The best apple picking in New England, 2026
21 orchards across all six New England states: what each does best, who it's good for, and tips for a better picking day.
- Peak picking runs roughly mid-September through mid-October.
- Go on a weekday or right at opening on weekends.
- Always check the orchard's website or social pages the morning you go: varieties, prices, and hours change week to week.
- Stow, MA
Honey Pot Hill Orchards ↗
A metro-west classic with a hedge maze, hayrides, and rows of easy-reach trees. Gets packed on peak weekends, so go early.
KidsHayrides - Harvard, MA
Carlson Orchards ↗
Hilltop views and a long-running family operation known for its fresh-pressed cider.
ViewsCider - Ipswich, MA
Russell Orchards ↗
North Shore farm with a barnyard, a farm winery, and cider doughnuts worth the line. Pair it with Crane Beach.
DoughnutsKids - Northborough, MA
Tougas Family Farm ↗
Big, well-organized pick-your-own with a farm playground and a busy kitchen.
KidsFood - North Brookfield, MA
Brookfield Orchards ↗
Old-school Central Mass orchard with a country store and apple dumplings.
QuietBaked goods - Shelburne, MA
Apex Orchards ↗
Hilltop Pioneer Valley farm with wide views. Worth the drive during foliage.
ViewsFoliage - Hampton Falls, NH
Applecrest Farm Orchards ↗
Seacoast favorite with live music on fall weekends and a bakery that runs on cider doughnuts.
MusicDoughnuts - Londonderry, NH
Mack's Apples ↗
Generations-old family orchard minutes off I-93, the easiest NH stop from Boston.
Close to Boston - Contoocook, NH
Gould Hill Farm ↗
Grows a huge range of heirloom varieties on a hill with views to the White Mountains.
HeirloomsViews - Dummerston, VT
Scott Farm Orchard ↗
Heirloom-apple heaven in southern Vermont, with dozens of rare varieties you won't find at the store.
Heirlooms - Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Orchards ↗
Lake Champlain views from the trees, plus their own cider and brandy.
ViewsCider - Shoreham, VT
Champlain Orchards ↗
Large eco-minded orchard and cidery overlooking the lake and the Adirondacks.
CiderViews - Turner, ME
Ricker Hill Orchards ↗
Long-running Maine farm with a big fall festival vibe and a hard-cider operation.
KidsCider - Cumberland, ME
Sweetser's Apple Barrel ↗
Small, low-key orchard near Portland known for antique varieties.
QuietHeirlooms - Springvale, ME
McDougal Orchards ↗
Southern Maine family farm with a relaxed pace and a pie-heavy farm stand.
QuietBaked goods - Middlefield, CT
Lyman Orchards ↗
A 1700s-era farm with a huge market, corn maze, and pick-your-own across the season.
KidsCorn maze - Guilford, CT
Bishop's Orchards ↗
Shoreline farm with a big market and winery. Easy to pair with a Guilford Green stroll.
FoodWine - Southington, CT
Rogers Orchards ↗
One of Connecticut's oldest family orchards, on a ridge with long views.
Views - Cumberland, RI
Phantom Farms ↗
A Rhode Island staple with a bakery case that sells out of pies on fall Saturdays.
Baked goods - Greenville, RI
Steere Orchard ↗
Family farm in the apple country of northern Rhode Island, with pumpkins later in the season.
KidsPumpkins - Smithfield, RI
Jaswell's Farm ↗
Local favorite for picking plus cider doughnuts and a well-stocked farm stand.
Doughnuts
Tips for a better day
- Twist, don't pull. Lift the apple up and roll it off the branch so you don't knock off next year's buds.
- Bring cash. Plenty of farm stands still prefer it.
- Wear real shoes. Orchards get muddy and fallen apples are slippery.
- Pace the varieties. Early-season apples (like McIntosh) give way to later ones (like Macoun and Honeycrisp), so ask what's ripe that week.
Know an orchard we missed? Tell us.