Are there u-pick apple orchards near Charlotte, NC? Yep! It’s so much fun to pack a lunch, load up the kids and enjoy the fresh, cool air while picking your favorite apples.
There are many wonderful apple orchards near Charlotte, NC where you can pick your own apples. You’ll find most of them towards the Upstate or in Western North Carolina. But one local favorite, Windy Hill Orchards, is just an hour from Charlotte, which is perfect for apples without the long drive to the mountains.
If you need some tips, don’t miss our list of tips for picking apples with kids. Have fun!
Before you go apple picking, be sure to call ahead to check on hours and apple varieties available or check the orchard’s Facebook page for updates as many of the orchards will list upcoming events, changed hours, and list of fruits available.
Knob Creek Orchards offers homemade ice cream and lots of local produce, including apples.
- No U-pick
- Produce grown on the farm
- Homemade ice cream
Millstone Creek Orchards
506 Parks Crossroads Church Road, Ramseur, NC
Millstone Creek Orchards is open daily for u-pick with lots of themed weekends throughout the fall with activities.
- bakery
- hayrides
- pumpkin patch in the fall
- u-pick pecans in November
- live music
- animal visits
No pets allowed.
With over 20 different varieties of apples, you are bound to find a favorite at Grandad’s Apples N’ Such. They also have a bakery on-site that sells pies, donuts, caramel apples, and cider. Activities for kids include a corn maze, cow train, and a huge pumpkin patch where kids are bound to find their ideal pumpkin.
2023 season-opening date: August 11, 2023
Due to the late frost, the apple crop is limited at Grandad’s. They let us know u-pick is TBD but apples will be available in the farm store.
All pets must be leashed and picked up after while visiting.
Offers:
Offering U-Pick Apples as available**—check Grandad’s Facebook page for updates, there may or may not be U-Pick in 2023**
Pumpkin Patch (late September – October)
Farm Store and bakery
Corn Maze ($)
Cow Train ($)
Apple Cannons ($)
Coston Farm and Apple House
828.685.8352 3748 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville, NC
Apple picking is a delight at Coston Farm with the mountains as a backdrop to the orchard. Like other orchards, they also offer delicious baked goods and apples already picked for sale.
2023 season-opening date: August 18, 2023
No pets allowed.
Offers:
U-pick apple orchard from August – October
(See their apple ripening calendar for different varieties)
Farm Store with pre-picked apples, pumpkins, and fall decor
Fishers Orchard
864.895.2892 650 Fisher Road, Greer, SC
Primarily known for their incredible peaches, Fishers Orchard also grows apples that are available for picking in the fall (call for exact dates).
No U-Pick in 2023.
Offers:
U-pick peaches in summer
U-pick apples in October
Produce, vegetables, and pumpkins throughout the year
Blueberry Thrill Farm offers U-Pick blackberries, blueberries, and tomatoes. They also sell peaches and other produce with occasional u-pick. Visit them select Saturdays in the fall for apples, pumpkins, and muscadines. Dates TBD.
The best way to see what Blueberry Thrill Farm is currently offering is to check the Blueberry Thrill Farm Facebook page.
Jeter Mountain Farm
828.513.0404 1126 Jeter Mountain Road, Hendersonville, NC
Jeter Mountain Farm is the result of more than 150 years of farming history in the Hunsader family. Located on 411 acres near Hendersonville and Brevard, this farm offers Choose N’ Cut Christmas Trees, plus u-pick includes berries, peaches, pumpkins, grapes, and over 20 varieties of apples. Be sure to check the Jeter Mountain Farm Harvest Calendar to see what’s ready for picking. Important to note for the tractor enthusiasts in your family, orchards are accessed via tractor ride!
2023 season: Get updates for availability on their Facebook page.
- Open weekends 10-5 as of July 2023 for u-pick berries.
- Apple U-pick Begins August 12, 2023.
- Pumpkins will be available in early October, 2023.
Pets are not allowed at the u-pick orchards, inside the market, inside the tap room, coffee shop, and wagons.
Offers:
U-pick Apples & other fruits according to season
Market with pre-picked apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and other goods
Hard Cider Tap Room
1813 Smokehouse
Covered play area
Apple Hill Orchard opened for u-pick apples and flowers August 12th, 2023
They are open 9 am-6 pm Monday-Saturday
- bakery
- farm market
- To pick, purchase a Picking Pass, and you will also need to pay for the apples you pick by container size ($3 per person picking pass- Ages 2 and under are free)
2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Best Family-Friendly Farms
Located in a picturesque part of Hendersonville with views of the mountains, Justus Orchard is the perfect place to go apple picking. Their apple cider donuts are also a treat not to be missed. This apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC was one of the first in the state to invite customers to not only buy apples already picked but allow visitors to go into the orchard and pick their own apples.
