As soon as fall arrives, apple picking is one of the most popular activities around Philadelphia. From Pink Ladies for baking to Fujis for eating, all the varieties are in high demand as couples and families fill local orchards on fall weekends. There are lots of pick-your-own apple options plus chances for hayrides, pumpkin patches, and other seasonal activities.
Some orchards and farms still have slightly limited operations or offerings, so advanced ticketing may be recommended for popular times like weekends. Make sure to check the websites of the orchards before you go and look for any updates on social media, especially if you’re hoping to pick specific types of apples, as crop availability changes frequently.
Read on for our recommendations for some fun spots to go apple picking near Philadelphia.
Solebury Orchard
Solebury Orchard in New Hope is one of the best places to go for apple picking. The 80-acre farm and orchard teem with fruit trees and berry bushes, welcoming visitors to pick their own or buy them at the on-site market. There are more than 20 types of apples, and wagon rides are available to the trees on the weekends.
Apples ripen beginning in late August and often last through early November. If you visit in mid-to-late October, you may be treated to some of the prettiest fall foliage around, too. No matter what, make sure to try Solebury’s famous apple cider donuts and apple cider.
The orchards are open Thursday through Sunday during apple picking season, and apples are priced by the pound, so you only pay for what you pick.
Indian Orchards Farm
A small, family-run orchard, Indian Orchards Farm has grown apples for over 100 years. On their property in Media—just a half-hour from Philadelphia—visitors will find pesticide-free fruits and vegetables to pick along with lots of offerings at the farm stand. If you’re lucky, you just might find them making their popular apple cider.
An entry charge of $3.50 on weekdays ($11 on weekends, includes a hayride) allows access to the hand-tended fruits on century-old trees. Apples are then charged by the pound. The farm is open daily. Picking starts in late August and goes until the trees are bare.
Linvilla Orchards
Not far from Indian Orchards, Linvilla Orchards is one of the best-known places in the area to celebrate all that fall brings. With wagon rides, its massive Pumpkinland, and larger-than-life decorations, it’s no wonder that Linvilla is such a draw for people across the metro area.
Twenty acres of orchards full of at least 20 types of apples await visitors from late August through October. Pick from Red Delicious, Crimson Crisp, Cortland, and more. If you’re visiting after mid-September, there will be lots of other fall activities to enjoy, too, such as a corn maze, hayrides, and train rides. There’s more than enough to make a whole afternoon of it.
The orchards are open every day for pick-your-own apples. Tickets are required and are $11 online (it’s recommended to reserve in advance), which gets you a 2-quart bag of most varieties.
Don’t miss the market for caramel apples, apple pie, and lots of other seasonal treats. Before heading out, visit the beer garden to try the Ship Bottom Brewery Linvilla Hard Cider. Fair warning: this place gets busy. Try to time your visit for a weekday if you can.
Highland Orchards
Highland Orchards is a gem in Chester County. An orchard for over 80 years, the farm also offers other pick-your-own opportunities, including strawberries, cherries, peaches, and corn. Their huge pumpkin patch is also very popular in fall.
Apples are available for picking from mid-July through October, so there are lots of chances to get just the right kind for everything from salads to applesauce.
Fields are open Tuesday through Sunday with a $2 admission charge, plus fees, depending on the amount and type of apples you pick. Weekends often bring face painting, a corn maze, apple cannons, and food and drink vendors. When you visit, make sure to stop into the farm market for more local produce and fresh baked goods.
Shady Brook Farm
With wine concerts, a farm market, and some of the best Christmas lights in the area, there is always something happening at Shady Brook Farm. In the fall, the historic farm in Yardley offers more than a dozen varieties of pick-your-own apples (plus pumpkins, corn, and sunflowers, depending on timing).
During most of the apple picking season, Shady Brook hosts its Fall Fest. Visitors will find wagon rides, bonfires, a corn maze, and live music. Check out the farm market for produce, lots of fall foods, and seasonal flavored ice cream from Uncle Dave’s—it’s in high demand every year.
The picking season starts in early September and lasts through the end of October each Wednesday through Sunday. Pick-your-own tickets are $5 online weekdays in September. When Fall Fest is running, admission is required (weekends beginning September 8th; then weekdays and weekends throughout October).
Johnson’s Corner Farm
In Medford, New Jersey, Johnson’s Corner Farm welcomes guests to their orchard with 10 types of apples from September 9th through October 9th, so there is plenty of time to get in on the fun. Visitors can enjoy hayrides and watching the animals on the farm before shopping the extensive offerings in the farm market.
On weekends, the fall festival is in full swing. You’ll find live music, a corn maze, and a stroll through the sunflower field in addition to a food tent and other offerings.
Entrance fees range from $6-$9 depending on day of the week and whether reservations are made in advance. The apple orchards are open daily.
Tabora Farm and Rustic Valley Orchard
Tabora Farm and Rustic Valley Orchard are sister properties in Chalfont, both offering apple picking beginning September 1. Three doors apart, the farms each have an orchard, though more of the 4500+ trees (and more of the parking) are at the Rustic Valley location. It’s very easy to move between the two.
Styer Orchard
Styer Orchard is one of the best places in Bucks County to pick apples this fall. Located in Langhorne about 45 minutes north of Philadelphia, the sprawling property has lots of apple varieties to choose from as well as multiple pumpkin patches to visit via their free hayrides. There is no entrance fee to pick.
Solly Farm
Family owned and operated for over a century, Solly Farm is a great option for apple picking. Located in Warminster, the farm’s apple season starts the last weekend of September. Pick-your-own is available every weekend until the crop is gone. All the produce you could want plus plenty of baked goods are also available in their market.