It’s not a New England fall without a day of apple picking. Most local orchards offer pick-your-own apples now through November.
Luckily, there are plenty of options about an hour drive away from Boston — here are our top picks for picking.
Lookout Farm, 89 Pleasant St., South Natick
📍 ~17 miles from Boston
🗓️ Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Plan ahead and pre-purchase your U-Pick bags to save on weekend visits — bags range from $20-24. Pro tip: make a reservation to dine at the outdoor picnic tables and sip the farm’s signature hard cider.
Honey Pot Hill Orchards, 16 Boon Rd., Stow
📍 ~28 miles from Boston
🗓️ Daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Pick a peck (10 lbs) of apples for $22 or a half bushel (20 lbs) for $33. You can also visit the farm store for cider donuts, jams + jellies, and a variety of baked goodies.
Shelburne Farm, 106 West Acton Rd., Stow
📍 ~31 miles from Boston
🗓️ Daily from 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on weekdays + 6 p.m. on weekends
- Pick pears + pumpkins along with your apples ($29+) and hop on a 15-minute hayride ($3 per person) for some family fun.
C N Smith Farm, 325 South St., East Bridgewater
📍 ~34 miles from Boston
🗓️ Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- One peck bag costs $32 and admits one to three people. Plus, the family-owned South Shore farm serves unbeatable cider donuts in City Editor Sara’s humble opinion.
Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury
📍 ~47 miles from Boston
🗓️ Daily from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Buy pick-your-own tickets at the farm or online for $12+. Be sure to stop by the barn yard, hard cider bar, and food truck while you’re there.
One last pro tip: visit each farm’s website to see which apples are currently picking before your visit.
Should we follow this up with a guide to pick-your-own pumpkin farms? Let us know.
