Start the cool weather season right with a trip to one of PA’s apple orchards! Pennsylvania has one of the longest, most diverse apple seasons in America with dozens of apple varieties ripening at different times from mid-July to early November. We’ve picked the best spots for you and your family to enjoy the ultimate autumnal vibes across the state with pick-your-own apples, hayrides, and orchard adventures galore.
1. Linvilla Orchards
Media
A PA staple for the past century, take a trip to 100-year-old Linvilla Orchards to experience all the joys fall has to offer with hayrides, petting zoos, and pick-your-own experiences. Travel through the 20 acres of apple orchards to hand-select the most delicious variety or try their legendary apple cider doughnuts from the farm market—either will leave you apple happy!
2. Gray’s Apple Ridge Orchard
Jonestown
Home to 13 varieties of apples including Honeycrisp and Winesap, Gray’s Apple Ridge Orchard is a must-visit destination this fall. From mid-September to Thanksgiving, you can pick as many apples as you please and wind down with some delicious apple cider afterwards. Make sure to try their fresh pastries and jams, which perfectly complement the sweetness of the cider!
3. Sycamore Spring Orchard
Jonestown
With 10 varieties of ripe apples available for picking including Crispin, Jonagold, and Macoun and Gala, as well as an array of tasty treats straight from the kitchen, Sycamore Spring Orchard has everything you need for a tasty fall afternoon. Make sure to taste their famous, mouthwatering apple dumplings before you leave to top off a truly memorable experience.
4. Grim’s Orchard
Breinigsville
Between mid-September and late October, make your way to Grim’s Orchard for their Fall Festival, an event that’s held each Saturday and Sunday, Sep. 9 – Oct. 29, and filled with apple picking (26 varieties of apples to choose from), a cattle train, and hayrides. Sip on their delicious apple cider slushies to quench your thirst as you journey through the towering seven-acre corn maze.
5. Scholl Orchards
Bethlehem
A fourth-generation family-owned farm established more than 70 years ago, Scholl Orchards continues to grow its apple orchards and offerings with each season. Their selection includes newer varieties including EverCrisp, Ludacrisp, and CrimsonCrisp as well as some old favorites. Check out their harvest calendar to see what other ripe fruits and vegetables will emerge this fall!
6. Northern Adams County Apple Orchard Region
Adams County
With more than 280 million pounds of apples grown each year, it’s safe to say Adams County has some expertise in apple harvesting. Visit local restaurants and grocery stores throughout the county to taste apple juice, apple butter, and applesauce made from the fruit of the 20,000 acres of orchards in the area, or stop in at one of the orchards offering pick-your-own and enjoy fruit fresh from the tree.
7. Styer Orchard
Langhorne
Located 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Styer Orchard is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and unwind with family while picking apples or enjoying a hayride. The orchard is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend along on weekends in September and any day they are open in October to help sniff out the perfect fruit!
8. Shady Brook Farm
Yardley
Live music, apple picking, wagon rides, and the spooktacular Eerie Illuminations light show are just a small fraction of all the fun activities the Fall Fest at Shady Brook Farm has to offer. Opening in early September, take a sunny selfie on a sunflower-lined stroll, then take on the challenge of their five-acre corn maze and don’t forget to pick some of their delicious apples.
9. Brace’s Orchard
Dallas
Founded in 1828, Brace’s Orchard is one of the oldest orchards in the area, where they’ve been growing apples and other farm-fresh fruit on their 100-acre land for almost 200 years. Swing by their farm store and pick up a jug of the freshest apple cider you’ve ever tasted, which they press on site two days a week! Take home other fall treats including hand-picked apples, breads, pies, and their delicious donuts. And don’t forget to snag a few of their decadent caramel and chocolate apples to make your fall extra sweet.
10. Heller Orchards
Wapwallopen
A hotspot for high quality, crisp autumn apples since 1919, Heller Orchards is the perfect pick to get your apple fix this fall. Fall is the busiest time of year at this family farm—in fact, they pick about 40,000 bushels of apples every year! This orchard currently has nearly 20 varieties of apples, and their store has more take-home goodies, such as their fan-favorite apple cider. Their annual Apple Festival hosted in October offers even more seasonal festivities against the picture-perfect backdrop of the Council Cup scenic overlook.
