10 Best Apple Picking Farms for Families
Whether you live 100 miles away or just across the street from an apple farm, fall is the time to dream up delicious apple-inspired baked goods and heart-warming ciders. It is also the best time to take advantage of the bountiful produce of apples around the country.
We have the driving distance, driving time and cost of driving tools to help you plan your visit to the 10 best apple picking farms for families in six states.
New York
New York is the second largest apple producing state in the country, after Washington State. The other top producers include Pennsylvania, Michigan and California. (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service)
Where to pick apples?
1. Barton Orchards
Imagine, 10 pounds for $15 and 20 pounds for $24. That’s the price at the Barton Orchards this season. Barton Orchards is located in Poughquag, located
78 miles from New York City.
Apple season is between mid-August to November. Take a look at
Barton Orchards Pick Your Own list to find out the types of apples available. For example, only four varieties of apples including Paula Red are available in August. 10 different types of apples are in season in September and October. The best times to pick your own apples are September and October.
2. Apple Hills
Apple Hills is located in the town of Binghamton,
177 miles from New York City and
303 miles from Washington DC.
Washington
70% of apples produced in the United States are from Washington State according to
Washington State Department of Agriculture. And there are 175,000 acres of apple orchards in the state.
Where to pick apples?
3. Gordon Skagit Farms
This farm located in Mt. Vernon is only
62 miles from Seattle. It is an ideal location for a weekend getaway. To evoke the fall festivities,
Gordon Skagit Farms uses fall produce like pumpkins, squashes and corn stalks to decorate the place. Take a stroll and enjoy the fall decorations and pick your own apples while enjoying the views of the mountains and snow capped volcanoes.
4. Bills Berry
Bills Berry is located in the fertile land of Yakima,
143 miles south of Seattle. Besides apple picking, Bills Berry offers pumpkin patch tour, corn maze tour and farm history tour for students of all ages and senior citizens.
Check out their harvest dates and a list of produce that includes apples, pumpkins, gourds, squash and more.
Michigan
Michigan is the third largest apple producing state in the nation with 9.2 million apple trees and 850 family-run farms.
Where to pick apples?
5. King Orchards
King Orchards is located in Central Lake about
170 miles from Grand Rapids. Apple picking season starts around early September and ends in early November. The most popular apples include Northern Spy, Jonathon and McIntosh.
6. Crane Orchards
Located in Fennville
103 miles from Lansing and
48 miles from Grand Rapids,
Crane Orchards history can be traced back to 1880s. Today the farm has over 17 varieties of apples and other fruits like peaches and cherries.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania ranks fifth in apple production. 30% of the apple crops are Red Delicious and 16% are the Golden Delicious.
Where to pick apples?
7. Linvilla Orchard
Linvilla Orchard is located in Media,
21 miles south of Philadelphia. All visitors including children ages one year and above are required to purchase a token priced at $5 per token for picking your own apples. The fee includes a hayride to the picking fields.
New Jersey
Winesap is the oldest type of apple grown in New Jersey. It has been popular since the late 1700s. Other varieties include Red and Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Granny Smith.
Agri-tourism is big during fall season in New Jersey. According to JerseyFresh.nj.gov, New Jersey offers affordable, family-oriented recreational and educational activities including pick-your-own activities.
Where to pick apples?
8. Hill Creek Farms
Hill Creek Farms is located in Mullica Hill NJ,
25 miles from Philadelphia PA and
24 miles from Wilmington DE.
9. Demarest Farm
Demarest Farm is located in Hillsdale NJ, 28 miles north of New York. The farm was established in 1886. Pick your own apple is available daily and cost of admission is $5 per person. Pay an additional $9 for a bag to hold the apples you picked.
California
California is the second largest apple exporter in the United States. These apples are exported to 27 different countries across Asia and some to neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico.
Where to pick apples?
10. Riley Apple Farm
Riley Apple Farm is located in Oak Glen, the Apple Country of California,
79 miles east of Los Angeles. Apple picking starts around the end of July to November. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Tips before going for apple picking:
1. Call ahead to avoid disappointment. Some farms may make changes because of weather conditions.
2. Wear walking shoes or boots for apple picking.
3. Bring your own bags.
4. Combine apple picking with Fall Foliage road trip. Read
Best Fall Road Trips.
