Nothing makes me feel all the fall feels quite like apple picking. And while many people can go near their hometown, I think it’s fun to hit the road for an RV apple picking adventure. In this article, I’ll share tips for planning your own apple picking trip on the road or close to home.
Favorite Apple Picking Spots Across the U.S.
First, let’s look at a list of the best apple picking spots I’ve discovered around the country. These orchards and farms are well known and well loved for a reason. Each one has wonderful produce and activities, and choosing to visit one of them will leave you with great autumn memories.
Apple Picking Northeast
New England is a picturesque place for apple picking, and it produces some excellent fruit for pies, ciders, and more. Here are a few places to check out.
Demarest Farms, Hillsdale, NJ
Demarest Farms is just outside of New York City, making it within easy reach of the Big Apple. In addition to apples, the farm grows peaches and pumpkins for you to pick 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.
There are several campgrounds near New York City where you can stay while you enjoy the area.
Poverty Lane Orchards, Lebanon, NH
Want to take a step back in time? Poverty Lane Orchards is an enormous New England farm that still operates much as it did in the 1950s. The farm’s ciders are the main attraction, but I also really appreciate the U-pick experience, especially considering the farm offers many lesser-known apple varieties.
There are lots of campgrounds in New Hampshire, so you can enjoy the orchards and other New England beauty. You might also want to take some time to drive the Kancamagus Highway while you’re visiting the state – it’s an iconic drive for fall foliage!
Apple Picking Southeast
Enjoy warmer southern weather while you spend an afternoon outdoors picking apples and sampling fall treats.
Carter Mountain Orchard, Charlottesville, VA
Carter Mountain Orchard is just a few miles from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Here, you’ll find 11 different types of apples. You’ll also discover 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 there are food trucks and live music regularly throughout the fall season.
There are lots of campgrounds near Charlottesville where you can stay while you enjoy these fall activities.
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 is 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, Mercier has some seriously delicious fried apple pies!
You’ll find many campgrounds near Atlanta where you can stay on your apple picking trip.
Eckert’s Versailles Orchard, Versailles, KY
Eckert’s Versailles Orchard offers apple picking in the heart of Kentucky. Besides apple picking, the orchard also has a 90-foot slide, a haunted hayride, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and a store that sells apple pies, apple butter, and other tasty treats. I highly recommend grabbing an apple cider donut or two as well!
Versailles is close to Lexington, Kentucky and you’ll find lots of campgrounds in Lexington where you can stay during your trip.
Apple Picking Midwest
The crisp fall air of the Midwest lends itself to a brisk afternoon of picking fruit, followed by a warm mug of cider or a tasty apple pie!
All Seasons Orchard, Woodstock, IL
If you’re looking for apple picking near Chicago, All Seasons Orchard is 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. You can also find your way through the on-site corn maze or tackle the ropes course.
You’ll find lots of campgrounds near Chicago where you can stay during your trip.
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 for picking. It also has a fun haystack play area for kids, farm animals to visit, and lots of local goods for sale. For an extra kick, head to the on-site tasting room to sample wines made from grapes and apples grown on the farm.
There are lots of campgrounds around Minneapolis where you can stay during a visit to that area.
Apple Holler, Sturtevant, WI
One of the most popular places to go apple picking in the country, Apple Holler is 30 miles south of downtown Milwaukee in the town of Sturtevant. The farm has been around since the early 1900s, but is now much more than just a farm. 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.
Check out these campgrounds near Milwaukee if you’re planning a stay there.
Apple Picking West
Washington is famous for its tasty apples, and other places in the West also offer lots of apples and fall activities.
Swans Trail Farms, Snohomish, WA
If you head to Washington, you’ll find Swans Trail Farms. Just 50 minutes from Seattle, this farm has more than 4,000 apple trees, which grow several different types of apples. Visit during one of the many fall festivals the farm hosts for corn mazes, pumpkin patches, a petting zoo, hayrides, and more.
If you’re planning a fall trip to the area, check out these campgrounds near Seattle.
Oak Glen, California
Oak Glen is an entire mountain community dedicated to apple orchards. Basically, it’s Southern California’s apple country. The region is about 80 miles from Los Angeles, in the San Bernardino Mountains. You can spend the day – or several days – traveling from orchard to orchard, picking apples, sampling fall treats, and shopping for gifts and souvenirs.
There are lots of campgrounds in San Bernardino and in the San Bernardino National Forest above the city, where you can stay as you explore the region.
Apple Picking with Harvest Hosts: An RVer’s Dream
One excellent way to extend your apple and cider-donut RV trip is to stay right on-site at the orchard. Harvest Hosts is a group of more than 9,000 orchards, farms, wineries, and other hosts.
You’ll find plenty of U-pick apple farms with RV parking and camping that are Harvest Host sites where you can camp for a night. Campsites do not have hookups, so RVers need to be completely self-contained.
To camp at a Harvest Hosts apple picking site or other venue, you just need to sign up for a membership. This allows you an unlimited number of overnight stays at various Harvest Host locations (one night per location). While you’re there, be sure to purchase something from the place – apple treats, or a bottle of wine, or another offering from the owners of the small business that is hosting you!
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 trip.
Check Picking Seasons
Picking seasons will be different from one farm to the next. They’re dependent on the location of the farm, the weather that year, and the varieties 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 apples and enjoy the picking season.
Confirm Picking Hours
Check the farm’s website or call ahead to find out when they’re open for apple picking. Keep in mind that the farm store or on-site restaurant may be open outside of picking hours, so you will want to confirm those hours specifically.
Carry Cash
While most farms are able to accept cards as payment these days, there are a handful out there that only accept cash. In other cases, cards will be accepted for most things, but certain products or activities may require cash. To be on the safe side, bring some cash along on your trip.
Bring Containers
While some places provide containers, many U-pick farms require you to bring your own containers to carry the fruits of your labor. Make sure you have some bags or baskets to gather apples in and transport them home.
Wear Good Shoes
The ground in an apple orchard can be uneven, and you’re probably going to be doing quite a bit of walking. Because of this, I recommend wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes that will offer your feet and ankles some support.
Dress in Layers
The weather during the fall months is usually pleasant. But chilly breezes blow in from time to time, and sunny days can warm up a lot. It’s a good idea to dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing based on the weather.
Know How to Find Good Apples
Know how to choose good apples while you’re 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 and how much they cost. Then, plan your visit while they’re going on, and be sure to make time to enjoy them.
There are tons of amazing places to go apple picking in the U.S.! Why not rent an RV and start planning your apple picking adventure now?