Open for 2023 season
Check the Justus Orchard Facebook page for current u-pick status, before heading up.
Gala Apple Upick opening day: August 11th, 2023
Well-behaved dogs on leash allowed and owners must pick up after them.
OFFERS:
Blackberries – July thru August
Apples – Mid August thru Early November
Bakery
Apple cannon ($)
Jumping pillow ($)
Cow Train ($)
Playground
Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard
828.685.9083 170 Stepp Orchard Drive, Hendersonville, NC
- Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard Website
- Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard Facebook
- Kidding Around Review of Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard
Open 50 years, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard are experts on organizing their orchard for u-pick. They begin their family fun and farm activities in mid-August and invite you to bring a lunch and spend the day at the orchard.
Open August 18, 2023. Check their Facebook page for up-to-date info on what’s available for picking.
Offers:
U-pick Apples
Grapes
Sunflowers
Farm Store
Picnic Space
Corn Maze ($)
Jump Pads (on weekends) ($)
Apple Cannon (on weekends) ($)
The owners of the Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill got their start 20 years ago when they wanted to create the perfect apple cider (they apparently succeeded). Their main apple variety is the Stayman Winesapp and u-pick opens up in late August. The orchard asks that everyone 2 years of age and older have their own pre-purchased bag before heading into the orchard. They also have weekend events that include live music.
2023 season-opening date: August 17, 2023
Offers:
U-pick Apples
Farm Store with baked apple goods
Hard Cider Tastings
Cider donuts
Apple cider slushies
Bryson's Apple Orchard
864.647.9427 1011 Chattooga Ridge Road, Mountain Rest, SC
Just a few miles from the Chattooga River, Bryson’s Apple Orchard is also close to gorgeous waterfalls and many of the hiking places that KAG has recommended (so maybe hiking and apple donuts one day this fall?). The Long Creek area, according to their website, is one of the “largest apple producing areas east of the Mississippi River.”
2023 season-opening date: July 28, 2023 for apples at the stand; no u-pick apples this year but they will have prepicked apples available.
Offers:
Prepicked apples
Asian pears (Asian pear crop ruined by a late frost in 2021)
fresh peaches
Chattooga Belle Farm
864.647.9768 454 Damascus Church Road, Long Creek, SC
At the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies this gorgeous farm and orchard, which is not only a working farm but also a popular wedding venue.
Besides a pick-your-own experience, Chattooga Belle Farm also offers cabin rentals, a bistro for lunch and dinner, disc golf, and an amazing variety of exotic fruits like Asian pears, figs, pawpaws, and persimmons.
2023 season-opening date: Farm store is open year-round – Check the Chattooga Belle Farm Website for daily updates on available options.
Dogs are allowed, but not in the fruit areas or inside dining. They are allowed for outside dining and the disc golf trail.
Offers:
Restaurant serving lunch and dinner
Cabin rental
Event Venue
Disc Golf
Distillery
Pre-picked apples, table grapes, wine grapes, peaches, and more.
Farm Store
Sky Top Orchard
828.692.7930 3403 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Outdoor Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Farms
A KAG reader favorite, Sky Top Orchard offers mountain views, ponds with ducks and geese, farm animals, play structures, and apple and fruit trees. Don’t miss the amazing apple cider donuts. Last year there were some concerns about Sky Top getting too crowded so maybe try to go during the week if you prefer smaller crowds.
2023 season-opening date: Sky Top WILL HAVE U-Pick in 2023.
- Open weekends as of end of July for donuts, wagon rides, and farm store apples, follow their Facebook page for updates.
- Apple Upick Begins August 3rd, 2023
Dogs on leash allowed but not in the fruit stand.
Offers:
U-pick apples
Farm Store with Cider donuts
Farm animals
Wagon Rides
Playground
Gold Rush Gem Mine
Twisted Apple Farm
828.712.1919 4039 Chimney Road Road, Hendersonville, NC
Twisted Apple is an organic farm and retail outlet. They generally do not offer u-pick, but it is one of very few places to purchase local organic apples. They do offer baked goods and a variety of apples to purchase.
Check their Facebook page for updates.
2023 Opening date: August 19, 2023; no u-pick for 2023
Dogs allowed but not in the bakery.
Offers:
Organically and conventionally grown apples
Baked goods
Apple beverages
Retail farm products.
Map of Apple Orchards Near Charlotte, NC
We have also put together a Google map listing these U-Pick apple orchards.
Apple Cider Donut Tour
We have an idea for a special, and very tasty, day trip. Make the rounds and visit several orchards while sampling apple cider donuts on our Apple Cider Donut Tour. We can’t think of a more perfect and delicious fall day. The orchards in this tour are mainly in the Western North Carolina mountins.
Where is your family’s favorite place to pick apples?