If you live in or are visiting Chicago this fall and googled “apple picking near me” you are in the right place. There are several apple orchards located close to the city for those that want to enjoy fun fall activities like picking apples and drinking apple cider. Here are the best apple picking near Chicago.
Apple Picking Near Chicago
Below is a list of apple orchards near Chicago open for apple picking this fall (listed in order of distance from downtown Chicago). All the apple orchards in this post are located in the Chicago tri-state area between 40 minutes to 1.5 hours driving time from the city.
Some apple orchards are small no frills farms that just offer apple picking for a low price. Other farms have restaurants and bakeries selling fresh apple cider, donuts and other treats and also offer fun attractions and activities like pumpkin patches, corn mazes, kid farms and more which make them perfect for a fall day trip from Chicago.
I have included useful information you need to plan your visit, including addresses, hours, dates as well as links to websites and facebook pages. Note: Each apple orchard has different types of apples and each type of apple is only available for a short time. Make sure to check each orchard’s apple picking calendar to see when your favorite apple is ready for picking. Ripening dates can also vary due to weather so visit the orchard’s websites and/or facebook page before you visit.
Please note that it is too soon to know 2024 dates for apple picking but you can see dates from 2023 below to get an approximate range of timing.
Heinz Orchard
Heinz Orchard is a small, family-run orchard and is Chicagoland’s closest orchard located next to Libertyville. This no-frills orchard specializes in pure apple picking fun and does not offer hayrides, corn mazes or food/drink. You are welcome to bring strollers and wagons into the orchard. They have a smaller crop this year so their dates and hours will be fluctuating every week.
Check their website or facebook page before visiting for updates on the ripening schedule and hours.
Address: 1050 Crest Road, Green Oaks, IL 60048
Distance from Chicago: 39 miles north of Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: Opening September 15, 2023. They have very limited dates/hours in 2023 so check their website for exact dates and times.
Cost: There are no admission or parking fees but at least one person in your party must buy a bag. Prices are $10 for a 1/2 peck bag and $20 for a 1 peck bag.
County Line Orchard
County Line Orchard is a popular and affordable farm with over 30 varieties of apples. In addition to apple picking they have a U-Pick sunflower patch (best mid to late September) and pumpkin patch. Other fun activities include a large corn maze, tractor rides, bee yurts, a MooChoo ride, and kids farm with animals. Check their facebook page, website or call (219) 947-4477 for most current information.
Address: 200 S. County Line Road, Hobart, Indiana
Distance from Chicago: About 40 miles southeast from Chicago (about 55 minutes)
Apple Picking Dates: They are open starting August 30, 2023.
Hours: Open daily 8am-6pm
Cost: Pay for what you pick. U-Pick Apples are $2 per lb.
Keller’s Farmstand
Keller’s Farmstand will have about 15 varieties of apples. In addition to apple picking they also have a sunflower field in summer and a pumpkin patch in the fall. They also sell homemade apple cider donuts.
Check their facebook page or twitter for regular updates.
Address: 2500 Johnson Rd, Oswego, IL
Distance from Chicago: About 45 miles southwest from Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: Apple Season August 19, 2023 through late October.
Hours: Open daily 9am-6pm. Last entry to the orchard will be 30 minutes prior to closing time. No reservations needed.
Cost: Prices (Age 5 through adult): $9/person for ¼ peck bag (about 3 lbs), $18/person for ½ peck bag (about 5–6 lbs), $36/person for 1 peck bag (about 10–12 lbs). Children 4 and under may enter for free but do not get a bag.
Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch
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Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch is a family owned and operated farm since 1985 well known for their annual Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch, Goebbert’s offers many fall themed attractions for kids and families including a Haunted House, Kiddie Play Land, Straw Maze, Singing Chickens, Pumpkin Express Train, Giant Pumpkin Slide, 20-foot Pumpkin Eating Dinosaur and Animal Land with a Pig Family, Giraffe Barn, and Feathered Friends Building. They also have a café that features baked goods and meal options, apple cider donuts and homemade caramel apples. Check their Facebook page and website for more updates.
Address: 42W813 Reinking Road Pingree Grove, Illinois 60140
Distance from Chicago: About 50 miles northwest from Chicago (about 1 hour driving time)
Kuipers Family Farm
Kuipers Family Farm offers 230 acres of apple orchard, a sunflower field and a pumpkin farm (opens mid-September). After picking apples, head to the Orchard Bakery to pick up their famous apple cider doughnuts, home-baked pies and cream and butter fudge and grab a gallon of freshly-pressed pasteurized apple cider. This year guests will walk to the picking areas. Strollers will be allowed in the orchard to transport children. Guests should be aware that walks to ripe fruit will vary weekly in location and distance.
