Summer is coming to a close soon, and with that, we will soon be relishing the crisp autumn air in full swing in New York. With the autumn season comes seasonal activities. The crunchy leaves falling on the ground prompts a person’s fall spirit. While there are a lot of activities you can do at home during fall, New York also offers fun apple and pumpkin picking spots throughout the state.
If you’re looking for an apple orchard or pumpkin patch for your friends or family, check out our list of 7 of the best spots to check out this fall season.
Best Apple and Pumpkin Picking Spots
1.) Barton Orchards | 63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag, NY
The Barton Orchards include plenty of activities other than just apple picking. This upstate New York 175-acre farm includes a corn maze, hay rides, live music, and food. Be sure to check their calendar before you go, as some activities are only available on certain days. The farm also allows for well-behaved dogs, so you don’t need to leave them at home.
2.) Lawrence Farms Orchards | 306 Frozen Ridge Rd, Newburgh, NY
This farm isn’t just for your apple-picking pleasure, it’s actually teeming with all sorts of fruits and vegetables. Pick your own (PYO) is only $7, and they have listed what is available to pick during which season on their website. They also have a pretty neat map on their site that shows the different parts of the farm and what is grown in that area. This farm also includes pumpkin picking during the fall season.
3.) Apple Ridge Orchards | 101 Jessup Rd, Warwick, NY
The name says it all for this apple-picking farm. Only about a 2-hour drive from Manhattan, this orchard includes PYO apples and pumpkins! They have various apple trees, and they even have dwarf trees so that the little ones can reach them. Admission to the farm is $3 per person, and PYO apples do come at a weight rate. They recommend you call before visiting to determine the rate for the day, depending on the ripeness. But the rate is usually about $32 per half-bushel (about 21 lbs of apples) and comes with a free PYO bag. In addition to apples, you can pick any size of pumpkins to your liking for $13/per pumpkin. If you’re looking for various activities, they also have honey bee hives, hay rides, a corn field, their own apple cider donuts, fresh-pressed cider, and a petting farm.
4.) Wilkins Fruit and Fir | 1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY
An hour’s drive from Manhattan, this farm is the place to go if you are looking to pick apples and buy a Christmas tree. Throughout their harvest season, they offer peaches, apples, and pumpkins. According to their website and history, “the farm continues mainly as a Pick-Your-Own and Choose-and-Cut farm with peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, over 40 varieties of apples, pumpkins, and Douglas and Fraser Fir Christmas trees available for harvest. Please note that you must purchase a certain amount of apples if you participate. They generally ask that you purchase at least 1 peck back for every two adults OR 1/2 bushel bag of apples for every three-four adults. Two of the original barns are open to the public as markets. Today, one of the barns functions as a bakery with apple cider donuts, strudel sticks, and fruit pies available for sale. The other barn is primarily the farm market with pre-picked produce, fresh apple cider, honey, maple syrup, and preserves.” They are open every day except Tuesdays.
5.) Queens County Farm Museum | 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, Queens
This farm located right in Queens showcases New York City’s finest selection of apple and pumpkin-picking for city-dwellers. This location is perfect for those living in the city who want to experience a more rural environment for a day. The farm is 47 acres and features a pumpkin patch in October. You’ll be charged by the size of the pumpkin you pick. You can’t exactly pick apples there, but apples along with apple pie and cider can be purchased at their stands. They have seasonal activities during autumn, but hayrides are all year long.
6.) Old McDonald’s Farm | 14369 County Route 145, Sackets Harbor, NY
According to the farm, “since 1986, we have been THE local destination for pumpkin picking!” This location is perfect for autumn activities. They have a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and warm apple cider. Keep in mind that they do have an admission fee as well as a pumpkin patch extra charge. Besides the seasonal activities, they have 200 friendly farm animals, a hayride for all ages, mini-golf, photo ops, a pig race, and a dairy tour.
7.) Kelder’s Farm | 5755 US Route 209, Kerhonkson, NY
This farm is very kid-friendly as they have various kids’ activities scattered throughout the farm. It is advised to buy tickets online, as they state that admission at the door will be higher in price. Their fall harvest runs through October, but they have other things on the farm to keep you entertained if you go another time. They have different admission prices depending on what you are planning on doing. They offer craft drinks and a tap room for the older crowd.
