North Carolina ranks as 7th best state for producing apples in the US out of the 32 states that produce apples commercially. That is one of the many reasons to visit the broad variety of orchards for apple picking in North Carolina. Are you ready for apple picking season here in North Carolina? Here is a full list with the best orchards to go apple picking in NC.
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What is the best month to go apple picking in NC?
The apple picking season in North Carolina starts in mid-August and it runs until late October. Depending on the type of apple you would like to pick determines when can you go apple picking in NC as orchards offer over 40 different type of apples to pick in North Carolina. Some of the varieties start ripping as early as July and others are not ready until late September or early October. Almost all the orchards or apple farms in this list are are open daily throughout the season and allow you to pick your own apples and some even offer tours. We recommend to follow each farm on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to find out when the orchards are open to the public each season.
Where to go apple picking in NC?
The majority of apple orchards are located in Henderson County, the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina. Henderson County is located about an hour drive south of downtown Asheville. In fact, Hendersonville is the home the annual N.C. Apple Festival each Labor Day weekend. The majority of the top apple growing areas in NC are located in that region.
The best apple picking spots in NC are Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill in Morganton, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, Justus Orchard in Hendersonville, and Costos Farm and Apple House in Hendersonville.
Read more: Best blueberry picking spots in NC
What is the Apple Ripening Schedule in NC?
- Early August: Ginger Gold, Zestar
- Mid August: Gala, Swiss Gourmet
- Late August: Honeycrisp, Golden Supreme, Ruben, Tsugaru, Early Fuji
- Early September: Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Shuzuka
- Mid September: Cortland, Jonaprince, Mutsu, Fuji, Blushing Gold, Jonathan, Ultra Gold
- Late September: Cameo, Red Rome, Stayman, Winesap, Crimson Crisp, Taylor Rome
- Early October: Granny Smith, Winecrisp, York
- Mid October: Arkansas Black, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Gold Rush, Nittany, Evercrisp
Map of the best Apple Orchards in North Carolina
Apple Hill Orchard
If you are wondering where to pick apples in North Carolina, look no further than Apple Hill Orchard, which is located near Morganton, about 3 hours away from Raleigh. They offer pre-picked or u-pick apples. Either way make sure to try the delicious donuts, pies, and bread. At the farm you can also visit the cider mill. They offer over 12 types of apples with the first kind ripping in August and the last one ready until late October.
Address: 2075 Pleasant Hill Ave., Morganton
Apple Cider Donuts: Yes
Price: TBD
Photographer’s Pass: The Day Pass is $25 and includes the name of the person purchasing and is valid only for the day of purchase. The Annual Pass is $100 and includes the name of the person purchasing and is valid until the close of the season.
Hours: Early to Mid August – October 31. Monday-Saturday, 9 AM to 6:00 PM. Closed Sundays.
Carrigan Farms
Carrigan Farms has some of the best apple picking in North Carolina. They offer apples, sunflowers, strawberries, asparagus, and pumpkins U-Pick crops. It is only 2 and a half hours from Raleigh, and north of Charlotte. The farm ripe season for apples begin in September.
Address: 1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville
Apple Cider Donuts: No
Price: Cost is $11 per person, and includes a half-peck bag of apples, plus a hayride to the orchard.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday
Coston Farm and Apple House
Coston Farm and Apple House offers 11 varieties of apples to be picked up. They grow for Gerber Babies! Pets are not permitted in the Pick Your Own apple orchard or the Apple House
Address: 3748 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville NC 28792
Apple products: Yes, fried apple pies, apple pie, apple break, cookies, fresh cider, frozen cider, and apple butter.
Price: TBD
Hours: TBD
Creasman Farms
You can pick up your own apples at Creasman Farms every Sundays from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM during ripening season (after Labor Day in September and October). They offer over 40 varieties of heirloom and new apples, although the only ones you can u-pick are: Honeycrisp, Crimson Crisp, Gold Rush, Gala, Shenshu, Fuji, Mutsu, York Summer Rambo, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Rome, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Jonathan and Jonagold.
Address: 280 Bent Arrow Ln, Hendersonville, NC, 28792
Apple Cider Donuts: TBD
Price: TBD
Hours: TBD
Devil Dog Orchard
Devil Dog Orchard is the orchid to visit if you are in Greensboro, Burlington or Winston-Salem. It is the best places to go apple picking in North Carolina in the area! You can pick up apples (galas, red delicious and golden delicious) and try their muscadine grapes.
