Fall is here, and with that come pumpkins, beloved holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween, and seasonal treats. But there’s a fun, family-friendly activity that you can also enjoy with the little ones this time of the year: apple picking! Whether you live in the Boston area or are just visiting, visiting an apple orchard is a must that you will want to add to your list for this season!
In Massachusetts, the initial apple harvest typically occurs in the middle to later parts of August, while the majority of other apple varieties ripen from September to October.
If you’re looking for apple-picking farms in or around Boston, you’ll be surprised by how many there are. We’ve created a list of the best ones for apple picking with kids. Some of these places also offer other fun outdoor activities for the whole family, including playgrounds and picnic spots.
Mark your calendar and prepare to enjoy exploring Massachusetts’ vibrant apple orchards during this fruitful season!
Top 20 apple farms in and around Boston
1
54 Felton St, Peabody, MA 01960, USA
Brooksby Farm
With tons of family-friendly activities, Brooksby Farm is a great destination when looking for orchard hayrides and corn mazes near Boston. Owned by the city of Peabody, the 270-acre Brooksby Farm features apple and peach orchards. During fall, you can also enjoy autumn festivities like the pumpkin patch and more!2
45 Redstone Hill Rd, Sterling, MA 01564, USA
Davis Farmland Discovery Farm
Kids love to engage in fun activities during the fall, and they can do just that at David Farmland Discovery Farm. Located just an hour from Boston and half an hour from Worcester, it’s a premier destination for seasonal produce picking with kids.3
89 Pleasant St S, Natick, MA 01760, USA
Lookout Farm
Among the most popular apple-picking farms near Boston is Lookout Farm. You’ll find a variety of fall farm activities for kids, including farm-crafted beer and hard cider, various fruit picking, and more! Stroll through their market shop or enjoy a family dinner together!4
101 Brookside Ave, Stow, MA
Carver Hill Orchard: Stow
Carver Hill Orchard is an apple-picking farm near Boston. This is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Families will be surrounded by peace and nature. There are low trees for the little apple pickers, and visitors can also pick squash, corn, pumpkins, and peppers! Don't miss the outdoor fall events for children held there every year!5
95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsboro, MA
Parlee Farms: Tyngsboro
Looking for u-pick apple orchards for families? Parlee Farms features an apple orchard that spans over 19 acres, filled with dwarf apple trees that produce large, delicious apples! If you visit the farm on weekends and fall holidays, there are hayrides available to take you to the orchard!6
138 Sudbury Rd, Stow, MA
Honey Pot Hill Orchards: Stow
This 186-acre apple-picking farm near Boston is a popular destination for local families because it offers apples, peaches, blueberries, and other small crops. A tractor-drawn hayride will take you to the apples, and after picking up your fruit, you can enjoy a meal on the picnic tables or photo ops at the old tractor. There are also fun fall activities for kids, including an indoor tunnel maze, a large hedge maze, and more!7
15 Stowe Rd, Millbury, MA 01527, USA
Stowe Farm
The Stowe Farm is one of the coolest apple-picking farms near Boston. It offers visitors of all ages a delightful countryside escape with a variety of activities. This charming destination provides a range of outdoor experiences, including pumpkin patches, corn mazes, zip-lining, rock climbing, and more.8
30 Rockwood St, Sherborn, MA 01770
Dowse Orchards: Sherborn
Dowse Orchards is located very near Lookout Farm, and it has over 200 years of history of family production of apples, veggies, flowers, pumpkins, Christmas trees, and more. Families will find up to 20 varieties of pick-your-own apples that become available during the weekends starting in September. There’s also a farmstand with stone fruits, corn, cider, and more, which is open daily.9
30 Valley Road (Rt. 35), Danvers, Massachusetts
Connors Farm: Danvers
Connors Farm is the perfect destination for kid-friendly apple festivals. In addition to apple picking, families can enjoy inflatable jumping pillows, a corn maze, hay rides, a ropes course, Fort Connors, play areas, pedal carts, a farm stand, and more!10
1370 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845
Boston Hill Farm: North Andover
