The first time Sofia picked an apple straight off a branch, she ate three before we made it to the bag. That’s the kind of day apple picking near NYC gives you — messy, sweet, and worth the drive.
Day Trip
1 Hour from NYC
Kid-Friendly
Pick Your Own
Fall Activity
I’ve taken the girls apple picking every fall since Sofia was a toddler, and the thing that surprises me every time is how much the experience has changed. What used to be a quick stop at a roadside stand has turned into a full-day production with corn mazes, pony rides, and enough cider doughnuts to fuel a small army. Some of these farms are basically mini amusement parks now. Others are still quiet orchards where the main event is just the trees and a wagon ride.
For families based in New York City, the good news is you don’t have to drive three hours to find a decent orchard. Most of the farms I’ve looked into are within about an hour and a half of Midtown. The roundup of apple orchards within an hour or less from NYC covers a solid range of options, from the kind of farm where you’ll spend more time in line than picking to the ones where you’ll practically have a tree to yourself. The season starts just before Labor Day weekend and runs through early October, though some orchards stretch into November if the weather holds.
I kept waiting for the moment when one of the kids would say they were bored. Instead, Emma spent twenty minutes trying to find the perfect apple, then ate it in about thirty seconds.
— Sophie Bennett
What Apple Picking Actually Looks Like With Kids
The distance between the parking lot and the orchard is usually the hardest part. Most farms have you walk a solid five to ten minutes to reach the trees, and if you’re carrying a toddler who suddenly refuses to walk, that stretch feels longer. Emma complained on the way in at Dr. Davies Farm — a 65-acre orchard in Congers, about 50 minutes from the city — but once she saw the trees low enough for her to reach, she was fine. Sofia, who is thirteen, walked ahead and acted like she wasn’t having fun, but I caught her filling her bag faster than anyone.
The crowds are the real variable. Popular farms on a sunny September weekend can feel like a farmers’ market crossed with a preschool drop-off. Lines for the hayride, lines for the bathroom, lines to pay for your apples. Some farms handle it better than others. Orchards of Concklin in Pomona keeps things manageable by requiring a reservation and limiting entry — you buy a half-peck bag per person over age three, and that’s your ticket in. Dr. Davies does the same thing with a half-peck bag per person and free parking. Both approaches cut down on the chaos, but neither eliminates it entirely.
If you’re the kind of parent who needs a guaranteed smooth experience, aim for a weekday morning. Farms like Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard in North Salem run fall festivals on weekends with pony rides, face painting, and bouncy houses — great for kids, but the crowds are real. The same farm on a Tuesday is a completely different place.
Farms Worth the Trip
I’ve grouped the orchards that make the most sense for NYC families. Some are closer, some have more activities, and one or two are just better for actually picking apples without the extras. The table below covers the basics across a few solid options.
| Farm | Drive from Midtown | Best For | Pricing | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Davies Farm | ~50 min | Serious picking, 27 varieties | $17/person over 3, includes bag | Cash or check only; ATM on-site |
| Harvest Moon Farm | ~1 hr | Fall festival, pony rides, food | $15/person, half-peck bag $15 | Weekends are crowded; cash or check |
| Alstede Farms | ~1 hr | Agritainment, NJ Transit accessible | Varies by activity; book online | Must reserve weekends; shuttle from train |
| Apple Ridge Orchards | ~1.5 hr | Peaceful, animals, spooky movies | $3/person over 2, half-bushel $39 | Cash only for admission; farm stand takes cards |
For families who want the full experience — picking, hayrides, petting zoo, and a place to eat lunch — Outhouse Orchards in North Salem is a strong bet. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting September 1 through November 1. Reservations are required on weekends but not weekdays. The pricing is $15.95 online plus fees, or $20 at the gate. A small pick-your-own bag runs $30, and a large bag is $45. You can take the Metro-North to Croton Falls and grab a cab — it’s not walkable from the station, but it’s doable if you plan ahead.
If you’re looking for something quieter, Apple Ridge Orchards in Warwick is about 1.5 hours from the city. The admission is just $3 per person over age two, and a half-bushel bag costs $39. They also have farm animals, a play area, and a farm stand with treats. The trade-off is that there’s less organized entertainment — no hayrides on every visit, no bouncy houses. But the orchard itself is lovely, and on a Thursday morning, you’ll have plenty of space.
For families without a car, Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey, is one of the most accessible options. You can take NJ Transit to Gladstone station, and the farm offers a free courtesy shuttle on weekends and holidays. The farm has dozens of apple varieties, a corn maze, pony rides, hayrides, and animal feeding. You’ll need to check their schedule and book reservations online in advance, especially on weekends.
- Head to Outhouse Orchards on a weekday to skip the weekend reservation requirement and smaller crowds.
- At Alstede Farms, book your weekend slot at least a week ahead — the shuttle from Gladstone station fills up fast in September.
- Bring your own water and snacks to Dr. Davies Farm; the on-site food options are limited and the line can be long.
Getting There, Costs, and Timing
The drive time is the first thing most parents ask about, and the honest answer is that it depends on when you leave. A Saturday morning departure from the Upper West Side can add 20 to 30 minutes to any of these drive times. Leaving by 8 a.m. makes a real difference. The farms in the Hudson Valley — Dr. Davies, Harvest Moon, Outhouse, Stuart’s Fruit Farm — all sit roughly 50 minutes to an hour from Midtown without traffic. The New Jersey farms like Alstede and Demarest are similar. Warwick-area farms like Apple Ridge and Masker Orchards push closer to 1.5 hours.
