Nothing is more quintessentially fall than apple picking. The two go hand-in-hand — so much so that some people won’t let a single apple picking season go by without at least one apple picking adventure.
Many people can of course go apple picking near their hometown. That said, a much more fun option is to hit the road in your RV to seek out extra special apple picking experiences. In this article, we will give you some tips for doing just that.
Favorite Apple Picking Spots Across the U.S.
Let’s start with a list of the best apple picking locations in the country. These spots are well known and well loved for a reason. Each one has something wonderful to offer, and choosing to visit one of these farms is sure to leave you with some wonderful memories.
Carter Mountain Orchard
Charlottesville, VA
The perfect addition to any visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Carter Mountain Orchard is located just a few miles away from the historic home. Here, you’ll find an astounding 11 types of apples as well as a bakery that sells all sorts of apple-based sweet treats, including freshly made apple cider donuts! Tasting rooms offer adults a chance to try local hard cider and wine, and live music happens regularly throughout the fall season.
Rent an RV in Charlottesville, VA!
Mercier Orchards
Blue Ridge, GA
Located about an hour and a half outside of Atlanta, Mercier Orchards is an excellent place to visit during apple picking season. This was one of the very first farms in the state to grow, press, ferment, and bottle hard cider, as well as wine. On top of that, the place has some seriously awesome fried apple pies!
Demarest Farms
Hillsdale, NJ
We appreciate that Demarest Farms is found just outside of NYC, making it easy for much of New England to reach. In addition to apples, the farm grows peaches and pumpkins that can be picked during the fall months, and the cider donuts sold here are phenomenal. Be sure to visit during the Halloween lights show for an extra special experience.
Poverty Lane Orchards
Lebanon, NH
Want to take a step back in time? Poverty Lane Orchard is an enormous New England farm that still operates much as it did way back in the 1950s, making it an ideal spot for history lovers. The farm’s ciders are the main attraction here, but we also really appreciate the U-pick experience, especially considering the farm offers many lesser-known apple varieties.
Swans Trail Farms
Snohomish, WA
If you head way over to Washington, you’ll find Swans Trail Farms. Located just 50 minutes outside of Seattle, this farm plays host to over 4,000 apple trees, which grow 4 different types of apples. Visiting during one of the many festivals the farm hosts during the fall makes for an extra exciting visit that includes corn mazes, pumpkin patches, a petting zoo, hayrides, and more.
Eckert’s-Boyd Orchard
Versailles, KY
Most people wouldn’t expect to find apple picking in Kentucky, but Eckert’s-Boyd Orchard offers just that, and does a great job of it. Besides apple picking, the orchard also plays host to a 90-foot slide, a haunted hayride, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and a store that sells yummy treats such as apple pies and apple butter. We highly recommend grabbing an apple cider donut or two as well!
Rent and RV in Versailles, KY!
All Seasons Orchard
Woodstock, IL
Hoping to find apple picking near Chicago? All Season Orchard is located about 60 miles outside of the Windy City and is an excellent place to gather apples. Once you’re finished picking, head back to the Farm Market to watch apple cider, caramel apples, and apple cider donuts being made, or attempt to navigate the onsite corn maze. Thrill seekers will also want to take a ride on the zipline found here.
Deardorff Orchards
Waconia, MN
Found around 30 miles outside of Minneapolis, Deardorff Orchards is a wonderful place to spend the day as a family. The farm is home to over 3,000 trees, meaning plenty of apples to choose from. It also has a fun haystack play area for kids, plenty of farm animals to visit, and lots of local goods for sale. For an extra kick, head to the onsite tasting room to sample wines made from grapes and apples grown on the farm.
Apple Holler
Sturtevant, WI
One of the most popular places to go apple picking in the country, Apple Holler is found around 30 miles south of Milwaukee in the town of Sturtevant. The farm has been around since the early 1900s, but is now much more than just a farm. Here you’ll find a restaurant, a Biergarten, a bakery, and all sorts of fun seasonal activities, making it an exciting place to visit with friends or family.
Apple Picking with Harvest Hosts: An RVer’s Dream
Absolutely any of the locations above would be an excellent choice for your apple picking adventures this fall. In fact, the only way to beat those locations would be to immerse yourself even further in the fall farm culture by parking your RV on an apple farm.
That’s right, it’s totally possible to park your RV, pick apples, and enjoy other fall farm activities all in one location. The key? Harvest Hosts!
Harvest Hosts allows members to dry camp at farms, orchards, and wineries all across the U.S. From apple picking in Long Island to farms in Oregon, this membership gives you access to a number of unique U-pick experiences that are sure to enhance your RV travels. We honestly can’t imagine a better way to enjoy the apple picking season than by staying at a Harvest Hosts location!
How to Have a Successful Apple-Picking Adventure
Obviously, you want to make sure your apple picking RV adventure goes off without a hitch. Below are some tips that will help ensure the success of your venture.
