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21 Great Apple Picking Farms Near Chicago

Ready for some hardcore fun this fall? Well, harvest time is here and so is this great roundup apple picking farms near Chicago!  

Fall is near and it’s time to hit an apple farm for some good old-fashioned apple picking!

The apples are ripening, the leaves are turning in Chicago, and no orchard excursion would be complete without the sensational aromas of apple butter, apple pie, hot apple cider, cinnamon-sugar apple cider donuts, candy apples, caramel apples, candied apples, and …apples!

Prices can vary during this economic period; we recommend that you call ahead or visit the website. Driving distance from the Chicago loop along with the orchard’s contact information is provided.   

Map of Apple Picking Farms

The Best Apple Picking Farms

Richardson Adventure Farm

It’s not just a farm, it’s an adventure! Soar across a 700′ zip line and got lost in the world’s largest corn maze that was groomed in tribute to James Bond 007. You can even go ORBITing… like…riding inside a giant, eleven-foot ball!

🍎Thu: 3-9, Fri-Sat: 10-11, Sun: 12-9 | 📞(815) 675-9729

🚗65 miles northwest | 📍909 English Prairie Rd, Spring Grove IL

🌐www.richardsonadventurefarm.com

Prairie Sky Orchard

A small and simple orchard with a small store that sells baked pies, jams, butter, etc. Parking and admission are free, and the U-Pick apples are priced by the peck.

The orchard is very organized, which makes it easy to find your favorite variety. And it is so fun to pick a little of everything!

🍎Weekdays 10-4 / Weekends 10-5 | 📞(815) 923-4834

🚗60 miles northwest | 📍4914 North Union Rd., Union IL

🌐www.prairieskyorchard.com

Cody’s Farm & Orchard

Cody’s is a family-run business and apple picking season begins in September, after Labor Day, until mid-to-late October. The aroma of fresh apples fills the air at apple picking farms, creating a delightful sensory experience. They offer 13 varieties of apples, and the pumpkin patch is open on weekends.

How “a-peeling”! They also have a nice variety of fall decor and apple cider donuts! 

🍎Daily: 10-6 | 📞(815) 568-7976

🚗63 miles northwest | 📍19502 River Rd, Marengo IL

🌐www.codysfarm.com

Homestead Orchard

We love it when the simple pleasure of apple picking farms give an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That’s exactly how we felt at Homestead Orchard.

Have you decided to branch out today? This small U-pick apple orchard with 23 varieties of apples.

They sell jams, jellies, and salsas from an Amish community in downstate Illinois and local honey from their beehives. 

🍎Mon-Sat: 10-4, Sun: 12-4 | 📞(815) 338-7443

🚗67 miles northwest | 📍1802 Charles Rd., Woodstock IL

🌐www.homesteadorchard.net

kid in play school bus

Jonamac Orchard

Making new memories with family and friends is priceless. This orchard features apple cider, fresh doughnuts, and over 30 varieties of apples plus a mix of activities.

🍎Daily: 9-5:30 | 📞(815) 825-2158

🚗70 miles west | 📍19412 Shabbona Rd, Malta IL

🌐www.jonamacorchard.com

Kuipers Family Farm

This orchard is a great place to gather your family and come spend a day. You and take hayrides to and from the orchard of over 20 varieties of apples.

The farm general store has delicious pies, caramel apples, and cider doughnuts.

🍎Mon-Sat: 9-6, Sun: 10-6 | 📞(815) 827-5200

🚗56 miles northwest | 📍1N318 Watson Rd, Maple Park IL

🌐www.kuipersfamilyfarm.com

Royal Oak Farm Orchard

With apple picking, Amaze ‘N Apples, the Harvest Barn, the Country Kitchen, the Gift Shop and Bakery, rides, and tours, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more to see and do at this apple orchard!

🍎Mon-Thu: 10-5, Fri-Sun: 10-6 | 📞(815) 648-4141

🚗78 miles northwest | 📍15908 Hebron Rd, Harvard IL

🌐www.royaloak.com

Stade Farm and Market

There is a $10 minimum apple purchase per person to enter the apple orchard (ages two years and under are free). That means that every person entering the apple orchard must buy a minimum of a 1/4 Peck Bag.

You can pick your own or buy pre-picked from the store (which is great and has lots of treats). Try the apple or pecan pie!   

