Apple Picking Farms in New York and New Jersey: Where to Pick Your Own Apples near NYC

Labor Day is behind us and we all know what that means (and it's not just that we can't wear white anymore). We have officially started apple picking season! We've rounded up some of the most fun apple farms to pick your own apples (some in NJ and some in NY) and every farm offers a unique experience whether you're looking for the hay rides, apple fests, or just a day out in the country. But get out there soon before all the apples are gone!

Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ
(609)924-2310
www.terhuneorchards.com
A personal favorite, Terhune is my dream idea of fall. Yeah, the apple-pickin' is mighty fine, but the whole atmosphere is also perfect, with its farmhouse and music playing as you enter (during Fall Family Fun Weekends starting September 24), the huge field of pumpkins and the yellow Labs, Strawberry Rhubarb and Sweet Basil tooling around--love it all. The farm's annual Apple Days are September 17 and 18, with the "Everything Apple" buffet. Mmm.

Alstede Farms, Chester, NJ
(908) 879-7189
www.alstedefarms.com
Ready to go full-on farmer? Head to Alstede Farms and pick not only apples, but also peaches, pumpkins, Indian corn, blackberries, raspberries and a variety of vegetables. Reward the kids after all that work with hay rides, pony rides, a corn maze, a bounce-house, a hay pyramid (for climbing), farm animals (for feeding), and a corn kingdom (imagine a ball pit filled with corn and toys...really.) Fall Family Fun Days start Friday, September 9 and the Annual Pig Roast and Jersey Food Festival is Saturday, September 10 from 6pm to 10pm.

Sun High Orchard, Randolph, NJ
(973) 584-4734
www.sunhigh.com
If you’re seeking an old-fashioned apple-picking experience, this is your place. After a hayride through the orchards, kids can rest and play checkers in front of the 200-year old authentic working bee-hive oven, or visit the donkey and alpaca. The turn-of-the-century General Store offers homemade crafts, baked goods and apple cider.   Grab a cone of home-made ice cream and a picnic table and quietly take in the Fall sunshine. Visit the last weekend in September and you can pick-your-own pumpkins, too!

Wightman's Farms, Morristown, NJ
(973) 425-0840
www.wightmansfarms.com
This is outdoor maze-central! Work up your picnic lunch appetite while finding your way through a living corn field puzzle maze, a crawl maze; the Giant Hay Maze, a very challenging rope maze, a tile maze and a pipe maze. Sate your thirst with freshly-made apple cherry cider, then grab a hay ride to the orchards for your apples (hayrides only through October). Don’t forget to grab a bag of homemade apple cider donut on your way out...you know, for the kids.

Masker Orchards, Warwick, NY
(845) 986-1058
http://www.maskers.com/
By and far the favorite of family and friends, this 200-acre orchard allows you to drive right up to an apple tree with all of your picnic gear for a lazy afternoon lunch. Wagon rides, barnyard animals and pony rides add to the experience, and at $24.95 per ½ bushel bag (approximately 20 pounds), you’ll come home loaded up. Call for hours. Be sure to hit the town’s Apple Fest on Sunday, October 2 for music, games, rides, crafts, food and every incarnation of an apple you can imagine. www.warwickapplefest.com

Applewood Orchards, Warwick, NY
(845) 986-1684
http://www.applewoodorchards.com/
http://www.applewoodwinery.com
Speaking of leaving loaded, this orchard has the distinction of also being a winery with a full array of wines and a tasting room. In addition to the apple picking, Applewood Orchards also offers rose gardens, petting animals and a country store. Mid-September they’ll throw in face painting, puppets, and live music. Around then they start weekend wagon rides that continue through the season. If the aforementioned Apple Fest is calling you, note that this orchard is also in Warwick.

NOTE: Please contact orchards before heading out to confirm hours and amenities–many orchards are small, family-run establishments. We once made a trip to find the entire place shut down for a family funeral! All are open weekends, with varying hours. Weekday hours are limited and vary greatly. Also, please leave animals at home or you may be asked to leave apple-free.

For full coverage of apple picking, pumpkin picking, strawberry picking and farm fun info in the tri state area, check out our Pick Your Own Guide.