With the crisp, fall breeze making its way towards us (and already giving us a bit of a sneak peek), it’s that time of year to start planning a day trip out to some of the many orchards near NYC.
Prepare for a fall-tastic day apple picking with friends and family at these 10 orchards (relatively) near New York City.
1. Fishkill Farms: Hopewell Junction, NY
Available by reservation only, Fishkill Farms’ apple picking is officially open for the season! Offering a wide variety of organic and eco-certified apples, this farm is sure to fulfill all of your apple desires. With reservations, groups are granted access to the cider bar, and reservation options range from a weekday to weekend packages. Both include entry for up to five people to pick up to two half-peck bags worth of apples!
📍 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY
🚗 1 hour 45 minutes driving
2. Hanks Pumpkintown: Water Mill, NY
Hanks Pumpkintown opens for apple picking on Saturday, September 9th, and will be available on Saturdays and Sundays, so be sure to bring your apple appetite! With an ever-changing variety of available apples to pick, you can keep an eye on their facebook to stay updated. Prices list at $30 a peck (approximately 10lbs) of apples with a maximum of four people per bag. Make sure to enjoy the maze park afterwards as well! Find more here.
📍240 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY
🚗 2 hours 25 minutes by car / 2 and a half hours by train (LIRR Montauk Branch) + five minute cab ride
3. Pennings Orchard & Cidery: Warwick, NY
This 50-acre orchard in Warwick, NY is currently open for the season and has lots of fun options after you’ve picked your bushels of apples (now open on weekends and weekdays, with reservations encouraged for weekend sessions). Enjoy a cidery with fresh, crisp, hard ciders, wood-fired pizza truck, and a market with farm-fresh items and baked goods like delicious apple cider donuts.
📍 169 NY-94, Warwick, NY
🚗 2 hours from NYC by car / 1 hour 40 min bus ride from Port Authority (#196 bus) + five minute cab ride
4. Love Apple Farm: Ghent, NY
Established in 1969, this farm has been offering locally sourced fruits and vegetables to the New York Hudson Valley area for 50 years. Though not yet open for apple picking, Love Apple Farm is open for 80 acres of blueberries, red raspberries, and a very small crop of sour cherry picking!
📍 1421 NY-9H, Ghent, NY
🚗 2 hours 45 minutes by car
5. Milk Pail Farm: Water Mill, NY
This Hamptons U-Pick farm is open Fridays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can purchase from one of their apple picking options ranging from 5lb-20lb bags. Growing twenty apple varieties during the fall months, you can enjoy your time at the farm apple picking, checking out the fresh market, or just enjoying the weather. The apple picking season begins Saturday, September 2nd.
📍 50 Horsemill Lane, Water Mill, NY
🚗 2 hours 40 minutes by car / 2 and 40 minutes by train (LIRR Montauk Branch) + seven minute cab ride
6. Wightman Farms: Morristown, NJ
Located under an hour away from the city, Wightman Farms is currently offering apple picking with ticketed entry. Operating Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, this farm has everything from a corn maze to food trucks. They even do pumpkin slingshots on Saturdays and Sundays! Head to this farm to be catapulted into a fabulous fall frenzy.
📍 1111 Mt Kemble Ave, Morristown, NJ
🚗 1 hour by car / 1 hour and 20 minute train ride from Penn Station (Morris & Essex Line on NJ Transit) + 10 minute cab ride
7. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm: Yorktown Heights, NY
Open Wednesdays-Mondays pick-your-own times are currently running from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can receive your bags and picking poles upon arrival and then you’re ready to begin! When you’re not apple picking enjoy a number of homemade treats from pressed apple cider to freshly baked pies and famous apple cider donuts, as well as a selection gift items.
📍 1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY
🚗 1 hour 20 minutes by car / 2 hours 20 minutes by train (Metro North Peekskill line), plus five minute cab ride or 30 minute walk
8. Battleview Orchards: Freehold, NJ
Family-owned and operated, Battleview Orchard encourages the public to come out and pick from their locally grown apples this fall. The orchard’s picking hours operate daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and is closed Tuesdays. Their apple picking availability varies greatly, so be sure to check out their website to see what apple varieties are available when. Find out more on their website here.
📍 91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ
🚗 1 hour 20 minute ride driving / 2 hours 20 minute by bus (NJ Transit)
9. Eastmont Orchards: Colts Neck, NJ
At Eastmont Orchards apple picking is currently open however it varies greatly depending on the type of apple, so make sure to check their variety guide and timeline on their website alongside their posted tips and techniques to help you pick apples. They’re open Monday-Friday 9a.m. – 4:30p.m., and Saturday-Sunday 9a.m. – 5:30p.m. Learn more here.
📍 321 County Rd 537, Colts Neck, NJ
🚗 1 hour 15 minute drive / 2 hours 30 minutes by NJ Transit (New Jersey Coast line) + five minute walk
10. Dr. Davies Farm: Congers, NY
You can use Dr. Davies’s online booking system to reserve your spot for picking, which opens for the season on Saturday, September 2nd. Walk-ins are accepted but reservations are highly suggested. Across 55 acres, this orchards offers 20 different varieties of apples from over 4,000 trees. Pickers are able to choose either a 1/2 peck bag of apples for one person or a 1/2 bushel bag for up to 6 people.
📍 306 NY-304, Congers, NY
🚗 1 hour 15 minute drive
Bonus: Harbes Orchard: Riverhead, NY
These orchards span 78-acres, giving you plenty of room to experience a day full of fall festivities beginning Saturday, September 2nd. The orchard offers 27 different apple varieties, and growing their assortment with a special trellis system, this orchard ensures that all heights are able to reach for their own perfect apple. This is especially great when bringing along young children. More info. here.
📍 5698 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY
🚗 2 hours 30 minutes by car / 2 hour 20 minutes train ride (LIRR) + eight minute ride