Address: 771 NC 150, Reidsville, NC
Apple Cider Donuts: No
Price: TBD
Hours: TBD
Granddad’s Apples N’ Such
At Granddad’s Apples you can eat Apple grits, apple peelers, apple slushies. It has a playground, Apple cannon, corn maze, animals you can feed and a cow train. The farm is open from August through mid-November. Make sure to try the apple turnovers, fried pies, apple bread, caramel apples, ice cream, and fresh cider.
Address: 2951 Chimney Rock Rd., Hendersonville, 828-685-1685
Apple Cider Donuts: Yes
Price: TBD
Hours: TBD
Justus Orchard
A great place to go apple picking in North Carolina is Justus Orchard. They have a playground, a jumping pillow, and a cow train. You can u-pick over 19 varieties. Make sure to try the fried apple pies, cider, apple donuts. Their apple season starts in mid August to early November and also offer blackberry picking from July to August.
Address: 187 Garren Road, Hendersonville, NC, 28792
Apple Cider Donuts: Yes
Price: TBD
Hours: Seasonal Days run from July to Early November. Monday-Friday 8:30 am- 5:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday 8:30 am- 6:00 pm.
Millstone Creek Orchards
Millstone Creek Orchards is the perfect place for apple picking and tasting some cold-pressed apple cider and apple cider slushies! Make sure to visit Millstone Creek Orchards for the Apple Fest, which happens every weekend in September. You can pick up your own apples, watch a cider pressing demonstration, go apple bobbing, take a hayride, listen to story time with Johnny Appleseed and sample delicious apple cider doughnuts, apple turnovers and apple cider slushies. Make sure to pick your own muscadine and scuppernong grapes.
Address: 506 Parks Crossroad Church Road, Ramseur
Apple Cider Donuts: Yes
Price: $8 for adults and free for children under age 2
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9-6pm and Sunday: 1-5:30pm.
The Orchard at Altapass
The Orchard at Altapass is the most unique and beautiful destination for apple picking in North Carolina, as the orchard is located along the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 328. The orchard is open from May until October with plenty of activities to offer its visitors including live music, walking trails, and educational activities.
Address: 1025 Orchard Road, Spruce Pine
Apple Cider Donuts: No
Price: $10 per half peck
Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., through Nov. 1
Sky Top Orchard
A great place to go apple picking in North Carolina is Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock. Do not forget to try the apple cider donuts, fresh apple cider, hot caramel covered apples, apple-cider slushies and fresh, and visit the animals at the farm. Bring home some homemade jams and jellies as well. The farm is about four hours from the Triangle and offers over 22 varieties of apples good for picking.
Address: 3403 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock
Apple Cider Donuts: Yes
Price: TBD
Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6 PM from August to October. The farm is open August through mid December.
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard has over 21 varieties of apples for picking and it is located four and a half hours from Raleigh. Make sure to try the apple cider donuts and pumpkin donuts as well as the apple butter. Check out their apple cannon and try not to get lost at their 5-acre corn maze. The farm is open from mid August to early November. Here you could pick you own apples, grapes and pumpkins. Some of the apples you can pick are Fuji, Mutsu, Jonathan, Jonagold, Red and Golden Delicious, Cameo, Shizuka, and Gala Apples.
Address: 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville
Apple Cider Donuts: Yes
Price:
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.– 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.– 6. p.m.
Knob Creek Orchards
Knob Creek Orchards does not offer pick-your-own apples but you are allowed to bag your own apples from the bins. You should try their apple cider, apple jelly, apple butter and apple ice cream in a homemade waffle cone. You could also purchase a variety of jams, jellies, pickles, veggies, peaches, strawberries, and blackberries and honey gathered from hives located throughout the orchard.
Address: 6471 Fallston Road Lawndale, NC, 28090
Apple Cider Donuts: TBD
Price: TBD
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Lyda Farms
Lyda Farm is open from June to November for apple picking at the orchard, pumpkins and winter squash. Beginning in mid-August you can pick Fuji, Gala, Ozark and Gingergold. In September you can get Red and Golden Delicious and in early October you could find Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, Stayman Winesap and Fuji apples ripen.
While at the farm make sure to visit the barnyard, where you will find goats, donkeys, geese, and chickens.
Address: 3465 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 828-685-3459
Apple Cider Donuts: TBD
Price: TBD
Hours: TBD
Barber Orchards
Barber Orchard farm is open from August to Christmas Eve. You can purchase a broad range of variety of fresh apples from the farm, but you must try their apple turnovers, fritters, and pies. Without a doubt, a great place to go apple picking in NC.
Address: 2855 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville
Apple Cider Donuts: TBD
Price: TBD
Hours: TBD