🍎Daily: 9-6 | 📞(815) 675-6396

🚗61 miles northwest | 📍3709 Miller Rd, McHenry IL

🌐www.stadesfarmandmarket.com

Sunny Acres

Lose yourself in the maze. You will enjoy visiting Sonny Acres Pumpkin Farm for the festival, apple cider donuts, smoothies, and fall photos. 

🍎Tues-Sun: 10-5 | 📞(630) 231-3859

🚗65 miles northwest | 📍29 W 310 N Ave, West Chicago IL

🌐www.sonnyacres.com

wagon ride sign

All Seasons Orchard

Looking for some “qualitree” time with your besties? Explore more than 15,000 fruit trees ad have a family fun fest just a stone’s throw from Chicago’s loop!

🍎Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm | 📞(815) 338-5637

🚗65 miles northwest | 📍14510 IL Rte 176, Woodstock IL

🌐www.allseasonsorchard.com

Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch

General admission is $18 (weekdays) and $22 (for weekends) but there are so many activities like a super cool slide, little train ride, carousel, a jump house, corn pit, a large sand area, and lots of photo ops and — singing chickens!

Almost everything, except food, is included in the price. What a deal! Goebbert’s is hands down a Chicago favorite.

🍎Daily: 8-6 | 📞(847) 428-6727

🚗34 miles northwest | 📍40 W Higgins Rd, South Barrington IL

🌐www.goebbertspumpkinpatch.com

Woody’s Orchard

Are you “red-y” for apple fun? There are plenty of farm activities along with you pick apples and pumpkins, home decor, jams, salsas, and much more!

🍎Thu-Sun: 10-6 | 📞(630) 247-9302

🚗58 miles southwest | 📍3223 Creek Rd, Plano IL

🌐www.woodysorchard.com

Konows Corn Maze

Go on the hayride, get lost in the corn maze, pet some adorable animals, play games, take cute pictures, and shop in the store.

To add, they have great visuals which are perfect for photo opportunities to post on your Instagram!

🍎Tue-Wed: 3-8, Thu-Sun: 10-7 | 📞(708) 301-8845

🚗36 miles southwest | 📍16849 S Cedar Rd, Homer Glen IL

🌐www.konowscornmaze.com

Heinz Orchard

If you want pure apple picking fun, this is the place to be. It’s no frills and no food, but you’ll enjoy the variety of apples. There are no fees for admission or parking. 

🍎TBD | 📞(847) 770-3449

🚗40 miles north | 📍1050 Crest Road, Libertyville IL

🌐www.heinzorchard.com

Keller’s Farmstand

The farmstand sells apples that you can pick right off the trees in the orchard! Apple picking season begins in late August and continues daily until late October (or until supplies last).

You can enjoy the 10-acre corn maze, kid’s play area, animal barn, wagon rides, homemade apple cider donuts, kettle corn, fudge, and other treats.

🍎Mon-Fri: 10-6, Sat-Sun: 9-5 | 📞(630) 219-8194

🚗45 miles southwest | 📍 2500 Johnson Rd, Oswego IL

🌐www.kellersfarmstand.com

kid on farm tractor

Apple Holler

This family farm has a restaurant, bakery, gift shop, and orchard of peaches, pears, and pumpkins.

Visitors will enjoy four seasons of fun and family activities including orchard & farm tours, children’s shows, field trips, hayrides, sleigh rides, barnyard animals & play areas. 

🍎Daily: 9-4 | 📞(262) 884-7100

🚗 65 miles north | 📍 5006 South Sylvania Ave, Sturtevant WI

🌐www.appleholler.com

Honey Hill Orchard

Whether you are going with girlfriends or on a date, this orchard is tons of fun. The indoor barn offers more shopping for apple products and other local goods like jam, popcorn, and candy.

On weekends you can take a wagon ride to the orchard and pumpkin patch. There is also a children’s play area with a farm petting zoo and a straw maze!

🍎Daily: 9-5:30 | 📞(815) 264-3337

🚗 65 miles west | 📍11783 Waterman Rd, Waterman IL

🌐www.honeyhillorchard.com

County Line Orchard

Making the trek out to the Hoosier state will be worth it as soon as you see the giant red barn.

County Line features U-pick pumpkins, antique tractor rides, an animal barnyard, a 10-acre corn maze, a bakery, and a country kitchen & grill.

There is also a u-pick sunflower patch, campfires (must book), and live entertainment playing barnyard jams! 

