Best apple picking places near Chicago
Chicago's suburbs and surrounding villages are full of orchards where you can pick pounds of fruit to take home for eating or making treats (many of these farms feature bakeries with homemade apple treats). And that's not all, in October you will also find some of the best pumpkins near Chicago as well as corn mazes. Check out our selection of the best apple orchards near Chicago and get ready for all the fall fun that is yet to come.
Prairie Sky Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
Open daily, this orchard specializes in apples (15 varieties) and Asian pears. Before you start apple picking, stop by the farm's Koffee Kiosk for doughnuts and hot chocolate. Open Monday–Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday–Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Honey Hill Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
This orchard is worth the drive, and it is not far from Shabbona Lake State Park if you want to make a day of it. More than two dozen apple varieties are available, as are a country store, which also features apple cider, donuts, and other freshly baked treats. Have kids at home? They will love the petting zoo, play area, and straw maze. Visit the Honey Hill website to see the full list of fall events, including food truck stops and hayrides. Open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM daily from September 8 to October 31.
Apple Holler
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
Besides the obvious (apple trees), the property is home to a restaurant, bakery, gift shop, and family farm, meaning there is no shortage of family activities. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
County Line Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour
Sixteen acres of apples await you in this beautiful orchard in Hobart, Indiana, along with many other activities. Get lost in the corn maze, explore the bees, feed the goats, or roast marshmallows over a campfire. You won't have to go far for food when the kids get cranky; find freshly baked donuts, bread, pies, and cookies on-site. Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Jonamac Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
This family-owned property has more than 20,000 apple trees; if you are wondering where to start, check out the interactive website farm to find out what is ripe for picking and how to use each apple variety. Brighten your day with a walk through the corn maze or book a private campsite for your group. Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About 1 hour and 20 minutes
In the fall, Goebbert's annual Fall Festival is the place where you will find everything, apple and pumpkin picking, as well as tons of other themed attractions like a straw maze, a giant pumpkin slide, a haunted house, and much more. Fall Festival tickets are sold separately. Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM until October 31st.
Heinz Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour
This small family orchard in Lake County has no other activities besides apple picking, and in the end, you're here for the apples, and there are plenty of them. Be sure to check it out farm website or Facebook page before visiting due to the orchard's working hours.
Stade’s Farm and Market
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
This farm in the far suburb of McHenry has been offering apple picking since 2017, after its owners planted and studied thousands of dwarf apple trees over several years. Visitors can pick varieties such as Sansa, Orange Cox Pippin, Winecrisp, and Goldrush.
Open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, weather permitting.
Kuipers Family Farm
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
In 1998, Wade and Kim Kuipers opened their pumpkin patch to the public with a simple mission: to share the joy of spending a day on their farm. Today, their farm includes apples, hayrides, Christmas trees, an orchard shop, and a bakery with treats. You can even host a wedding on the picturesque grounds. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM through October 30.
All Seasons Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About an hour and a half
Surround yourself with more than 15,000 apple and pear trees at this family orchard in Woodstock, Illinois. Head straight to the fields for picking, get lost in the corn maze, then starting in late September, walk through the pumpkin patch and enjoy caramel apples. Open Monday–Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday–Sunday and holidays from 10 AM to 6 PM through October 30th.
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Driving time from Chicago: About 1 hour and 45 minutes
Royal Oak boasts more than 20,000 trees and 30-plus apple varieties. The orchard provides picking containers, and the shop features donuts, caramel apples, and pies. Royal Oak also features a unique apple wood maze. Open Monday–Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday–Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 31.
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