Visiting a Pick Your Own Apples Farm or two is an Autumn tradition to be treasured, the perfect combination of a short road trip adventure, outdoor fun, fresh air, and tasty treats with a favorite fruit. Whether you stay close by or head all the way to the mountains for your Apple Picking Adventure, make it a perfect North Carolina day at one of these farms, sorted by Distance from the QC.
Carrigan Farms
1261 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28115
Picking Season: Apple picking begins Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Thru 9/22/24
Driving Distance: Approximately 35 minutes
Reservations are required for apple picking and the cost of apple picking is $15.00 per person for everyone ages 2 and above. Young babies 23 months and under are free; however, they do not get a bag of apples.
Beginning September 3rd and lasting through September 22nd, apple picking hayrides will be available – please check the “Book Now” button for a calendar of dates and times. A $5 non-refundable deposit is due per person at the time of booking and then $10 more is due at the door. The farm only accepts cash for payment at the door. Please note that their apple season only lasts about eighteen days and the best selection is earliest in the season.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery
1860 Black Hwy, York, SC 29745
Picking Season: U-Pick reservations for Sept now open (reservation only)
Driving Distance: Approximately 47 minutes
Windy Hill is a boutique apple orchard and hard cider producer. Pick your own or enjoy pre-picked apples, fresh-pressed apple cider, donuts, and more. While you’re there, be sure to enjoy Hard Cider tastings at their Cider Bar, open at the orchard on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Hail Damage Note: Due to the severe hail storm that impacted our area this spring, a large portion of this year’s Windy Hill apple crop is damaged. For the 2024 season, they will be offering apple picking at a discounted rate of $5 per person (which includes a ¼ peck bag) and significantly decreasing the number of reservations available.
Reservations for September picking are now available. Click Here for Apple Picking Reservations at Windy Hill. In order to limit capacity and insure availability of fruit for picking ALL PICK YOUR OWN REQUIRES A PRE-PURCHASED RESERVATION. Everyone 2 years of age and older must have their own pre-purchased reservation/bag. You do not need a reservation to visit The Farm Stand or Cider Bar.
Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill
2075 Pleasant Hill Ave, Morganton, NC 28655
Picking Season: NOW OPEN
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 18 minutes
Nestled in the South Mountains of Western North Carolina between CLT and Asheville, Apple Hill Orchard is located just south of Morganton, NC, and has been growing apples since 1955. They are now OPEN FOR THE 2024 SEASON ~ Mon.-Sat. 9:00-6:00. Closed Sundays. A Picking Pass is required to enter the orchard grounds; get yours here before you go, and check out their farm harvest calendar to see the apples currently available for U-pick here.
Perry Lowe Orchard
4085 Price Road | Moravian Falls, NC 28654
Picking Season: September & October Fridays: 12pm-5pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am-5pm. Also open on Labor Day Monday.
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 19 minutes
Opening Weekend is August 31 & September. Reservations are required for u-pick. Only open Fri/Sat/Sun. Admission is $2 plus the cost of the apples that you pick. Tractor ride through the orchard is included with $2 admission. Tractor playground, jump pad, apple cannon, megaslide and bee train are separate cost. Combo pricing available.
Blueberry Thrill Farm
6938 Eaglesfield Rd, Gibsonville, NC 27249
Picking Season: Stay tuned for an official opening date
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 36 minutes
Blueberry Thrill Farm offers a limited calendar of U-pick apples for fall ~ only open select Saturdays from 8am-12pm. Open days are subject to change (particularly at the start and end of our season) depending on the amount of fruit available.
Check their insta page for updates on an opening date.
Millstone Creek Orchards
506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316
Picking Season: Apple Picking’ Adventure Available September 7 thru 28
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 41 minutes
Instead of a self-guided u-pick option, Millstone offers an Apple Pickin’ Adventure on select Saturdays & Sundays in September. During your adventure, you’ll harvest your own apples and enjoy a host of other fall favorites – hayrides, cider pressing demonstrations, & apple cider slushies. Reservations are required and the fee is $18.95/person (Kids 2 & Under: Free).
Grandad’s Apples
2951 Chimney Rock Road. Hendersonville, NC 28792
Picking Season: U Pick Now Open, every day of the week
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 46 minutes
This 80-acre Hendersonville farm is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with U-Pick on a couple of varieties and more pre-picked apples available. Their corn maze is now open at $5/person. Their U-pick apples are sold by the peck size ONLY (10lbs) which is $14. Head to their IG page to see what variety of apples are offered before you go, as well as what other activities are happening on the farm. Their Apple Cannon will start after Labor Day.
Sky Top Orchard
1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd. Zirconia, NC 28731
Picking Season: Open Daily from 9am – 6pm
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 47 minutes
This North Carolina orchard has autumn mountaintop views that are one-of-a-kind and their U-pick orchard is huge and full of different areas to explore. There is an apple ready for picking from August through October, so check out their Ripening Schedule to see when your favorites are in season.
Sky Top is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and has its bee train, hayride, apple cannon, and gem mine operating for some more fall fun. Be sure to try their fresh apple cider and hot apple cider doughnuts while you’re there.
Justus Orchard
187 Garren Road. Hendersonville, NC 28792
Picking Season: U Pick now open
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 53 minutes
Justus Orchard is located in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains, perfect for an overnight or weekend trip. This fourth-generation orchard and farm offers pre-picked and pick-your-own apples with a variety to choose from. Visit here to see the ripening schedule for this year, and we find their Facebook page here to be the most up to date.
Stepp Farms Hillcrest Orchard
170 Stepp Orchard Dr. Hendersonville, NC 28792
Picking Season: U Pick now open
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 54 minutes
Stepp Farm’s Hillcrest Orchard is perfect if you’re looking for a full day of family fun. Pick your own apples from their six orchards with 26 different varieties ~ current u-pick apples are Gala, Ginger Gold, Early Fuji, and Honeycrisp. Plan your trip before you go and know what’s available to pick by visiting here, and enjoy lots of farm fun activities:
- 5 Acre Corn Maze (7 Days a Week)
- Apple Cannon (Saturday and Sunday)
- Jump Pad (Saturday and Sunday)
- Wagon Rides (Saturday and Sunday)
Coston Farm and Apple House
3748 Chimney Rock Rd. Hendersonville, NC 28792
Picking Season: U Pick now open Monday-Saturday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 55 minutes
Visit here for the ripening schedule. And don’t forget to check out the Coston Apple House Gift Shop and Bakery when you go, where you can buy cider, homemade apple pies, fried apple pies, frozen apple cider slushies, caramel apples, and more.
Creasman Farms
280 Bent Arrow Ln Hendersonville, NC, 28792
Picking Season: Sundays ONLY, from after Labor Day (9/8/24) thru October
Driving Distance: Approximately 1 hour, 53 minutes
Historic Orchard at Altapass
1025 Orchard Rd. Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Picking Season: U-Pick GUIDED TOURS available
Driving Distance: Approximately 2 hours
Another orchard steeped in history, the Orchard at Altapass is a must-visit. For over a quarter-century, the Orchard, a non-profit organization and preservation orchard with some trees over 100 years old and still producing, propagates some of the best heirloom apples possible (with the least chemicals), creates a pollinator-friendly environment, and hosts activities for all ages that educate, enlighten, and entertain.
U-Picking at the Orchard is a guided experience. Pickers leave from the Apple Shed located behind the red barn and walk through the fields to the ready-to-pick apples. Your guide will talk about the ripe apples and answer any questions. The Orchard is a small batch heirloom apple orchard. Not all apples are available for U-Picking.