Check Picking Seasons
Picking seasons will be different from one farm to the next, and are dependent on (1) the location of the farm, (2) the weather that year, and (3) the variety of apples being grown. Make sure to check picking seasons for the farm you plan to visit before you go to ensure you’ll actually be able to get some apples.
Confirm Picking Hours
Ensuring you visit during picking season is important of course, but it’s also important that you visit during picking hours. Make sure to check the farm’s website or call ahead to find out when picking is allowed. Keep in mind that the farm store or onsite restaurant may be open outside of picking hours, so you will want to confirm picking hours specifically.
Carry Cash
While most farms are able to accept cards as payment these days, there are a handful out there that can only accept cash. In other cases, cards will be accepted for most things, but certain things may require cash for one reason or another. To be on the safe side, stick some cash in your wallet before heading out.
Bring Containers
While some places will provide containers, there are many U-pick farms that require you to bring your own containers to carry your pickings home. Make sure you have some bags or baskets to gather apples in and carry them home.
Wear Good Shoes
The ground in an apple orchard is never going to be perfectly level, and you’re probably going to be doing a decent amount of walking. Because of this, we recommend wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes that will offer your feet and ankles some support.
Dress in Layers
Generally speaking, the weather during the fall months is pleasant. That said, chilly breezes do blow in from time to time and some of the sunnier days can feel pretty hot. For this reason, it’s a good idea to dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing based on the weather and how you’re feeling at any given moment.
Know How to Find Good Apples
Know how to choose good apples while out picking:
- Look for smooth skin that is free of blemishes, holes, or bruises.
- Feel for firm flesh without mushy spots.
- Smell for a sweet, pleasant aroma.
Learn How to Properly Pick Apples
You’ll also want to make sure you understand how to pick the apples without damaging the apple you’re picking, the other apples on the tree, or the tree itself:
- Grasp the apple with the palm of your hand.
- Lift the apple up and give it a quick twist.
- Try to keep the stem attached to the apple.
- Avoid shaking or bending the branches.
- Place apples gently into your bag or basket to avoid bruising.
- Never climb the trees.
Make Time for Other Activities
A huge number of apple orchards offer events and activities beyond apple picking during the fall season. These include things like live music, hayrides, hay or corn mazes, pony rides, and more. Find out when these activities are happening, visit while they’re going on, and be sure to make time for them.
What to Do with All Those Apples? Try These Apple Recipes
Once you’ve finished picking apples, you’re likely to be left with more apples than you can eat in any reasonable amount of time. Fortunately, there are plenty of great ways to use apples in cooking and even preserve them for later. Here are some of our favorites.
Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 medium-sized apples, peeled and sliced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 baking dish.
- Toss the apple slices with lemon juice and spread them evenly in the dish.
- In a bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Add softened butter to the mixture, and blend until the topping is crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden and apples are bubbling.
- Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving. Best enjoyed warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 6–8 tbsp ice water
For the filling:
- 6–7 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
1. Prepare the crust:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar.
- Add chilled butter and cut into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Slowly add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough starts to come together. Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
2. Prepare the filling:
- In a large bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice.
- Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour, mixing until apples are coated evenly.
3. Assemble the pie:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roll out one dough disc on a floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie dish. Place the dough into the dish, pressing gently.
- Add the apple filling into the crust, dotting with pieces of butter.
- Roll out the second dough disc and place it over the top of the apples. Trim excess dough, then crimp the edges together to seal.
- Brush the top with a beaten egg, and cut a few slits for steam to escape.
4. Bake:
- Bake the pie at 400°F for 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 35–40 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
- Let cool for at least 2 hours before slicing.
Enjoy with whipped cream or ice cream!
Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 lbs apples (about 12 medium-sized, mix of sweet and tart varieties like Fuji and Granny Smith)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup apple cider or water
Instructions
1. Prepare the apples:
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into small chunks.
- Place the apples into a large slow cooker (or use a large pot for stovetop method).
2. Add spices and liquid:
- Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, and apple cider (or water) to the slow cooker.
- Stir the mixture to evenly coat the apples.
3. Cook:
- Simmer the apples over low heat for about 2–3 hours, stirring frequently, until thick and dark.
4. Blend:
- Once the apples are fully cooked, use an immersion blender or transfer to a regular blender and puree until smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and cook uncovered for another 30–60 minutes on low (for slow cooker) or 15–30 minutes (for stovetop) to thicken further if needed.
5. Store:
- Let the apple butter cool and transfer it into jars. It will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or can be frozen for several months.
Apple butter is great on toast, pancakes, or as a spread for muffins and biscuits!
As you can see, there are tons of amazing places to go apple picking in the U.S., and lots of great ways to use those apples once you’ve picked them. Why not rent an RV and start planning your apple picking adventure now?
