Fall is upon us, which means it’s time for apple picking and all things pumpkin spiced! There are no shortage of farms in the Hudson Valley with fun fall festivities — from pumpkin patches and corn mazes, to apples by the bushel and cider donuts for days… there’s something for just about everyone: friends, couples, and families alike. No matter where you go, you’re guaranteed to have an apple-solutely wonderful time. 😉
Read on to discover 7 of the best places to go apple picking this fall, all within under 2 hours from NYC!
Dubois Farms — Highland, NY
This is my go-to spot for apple picking! I feel like it’s underrated because there are so many farms nearby, but it’s such a cute and picturesque spot. There’s free parking and they charge by the pound, so no pressure to buy a certain amount for entry. Besides fruit picking, they also have a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and adorable farm animals. Plus, stop by the tavern for homemade pizza and local cider + beer, and the bakery for all sorts of delicious goodies such as pies, jams, and snacks!
Lawrence Farms Orchard — Newburgh, NY
They charge $5 per person and more if you want to use a wagon, but they have a beautiful sunflower field in the summer that I’m dying to visit.
Harvest Moon Orchard — North Salem, NY
Pre-COVID times, Harvest Moon Orchard had a fall festival every year that was super popular — live music and tons of food trucks. Now, you need a reservation to visit (released 10 days ahead) and they’re only open on weekends. Tickets are $15/person for admission, and apples are charged by the pound. Heads up, they’re cash only! If coming from NYC, you can take the train from Grand Central to Croton Falls, where you can then call an Uber or a taxi to drive you to the orchard.
Outhouse Orchards — North Salem, NY
Just down the street from Harvest Moon Orchard is Outhouse Orchards. You must make a reservation and pre-pay here, and currently they’re charging $30 for a small bag (15 pounds) or $45 for a large bag (25 pounds). If coming from NYC, you can take the train from Grand Central to Croton Falls, where you can then call an Uber or a taxi to drive you to the orchard. Similar to Harvest Moon Orchard, you can take the train from Grand Central to Croton Falls, where you can then call an Uber or a taxi to drive you to the orchard.
Wilkens Farm — Yorktown, NY
Located in Westchester County, Wilkens Farm has a great bakery with all sorts of fall treats. You don’t need a reservation to visit and there’s no admission fee, but the minimum to enter the orchard for every 2 adults is 1 peck bag of apples and the minimum to enter the orchard for every 3-4 adults is a 1/2 bushel bag of apples.
Fishkill Farms — Hopewell Junction, NY
Reservations are required for pick-your-own, and tickets come in group packages. For weekends, it costs $46 for up to 5 people and 1 half-bushel bag of fruit. Additional bags cost $30 each.
Masker Orchards — Warwick, NY
No car? No problem! There’s a NJ Transit bus that goes straight from Port Authority to Warwick, and Maskers Orchards is just a short half-mile walk away. Beware, the bus can get super crowded with eager visitors, as this is the easiest farm to get to from NYC via public transportation. But if you have a car, even better! The orchard is also a drive-through, which means you can literally park right next to the trees you want. No admission or parking fee.
