The Top Ten Spots To Go Apple Picking In and Near Cincinnati
We share our top spots to go apple picking in Cincinnati, along with helpful tips for visiting the apple orchard.
The intermittent crisp fall evenings paired with scorching summer days can only mean apple-picking season is upon us. A timeless fall tradition for many families is making the yearly pilgrimage to their favorite apple orchard to bring home freshly picked apples.
The aroma of freshly baked apple donuts pairs nicely with the sweet apple cider as fall in Ohio begins to take its course. This article will highlight ten great spots to go apple picking near Cincinnati, OH.
When Is Apple Picking In Cincinnati?
Apple picking in Cincinnati typically begins at the end of July/early August and runs through October. Many local orchards offer u-pick apples and a variety of other fall activities. If you are a first-time apple picker be ready to make apple picking a new family tradition.
Most farms and orchards will update their picking status on their Facebook page during apple season. They will highlight when apple picking is open to the public, the available varieties, and when they are closed for the season.
With many apple orchards outside the city limits, I often plan on having a fun day trip to experience other fun attractions in the area after picking apples.
Types of Apples You Can Pick In Cincinnati
Different apples become available to pick at different times during the harvest season. Check each orchard’s website to see what is available for picking, as it may vary.
Here are a few of the most common apples found in Ohio:
- Gold Delicious
- Granny Smith (End of October)
- Honey Crisp
- McIntosh
- Jonathan
- Gala
Tips For Going Apple Picking
- Check the weather and the orchard’s Facebook Page. Many will cancel picking if there is rain or bad weather in the forecast.
- U-pick hours will often be on the Facebook page.
- BRING CASH! Not all apple orchards take credit.
- Bring a wagon. If you are bringing littles, having a wagon to tote them and the apples in will make life much easier. A few orchards offer wagons, but they are on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- Wear boots or muddy shoes if it has been raining. The orchards can get muddy and slick.
- Be aware there are bees, yellow jackets, and wasps. They particularly love the apples that have fallen off the tree or rotted.
- Bring sunscreen. The orchards may not be as shaded as you were hoping.
- Orchards may sell apples based on the pound or by the peck.
- If they have an apple picker, grab it! It can help you reach those high-up red delicious apples.
- Bring your own bags. Some orchards require you to purchase theirs, but others charge for bags if you don’t bring your own.
How Many Apples Should I Pick?
Apples are sold in bushels and pecks. What are bushels and pecks? The difference between a bushel and a peck is pretty straightforward. They are units to measure based on the number of apples you have. Thirty-two quarts equals a bushel, and a peck equals one-quarter of a bushel (eight quarts). That means that one bushel is equal to four pecks.
Apple orchards typically allow you to purchase based on peck or bushel. Those opting for a bushel usually have big plans for that many apples, such as making apple sauce or canning apples.
I recommend planning out how you intend to use the apples and pick them accordingly. We typically do a peck, which we pack in lunches, have for snacks, and make a cobbler.
The Top Spots To Go Apple Picking In Cincinnati
Irons Fruit Farm
Address: 1640 Stubbs Mill Road Lebanon, OH 45036 Irons Fruit Farm: Facebook Page
Payment Type: Cash/ Check/ Cards
Hours of Operation: Sept/Oct Monday-Saturday: 9 am-6 pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm
Distance From Cincinnati: 30-45 minutes
*These hours can change, so check their website and Facebook page for updates and for designating apple-picking times.
One of the closest apple orchards to the city is Irons Fruit Farm. Irons have been a staple for generations, offering fresh fruits, U-pick apples, delicious apple butter, U-pick pumpkins, and fruits and vegetables that make apple cider, jams & jellies, baked goods, and gift packs.
Irons offers even more family fun in October with a corn maze, hay rides to the pumpkin patch, live music, and food trucks.
Tip: Don’t miss out on one of their fresh apple donuts. I recommend bringing a few plastic cups and a half gallon of fresh apple cider to enjoy alongside those tasty donuts.
Pringles Orchard
Address: 2697 Pringle Road, Goshen, OH. Pringles: Facebook Page
Payment Type: Cash/ Check/ Cards
Distance From Cincinnati: 30-45 minutes
Pringles Orchard is family-owned and operated. In addition to having apples, Pringles has a cider mill to create fresh, natural apple cider onsite. They are also known as the place to go for local honey.
Planning Tip: Every year, typically in October, they host an Applefest where they bring in live music, a variety of vendors, crafts for the kids, and food options.
Peifer Orchards
Address: 4590 US 68 N, Yellow Springs, OH 45387 Pefier: Facebook Page
Payment Type: Cash/ Check/ Credit
Distance From Cincinnati: 1 hr and 15 minutes
Peifer Orchards offers locally grown produce, 25 varieties of apples, baked goods, local honey, Ohio maple syrup, fresh pressed apple cider, and the Orchard House gift shop.
Peifer Orchard is open for u-pick on Saturdays and Sundays Only starting in early September 2022 as supplies last. U-Pick apples will take place on MOST weekends in September and October. Check to ensure the U-pick is happening before venturing to the orchard.
The orchard is a 10-minute walk from the Farm Market, so come prepared with comfortable shoes, a wagon for the kids, etc.
Pricing: Farm Entrance is $2 per person. Children 3 and under are free. Apples are $1.99 per pound.
