10 local farms to go fall apple picking near Charlotte, NC

What comes to your mind when you think of fall? I hope it was apples because it’s apple picking season at many farms and orchards in the Carolinas. This magnificent fruit can be candied, bobbed, picked and pied.

It would be pretty hard to have a proper fall season without apple picking. Here at CharlotteFive, we decided to compile a list of apple picking farms you can visit to spice up your social media, take your crush or just have fun with friends.

PRO TIP: Sky Top Orchard recommends looking for bruising when picking apples.

Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill

Address: 2075 Pleasant Hill Ave., Morganton NC, 28655

Neighborhood: Morganton

Distance from Charlotte: 78.6 miles

Season starts: Aug. 13

Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill allows guests to pick their own apples and flowers. Availability for apple varieties change daily. Guests can pick apples from Monday-Saturday until early November.

If you plan to visit the farm, make sure to purchase an apple picking pass. Passes are non-refundable and must be purchased in advance. Each pass admits one person into the picking area.

Cost: $3 per person* and:

• $9 for a small pick-your-own bag;

• $14 for a small basket;

• $16 for a medium pick-your-own bag;

• $25 for a medium basket, $24 for a large pick-your-own bag; and

• $35 for a large basket.

*Free for guests ages 2 or younger.

Blueberry Thrill Farm

Address: 6938 Eaglesfield Rd, Gibsonville, NC 27249

Neighborhood: Gibsonville

Distance from Charlotte: 109 miles

Season starts: Early September

Don’t let the name confuse you — Blueberry Thrill Farm offers pick-your-own apples. Apples are in season from early September to the end of October. Baskets will be provided for produce picking. The two quart and four quart baskets are reusable.

The farm began in 1982 with four acres of blueberries. In 2011, a new orchard was added, with apples and peaches. The farm is open from 7 a.m.-noon on Saturdays; times are subject to change depending on the amount of produce available.

Cost:

Carrigan Farms

Address: 1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28115

Neighborhood: Mooresville

Distance From Charlotte: 31 miles

Season starts: Sept. 6

Carrigan Farms offers apple picking from Sept. 6-25. Make sure to make reservations in advance to ensure you have plenty of apples to pick.

Tickets include a hayride to the petting zoo and orchard and a half peck bag to fill with juicy apples. You can pick delicious red apples and delicious golden apples.

Cost:

• $14 per person, $2 online deposit and $12 cash at the door.

• Infants ages 23 months and younger are allowed free admission into the farm.

Creasman Farms

Address: 280 Bent Arrow Ln, Hendersonville, NC 28792

Neighborhood: Hendersonville

Distance from Charlotte: 106 miles

Season starts: September

Creasman Farms’ U-Pick orchard is open from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays starting in September. The U-Pick apples include Honeycrisp, Fuji and Pink Lady apples. Tickets are not required to pick apples. You only pay for how much you pick.

Cost:

Justus Orchards

Address: 187 Garren Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792

Neighborhood: Hendersonville

Distance from Charlotte: 108 miles

Season starts: Aug. 19

There are so many varieties of apples for you to choose from at Justus Orchards that the place provides a schedule for when certain types of apples will be available for picking. The schedule even recommends how to best use your apples.

Starting Aug. 19, you can pick Gala and Sweetie apples. The orchard will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week. Tickets are not required to pick apples. You only pay for what you pick.

Cost:

• $22 for a half bushel;

• $10 for a half peck; and

• $15 for one peck.

Millstone Creek Orchards

Address: 506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316

Neighborhood: Ramseur

Distance from Charlotte: 98.6 miles

Season starts: September

Millstone Creek Orchards offers pick-your-own apples in September. Apples were the first fruit offered at this orchard — and remain the most popular.

In order to go apple picking, you have to make a reservation. U-Pick is offered every Saturday. Each ticket includes access to the U-Pick apple orchards, fresh apple tasting, a quarter peck bag, and an orchard hayride.

Cost:

The Orchard at Altapass

Address: 1025 Orchard Rd, Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Neighborhood: Spruce Pine

Distance from Charlotte: 113 miles

Season starts: Ongoing-Oct. 30.

Bring the whole family to The Orchard at Altapass. The orchard offers U-Pick apples some time in August. Since Mother Nature is pretty finicky about when she’ll allow apples to grow, the farm can only predict when apples will be ripe for the picking a couple of days in advance.

Check out this chart the orchard provides to learn more about the apples you’ll be picking and how you can put them to best use.

Cost:

• $10 for a U-Pick apple bag;
• $15 for a small basket; and
• $24 for a large basket.

Perry Lowe Orchards

Address: 8741 NC-16, Moravian Falls, NC 28654

Neighborhood: Moravian Falls

Distance from Charlotte: 71 miles

Season starts: Ongoing

Perry Lowe Orchards started offering apple picking in early August. Make a reservation to ensure you have apples to pick. Each reservation will be limited to 90 minutes to ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy the orchard.

PRO TIP: Each row will be marked as “Sweet” or “Tart” along with the name of the apple or “Not Ready” if the apples in that row aren’t ripe yet. Different apple varieties will be available each weekend.

Cost:

• Admission tickets are $2 per person and free for children ages 2 and younger.

• $8 for a small bag of apples; and

• $15 for a large bag of apples.

Sky Top Orchard

Address: 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock, NC 28731

Neighborhood: Flat Rock

Distance from Charlotte: 103 miles

Season begins: Ongoing

Sky Top Orchard offers U-Pick apples from early August to mid-November. U-Pick begins at 9 a.m., and ends 30 minutes before the orchard closes. The variety of available apples depends on the weather along with supply and demand.

The orchard provides a list of the available apples during each month in the season. In August, the apples available are: Asian Pear, Ginger Gold, Early Mac, Gala and Honeycrisp.

Cost:

• $25 for a 12-15 pound bag of U-Pick apples;

• $3 per person for the tractor ride;

• $4 per person for the Bee Train ride;

• $10 for 8 shots at the Apple Cannon; and

• $25 for a small bucket and $40 for a big bucket at the Gem Mine.

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard

Address: 170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792

Neighborhood: Hendersonville

Distance from Charlotte: 105 miles

Season starts: Ongoing

U-Pick apples are available to guests at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard. Picking equipment will be available at the orchard. Apple picking can work up an appetite, so make sure to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy during your break.

Different varieties of apples are available at different rows of the different orchards. There are seven orchards available for apple picking. Look for the “Ready to Pick” sign next to the apples to know which are available at that time.

Cost:

• Ginger Gold apples are $20 for a half bushel, $15 for a peck basket and $13 for a half peck basket; and

• Honeycrisp apples are $30 for a half bushel, $20 for a peck basket and $15 for a half peck basket.

Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill

Address: 1860 Black Hwy, York, SC 29745

Neighborhood: York

Distance from Charlotte: 36 miles

Season starts: First or second weekend in September

A prepaid reservation is required to pick Windy Hill’s Stayman Winesap apples, but pre-picked apples are available, as well. Pink Ladies will be ready in November and may be available for U-pick, depending on how the season progresses.

The orchard’s cider bar will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Events include hard cider tastings, live music and more. You can pack a picnic lunch (but outside beverages are not allowed), or purchase seasonal treats at the farm, including apple cider doughnuts, fried apple pies, pork skins and soft pretzels.

Cost: