Pennsylvania takes fall seriously. When September rolls around, working orchards across the state open their gates to visitors ready to fill baskets, wander tree-lined rows, and make the most of a crisp autumn weekend.
The state grows dozens of apple varieties, and its farms range from quiet countryside retreats to full-blown fall festivals with corn mazes, wagon rides, pumpkin patches, and bakeries that could stop you in your tracks. A late April freeze in 2026 did reduce crops at some locations, but most orchards on this list are still welcoming visitors with picking, markets, cider, and seasonal treats.
Whether you are planning a day trip from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or anywhere in between, Pennsylvania has an orchard worth the drive. Read on to find the one that fits your fall plans perfectly.
1. Solebury Orchards, New Hope, Pennsylvania
Brian Smith started Solebury Orchards in 1985 with 24 acres, and it has since grown into an 80-acre farm growing apples, peaches, blueberries, pears, plums, and more.
The 2026 apple season was affected by the spring freeze, but the farm adapted by supplementing its limited on-tree crop with apples sourced from New York orchards, placing bins directly in the picking rows so visitors still get the full experience.
Weekend reservations are required for apple picking in September and October, with slots released each Sunday evening for the following weekend. A $2.50 reservation fee applies per person, and apples are priced at $1.50 per pound.
New 2026 additions include Craft Sundays, story time sessions, an Apple Scavenger Hunt starting mid-September, and a dedicated Pumpkin Patch. The farm market stocks fresh-pressed cider, cider donuts, apple butter, and more than 30 apple varieties across the season.
2. Weaver’s Orchard Inc, Morgantown, Pennsylvania
Tucked into the wooded, rolling landscape of southeastern Pennsylvania, Weaver’s Orchard has built a loyal following among fruit lovers who appreciate both variety and scenery.
Apples normally run from August into early November, and despite a lighter 2026 crop, varieties including Gala, Cortland, Macoun, Jonathan, and Autumn Crisp are appearing through the season as each one reaches peak ripeness.
The orchard’s Fall Festival Family Fun Days are a seasonal highlight, running on selected Saturdays from mid-September through the end of October. Sunflowers, food trucks, live entertainment, a corn maze, farm games, and animals round out the experience beyond picking.
Weaver’s is a practical choice for visitors who want a genuine farm outing without driving too far from the Philadelphia metro area. Check the orchard’s website before visiting, as variety availability and festival dates are updated regularly throughout the season.
3. Highland Orchards, Inc., West Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester County has no shortage of fall destinations, but Highland Orchards has a particular knack for keeping visitors busy long after their apple baskets are full.
Apple picking typically runs from midsummer through October, covering a solid stretch of the season with multiple varieties ripening at different points. The farm market and bakery give visitors every reason to stick around once the orchard rows have been thoroughly explored.
The bakery turns out fresh apple cider donuts, pies, pastries, breads, and muffins that are especially popular on cooler fall afternoons. Pumpkins, hayrides, and the general rhythm of a working farm add to the seasonal atmosphere without requiring a packed event calendar.
Highland Orchards works well as a half-day outing or a longer stop depending on how much time you want to spend. Its location near West Chester also makes it easy to pair with other stops in the area.
4. Lakeland Orchard & Cidery, Scott Township, Pennsylvania
Thirty thousand apple trees is not a typo. Lakeland Orchard and Cidery operates on a scale that puts most Pennsylvania orchards to shame, and its 2026 Apple Harvest Festival runs from September 3 through November 1 to make the most of that enormous crop.
Dozens of apple varieties form the centerpiece of the season, giving visitors a genuinely wide selection whether they prefer tart, sweet, or somewhere in between. The sheer size of the orchard means the picking rows rarely feel overcrowded even on busy weekends.
After mid-September, the orchard adds a family-friendly Halloween Light Show complete with an evening train ride through illuminated displays. That makes Lakeland one of the few orchards on this list that offers a compelling reason to visit after dark.
For travelers who want their apple-country weekend to stretch past sunset, Lakeland is the clear choice. Plan for at least a half-day to cover everything the farm has going on.
5. Maple Lawn Farms, Inc. Orchards & Farm Market, New Park, Pennsylvania
About 15 apple varieties normally grow at Maple Lawn Farms for a pick-your-own season that runs from mid-August into early November, making it one of York County’s more reliable autumn destinations.
The 2026 spring freeze did reduce parts of the crop, but early varieties including Honeycrisp and Zestar survived in limited quantities. Checking the farm’s website before your visit will give you the most current picking conditions for each variety.
As the season progresses, Maple Lawn becomes a broader fall playground through its fall festival and the Maize Quest Fun Park, which adds dozens of attractions beyond the orchard rows. The combination of picking, a corn maze, and farm activities gives the farm multi-generational appeal.
Apple cider donuts, pies, dumplings, and turnovers from the bakery provide an excellent reason to visit even on days when picking conditions are limited. New Park is a manageable drive from both York and Lancaster.
6. Mt Airy Orchards, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
More than 150 acres of fruit trees give Mt Airy Orchards a countryside scale that feels genuinely expansive, and the farm grows more than 25 apple varieties to fill those acres with seasonal variety.
The 2026 apple-picking season opened in late August and continues through October, with Gala and Honeycrisp leading the early lineup before Fuji, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith arrive as autumn deepens. That staggered ripening schedule keeps the orchard fresh for return visitors.
Weekend fall attractions add considerably to the experience. A corn maze, tractor rides, pedal karts, a mega slide, and other activities mean that a bag of freshly picked apples is just the starting point for a full family day outdoors.
Mt Airy is a practical option for visitors coming from the Harrisburg or York areas, offering easy access without a long drive. Arrive on a weekday if you prefer a quieter outing with shorter waits for the activities.
