The 12 Best Places to Go Apple Picking Near New York City

As the leaves start to don their sienna coats and the mercury drops into the comfortable-sweater- weather range, autumn 's many joys come to the fore. Whether it's the morning PSLs or decorating everything head-to-toe for Halloween , it's no secret why the year's third season is oft-cited as a favorite. And one of the best ways to celebrate fall is by going apple picking, as crowd-pleasers like Galas and Honeycrisps begin blushing into their reddish-gold skins.

If you're based in the Big Apple (pun definitely intended), you'll be happy to know that several pastoral orchards and farms lie but a stone's throw away from New York City . Think New Jersey boltholes and easy upstate pit stops where you can fill your wicker basket to your heart's content and then some. And apples aren't the only fruit on offer, prepare to pick out pears for your next holiday dinner, or a pumpkin brimming with the potential to become a fearsome jack-o'-lantern.

You can also extend your farm life fantasies by grabbing a seat on a family-friendly hayride, visiting a petting zoo, or being the hero of Thanksgiving by taking home a bottle or two of home-brew cider. Without further ado and in no particular order, here's where to find some of the best apple picking near New York City.

Location: 1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 15 minutes by car

If your palate asks for more than just the crisp bite of an heirloom apple, how about a satisfying bowl of homemade ice cream, smears of fresh-churned Amish butter, or steaming pans of ratatouille packed with farm-fresh produce? At Alstede, you're in luck, the farm has an online store that can deliver right to your door or local farmers market. Beyond apples, your whole grocery run practically lives here, whether you’re looking for eggplant, potatoes, or blueberries. But if it’s the ambience of the grounds that you find yourself obsessed with, they also host regular tours, seasonal harvest moon nights, and weddings for those who are truly in love with the venue.

Where to stay nearby: Situated an eight-minute drive away from Chester in Peapack, New Jersey, Pendry Natirar charms with its historic brick mansion façade, incredible spa , and over 500 acres of parkland.

Location: 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 45 minutes by car

Sample the Champagne of ciders when you have a sip of this farm's tree-to-bottle Treasury Cider. A family-run operation, as some of the best apple-picking orchards are, Fishkill Farms presses its own special breeds of dessert and bittersweet apples on-site to achieve the label's signature taste. And that's just one example of the level of effort you can expect here. Not only does the farm grow organic Crimson Crisp and Spartan apples, but it also farms most produce according to eco-certified and ecologically grown standards, which both have rigorous requirements for what the fruit is exposed to from seed to sale. But the fun’s not just in the fruit, dine at the Fishkill Farms Grill with all the Catskills surrounding you, or catch an evening performance of live music from a visiting band.

Where to stay nearby: If you're apple picking here, you're practically steps away from Beacon and Cold Spring, two of upstate's most accessible gems (just hop on the Metro-North commuter line). We recommend staying at The Roundhouse in Beacon, a property that is a destination in and of itself for food, art, and shopping.

Location: 306 NY-304, Congers, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour by car

Welcome to your classic apple and pumpkin picking experience, where the beauty of the tried-and-true shines through. Having been around since 1891, the farm, now run by the practiced hands of fourth- and fifth-generation Davies family members, runs like a well-oiled machine. Admission is $17 in cash per person, and if you don’t know where to start with the over 5,000 trees and 27 different apple varieties on the farm, the website has a “ Meet Our Apples ” page where each is identified with a well-lit picture, ripening timeline, and flavor profile. If you’d like to enjoy even more fruits from the farm but not your own labor, the brewery arm, Red Barn Cidery, produces a host of its own ciders, local beers, and nonalcoholic options.

Where to stay nearby: Stay right on the Hudson at a warm Airbnb that sets the mood with a crackling fireplace and wooden rafters across from Congers, in Ossining, New York. With four beds and two-and-a-half baths, this Hudson Valley escape is plenty capable of hosting the whole family.

Location: 45 Ball Rd, Warwick, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 45 minutes by car; 3 hours by train

Where to stay nearby: Sometimes, the greatest gift our travels can bestow upon us is a true sense of quiet. There's no better place to seek it in Warwick than at this cozy cabin Airbnb you'll want to claim as your own neck of the woods.

Location: 250 Hurds Rd, Clintondale, NY Distance from NYC: About 2 hours by car

The name might’ve already clued you in, but this farm goes all out for the kids, there’s a busy bee train, chances to leave their mark on the Chalk Bus, a tire climbing wall, a giant bounce pillow, and that’s not even to mention the petting zoo or 2.5-acre corn maze. While there’s more than enough to keep the whole family engaged with those activities alone, the best time to visit is throughout October, when the lion’s share of the farm’s apples are ripe, and the pumpkins are ready to pick too.

Where to stay nearby: Check in a 15-minute drive across the river at The Heartwood at Vassar in Poughkeepsie, a gorgeous college town. Soak in the autumnal, academic atmosphere from one of the 50 rooms and suites at this recently opened property.

Location: 244 Werimus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ Distance from NYC: About 1 hour by car; 1 hour and 30 minutes by train

This farm puts its vast-spanning orchards to use as a canvas for one of the best light shows in the tristate area. In the daytime throughout the summer and fall months, peaches and apples are the main attraction, but when the sun sets during the Halloween season, new life is breathed into the orchards as they host a ghoulish light extravaganza peppered with skeletons, jack-o'-lanterns, and a gallery of classic monsters. During the winter months , the Orchard of Lights features giant snowflakes, reindeer, and even Dr. Seuss’s Grinch.

