The Twin Cities is perfect for a crisp fall day that begs for a family day of apple harvesting. It’s an autumn tradition that our team’s families – including 12 children – would not miss. In 2023, apple picking season runs from mid to late August through late October. We hope you’re able to use our Twin Cities Apple Orchards Guide to find details on the most kid-friendly apple orchards in the metro, rediscover an old favorite or try out a new destination:
MAP OF TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS:
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST APPLE ORCHARDS IN MINNESOTA
Get our complete Fall Family Fun Guide,
stocked with apple orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other outing ideas your family will love!
FAMILY FRIENDLY WEST METRO TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS
Apple Jack Orchards
Fun Farm opening day: September 2, 2023
Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm (last Fun Farm entry at 5pm)
Cost: Starting Labor Day weekend, admission to the Fun Farm is $10/wristband Mon-Thurs with a selection of activities available including u-pick apples. Weekend admission offers two options ($10 or $20 wristbands) each with a number of classic fall activities included – think jumping pillows, a cow train an apple cannon and much more.
Picking & more: Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins fresh from the patch. A café and bakery onsite will fill your dining needs.
Deardorff Orchards & Vineyard
8282 Parley Lake Rd, Waconia, MN 55387
Opening day: September 7, 2023
2023 hours: Orchard: Wed-Sun, 10am-6pm & Parley Lake Winery Tasting Room: Friday 3-8, Sat & Sun 12-6
Cost: Free admission, free family activities.
Picking & more: Varieties include Zestar!, SweeTango, Chestnut Crab, Ruby Mac, Red Baron, Cortland, Regent, Sweet Sixteen, McIntosh, Fireside, Haralson, Honeygold & Honeycrisp Apples. Ride the tractor into the orchard to pick your own apples. There is a limited amount of free activities; adults may enjoy the onsite Parley Lake Winery, where they use the grapes and apples grown on the farm to make wine.
Fall Harvest Orchard
345 County Road 30 SE, Montrose, MN 55363
Opening day: August 26, 2023
Hours: Thurs-Sun, 10am-6pm plus Labor Day and Wed of MEA weekend
Cost: Free admission; Some attractions are ticketed ($4/ticket) which can be purchased a la carte OR purchase an mostly-inclusive wristband (Thurs & Fri/$10, Sat & Sun/$20).
Picking & more: Pick-your-own apples & pumpkins available. Buy a pie mix by the bushel. There are lots of FREE family activities to enjoy at this sweet, family-operated farm (small corn pits, tire climb and hay bale mountain, hands-on animal encounters, live music on select days, yard games and photo ops). Have you ever been dying to feed a cow? At this apple orchard with animals, we found it strangely fascinating to watch them chow down on apples. A few diversions require a small fee (or wristband, if you’d prefer). These include wagon rides, train rides, apple cannons, corn maze, pedal carts, bounce pillow, pumpkin bounce, giant corn pit and pony rides.
This Orchard will also take reservations for private wagon rides and bonfires any time from mid-May through December.
LuceLine Orchard
2755 Rose Ave, Watertown, MN 55388
Opening day: August 26, 2023
Hours: Wed-Fri, 10am-5pm & Sat-Sun, 10am-6pm.
Cost: Free admission, some fees for additional activities or purchase a $20 wristband to include unlimited access to activities like the corn maze, hay rides, jumping pillow, apple cannon and more.
Picking & more: Apples are pick-your-own from the orchard while supplies last, or you can purchase pre-picked apples (among other goodies) in the charming retail barn. There are lots of other activities onsite to stay busy, including some that are open on weekdays such as the hay mountain, petting zoo, corn boxes and swings. On weekends, plan for live music and other family-friendly entertainment.
Minnetonka Orchards
6530 County Road 26, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Opening day: September 9, 2023
Hours: Daily, 10am-6pm
Cost: Free admission weekdays, $7-$10/pp weekends covers all activities including hayrides, lawn games, live music, kids play areas and more. Season passes available.
Picking & more: PYO apples. Visit during the weekday if you plan only to pick apples as the fall fun activities are not open. Refresh after apple-picking with hot apple cider and apple doughnuts.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Apple House: 7485 Rolling Acres Rd, Chaska, MN 55318
Arboretum: 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
AppleHouse Opening day: August 24, 2023
Hours: Apple House 10am-6pm daily; Arb Grounds: 8am-8pm daily.
Cost: AppleHouse is free to visit. The arboretum itself still requires pre-registration and $15 admission for anyone 16+.
Picking & more: While there is no picking at Arb, I think we would be remiss if we neglected the birthplace of the Honeycrisp Apple! The shop includes a rotating crop of in-season apples, plus North Star Donuts from 10am-6pm Tuesday-Sunday. Combine your apple shopping with a visit to the Arb’s orchards to see where they are grown!