7. Grim’s Orchard & Family Farms, Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
Twenty-plus apple varieties and a harvest calendar that stretches from late summer into October make Grim’s one of the more productive pick-your-own stops in the Lehigh Valley.
The 2026 season features Honeycrisp, AutumnCrisp, Ruby Mac, and Buckeye Gala, with later varieties ripening as autumn advances. That rolling variety schedule gives repeat visitors a reason to come back more than once.
Weekends here are genuinely busy in the best possible way. An eight-acre corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin picking, flower fields, farm activities, cider donuts, and caramel apples all compete for your attention once the apple baskets are full.
Grim’s is one of the livelier options on this list, making it a strong pick for families who want a packed fall day rather than a quiet countryside stroll. Plan to arrive early on weekends if you want to tackle the corn maze before the crowds do.
8. Triple B Farms, Monongahela, Pennsylvania
About 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, Triple B Farms pulls off a neat trick: genuine orchard country within easy reach of a major city, no long highway stretch required.
Pick-your-own apples include Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp during the season, and the farm market carries the farm’s own fruit alongside baked goods, fudge, and preserves. That market is worth a stop on its own for anyone who prefers browsing to picking.
Fall weekends at Triple B are anything but low-key. Hayrides, two corn mazes, giant slides, jumping pillows, farm animals, games, and Pumpkinland all compete for visitor attention once the apple baskets are set down.
Triple B is especially well suited to families looking for an easy autumn day trip from Pittsburgh without the need to plan a full weekend away. The combination of orchard, market, and activities covers enough ground to keep everyone occupied from morning into the afternoon.
9. Brecknock Orchard, Mohnton, Pennsylvania
Thirty-five apple varieties ripening from summer into late fall puts Brecknock Orchard in a category of its own for serious apple enthusiasts who want options well beyond the standard grocery store lineup.
The 2026 harvest schedule includes familiar favorites such as Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith, along with lesser-seen varieties that reward visitors who make the trip more than once across the season.
Fall festival days bring wagon rides through the orchard alongside apple and pumpkin picking, giving the farm a social atmosphere that goes beyond a quiet self-guided outing. The market stocks cider and baked treats including apple pies and apple dumplings.
Brecknock’s long season is one of its most practical advantages. Even after the peak early-October crowds have moved on, the orchard continues offering varieties that many farms have already wrapped up for the year.
That makes it worth considering for a late-season visit in October or November.
10. Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market, Loganville, Pennsylvania
Operating since 1948, Brown’s Orchards has had more than seven decades to figure out what a well-rounded farm destination looks like, and the result is one of York County’s most complete fall stops.
The farm combines a working orchard with a substantial market, bakery, cafe, greenhouse, and additional retail stops, making it easy to spend a couple of hours without running out of things to explore. The orchard’s own apples, including Honeycrisp, Ginger Gold, and Cortland, arrive in the market as harvest gets underway in 2026.
Fresh cider production begins in September, and the bakery’s apple dumplings are a seasonal staple worth planning around. Brown’s works particularly well for visitors who want a relaxed outing where browsing and sitting down to eat matter just as much as the farm itself.
Loganville puts Brown’s within easy reach of York and a reasonable drive from the Baltimore area, making it a natural cross-state-line day trip for Maryland visitors as well.
11. Cherry Hill Orchards, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Cherry Hill Orchards has been part of the Lancaster County agricultural landscape since 1970, and its year-round market has developed a reputation for seasonal produce, baked goods, and local items that keep customers returning well beyond apple season.
There is an important update for 2026 that visitors should know before making the trip specifically for picking: the spring freeze damaged the apple crop, and U-pick apple picking is closed for the season. The orchard and farm market remain open and operating, so the stop is still worthwhile for anyone already exploring Lancaster County.
The market carries apple cider when available, along with pumpkins and other autumn color from the garden center. It makes for a pleasant addition to a broader Lancaster day rather than a standalone destination this particular year.
Anyone with apple picking at the top of their list should choose another orchard from this list for 2026 and consider returning to Cherry Hill in a future season when the crop is back to full strength.
12. Ridgetop Orchards, Fishertown, Pennsylvania
Bedford County does not always make the top of fall weekend itineraries, but Ridgetop Orchards makes a strong case for rethinking that oversight.
More than 30 apple varieties grow across the orchard’s acreage, with current offerings including Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, EverCrisp, Gala, Ginger Gold, and Golden Delicious. That is a wider range than many better-known orchards closer to the major metro areas.
The rural location is a central part of Ridgetop’s appeal. A drive to Fishertown takes visitors through genuine Pennsylvania countryside, and the orchard itself has none of the festival-crowd energy that characterizes busier destinations closer to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
For travelers who want a quieter, more personal orchard outing without navigating packed parking lots or timed entry tickets, Ridgetop is one of the most appealing options on this list. Pair it with a stop in the Bedford area to make the most of the drive out to south-central Pennsylvania.
13. Kauffman Orchards, Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania
Bird in Hand is already one of Lancaster County’s most visited corners, and Kauffman Orchards fits right into the rhythm of a classic Lancaster County fall day spent on country roads and at farm stands.
The Route 340 market is stocked with house-made apple products year-round, including fresh-pressed cider, apple cider donuts, apple butter, and dried apples. Those items alone justify a stop even when the picking situation is uncertain.
The 2026 season has been affected by crop conditions, and the orchard currently advises visitors to check for updates before planning a U-pick trip. The active market, however, remains a reliable destination regardless of what the orchard is doing on any given weekend.
Kauffman’s classic Lancaster County setting and straightforward farm market format make it an easy addition to any itinerary that already includes the Bird in Hand or Intercourse areas. Check the farm’s website or call ahead to confirm picking availability before making the drive specifically for apples.
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