Planning Tip: If you are coming from Cincinnati, plan on spending the day exploring Yellow Springs after a visit to Peifer Orchards. From the Fall Festival at Youngs Dairy to the beautiful hiking trails at Glen Helen Nature Preserve, there is something for the entire family.
Discover our list of 15 Awesome Things To Do In Yellow Springs and plan your trip today.
Hidden Valley Orchards
Address: 5474 North State Route 48 Lebanon, Ohio 45036 HVO: Facebook Page
Payment Type: Cash/ Check/ Credit
Distance From Cincinnati: 45-55 minutes
For a unique experience, venture to Hidden Valley Orchards. This modern orchard has a taproom to sample hard ciders, a soft-serve ice cream bar, a provisions store, and a kitchen offering a seasonal menu.
Hidden Valley Orchards offers a variety of festive events throughout the year, including their caramel apple crazy days. Come out to enjoy caramel apples, including a top-your-own caramel apple station!
Planning Tip: There are currently no U-pick options for 2022, but you can purchase apples at the HVO Market.
McGlasson Farms
Address: 5832 River Road Hebron, KY 41048 McGlasson Farms: Facebook
Payment Type: Cash/Check Only
Distance From Cincinnati: 30-45 minutes
One of the best places to take the whole family is McGlasson Farms. McGlasson Farms offers seasonal u-pick crops, from apples to blackberries, at different times throughout the year. Our favorite season to venture to the farm is for u-pick apples and pick your own pumpkins during the fall.
Don’t miss out on the sunflower field, which makes the perfect backdrop to any fall putting.
Planning Tip: For an additional fun activity for the kids, take the Anderson Ferry across the Ohio River.
Tukens Farm Market
Address: 15725 Eaton Pike, West Alexandria, OH, United States, Ohio. Tukens: Facebook
Payment Types: Cash/ Check/ Credit
Distance From Cincinnati: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Just outside of Dayton is a beautiful Ohio farm growing delicious homemade fruits. Tukens not only offers homegrown apples that you can pick, but they have a variety of fun activities for the kids, such as a petting zoo, straw pyramid, and a pumpkin village.
Planning Tip: When you arrive, take a copy or take a picture of the orchard chart and Rows for the day’s pick, located at the store entrance. The orchard is directly behind the store, with row numbers going from low to high; the highest is the one next to the pumpkin patch.
A+M Farm Orchard
Address: 22141 State Route 251 Midland, OH 45148. A+M: Facebook
Payment Types: They only accept Cash or Check
Distance From Cincinnati: 45-1 hour
As one of the few orchards that lets kids climb in the apple trees to snag those delicious apples, A+M is a family staple! They offer different apple varieties for u-pick, such as Jonathan, Melrose, Grimes, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonagold, and Mutsu.
They require guests to purchase a bag before going to the orchard to pick.
Monnin’s Fruit Farm
Address: 8201 Frederick Pike, Dayton, OH Monnin’s: Facebook
Payment Types: Cash or Check Only
Distance From Cincinnati: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Monnin’s Fruit Farm is one of the best orchards to visit in Dayton. Known for their homegrown fruits and variety of u-pick crops, Monnin’s is the place to find fresh produce. Their orchards are open daily for picking while apples last.
Cherry Hawk Farms
Address: 16220 Springdale Rd Marysville, OH 43040 Cherry Hawk: Facebook
Payment Types: Cash/ Check/ Credit
Distance From Cincinnati: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Outside of Dublin is the beautiful Cherry Hawk Farms. In addition to having a beautiful sunflower field, they are the perfect place to pick apples. They even offer apple pickers to reach that ideal apple at the tippy top of the tree.
I enjoy this farm because it is not a pumpkin farm, and you come only for the apples, keeping large crowds at bay. Check u-pick times and what is in season.
While visiting Cherry Hawk Farms, check out these fun things to do this fall in Dublin, Ohio.
Apple Hill Orchards
Address: 1175 Lexington Ontario Rd, Mansfield, OH 44903 Apple Hill: Facebook
Payment Types: Cash/ Check/ Card
Distance From Cincinnati: 2 hours and 45 minutes
If you plan a trip to Mansfield to visit the Ohio State Reformatory, include a stop at Apple Hill Orchards. Apple Hill Orchards offers a wide variety of apple picking and incredible apple donuts.
Kids will enjoy playing on the playground, meeting farm animals, and hopping on the hayride. Purchase your apple-picking bag from the booth, then venture into the orchard to get your selections.
Don’t miss out on these other great things to do with kids in Mansfield during your visit.
Planning Tip: They have wagons available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you enjoy this article, check out these beautiful places to explore in Ohio this fall.
Other Great Farms To Visit In The Cincinnati Area This Fall
- Blooms & Berries
- Shaw Farms
- Gorman Heritage Farm
- A&M farm orchard
- Neiderman Family Farm
Looking for more fall season inspiration in Ohio? Check out these related articles:
11 Enchanting Places To Visit In Ohio This Fall
13 Best Haunted Houses In Cincinnati
A Fall Foliage Drive Through Cincinnati
We hope you have the best time picking delicious crisp apples this fall season. As a young child, I remember visiting the old Rouster’s Apple House to pick apples and sip on sweet cider. Apple picking is a tradition I love carrying on with my daughter. While Rouster’s is no longer in business, we love supporting our great local farmers.
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Top Spots To Go Apple Picking In and Near Cincinnati