🍎Daily: 9-6 | 📞(219) 947-4477

🚗40 miles southeast | 📍200 S. County Line Road, Hobart, IN

🌐www.countylineorchard.com

Edwards Apple Orchard

The family-owned, eco-friendly operation has been making great cider donut recipes for the past 30 years.

After admiring the fall and golden views head to the Cider Cellar for pulled pork sandwiches and sweet desserts like homemade fudge and hot apple pie.

Try the varieties of specialty food items like spicy jams and sweet salsas.

🍎Daily: 9-6 | 📞(815) 765-2234

🚗82 miles northwest | 📍7061 Centerville Rd, Poplar Grove IL

🌐www.edwardsorchard.com

Lang’s Orchard

You can pick 13 apple varieties at this apple farm. Maybe we should stop making apple puns…orchard we?

Lang’s is open the second week of September through the third week of October. Hooray! You can taste their popular, all-natural, no-sugar-added fruit spreads.

They also have an ahh-mazing assortment of food products, including caramel, honey, and soup mixes.

🍎Sat-Sun: 11-4 | 📞(815) 568-7547

🚗65 miles northwest | 📍17411 Secor Rd, Woodstock IL

🌐 www.langsorchard.com

Apple Barn Orchard and Winery

It’s a bit of a hike, but it is also near Lake Geneva, which is a great place for a weekend getaway. Besides, walking through the rows of trees at apple picking farms allow you to appreciate the beauty and abundance of nature.

At the Apple Barn Orchard & Winery, you’ll have fun with the whole family picking apples and pumpkins from September through October. Don’t forget their famous apple cider donuts, relaxing fall hay rides through the orchard, and much more.

Rather leave the kids at home? They have a selection of excellent fruit wines made on-site using real fruit that is available for complimentary tasting or by the glass. 

🍎Harvest Tue-Sat: 10-6, Sun: 11-5 | 📞(262) 728-3266

🚗 95 miles northwest | 📍 W6384 Sugar Creek Rd, Elkhorn WI

🌐www.applebarnorchardandwinery.com

Final Thoughts on Apple Picking Farms Near Chicago

Visiting one of these orchards is bound to be a fruitful experience. Why not explore one of the apple picking farms and connect with local producers?

In addition to great-tasting apples, you can enjoy non-apple offerings like petting zoos, tricky corn mazes, and more.

Not yet convinced? Here are more great reasons to visit:

  • Apple picking farms offer a delightful experience for families and friends to enjoy the bounties of nature.
  • At apple picking farms, you can savor the joy of plucking ripe, juicy apples straight from the trees.
  • Apple picking farms provide an opportunity to indulge in delicious homemade apple pies, cider, and other apple-infused treats.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and have an “apple-solutely” wonderful day!

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10 Comments

  1. I use to love going apple picking as a kid! I would definitely love to visit Cody’s farm or Sunny acres to grab a cider donut. Those are the best!

    1. Tanya Taylor says:

      Aren’t they? What I would give for a cider donut right now!

  2. Travel A-Broads says:

    What a lovely post! You really had me smiling with those cute photos and your comment at the end there – "a fruitful experience" – so clever! I’m from the East Coast, so I’ve done lots of fun, fall activities in the past, but I can’t believe I’ve never been apple picking! Sounds like I’ve really been missing out all of these years. Thanks for the inspiration 😊. Xx Sara

    1. Tanya Taylor says:

      Thanks, it was fun to create because we’ve been to MANY on this list over the years and finding photos of our little one at these orchards was a hoot!

  3. simplyjolayne says:

    We always enjoy this time of year for the corn mazes and pumpkin patches. There aren’t a lot of apple orchards so that would be something awesome to experience.

    1. Tanya Taylor says:

      I think I enjoy eating them more than picking them LOL!

  4. Jazmin Marie says:

    Great list! I definitely want to go apple picking this year. I’m glad all these spots aren’t too far from me too. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Tanya Taylor says:

      Yes, living near the city has so many great advantages. Happy picking!

  5. Apple orchards are always at the top of my list when autumn rolls around, it’s great that Chicago has so many options to choose from! I’m a fan of picking up a pie on my out, so I think I would have to choose Prairie Sky Orchard or Kuiper’s Family Farm!

    1. Tanya Taylor says:

      Apple is my favorite fruit dessert and I’m super excited to visit the corn maze!