Apple Picking within 1 hour 30 minutes of Washington D.C.
The return of fall means cooler weather, changing trees and all your favorite apple desserts. Of course, apples taste even better when fresh-picked from your local orchard.
Most orchards open for the season in August and continue to have pick-your-own apples through early November. Some orchards are more traditional and offer an authentic farm experience, but others have fall festivals with corn mazes, farm animal petting zoos, sweet treats and more.
Whether you’re wanting to step your apple recipes up a notch, enjoy the countryside for a day or are looking kid-friendly entertainment, apple picking near Washington D.C. is the perfect fall day-trip! Read about the orchards within 1 hour 30 minutes of Washington D.C., and pick your favorite to visit this weekend!
Butler’s Orchard
Address: 22222 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD
Phone: (301) 428-0444
Butler’s Orchard, located in Germantown, Maryland opens May 1st, but apple picking begins in early September. The farm utilizes integrated pest management techniques, which means they spray far fewer pesticides than traditional farming. A farm visit costs $3 a person, but children 2 and under are free.
Catoctin Mountain Orchard
Address: 15036 N Franklinville Rd, Thurmont, MD
Phone: (301) 271-2737
Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Thurmont, Maryland, offers a variety of pick-your-own fruits, including apples, blueberries, and raspberries. To see what varieties of fruit are in season, check their website. Catoctin Orchard is cash only, but there is an onsite ATM if you decide that you need to pick another bag of apples. A visit to the orchard costs $2, and includes a hayride up to the orchard.
Crooked Run Orchard
Address: 37883 E Main St, Purcellville, VA
Phone: (540) 338-6642
Crooked Run Orchard offers free admission and apple picking begins in August. This is another integrated pest management farm, and Crooked Run asks that you leave your pets at home. Bring a lunch to eat with your fresh-picked fruit at the on-site picnic tables.
Gaver Tree Farm
Address: 5501 Detrick Rd., Mount Airy, MD
Phone: 301-865-3515
Looking for a fun-filled weekend with kids? Gaver Tree Farm’s pick-your-own apple orchard and fall fun festival is the perfect place to visit. Open September – December, this farm hosts a festival that includes hayrides, a corn maze, and a cow train! You can visit the store and apple orchard at no cost, but the festival cost $11 on weekends and $7.75 on weekdays – children 2 and under are free. Please leave Fido at home!
Hartland Orchard
Address: 3064 Hartland Ln, Markham, VA 22643
Phone: (540) 364-2316
Looking for an orchard where you can bring your pet? Hartland Orchard allows leashed dogs and is free to visit. Apple-picking begins in August and continues through October, so pack a bag and visit Hartland Orchard in the Virginia countryside this weekend.
Hollin Farms
Address: 1410 Snowden Rd, Delaplane, VA 20144
Phone: (540) 592-3574
Another farm that allows dogs is Hollin Farms in Delaplane, Virginia. Apple-picking at this integrated pest management farm begins in late August, and continues through early November.
Homestead Farm
Address: 15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837
Phone: (301) 977-3898
Homestead Farm opens June 1st and u-pick apple events begin in late August. Dogs are not allowed at the orchard, but children are welcome. Come earlier in the summer to pick cherries and blueberries!
Larriland Farm
Address: 2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797
Phone: (301) 854-6110
Larriland Farm is another integrated pest management orchard that also grows peaches and apples. Pick your own apples begins in August and you can check which varieties are currently ripe on their website. Please leave your pets at home when visiting Larriland Farm.
Mackintosh Fruit Farm
Address: 1608 Russell Rd, Berryville, VA 22611
Phone: (540) 955-6225
Mackintosh Fruit Farm is a dog-friendly farm in aptly-named Berryville, Virginia. Produce at the farm includes peaches, blueberries, and strawberries, and apple-picking begins in August. Each month, this farm has a special farm-to-table dinner made from Mackintosh Fruit Farm produce.
Marker-Miller Orchards
Address: 3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester, VA 22602
Phone: (540) 662-1391
Marker-Miller Orchards is a family-fun orchard with wagon rides, a cow train, a playground, picnic areas and u-pick apples. Apple-picking begins in mid-August and there are apple harvest festival weekends throughout the season.
Stribling Orchard
Address: 11587 Poverty Hollow Ln, Markham, VA 22643
Phone: (540) 364-3040
Stribling Orchard in Markham, Virginia opens in mid-July for peaches and August for apple-picking. Stribling Orchard is free to visit and also allows the collection of ground-apples for deer hunting and other animal consumption. Visit the historic buildings on-site, and then pick your own apples!
Weber’s Cider Mill Farm Inc
Address: 2526 Proctor Ln, Parkville, MD
Phone: (410) 668-4488
Weber’s Cider Mill Farm has u-pick apples September through November each year. Pets are not allowed, but the orchard has hayrides, mazes and farm animals to entertain children. Come earlier in the year to pick peaches, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries!
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