Most farms operate on a cash-or-check policy for admission and apple bags. Some have on-site ATMs, but they charge fees and sometimes run out of cash. The farm stand at Apple Ridge accepts credit cards, but the admission and pick-your-own fees are cash only. Demarest Farms in Hillsdale charges $18 per bag (holds about 10 to 12 pounds) and requires a reservation per person for weekend picking. The farm store there takes cards for hot food, salads, and doughnuts.
The season starts just before Labor Day weekend and runs through early October, though some farms stretch into November. The early varieties — Macintosh, Honeycrisp, autumn crisp — come first. Later in the season you’ll find Braeburn, Cortland, Granny Smith, and Stayman. If you go late in October, the popular varieties may be picked clean. Calling ahead or checking the farm’s social media is worth the effort.
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For families who want to stretch the day into a broader NYC adventure, a guided day trip from New York City can bundle apple picking with other stops — though I’d check the itinerary carefully to make sure the orchard time isn’t squeezed into 30 minutes. Private tours for families work well if you’d rather not drive yourself, but they’re pricey and usually book up by mid-September.
What to Pack and What to Know
Apple picking sounds simple, but a few things make the difference between a good day and a frustrating one. The orchards are dusty, uneven, and often muddy after a rain. Emma wore sandals once and spent the whole trip complaining about dirt in her shoes. Closed-toe shoes are non-negotiable. Sunscreen matters even in late September — the trees don’t provide full shade, and you’ll be outside for a couple of hours.
Most farms discourage or prohibit outside food, but bringing water is usually fine. Some farms, like Ochs Orchard in Warwick, have picnic areas where you can eat what you’ve bought from their market. Ochs charges $5 entry per person over age five and sells apples by the pound — $2.99 per pound for the first 10 pounds, then $2.49 for 10 to 20 pounds, and $1.99 per pound beyond that. They also have a petting zoo and a year-round farmers’ market.
- Call the farm or check its social media the morning of your trip — orchards occasionally close for weather or sell out of picking slots.
- Bring cash in small bills. Most farms are cash-only for admission and apple bags, and the on-site ATMs often have a $3–$5 fee.
- Pack a cooler with ice packs for the drive home. Apples can bruise, and a warm car will soften them fast.
- Load the farm’s address into your phone before you leave cell service — some orchards are in spots with spotty reception.
Apple Picking Questions Parents Actually Ask
My 6-year-old loses interest after about 20 minutes of picking — will she have anything else to do?
Yes, at most of the bigger farms. Harvest Moon and Alstede both have corn mazes, pony rides, and playground-style areas. Emma made it through about 15 minutes of picking before she spotted the bouncy house. Sofia rolled her eyes but ended up helping her little sister navigate the corn maze. The farms that are mostly just orchards — like Dr. Davies or Ochs — are better if your kid actually enjoys the picking part.
We don’t have a car. Can we actually get to a farm by train?
Alstede Farms is the most realistic option. NJ Transit to Gladstone station, then a free shuttle on weekends and holidays. Harvest Moon and Outhouse are near Metro-North’s Croton Falls station, but you’ll need a cab for the last leg — about a 10-minute ride. It’s not impossible, but it adds a layer of planning. If you’re set on a train-accessible farm, Alstede is the one I’d pick.
Is apple picking worth it for two hours of driving each way?
It depends on what you make of the day. If you drive an hour, pick apples for 30 minutes, and drive back, it’s probably not worth it. The farms that work best are the ones where you can spend three or four hours — picking, hayride, petting zoo, lunch, maybe a stop at the farm store. Apple Ridge and Alstede both support a longer visit. Dr. Davies is more of a pick-and-go situation, which works if you live closer or have other plans.
What’s there for a 13-year-old who’s too cool for a hayride?
Sofia was in that exact mood last year. What saved the day was the farm store at Masker Orchards — they have pies, jams, honey, and local crafts, and she actually enjoyed wandering through it. Some farms also have harder cider tastings for adults, which doesn’t hurt. Outhouse Orchards has a corn maze that’s big enough to feel like an actual challenge, and Apple Ridge does spooky movie nights on select evenings in October.
Should I book a guided tour or just drive myself?
Driving yourself gives you more flexibility and usually costs less. But if you’re visiting from out of town or don’t want to rent a car, a kid-friendly NYC tour that includes a trip upstate can be a decent alternative. The catch is that orchard time is often limited to about an hour, and you’re on someone else’s schedule. For most NYC families, I’d drive.
One Last Thing
Apple picking is one of those rare fall activities that works for both a six-year-old and a thirteen-year-old, as long as you pick the right farm and manage your expectations. Emma will eat whatever she picks before we leave the orchard. Sofia will pretend she’s too old for it, then quietly fill her bag with Honeycrisps and ask if we can come back next weekend. The drive home is always sticky, always full of apples that will go bad faster than you expect, and always worth it. For more ideas on planning a full fall weekend in the city, check out this broader guide to apple picking spots near New York — it covers a few farms in Pennsylvania and Connecticut that I haven’t tried yet but plan to this season.
Sources
Apple Picking Near NYC: Pick-Your-Own Apple Farms an Hour or Less from New York City. Mom Poppins, 2024.
Where to Go Apple Picking Near New York City. NY1, 2024.
Best Places Near New York for Apple Picking This Fall. The Exploreist, 2024.
