The 20 Best Orchards for Apple Picking in the U.S., According to Yelp

As soon as September 1 hits, it's all about apples. Dreaming about apple pie, sipping hot apple cider, your favorite apple recipes, and, of course, picking apples at an orchard. And despite the challenges and canceled plans we've all had to face the past year and a half, we can at least be grateful apple-picking remains one of the safer activities to enjoy outdoors this fall. In fact, whether you stay local or take a (domestic) autumn getaway, a PYO (pick-your-own) apple outing at an orchard near you is a pretty ideal way to celebrate the bounty of the season and stay safe—just make sure to avoid massive crowds, bring a mask, and adhere to state, local, and orchard-specific health guidelines.

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So, where to go for the best harvest, hayrides, and cider? There are so many fabulous small farms and orchards across the country that open their doors (gates?) to fruit-collecting visitors every fall. We're guessing there's an excellent orchard not too far of a drive from where you are right now. If you won't settle for anything less than the best, Yelp has pulled together a top-20 list of the best apple orchards in the U.S. for 2021, based on venues with an exceptionally high volume of stellar Yelp reviews.

"We identified the top spots to go apple picking in the U.S., and then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews between January 1, 2001 and July 7th, 2021," Yelp reports in its blog post. "All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of August 3, 2021...and have a passing health score as of August 3, 2021."

Without further ado, check out the 20 best orchards and farms to go apple picking in the U.S. (which we've categorized by region to make it easier to find one near you), and get ready for an epic excursion full of crisp apples, hot cider, and spiced doughnuts.

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