Where to stay nearby: If fall doesn't feel complete to you without a little side of spookiness, get right in the middle of the action at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel . The property features weeknight fall specials, reduced rates for locals interested in a staycation, and a restaurant that's open all day.

Location: 91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ Distance from NYC: About 2 hours by car

Owned and operated by the Applegate family for the past 118 years, Battleview is the oldest pick-your-own farm in New Jersey . This year, the orchard is offering 19 varieties of apples throughout the fall, and it also has year-round opportunities to pick sour cherries, strawberries, peaches, and pumpkins. As kids explore some of the 130-acre grounds on the seasonal hayride, parents can walk the aisles of the on-site country store stocked with favorites like house-made cider and fresh-baked pies, and speciality items such as the customizable fruit baskets. Its website has Applegate family recipes for every variety of fruit the orchard cultivates.

Where to stay nearby: Did someone call for a Hallmark movie set? Look no further than this quiet and cozy Airbnb in Monroe Township that boasts plenty of space, perfect for a multigenerational outing. The wraparound porch was practically made for fall evenings spent watching the wind rustle through the tree line.

Location: 139 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car

These orchards don't just offer some of the best apple picking near New York City, they're a celebration of all things autumnal. The best time to visit is throughout September and October, when Outhouse puts on its Fall Festival . Every corner of the grounds offers something built to entertain, whether it's racing rubber ducks or blowing bubbles for the little ones, hayrides for the whole family, or snacking on wood-fired pizza and washing it down with homemade hard cider for food lovers. With 12 apple varieties that ripen during the pick-your-own season, there’s enough diversity to satisfy fans of tangy McIntoshes and honey-sweet Jonamacs alike.

Where to stay nearby: When it comes to a weekend escape near North Salem, you don't have to choose between woodsy or luxurious. Instead, ask yourself, “por qué no los dos?” with stays like the Martha Stewart, approved Bedford Post Inn waiting to welcome you in.

Location: 82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 45 minutes by car

If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a Bob Ross painting, this is the orchard for you. At Apple Dave’s, the farm’s own lake is a backdrop for sweeping views of the northern Appalachian Mountains. Meandering walking trails through the trees plus an on-site store filled with fresh produce and charming Halloween decor provide casual yet engaging activities for a fun day out with the family. But for the 21+ crowd, the distillery offers Apple Jacks, Shawangunk wines, and cocktails enhanced by the farm’s produce amongst the usual suspects of local beers and ciders.

Where to stay nearby: Cozy and tiny are two words that fit hand-in-hand, and you'll find both qualities in spades at this minimalist cottage that subtly signals “designer” with its muted tones and plush Scandi-coded furnishings.

Location: 62 Granite Springs Rd, Granite Springs, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car

Beyond its orchards, Stuart’s is also home to a Christmas tree farm and bakery that churns out irresistible cider donuts and fresh-baked pies. The farm also does not charge entrance or parking fees, meaning visitors are only charged for what they pick and purchase at the store. But this is definitely one of those trips where the journey getting there is just as worth it as the destination, driving through Granite Springs, visitors get to experience Westchester at its autumnal best, as the mountains pass by in a montage of gold and orange.

Where to stay nearby: Extend your itinerary beyond the main event of apple picking by staying the weekend at Hotel MTK Mount Kisco , which sits at the junction of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

Location: 155 N Ohioville Rd, New Paltz, NY Distance from NYC: About 2 hours by car

This is an orchard for the epicurean. After you spend an afternoon at the orchard plucking Fujis, Galas, Honeycrisps, and Cortlandts, take the load off at Twin Star’s on-site restaurant. Wood-fired pizzas are sumptuous and savory, with options such as sweet sausage and broccoli rabe and Dragon’s Breath for the daring. Inclusive items like the vegan pizza and black bean burger also feature on the menu to accommodate dietary preferences. And for those truly looking to indulge, be sure to visit on Saturdays and Sundays for the low-and-slow barbecue and to stack your plate with fall-apart ribs and brisket.

Where to stay nearby: Experience living history at Mohonk Mountain House , where you will be immersed in the wholesome pastimes and stunning natural beauty of an American icon. This historic backdrop stays revitalized with a slate of fresh offerings, don't skip the spa.

Location: 2 S Mountain Rd, Pomona, NY Distance from NYC: About 1 hour by car; 2 hours by train

These orchards in the quaint town of Pomona are the ideal weekend day trip out of the city . In addition to sampling some of the newest and coolest apple varieties on the market (who wouldn’t want to take a bite out of a Ludacrisp?), the bakery offers everything from timeless apple pies to peanut butter custard pies that are begging to be your next holiday dinner centerpiece. While there’s enough to occupy your Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the farm also has a strong presence at local farmers markets such as Bronxville, Riverdale, and White Plains.

Where to stay nearby: Don't just stop at the leaf-peeping. Take in everything fall has to offer by the water at AMC Corman Harriman Outdoor Center hotel, where guests can take out free kayaks and paddleboats for a new flavor of fall adventure.