Apple Picking in Massachusetts: The 20 Best Orchards and Farms

Apple picking is a classic fall activity to enjoy. Each orchard or farm is unique in many ways because of the number of activities and apples to pick from. has some of the best fall weather to enjoy and excellent farms and orchards to choose from. You and your friends will indeed have a great time from festivals to choosing farm goodies. The kids will enjoy the number of activities that each place offers. If you can’t check out all of these fantastic places, save this article as a guideline of places to visit year after year.

1. Bartlett’s Apple Orchard

The Bartlett’s Apple Orchard was established in 1947 and has been growing, packing, and shipping apples for seventy-five years. After picking your prized apples, stop by the farm market store for cider donuts, apple muffins, pies, or apple turnover treats. This orchard is located in the town of Richmond and grows seven varieties.

2. Brooksby Farm

Brooksby Farm is located in Peabody and is owned by the town. There are many activities that the entire family can enjoy, such as hayrides, loving on the barnyard animals, and strolling down the Fall Fairytale Trail. On the weekends during fall, campfires and smores are going on. On Sundays, children can attend story hour. The Farm store has various items for purchase, such as pies, jams, and toys. The bakery sells honey that their very own beehive has made! Make sure to take home some monkey bread or whoopie pies to enjoy as a dessert later in the day.

3. Carlson Orchards

Carlson Orchards is 100 acres and was founded in 1936 by Walter and Eleanor Carlson. There are sixteen variants of apples to choose from. This orchard has a taproom to indulge in a hard cider. Check out the Orchards website for any events and festivals to attend. Calso Orchards is located in Harvard.

4. Cider Hill Farm

The Cider Hill Farm is in Amesbury, near the New Hampshire border. The Farm offers many learning opportunities for kids to partake in. Here, children of all ages can enjoy the swings, feed chickens, hop on a tricycle, and play in the giant sandbox. The PitchFORK Food truck parks on the farm between April and October, serving yummy food. Check out the Cider Hill Farm website for festivals, events, and live music scheduling.

5. Hill Orchard

The Hill Orchard has about 28 varieties of apples to choose from and other goodies to enjoy. This orchard has maple syrup, ciders, pies, cheeses, and jams for you to take home for enjoyment. The Hill Orchard is located in Westford and is run by Farmer Dave’s Group. After apple picking, you can stroll on the Long Trail, bordered by the orchard.

6. Honey Pot Hill Orchard

The Honey Pot Hill Orchard was founded in Stow in 1926. This 26-acre orchard has hayrides, mazes, and farm animals for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Ensure to indulge in the apple cider donuts, caramel apples, and pies.

7. Lookout Farm

Lookout Farm was established in 1650 and is located in Natick. This farm has plenty of apples to choose from, and they also serve home-brewed beers to those of age. There is live music and outdoor dining to enjoy while being one with the fall season. This farm also has a 2-acre corn maze and a sunflower field.

8. Nashoba Valley Winery

Nashoba Valley Winery is located in Bolton and is the leader in producing vodka from apples! Not only can age-approved adults sip on apple vodka, but can also try various apple wines. You may find apples at this winery that can’t be found in supermarkets. There is also live music, hayrides, and a barn bar to check out.

9. Park Hill Orchard

Park Hill Orchard is located in Easthampton, with over forty varieties of apples to pick from. This orchard holds scheduled events such as Yoga in the Orchard. Dance to live music while sipping on a cider slushie. You can also stroll down the Art in the Orchard Walking Sculpture Trail.

10. Parlee Farms

Parlee Farms is located in Tyngsborough and was established in 1987. The interesting thing this farm offers is that they accept EBT and Snap benefits. They have a beautiful flower garden that presents the perfect photo opportunity. Stop by Mary’s Country Kitchen for ice cream sandwiches and a hot or frozen apple cider if you’re hungry. The Lunch Box food vendor has homemade potato chips and pulled pork. Kids can play in the sandbox or hang out with cute barn animals..

11. Red Apple Farm

The Red Apple Farm is located in Phillipston, overlooking the Wachusett Mountains. This farm uses the holistic, technique as a best farming practice. There are over fifty varieties of apples to choose from. After apple picking, you can stroll down a walking trail near the farm. Make sure to have an empty belly to try the famous BBQ burger from the Brew Barn. The Brew Barn was voted One of the Top Ten Best New England Mail-Order Eats in Yankee magazine in 2020..

12. Riiska Brook Orchard

Riiska Brook Orchard is located in Sandisfield, with ten apple varieties to choose from. This orchard has over two thousand apple trees! This orchard was rated as One of the Best Apple Picking Farms in the western portion of Massachusetts.

13. Russell Orchards

Russell Orchards is located in Ipswich and has 30 varieties of apples to pick from. This orchard offers wine tasting, so I can only imagine having a sweet, smooth apple wine! You can also snack on their homemade cider donuts while watching the farm animals play. Make sure to stop by the orchard’s store for some shopping.

14. Shelburne Farm

Shelburne Farm is the oldest pick-your-own apple in Eastern Massachusetts. Located in Stow, this farm was voted “The Regions Best Small Slice of Authentic Agricultural Paradise,” where time slows down. It was also voted “The Best New England Farming Traditions” are present. The apple shop has many goodies, like kettle corn, caramel apples, and honey from the orchard’s beehive. There is live music and food trucks to enjoy. The kids will be sure to enjoy playing in the John Deere playground.

15. Smolak Farms

Smolak Farms is located in North Andover and has many goodies and activities to select from. Everyone of all ages can enjoy playing lawn games, hay rides, and live entertainment. The kids will enjoy the arts and crafts stations. On the Smolak Farms website, you can pick which fall fun activity packages fit your family to help you stay on budget while still having a great time. The Apple Wagon Tour is an excellent ride through the orchard that stops halfway through the farm and pick your own apples. You can also learn about the growing process of these apples. The Farm offers strawberry, blueberry, and pumpkin tours as well. The Whim is a tremendous pop-up diner cooking up some yummy food for you to enjoy after picking apples.

16. Stowe Farm

This unique Farm not only has apples for you to choose from, but it also offers horse riding lessons. Here, you can board your furry friend with trusted staff or adopt a puppy off the farm! The Stowe Farm is located in West Millbury and was a dairy farm before turning into a horse farm. The Buck’n Barbecue here has smoked beef brisket and pulled pork sandwiches!

17. Tougas Family Farm

Tougas Family Farm has been operating since 1981 and is 53 acres wide. The farm has an apple-picking schedule on its website, so you know when to pick your favorite apple variant. If you aren’t interested in choosing your apples, the farm store has pre-picked apples, frozen pies, and baking mixes to take home! Tougas Family Farm is located in Northborough.

18. Flat Hill Orchards

Flat Hill Orchards is located in Lunenburg and is about 80 acres wide. There are over thirteen variants of apples for you and your family to choose from! Make sure to take home a freshly baked apple crisp.

19. Apex Orchards

Apex Orchards is located in Shelburne, Massachusetts, supplying produce since 1828. This orchard uses the Integrated Pest Management technique to keep produce free of pesticides. Apex has many events held here, so check out the events calendar for some fun. One thing that stood out about this orchard is that they have labeled rows for the apples, so you can determine which variants you want to take home.

20. Keith’s Farm

Keith’s Farm is a great orchard to go to for educational field trips. This orchard is one of the few that allow dogs, so bring your furry friend along. The orchard’s location is in Acushnet, Massachusetts.