11. Lakeland Orchard and Cidery
Scott Township
Lakeland Orchard and Cidery delivers the ultimate autumnal experience during their Apple Harvest Festival now through Oct. 29, starting with a wagon ride out to the orchards where you can fill up your basket with juicy apples. This u-pick apple orchard has more than 20,000 trees and more than 25 varieties from which to choose including some wacky—yet delicious—choices such as Pixie Crunch. While you’re there, sip some brews at the Cider Garden, try your hand at axe throwing, or sway to the sounds of local live music.
12. Mt. Airy Orchard
Dillsburg
Pick the ripest, juiciest apples at Mt. Airy Orchard from Labor Day until the end of October. Stroll through the grounds and hand-select your flavors from more than 25 apple varieties. When not perusing the 150 acres of fruit trees, dive into some fun fall activities such as a wagon ride, corn maze, and the kids’ fun zone.
13. Flinchbaugh’s Orchards
Hellam
Flinchbaugh’s Orchards is calling your name this fall! This fourth-generation family-run farm hosts pick-your-own apple season from mid-September to mid-October. The orchard features apple favorites such as Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Cameo. More seasonal fun includes picking your own pumpkins and sunflowers and getting lost in their five-acre corn maze. The theme for the maze this season is “Music to Our Ears”!
14. Maple Lawn Farms
New Park
Maple Lawn Farms is ready for you this pick-your-own season! Until November, fill up your basket with apples then fill up your glass with wine made from fruits straight from the orchard at the Maple Lawn Winery. Their Apple Blossom Wine features sweet flavors and a crisp finish that goes down smoothest when admiring PA’s countryside. You won’t want to miss their Fall Festival at the Farm featuring their Maize Quest Fun Park with its nine-acre corn maize and more than 30 fun attractions and activities, now through Nov. 5!
15. Apple Castle
New Wilmington
Hand-pick fond memories this fall at Apple Castle. The longevity and tradition of Apple Castle has made this family orchard a favorite spot for more than 150 years. Have fun on the farm with pick-your-own apples and pumpkins and other farm events. Don’t forget to visit their farm market and try their famous apple spice donuts made from their very own cider and apples.
16. Donnelly Orchards
Huntingdon
Specializing in apples, peaches, and cider, Donnelly Orchards hosts their annual end-of-season sale—Bin Day—on the last Saturday of October every year. On Bin Day, you’re invited to help clean out all their apple bins and take home some apple-solutely delicious varieties. Be sure to try their well-known fresh cider and cider slushies as a reward for all your hard work!
17. Triple B Farms
At Triple B Farms enjoy the ultimate pick-your-own experience. Select from a wide variety of apples from Honeycrisp to Jonagold to Fuji. Visit weekends this fall for Pop’s Farmyard Fun for a variety of fun and entertaining activities including hayrides, the corn maze, “Farmcade” games, and you won’t want to miss the singing chicken show!
18. Rodale Institute
Kutztown
Well ahead of the times, the Organic Apple Orchard at Rodale Institute was first planted in the 1980s to research best practices for growing apples organically. Today, the orchard grows 30 varieties of McIntosh apples ready to be picked starting in mid-September! Have the ultimate apple-filled experience at their Fall on the Farm where visitors venture to Rodale Institute to pick organic fruit from the orchard, enjoy live music, participate in games, and indulge their creative side with arts and crafts.
19. Hollabaugh Bros.
Biglerville
Located just minutes from historic Gettysburg, Hollabaugh Bros. is a family owned and operated fruit and vegetable farm that has been growing seasonal fruits and veggies for close to 70 years. During prime apple season, experience their Bin Porch where guests can fill their own bag mixing and matching more than 20 different varieties at a low price. When you’re not picking from the porch, you can take advantage of their pick your own experience and select your favorite variety right off the branch. This fall, complete their Orchard Scavenger Hunt and enjoy a tasty treat at the end.
Looking for more pick-your-own experiences or farmers markets in Pennsylvania? Be sure to check out the visitPA website and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram for more PA inspiration. Do not forget to sign up for our monthly Happy Thoughts e-newsletter so you never miss an update.