Check their facebook page and website or call (815) 827-5200 Ext. 1 for most current information.
Address: 1N145 Watson Road, Maple Park, IL 60151
Distance from Chicago: 58 miles west of Chicago (about 1 hour)
Apple Picking Dates: Opening date is August 26 – October 31, 2023.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 9AM-6PM (no orchard admissions after 5:30PM) and Sunday & Monday 10AM-6PM (no orchard admissions after 5:00PM). Columbus Day: 9AM-6PM; Closes at 4PM Halloween
Cost: Admission to the apple orchard is $11.99 (online) or $13.99 (at the gate) per person which includes 1/4 peck bag of apples. Children 2 and under are admitted for FREE but don’t receive a bag.
Woody’s Orchard
Woody’s Orchard has over 18 varieties of apples that ripen throughout the fall season as well as a U Pick pumpkin patch. There are tons of fun activities for kids including train rides and a Play Yard with a spider web, jump pad, hay maze, big slides, hamster rollers, duck racers, wooden tractors, climbing tire pile and a cedar playhouse. Check their website for more information and their facebook page for updates.
Address: 3223 Creek Road, Plano, IL 60545
Distance from Chicago: About 58 miles west of Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: Open August 17 – October 29, 2023.
Hours: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm on Thursdays-Sundays.
Cost: To enter the Apple Orchard you must purchase one apple picking bag for every two people in your group. Apple bags must be purchased at the Farm. Each bag costs $12 and is a quarter peck in size. There are additional fees for other activities. See website for pricing.
All Seasons Orchard
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All Seasons Orchard is one of the largest u-pick apple orchards in Illinois with over 15,000 apple trees and two apple orchards. In addition to apple picking there is also a barnyard with over 30 family-friendly activities including a petting zoo, corn maze and a pumpkin patch (open late September). Check their facebook page and apple calendar page or call (815) 338-5637 for most current information.
Address: 14510 IL Route 176, Woodstock, Illinois 60098
Distance from Chicago: 60 miles northwest from Chicago (about 1 hour)
Apple Picking Dates: Fall festival is from August 26 through October 29, 2023.
Hours: Monday – Friday 10am-5pm; weekends and holidays 10am-6pm booth closes 1 hour prior to closing.
Cost: There is no entrance fee to enter the Country Kitchen and Farm Market but there are fees for apple picking and barnyard activities. See their website for pricing. Tickets are only available for purchase onsite upon arrival at the orchard. Online tickets are not currently available.
Stade’s Farm and Market
Stade’s Farm and Market has a 8000+ tree apple orchard. The farm is also popular for pick-your-own fruits and vegetables including zinnias, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, peppers, green beans, and pumpkins. They also have a large entertainment area which includes a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hay rides, and a large variety of unique attractions. They also have sunflower fields late summer and early fall. Check their facebook page or twitter for daily updates.
Address: 3709 Miller Road, McHenry, Illinois
Distance from Chicago: Approximately 60 miles north of Chicago
Cost: $10 for a 1/4 Peck Bag, $30 for a Peck Bag or $50 for a 1/2 Bushel. A $10 minimum apple purchase per person is required to enter the apple orchard (ages two years and under are free).
Prairie Sky Orchard
Prairie Sky Orchard has more than a dozen varieties of pre-picked and U-pick apples. Their Store & Koffee Kiosk sells fresh doughnuts on weekends, fresh cider, raw honey, jams, salsas & butters, and several varieties of pies. Check their facebook page and website or call (815) 923-4834 for updates.
Address: 4914 N. Union Road, Union, IL 60180
Distance from Chicago: 61 miles northwest from Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: Opens September 10, 2023
Hours: 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Sunday only
Cost: Entrance into the orchard for: 1-4 People is 1 Bag = $32 or 5-8 People is 2 Bags=$64
Lang’s Orchard
Lang’s Orchard have over a dozen varieties of apples. Honeycrisp and Snowsweet will be sold prepicked only. Check their facebook page and website or call (815) 568-7547 for daily updates.