Orchards closed in 2023
Apple Tree-O
Apple Tree-O Orchard will not be providing open hours to the public in 2023. They will continue to sell their apples at the Delano farmers market Wednesdays through the end of the season. We leave a picture here to remember the fun we’ve had bringing our children out to this orchard.
For more on our visits with kids: Twin Cities Apple Orchards: Fresh Picks in the West Metro.
FAMILY FRIENDLY EAST METRO TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS
Aamodt’s Apple Farm
6428 Manning Avenue North, Stillwater, MN 55082
Prime season: Labor Day – Mid October
Hours: 10am-6pm daily, PYO 10am-5pm daily
Cost: Free admission
Picking & more: Possibly the closest apple orchard to Saint Paul, pick your own at this apple orchard in Stillwater. Pay for the bag in advance in quarter or half peck sizes. Not all varieties of apples will be available when you come out so you’ll want to check their picking schedule (website) or call in advance. Fall apples can include: Jonathan, Minnesota Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Sweet RiverBelle and Sweet Sixteen.
There are a couple free activities (such as meeting the resident goats) and much to do that requires a small fee (sweet little wagon and train rides pictured below, weekends only, $5/pp). Adults who’d like something to sip on may enjoy the onsite winery or hard cider, also brewed right on the farm. Plus treats galore in the Apple Barn. he play area and goats are open to visitors, as is a stroll through the orchards. Donuts are for sale.
Pine Tree Apple Orchard
450 Apple Orchard Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Open: Orchard is open daily mid-August through October.
Hours: Find current hours here.
Cost: Free admission, additional fees for activities.
Picking & more: No picking at this location. Pre-picked apples only. Instead, take a long wagon ride through the orchard (7 days a week starting date TBD), challenge yourself to take on the corn maze (September 23-October 22, 2023) and listen to live music on select weekends. Take your little ones through the big red retail barn; they’ll be mesmerized by the apple sorting equipment.
White Pine Berry Farm
1482 Oak Drive River Falls, WI 54022
Open: Saturdays in September & October are “Fall Family Day”
Hours: 9am-6pm Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Cost: Free admission to enter the farm and enjoy a wagon ride or shop in the general store. Admission to the corn maze and Fall Family Zone require an admission fee ($4-$8/pp) or an all-access pass ($9-$11).
Picking & more: Varieties include Honeycrisp, Zestar, Sweet Sixteen, Harrel Red. Family Fun includes corn maze, pumpkin patch, corn boxes, jumping castles, tire mountain, farm animals, guided wagon ride tours, food & berry desserts, raspberry picking.
For more on our visits with kids: Twin Cities Apple Orchards: East Metro
FAMILY FRIENDLY SOUTH METRO TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS
Afton Apple Orchard
14421 South 90th Street, Hastings, MN 55033
Opening day: August 19, 2023.
Hours: Daily through October 31st, 10am-6pm
Cost: Admission is $7/pp ages 5+, $5/pp under 5, includes some orchard activities.
Picking & more: Come pick your own apples, fall raspberries & pumpkins on a crisp fall day. There is lots to do here that is included with the admission fee such as the playground, huge tire mountain and petting farm. We’ve easily made a full day of it just with those diversions and riding the hay wagon into the orchard. It’s almost impossible to bypass the cow train (and your tots will want to ride it) but it’s a little easier to avoid paying extra for the jumping pillow and corn maze (opening Sept 18) if you’ve got a budget. Limited hayrides will be offered weekends 10am-6pm until Labor Day. Starting Labor Day Weekend, hayrides run Monday-Friday 12pm-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Pay activities are $2/pp.
Applewood Orchard
22702 Hamburg Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
Opening: September 2, 2023
Hours: Daily, 10am-6pm through mid to late October
Cost: Free admission
Picking & more: This little haven is one of the few places to pick-your-own apples in Dakota County. Hayrides are on the weekend docket; kids can also enjoy the little pedal tractors and play equipment.
Carpenter St Croix Valley Nature Center Orchard
12805 St Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033,
Apple Shack opening day: Following Labor Day 2023
Open: Wednesday-Sunday, 9am-5pm
Cost: Free admission
Picking & more: Pre-picked apples only from St Croix Valley’s own orchard. Stop in at the nature center for some animal exhibits (open 8am-4:30pm). The annual Apple Festival will be held October 7th & 8th, 2023 and is free to attend (hayrides! Stuff for kids!)
Emma Krumbee’s Orchard & Farm
311 E Enterprise Dr, Belle Plaine, MN 56011
Opening day: 2023 TBA
Hours: Daily, 9am-7pm; Scarecrow Festival open daily early Sept-Oct, 10am-6pm
Cost: Admission to the Scarecrow Festival is $6/pp+tax
Picking & more: Call the crop hotline at 952-873-3006 before coming out to get the schedule for PYO apples, raspberries & pumpkins. Emma’s is busy with activities. Note the popular restaurant was sold and subsequently closed.
Fisher’s Croix Farm Orchard
12971 St. Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033
Hours: TBA for 2023 – the orchard was closed during the 2022 season.
