enjoy a tasting at the on-site cider mill.

Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch in Champaign, Illinois

Located about two hours south of Chicago, Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch makes a great day trip, with plenty of sweet Gala and Jonathan apples to be picked. Kid-friendly activities include a pumpkin patch, pony rides, a goat petting zoo, a mini golf course, a giant slide, a corn maze, and a ropes course. Stop by the Country Store, Bakery, or Flying Monkey Cafe for homemade treats once you've worked up an appetite.

Updated by

Kaeli Conforti