Address: 17411 Secor Road, Woodstock, Illinois 60098
Distance from Chicago: About 63 miles northwest from Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: Picking begins September 9, 2023
Hours: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and closed on weekdays
Cost: $20/peck = 1/4 bushel (No Admission or parking fees)
Homestead Orchard
Homestead Orchard is a quiet no frills place in the country to pick 23 varieties of apples, pie cherries and pears. Their store in an 1880s horse barn, sells hand crafted items, glassware, and some antique furniture. There is a separate room that honors WWII veterans with memorabilia. They also sell fresh honey from orchard’s own bee hives along with beeswax candles. Check their facebook page and website for updates. The message on their answering machine (815) 338-7443 gives up-to-date picking information and estimated ripening dates.
Address: 11802 Charles Road, Woodstock, Illinois
Distance from Chicago: About 65 miles northwest from Chicago (about 75 minutes)
Apple Picking Dates: They are currently open for apple picking.
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-4:00pm and Sunday, Noon-4:00pm
Cost: One peck = 12lbs. or about $1.65 lb. 1 peck bag is $20.00 (There is a 1- peck minimum for family with children and a 2-peck minimum for more than 4 adults.)
Apple Holler
Voted one of the “Top Ten Best Orchards” in the country, Apple Holler is a 78-acre orchard with more than 20,000 select dwarf trees featuring 30 varieties of apples. Check their facebook page, website or call (262) 884-7100 for most current information.
Address: 5006 South Sylvania Ave, Sturtevant, Wisconsin 53177
Distance from Chicago: About 66 miles north of Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: They are now open for apple picking. Apple picking season is from August through October, 2023. You can see their apple picking calendar here.
Hours: 9:00AM – 4:00PM daily
Honey Hill Orchard
Honey Hill Orchard is a family-owned and operated orchard with 25 varieties of apples. In addition to pick your own apples, the farm has pick your own raspberries. There is a bakery though which Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider, Honey, Caramel Apples, Fresh Baked Pies. There is also a Free Children’s Play Area with Farm Petting Zoo and Straw Maze and weekend wagon rides.
Check their facebook page and website or call (815) 264-3337 for most current information.
Address: 11783 Waterman Rd., Waterman, IL 60556
Distance from Chicago: 66 miles west of Chicago
Apple Picking Dates: Opens September 9- October 31, 2023
Hours: 9:00-5:00 (Last admission at 4:30).
Cost: $10 per person per 1/4 pk. bag, $30 peck bag (maximum of 2 people sharing peck bag). Guests must have a picking bag to enter the orchard. Cash only. 2 and under are free but do not receive a bag.
Jonamac Orchard
Jonamac Orchard is a three generational family farm owned and operated since 1984. The apple orchard has over 20,000 apple trees with over 30 varieties of apples. In addition to apple picking, the farm offers a 12 acre U-Pick pumpkin patch (opens mid to late September), corn maze, and a sunflower patch (select weekends). There are also many activities for kids including a petting zoo and a Barn Yard Play Area (slides, kid fort & wooden maze, play tractor, duck races, trike track, spider web, kiddie barn, straw bale pile, & “Tiny Town” Donut Shop & School House). They also have a Store & Bakery and Cider House. Check their facebook page and website for more information.
Address: 19412 Shabbona Road, Malta, IL 60150
Distance from Chicago: 70 miles west of Chicago (about 1 hour 10 minutes)
Apple Picking Dates: Apple picking will begin Labor Day weekend (September 2, 2023) and continue as long as apples are available.
Hours: 9am to 5:30pm (last entry is at 5PM). Make sure to check their website for detailed hours of other activities.
Cost: $16 per 1/2 peck bag of apples, up to 4 people may pick per bag.
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
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Royal Oak Farm is a 160-acre orchard with 20,000 apple trees in over 30 varieties, along with pumpkins, gourds and squash. It is also home to Amaze ‘N Apples, the country’s only apple tree maze filled with 1.5 miles of walking trails, 9 varieties of apples to pick, 3 activity areas, a central climbing tower, and games. Royal Oak offers many family fun and entertainment activities including a train, carousel, hayrides, petting zoo and playground. After apple picking make sure to stop by the bakery for fresh fudge, hand dipped caramel apples, homemade pies and its famous apple cider donuts and the country kitchen for home-cooked chicken pot pies and hand breaded chicken tenders.
Check their facebook page and website or call (815) 648-4141 for most current information.
Address: 15908 Hebron Rd. Harvard, IL 60033
Distance from Chicago: 77 miles northwest of Chicago (about 1 hour 30 minutes)
Hours: Mon – Thu 10:00 am – 5:00 pm & Fri – Sun 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Cost: Apple Picking Admission is $12 Per Person for anyone age 4 and above who enters the picking Area. Includes access into the orchard and 1/4 Peck (3lb) bag to fill in the orchard.
Have you visited any of these apple orchards close to Chicago?
