The Best Apple Orchards In America

September is when many apple orchards are ready to be harvested, so it's time to pack a bushel and pull out your favorite pie recipes. We've rounded up some of the best apple orchards across the country that offer a variety of apple flavors and activities to do when you're done in the orchard. To choose the top orchard in every state, we scoured online ratings. This year, with the coronavirus pandemic still affecting the country, we also made sure it was a facility where you could still get the full fall experience as of this writing.

Note that not all apple varieties are available at the same time. Some might be ready in late August, while others won't be ready until early October. Most orchards recommend calling ahead to check availability before visiting. Otherwise, some post updates on their websites and social media for you to check as well.

The apples at Terhune Orchards are available to pick every day during September and October. The farm focuses on environmentally sustainable practices. You pay for what you pick by weight, and you can also pick out pumpkins and gourds to take home for the season.

Different from other orchards, you can't solely apple pick at Goebbert's. Rather, you can apple pick as part of the fall festival. Once you pay for the Fall Festival admission, you can then purchase apple bags. A straw maze, a pumpkin express train and a giant pumpkin slide are just a few of the attractions at the fest.

From late August through late October, pick-your-own apples are ripe for the picking at Parlee Farms. There are over 20 apple varieties to choose from, and during fall holidays and weekends, a hayride to the orchard is included if you buy an apple bag. For the 2020 season, reservations are not being taken, but there is a limit to how many people can be in each acre of the orchard. This means there may be wait times. Parlee Farms asks that you not come if anyone in your party is experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Pick your own apples by the half bushel or by peck bags at Indian Ladder Farms. There are over a dozen apple varieties in the orchards as well as pumpkins, which you can pick and pay for by weight. Take a few home to try your hand at pies made from real pumpkin rather than canned pumpkin. For the 2020 season, Indian Ladder Farms asks that you don't come if anyone in your party is experiencing coronavirus symptoms and to wear your mask if you are unable to stay 6 feet from other guests.

Vala's has 30 acres of apple orchards and 55 acres of pumpkins, along with endless fun for families looking to take a fall day trip. There are barnyard sports, train rides, apple blasters, gemstone mining and blacklight paintball in addition to classic orchard visits. This year, capacity limits are lower to keep guests safe during the pandemic. Admission will be cut off each day when the farm reaches capacity.

Apple picking at Catoctin Mountain Orchard is available every day, and to help you determine the specific flavors of apples you're looking for, the orchard posted a guide online. Although they may not be the kind of flowers you can eat, there is also a pick-your-own flower garden so you can make your own fall bouquets.

Beginning the second week of September, you can pick your own apples at Evan's Orchard. Pumpkin season will also be in full swing during this time as well as U-pick pears. Wondering what else is in season during the fall? Here's a month-to-month produce guide.

Apple picking season at B.J. Reece Orchards begins the last week of August and will go until Oct. 31, or until the orchards are picked out. The online calendar will list out each variety that is available on the day you're interested in picking. Although many orchards do not permit pets, B.J. Reece does allow dogs, so if your family has a pup, make sure you bring a leash.

Reservations should be made online for Highland Orchards. Rather than parking and walking to the fields, at Highland, visitors are asked to call upon arrival so an employee can bring out a picking basket. Visitors are then directed to the orchard so they can drive themselves out. A peck box is $25 each. Depending on when you go, the apple season might overlap with U-pick pears, fall red raspberries and pumpkins. Before heading out, visit the bakery to pick up an iconic fall pie.

Picking apples locally is a good way to help the environment, and it makes for a memorable trip. At Linvilla Orchards, U-pick apple selections are open daily and are priced at $36 per peck box. No pre-registration is required, but it is recommended that visitors check the website before arriving to see what is available to pick. Sweet peppers, tomatoes and corn (perfect for easy salsas you can make at home) are also grown on the farm and available for U-pick.

Doughnut shops across the states might have mouthwatering doughnuts, but there's something irresistible about hot apple cider doughnuts after an afternoon of apple picking. Try them at Honey Pot Hill Orchards after getting a peck ($20) or a bushel ($30) to take home for your own baking. Hayrides and hedge mazes are closed for the 2020 season and social distancing and masks are required.

Either take a hayride or walk to the orchard to pick your apples at The Little Farmer. Don't forget to take home pumpkins or journey through the corn maze. If you like animals, you can also visit the barnyard to feed the goats. Face masks are required inside the buildings for the 2020 season and the bakery will not be self-serve.

