Where to Go Apple Picking Within an Hour Drive of Philadelphia
Apple picking looks different this fall, as a harsh frost earlier this year destroyed the majority of the region's apple crop. Here are the Philly-area farms and orchards offering limited pick-your-own apple opportunities.
Pick your own apples at these Philly-area orchards and farms. / Photograph courtesy of Linvilla Orchards
Though fall doesn’t officially start until September 22nd, we’re ready to embrace all things autumnal, like pumpkin-spice-everything, neighborhood festivals, and, of course, apple picking.
Earlier this year, the region saw a historic frost that decimated apple orchards. The result? A tragic apple shortage, which will surely change your expectations of this season’s bounty. Pick-your-own opportunities will be limited this year, though there is still some fun to be had (and applesauce to be made). Below, a list of orchards and farms within an hour drive of Center City that are offering apple picking this season.
Duffield’s Farm Market
When: Time slots depend on availability; call Duffield’s for the most up-to-date information (856-589-7090)
Drive from Philly: 40 minutes (280 Chapel Heights Road, Sewell)
Reservations: Required; buy your ticket here.
Cost: $23 for a small bag (eight-10 pounds) or $39 for a large bag (18-20 pounds), both of which include the cost of the hayride to the orchard; $9 for just the hayride. Children 12 months and younger enter for free.
This family-owned spot in Sewell has a very limited supply of Red Delicious this season. Pick-your-own opportunities are subject to availability, so much so that a representative from the farm told us over the phone that they aren’t scheduling apple-picking dates in advance; instead, they will decide if PYO can happen on a week-by-week basis. Before planning your visit, call the farm to find out if PYO apples will be offered that week.
Highland Orchards
When: Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Drive from Philly: 1 hour (1000 Marshallton Thorndale Road, West Chester)
Reservations: Not required.
Cost: $3 field-access fee for anyone over the age of three, plus cost of apple container
This gorgeous orchard in West Chester is still offering PYO apples this fall. “We have a very light crop, but we are not picking any of the apples for our market in hopes we will have enough for our PYO crowds,” says Jeremy Zeager, a manager at Highland Orchards. “In a typical year, we pretty much know we won’t run out of apples, but the varieties [this year] are very light and won’t last long.”
Zeager says they are picking Liberty apples as of September 16th, and will be opening Golden Delicious soon.
Indian Orchards Farm
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Drive from Philly: 35 minutes (29 Copes Lane, Media)
Reservations: Not required.
Cost: $3.50 admission fee, plus picked apples by the pound.
Weave your way through 100-plus-year-old heritage apple trees — a variety of tree that has been producing the same apples for a very long time — at this family-run farm. As expected, availability is limited, with small quantities of Macoun, Red Delicious, and Rising Sun Fuji apples ready to pick, as of September 17th.
Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
Drive from Philly: 50 minutes (2691 Monmouth Road, Jobstown)
Reservations: Required. You can purchase your ticket here.
Cost: $10.75-$16.75 entrance fee, plus cost of picked apples: 1/4 peck ($8) or 1/2 peck ($15). Children under two enter for free.
The team at Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm in Jobstown says their largest quantities are Empire, Red Delicious, Cameo (estimated around October 1st), and Banning Fuji (estimated around October 1st), though supplies are limited. When you visit, a scenic hayride will take you out to the orchard so you can (hopefully!) take some apples home. After, peruse the farm market, eat some apple cider donuts, visit the live animals, or hit the Tomasello Winery tasting outlet for some vino.
Linvilla Orchards
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Drive from Philly: 40 minutes (137 West Knowlton Road, Media)
Reservations: Highly recommended, but not required. You can purchase a ticket online here.
Cost: An entrance ticket costs $11 (online) or $13 (walk-up), which includes a two-quart box for picking.
Between its orchard rows and farm market, which sells all sorts of apple-centric goodies from apple cider to apple pie, Linvilla is a one-stop apple shop. Keep in mind, though, that Linvilla lost about 90 percent of its crop due to the frost. Currently, Red Delicious is available to pick, and you can check Linvilla’s website for updates regarding other varieties’ availability. Linvilla is still planning to host its annual Apple Festival, on September 26th.
Solebury Orchards
When: Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Drive from Philly: 1 hour (3325 Creamery Road, New Hope)
Reservations: Required on the weekends. Reserve here.
Cost: $2.50 per person, plus $1.50 per pound of apples. Children aged four and under enter for free.
The majority of apples available at Solebury this season have been sourced from orchards in New York and will be available in bins in the field; however, the team notes, as of September 14th, that there are some Crimson Crisp for actual picking off trees. Solebury will still be running tractor rides on the weekends. Check Solebury’s website before visiting.
Styer Orchard
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Drive from Philly: 40 minutes (97 Styers Lane, Langhorne)
Reservations: Not required.
Cost: $2.49 per pound
As of September 17th, Styer Orchard in Langhorne has a limited supply of Cortland apples available to pick. (Check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.) Styer also has an on-site deli, bakery, and market, the latter of which has apples to buy, including Honeycrisp, Jonagold, and Mutsu.
Tabora Farms / Rustic Valley Orchard
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive from Philly: 1 hour (1104 Upper Stump Road and 1220 Upper Stump Road, Chalfont)
Reservations: Not required.
Cost: Apples are pay-by-the-bag: 1/2 peck ($15), 1 peck ($24), and 1/2 bushel ($40).
Located less than .5 miles apart in Chalfont, Tabora Farms and Rustic Valley Orchard work in partnership for pick-your-own apples season. The frost destroyed about 40 percent of their crop, but you can pick what’s available — including Ruby Mac and Crimson Crisp, as of September 7th — at Rustic Valley (1220 Upper Stump Road) on Saturdays and Sundays.
Weaver’s Orchard
When: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Drive from Philly: 1 hour (40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown)
Reservations: Not required.
Cost: $18 for a bucket, $29 for a peck, and $45 for 1/2 bushel
This season, Weaver’s Orchard is picking a number of varieties, including Gala, Jonamac, Sweetie, Smokehouse, McIntosh, and Shizuka. They’ll run family-focused fall festivals, with hayrides, food trucks, and plenty of kid-centric fun (pumpkin bowling!), every Saturday from September 19th to October 31st, Find out more and purchase tickets for that here.