There’s no better place for u-pick apple orchards for families than Boston Hill Farm. They offer pick-your-own apples on fall weekends from early September through the end of October. With a variety of apples to choose from, including McIntosh, Ginger Gold, and Paula Red. Families can also enjoy cider doughnuts, live music, and ice cream. Children love the petting farm with bunnies, goats, sheep, chickens, and geese.11
45 Fern Ave, Amesbury, MA
Cider Hill Farm: Amesbury
Another great option for families looking for orchard hayrides and corn mazes is Cider Hill Farm. Located over an hour’s drive from Boston near the New Hampshire border, it features five apple orchards with nearly 50 varieties for families to pick from late August to mid-October. Other activities for kids include a giant sandbox, a bee observatory, and the Farmer Glenn’s Trike Yard playground. Other activities for kids include a giant sandbox, a bee observatory, and the “Farmer Glenn’s Trike Yard” playground!12
178 Mass Ave.Harvard, Massachusetts
Westward Orchards: Harvard
Looking to embrace the joy of seasonal produce picking with your kids? Travel to Westward Orchard! The farm store and CSA program offer a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables, and you can pick your own blueberries, apples, and pumpkins.13
115 Oak Hill Rd Harvard, MA 01451
Carlson Orchards: Harvard
This is one of the most popular apple-picking farms near Boston! Families can choose from 14 varieties of apples that are ready to be picked. These include McIntosh, Granny Smith, and Fuji. Carlson Orchards now grows fruit on 100 acres of land. They produce 30,000 bushels of apples, 5,000 baskets of peaches and nectarines, and fruit from 50-year-old blueberry patches, as well as raspberries and sweet cherries.14
315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, MA 01845
Smolak Farm: North Andover
North Andover’s Smolak Farms offers fun for everyone! From late September on, pick up apples from the orchards and shop at the farm stand and bakery! Kids will have a blast enjoying the different fall farm activities, such as hayrides, meeting the animals, or simply running around exploring nature.15
143 Argilla Rd. Ipswich, MA
Russell Orchards: Ipswich
Russell Orchards' apple picking opens in September and is available daily. Hayrides are offered on weekends, and live cider pressing takes place only on Saturdays. Kids will love seeing the farm animals in the barnyard!16
327 Ayer Rd, Harvard, MA 01451
Doe Orchards: Harvard
Doe Orchards is a family-owned farm that grows blueberries, raspberries, peaches, apples, and Christmas trees. The farm features 25 acres of various apple varieties. Picking begins on Labor Day weekend and runs daily through late October. Be sure to stop by when searching for exciting u-pick apple orchards for families!17
234 Ball St, Northborough, MA 01532
Tougas Family Farm: Northborough
Looking for a fun activity to enjoy with the kids? This farm near Boston features a petting zoo and offers apple picking! They grow over thirty varieties of apples, available for picking from mid-August to the end of October. Families will discover an extensive selection of apple varieties, many of which are not found in supermarkets.18
455 Highland Ave, Phillipston, MA 01331
Red Apple Farm: Phillipston
Welcome to one of the premier apple-picking farms near Boston! From rows of trees featuring a variety of in-season apples to beautiful sunflowers, you’ll enjoy a unique u-pick experience at Red Apple Farm. The farm also has a taproom and restaurant on-site called Brew Barn, making it an ideal spot for outdoor fall events for children!19
252 Rowley Bridge Road in Topsfield, MA
Connemara House
Connemara House offers a “Pick Your Own” Apple Picking experience in September and October. The Orchard is not commercially picked, so visitors are free to wander the rows of trees at their leisure, selecting from over 10 varieties of apples. It’s a great way to spend the day with family and friends!20
100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton, Massachusetts 01740
Nashoba Valley Winery: Bolton
Nashoba Valley Winery is not just a wine-tasting destination; it features nearly 5,000 apple trees ripe for picking as early as late August. So, when searching for apple-picking farms near Boston, be sure to consider this one!Fall is the time when delicious foods start to be harvested, and of course, apples are one of kids’ favorites! That’s why visiting an apple-picking farm near Boston is such a great idea! Plus, you’re sure to encounter several seasonal activities at festivals, like Ferris games and more! If you’re still looking for fun afterward, you can always enjoy some mini golf or a classic game at the arcade!