Beginning around mid-September, pick-your-own apples will begin at MacQueen Orchards. Visitors prepay by the half bushel to enter the orchards and are then given bags to fill. There are 16 varieties of apples to choose from — perfect for a range of recipes. One of the best parts about apples is that they have a long shelf life compared to other fruits, making them easy to store and eat later.

The Farm at Swan's Trail stretches across 125 acres of the Snohomish River valley. According to a recent post, the farm is hopeful its Honeycrisp apples will be ready by mid-September, so long as the warm weather continues. For the 2020 fall festival, Swan's Trail is still in the process of working with the city to figure out a plan to open safely, so stay tuned to the farm's Facebook page for updates.

Sky Top Orchard's sour cherries — ideal for tart, juicy cherry desserts — may be done for the season, but the orchard's apples are ready to harvest. The picking schedule is posted online so you know which apples are ready when you plan your visit. Picking usually goes until the end of October, and the panoramic views of the fall foliage in the mountains will be breathtaking. This year, face masks are required and must cover your nose and mouth.

Get lost in Gull Meadow's 6-acre corn maze, take the kids to the petting farm and, of course, pick some apples to bring home for the season. U-pick begins in early September when McIntosh and Honey Gold are the first available varieties. Pumpkins and sunflowers will also be ready for picking.

Apple picking isn't the only thing you can do at the Tougas Family Farm. Once you've picked as many apples as you can carry, stop in the Tougas Farm Kitchen for cider doughnuts, homemade bakery treats or your favorite flavor of ice cream. Reservations are required for the 2020 season in order to accommodate social distancing mandates. Eating fruit in the orchards is not permitted, and masks are required.

Apple picking at Stade's Farm and Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays. A $5 minimum purchase is required to enter the fields, and it's $10 per person to visit the apple orchard. While apples are often the main attraction at fall farms, Stade's also has U-pick pumpkins, green beans and tomatoes. Pick away, and then bring your fruits and veggies home for some easy Instant Pot meals throughout the week. For the 2020 season, masks are required for tractor rides and any other time social distancing is not possible.

One hundred of Mack's Apple's 400 acres are set aside for apple orchards, and this eighth-generation family-run farm will not disappoint. There are pumpkin patches next to nearly all of the dozen apple orchards at Mack's, so you'll be able to pick up a few pumpkins to take home for Halloween. Keep in mind that because there are so many U-pick orchards, you might want to drive to each one rather than walk.

The Justus Orchard website has an apple ripening schedule posted so you can determine which time during the fall would be best to visit. You can also mix and match with the U-pick and we-pick options if the orchards for self-picking don't have the specific apples you're looking for. After visiting the orchards, pick up a fried apple pie at the Apple House Bakery and a hot cup of coffee to enjoy with a cider doughnut.

The pick-your-own harvest festival begins on the last weekend in August for Rowley's Red Barn. Boxes and bags are provided for your apple-picking experience and there is no general admission fee. Honeycrisp apples are $30 for a half bushel.

Various apple varieties are available at Soergel's from July through November, depending on weather and other outdoor factors. To get the best idea of what will be available when you visit, call the number on the orchard's website. One aspect of Soergel's that makes it different from other orchards is that besides a bakery and gift shop, there is also a garden center for the home gardener.

Mercier Orchards has been running since 1943. Besides the orchards, there are also hard-pressed ciders to enjoy. This year, because of coronavirus safety precautions, the U-pick apples will not be available. Instead, Mercier will be doing we-pick so you don't have to miss out on your favorite flavors of fall.

Tickets to Cider Hill Farm include a half-peck bag for apple picking and are required for each individual. All the orchards here are within walking distance, so you can park your car and walk everywhere to choose the apples you prefer. Pre-purchased tickets are required, and visitors are prohibited from bringing their own bushels and pecks.

Opening day at Edward's Orchard is looking a little different this year. To stick to coronavirus safety guidelines, the orchard is planning drive-thru pick-ups with limited picking days available. Though the restaurants, orchard and picnic area are closed for the 2020 season, you'll still be able to delight in the delicious apples harvested from your favorite orchard. The fall fun should not stop at apple orchards this year. Here are the best spots to check out beautiful fall foliage in your state.

More from The Daily Meal:

Regional Desserts You Need to Try

The Sweetest Dessert Shop in Every State

Classic American Recipes Through the Decades

The Most Iconic Food From Every State

State Fair Food: The Answers to All Your Burning Questions