Cost: Free admission, fees for additional activities
Picking & details: Fischer’s Croix Farm Orchard is a beautiful apple orchard run by a multi-generational family. A sampling of some of the ways to spend a fall day: Scout for apples (pick-your-own and pre-picked), climb the hay pile, or take a wagon ride out to the corn maze ($3/pp, weekends only).
Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest
Apple Lovers Lane, 8251 Old Hwy 169 Blvd, Jordan, MN 55352
Opening Day: August 19, 2023
Hours: Daily, 10am-6pm
Cost: Admission to Apple Blossom Park with its fall activities is $15 ages 2+ (includes a FREE season pass). Pre-purchase admission and PYO apples here.
Picking & more: PYO apples ($12.50/10-lb bag). One of the apple orchards with animals, you’ll want to visit the barnyard for a visit with the critters, try out the apple cannon or brave the corn maze.
Whistling Well Farm
Whistling Well Farm, 8973 St Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033
Opening day: September 1, 2023
Hours: Daily, 9am-6pm
Cost: Free admission
Picking & more: The draw here is a lovely small farm setting scattered with chickens and a picturesque well (fall family photo op, anyone?). There are pick-your-own apples or pre-picked options available.
For more on our visits with kids: Twin Cities Apple Orchards: Southern Hospitality.
FAMILY FRIENDLY NORTH METRO TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS
Applecrest Orchards
7306 24th Avenue North, Hugo, MN 55038
Hours: 2pm-6pm weekdays; 10am-4pm weekends. Or by appointment.
Cost: Free admission. Minimal activities like yard games.
Picking & more: Only pre-picked apples are available.
Deer Lake Orchard
1903 10th St SW, Buffalo MN 55313
Opening day: September 9, 2023
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10am-6pm.
Cost: Free admission, activities $4 each or $20/wristband.
Picking & more: Apples both u-pick and pre-picked, live music on fall weekends, a corn maze to meander through, wagon rides, a little train, animals to meet…all the classic orchard activities you’d hope to find.
Knapton’s
5695 Hwy 55, Rockford, MN 55373
Hours: Daily, 9am-5pm
Cost: Free admission
Picking: A limited variety of pick-your-own apples are available plus a long lineup of other fresh produce. Make sure to check the website to determine what’ll be picking when you plan to arrive.
Pleasant Valley Orchard
5695 Hwy 55, Rockford, MN 55373
Opening day: Labor Day weekend 2023
Hours: Daily, 10am-6pm
Cost: Free admission
Picking & more: Pick your own apples available weekends only, pumpkins can be picked mid-Sept thru October. Free activities and – kinda fun and unique for an orchard – an annual 12 Days of Halloween event. We’ve enjoyed this orchard so much we include it on our list of the Top 8 Things for Families in Taylors Falls.
Sunrise River Farm
7602 Wyoming Trail, Wyoming, MN 55092
Opening day: Labor Day Weekend 2023
Hours: Thur-Sun, 10am-6pm
Cost: Free admission
Picking & more: Pick your own apples in a quiet, charming atmosphere with free family activities such as a farmyard and small play area. Take some time to groom the pets and let your teen push you on the tire swing (it may even take a couple years off your life!) There are also train and wagon rides for a small fee.
Woods’ Edge Apples Orchard
1901 50th St NE, Buffalo, MN 55313
A small, family-run farm and orchard where you can pick your own apples this fall. Plus, u-pick raspberries and sweet resident goats to greet you. Slow down your pace out here in the Twin Cities northwest suburbs.
For more on our visits with kids: Twin Cities Apple Orchards: Pickings in the North Metro.
Twin Cities apple orchards: gone, but not forgotten
Remick’s Orchard
2418978 Lake George Blvd. NW, Anoka, MN 55303
We were sad to learn that Remick’s announced the sale of their orchard to developers in the spring of 2022. We’ll miss them, but we have several other North Metro options above.
Victoria Valley Orchard
4304 North Victoria Street, Shoreview, MN 55126
Closed indefinitely. Read the family’s Facebook post here.
Minnesota has some world-renowned apples – Honeycrisp, for instance, but there are also many types that don’t grow as well here. We recommend picking from local varieties during the harvest season and saving apple varieties like Fuji, Braeburn, Pippin, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious for off-season or baking. Leave us a message on our Facebook page or in the comments to let us know how your apple picking day goes:
- Where did you go and would you recommend the orchard to other families?
- What was the best family activity at the farm you visited?
- Did you bake something with your apples — apple pie, apple turnovers, apple cider doughnuts?
- What else did you find that your family loved? Pumpkins, local honey, baked goods?
We’ll share your recommendations with the community.
Related Articles:
- Twin Cities Pick-Your-Own Produce Farms – A year-round guide to picking berries, fruits, veggies and more.
- Harvest Time: Twin Cities Fall Farmers Markets & Outings
- Find hundreds more things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul with kids
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