The 19 Best Places to Go Apple Picking in the United States

By Andrea Romano
September 21, 2017
Credit: ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy Stock Photo
Autumn has finally arrived — in parts of the country, leaves are turning and sweaters are emerging from dresser drawers. Already, pumpkin spice lattes have returned to coffee shop menus, and apples are ripe for picking at orchards.

For many, apple picking is a fun, wholesome activity that more or less defines the season. (And what is fall if not the aroma of apple pies baking in your oven?) 

Related: The Best Fall Festival in Every State

Even if you're not excited to get your hands on a Red Delicious, a Pink Lady, or a MacIntosh apple, apple picking is about so much more than fruit.

All over the country, these farms supplement apple picking with fall entertainment like live music, festivals, corn mazes, hay rides, and even wine tastings for adults who want something a bit more elevated.

Many of the farms on our list also have amazing shops, which sell jams and jellies, candies, cider donuts, hard cider, and all kinds of signature fall treats.

Fortunately, not all the best apple picking is limited to the East Coast. While there are plenty of great orchards in Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, autumn lovers can find scores of beautiful farms to visit across the Midwest and on the west Coast, too.

Related: The Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the United States

Places like Georgia, Virginia, Minnesota, Washington, and even California have amazing picking destinations — so it’s easy to pick a bushel at an orchard near you.

Fall may have just begun, but that cool, crisp air isn’t going to linger forever. Most orchards only offer picking until the first frost, so apple pickers have until about mid-November before peak picking season is over.

Take your pick of Paula Reds, Honeycrisp, and rare heirloom varietals at these picturesque orchards across the United States.
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Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow, Massachusetts

Credit: Boston Globe via Getty Images

This gorgeous farm has 180 acres of various apple varieties, plus hay rides and hedge mazes. Enjoy hot cider and caramel apples while you’re there.

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Bear Swamp Orchard and Cidery in Ashfield, Massachusetts

Credit: Courtesy of Bear Swamp Orchard

In addition to miles of hiking trails and apple dizzying rows of apple trees, this organic farm sells hard cider, raw vinegar, jams, and jellies for your autumnal haul.

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Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire

Credit: Courtesy of Apple Crest Orchards

Head to Applecrest in September and you'll find more than just apples ready to be picked. Here, you can pick pumpkins, peaches, and even fall raspberries through late September. At the Applecrest Farm Bistro, guests can enjoy a farm-to-table fine dining experience from chef Patrick Soucy after a day in the orchard.

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Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, New Hampshire

Credit: Courtesy of Poverty Lane Orchards

Poverty Lane is like a trip back in time, and their farm still operates much like it did in the 1930s. Pick your own apples and enjoy free tastes of anything the farm grows. You can even find rare and uncommon apple varieties growing here.

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Shelburne Orchards in Shelburne, Vermont

Credit: Courtesy of Shelburne Orchards

MacIntosh and Paula Red apples are ready at this lovely Vermont farm. As a fall treat, the farm store also offers cider donuts to complete your perfect apple picking day. The farm is a participant at the Vermont Foodbank and the Agency of Agriculture, and thus encourages guests to pick and buy apples to donate.

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Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction, New York

Credit: Courtesy of Fishkill Farms

Many people swear this farm has the best cider donuts. Every weekend from mid-September through mid-October, there is live entertainment as well as pick-your-own apples and hay rides, as part of the orchard’s Harvest Festival Weekends.

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Apple Dave’s Orchards in Warwick, New York

Credit: Courtesy of Apple Daves

Formerly known as Applewood, Apple Dave’s is one of the most popular apple picking destinations in the United States. The orchard offers 11 different varieties of apples and has an adjacent winery for post-picking wine tastings.

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Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, New Jersey

Credit: Courtesy of Demarest Farms

Only about an hour’s drive outside New York City, this easy-to-access farm has apples, peaches, and pumpkins. On special nights in October, the farm hosts a spooky pumpkin picking movie night as well. And of course, there are plenty of cider donuts to go around at the farm shop.

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Terhune Orchards in Princeton, New Jersey

Credit: Tin Woodsman / Alamy Stock Photo

This beautiful orchard offers a variety of apples, pumpkins, and other gourds in the fall, as well as fresh flowers to transform your home for the autumn equinox. Visitors can spend time with the animals of the farm (a favorite with children) and attend the seasonal festivals.

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Solebury Orchards in New Hope, Pennsylvania

Credit: Courtesy of Solebury Orchard

Rain or shine, Solebury Orchards is open for apple, cherry tomato, and flower picking in the fall. Come on a weekend to pick Pixie Crunch and Jonathan apples.

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Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, North Carolina

Credit: Courtesy of Sky Top Orchard

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

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Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Credit: Courtesy of Mercier Orchards

Georgia’s countryside has ample views and excellent apple picking. Mercier Orchards is the only orchard in the state that grows, presses, ferments, and bottles their own hard cider and wine. (Don't forget to purchase a fried apple pie during your visit.)

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Stribling Orchards in Markham, Virginia

Credit: Courtesy of Stribling Orchard

This well-loved orchard has been in operation 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.

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Weston’s Antique Apples in New Berlin, Wisconsin

Credit: National Geographic Creative / Alamy Stock Photo

This 16-acre orchard with over 700 trees has apples for just about every letter of the alphabet: about 100 varieties in all. Visitors can conclude an afternoon of apple picking with fun farm activities, too, as the orchard offers apple education classes like tree grafting and pruning.

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Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, Minnesota

Credit: Courtesy of Apple Jack Orchards

This farm have an impressive selection of apples, including Honeycrisp and Connel Red. But they also have raspberries available for picking until the first frost. When you've filled your basket, check out the jumping pillows, corn maze, zip line, and apple cannons.

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Aamodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater, Minnesota

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This famous, family owned farm is the best place to sample their signature cider, Thor’s Hard Cider, named after the farm’s founder. Along with apple picking and family activities, you can also tour the vineyards and enjoy wine tastings at Saint Croix Winery.

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Mt. View Orchards in Mount Hood, Oregon

Credit: Courtesy of Mt. View Orchards

You can find some excellent apple picking in the Pacific Northwest. At Mt. View Orchards, you can pick your own apples, peaches, and pears from 50 acres of fruit orchards while also enjoying the impressive mountain view. Later, take a tractor ride around the property.

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Johnson Orchards in Yakima, Washington

Credit: Getty Images

This century-old farm makes apple picking extra easy by providing harnesses and buckets for apple pickers so they don’t have to climb up and down rickety ladders. Stop by the fruit packing warehouse to sample their signature crop (tree-ripened cherries), or by the bake shop for caramels.

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Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, California

Credit: Getty Images

While most people associate apple picking with cooler weather, there’s plenty of prime apple picking in Southern California, too. The popular Los Rios Rancho has Spartan and Pippin apples on rotation, and is a great place for nature trail walks.

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By Andrea Romano