Illinois and the surrounding states are full of family-owned, often multigenerational, orchards where city dwellers can pile apples into wooden bushels, enjoy a cider doughnut and get up close and personal with friendly animals.
“It’s not often you get to be in the field where your food is produced,” said Edwards Orchard co-owner Andy Smith. “So that’s a unique opportunity that we get to provide. You get to see where your food comes from.”
If you’re looking for a specific variety, make sure to call ahead to see what’s available. Spring arrived a little late this year, delaying the ripening of apples by at least a couple of weeks, according to some orchard owners.
“Customers may just have to wait a bit longer than usual for their favorites to ripen,” said Honey Hill Orchard co-owner Brittany Richey. “We just started picking Zestar [apples] this weekend, which are our earliest apple variety. They are tasting and looking great.”
Also, the hot summer was not ideal for apples. “Apples really love cooler temperatures when it comes to the development of sugars,” said Smith of Edwards Orchard in Poplar Grove. The early-season apples might not be as sweet, he added, but more rain this year will yield larger crops. “As soon as that temperature drops … the apples will just love it, and they’ll increase in quality every day. So we’re excited,” he said. “It’s gonna be a bumper crop this year.”
Don’t wait, especially if you want to get your hands on the coveted Honeycrisp apples, which ripen in early to mid-September. Apple season will wrap up for the season on or around Oct. 31, when most orchards close up shop until next year.
Here are 10 orchards — in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin — all within easy driving distance of Chicago.
In Illinois
All Seasons Orchard
14510 IL Route 176, Woodstock; weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Through Oct. 29.
Fan of Honeycrisp? This farm boasts one of the largest orchards of the popular sweet-tart variety. Honeycrisp ripens in September, but if you’re looking for another variety, an up-to-date list of what’s available can be found on their website or by calling. In addition to Honeycrisp, EverCrisp — a Fuji-Honeycrisp hybrid available later in the season — is another apple visitors look out for, according to manager Jocelyn Calderon. For families, the orchard’s “fun farm” includes a ropes course and pig races, plus a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patches and a bee observation station.
Pro tip: To avoid the weekend rush, Calderon suggests taking a cue from the locals, who like to swing by during the week before 11:30 a.m.
Cost: U-pick pricing starts at $12 per person for a quarter peck and includes an orchard wagon ride.
Curtis Orchard
3902 S. Duncan Road, Champaign; Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Through Oct. 31.
Founded in 1977, this orchard grows nearly 30 varieties of apples, with more planted to offer in future seasons. “Over time we have [grown at the orchard] some good-tasting apples such as EverCrisp and the LudaCrisp, which people initially buy because of the name but realize it’s actually an apple they enjoy,” co-owner Randy Graham said. Other popular varieties include Honeycrisp, Fuji and Pixie Crunch, a relatively newer apple known for its crisp texture. Curtis also offers more rare varieties such as the Arkansas black, a dark red apple that Graham said “is pretty divisive. You either love it or hate it. I’ve had calls from people as far as Connecticut asking for it.”
New this year: Visitors will see a revamped activities area, boasting new features like a zinnia maze (with free pick-your-own bouquets while supplies last) and the Wicked Orchard shootout. “We’ve given the place a face-lift this year,” Graham said, adding the improvements are just the beginning of the orchard’s long-term efforts to expand the activities area. “The whole purpose of the orchard is to have experiences all ages could enjoy, both educational and fun,” he said.
Pro tip: Saturdays in September and October are the busiest but Graham suggests coming to the orchard between 9 and 11:30 a.m. — even on a Saturday — and guests will likely “have the place to themselves.”
Cost: U-pick pricing starts at $9 per person for a quarter-peck bag, which holds about 8-10 apples.
Edwards Orchard
7061 Centerville Road, Poplar Grove; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting
Honeycrisp might get all of the attention, but co-owner Andy Smith says there are other apples worth checking out, such as the Somerset, a Fuji-Honeycrisp cross that’s a “big, beautiful juicy apple that has incredible flavor and a really great crunch” available in mid-September (around the same time Honeycrisp is in season), as well as the Crimson Crisp and the EverCrisp (sensing a trend?). The EverCrisp “checks all the boxes,” Smith said. Living up to its name, the apple also has a long shelf life. “The EverCrisp is the apple that we keep for ourselves after we close our doors. We keep boxes around, and we’ll be eating crunchy, sweet EverCrisp well into May and June,” he said.
New this year: “We’re offering a little tractor wagon tractor drawn tour throughout the orchard,” Smith said. “We bought a bunch of antique John Deere tractors and some wagons, and now we’re taking people through the orchard just to see the sights and smells.”
Animal encounters: There are friendly goats, some chickens, and one rotund Highland calf. “He’s so spoiled,” Smith said, with a laugh. Otis “eats all day long and loves some cheek scratches and handfuls of food.”
Pro tip: Can’t decide which apple to pick? Stop by the sample tables and ask the orchard experts who can shed light on what’s a good pie apple versus what’s a good sauce apple.
Honey Hill Orchard
11783 Waterman Road, Waterman; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
If you’re looking for a “laid-back and quiet country atmosphere,” Honey Hill Orchard is one to add to the must-visit list. “We want customers to enjoy a day out on the farm without the atmosphere being too commercialized,” co-owner Brittany Richey said. Growing approximately 30 different varieties of apples, Honey Hill’s most popular include Gala and Honeycrisp. “As we get into October, Jonagold and Fuji are popular. We also have newer varieties such as Crimson Crisp and PIxie Crunch,” she said.
Animal encounters: Petting zoo animals include a donkey, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits “and this year we are excited to have Missy the Belgian Draft horse returning,” Richey said. “Customers may remember her from two seasons ago, and she was a huge hit. She took some time off to raise her baby, but will be back this year.” You can buy food to offer the animals, but Richey notes that they appreciate apples and doughnuts, too.
Recommended eats: Apple cider doughnuts, cider slushies, homemade caramel apples, freshly pressed apple cider and apple pies. The apple cider doughnut sundae is a must-try, according to Richey.
Pro tip: U-ick pumpkins and raspberries and the orchard’s own honey are also available. The farm’s sunflower patch makes a great backdrop for a family photo.
Kuipers Family Farm
1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park; hours vary throughout the season until Nov. 26, check the website for days and hours. 815-827-5200
Founded 27 years ago by Wade and Kim Kuipers with the vision of providing families the joys of a fall day on a Midwest farm, Kuipers Family Farm boasts more than 45 varieties of apples to pick through Nov. 2 or as long as supplies last. “There’s nothing more exciting than opening the farm back up during the fall season. We love seeing families return year after year to spend time outdoors and create traditions and memories here at our farm,” said Joe Kuipers, general manager of Kuipers Family Farm and son of Wade and Kim.
Pumpkins and flowers: With more than 7 acres of sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, the farm is hosting the fifth annual Sunflower Festival, which runs until mid-September or while supplies last. The Pumpkin FunFarm is open from Sept. 19 through Nov. 2 for visitors to pick their gourds and enjoy outdoor activities on the farm, including the corn maze, jumping pillow, mountain slide, farm animals, pig races, apple blaster, giant corn box, live music, food trucks, adult beverages and more.
Let them entertain you: On the weekends, Kuipers hosts live music and bands. There’s also pig races (with an apple cider doughnut as the grand prize), a magic show where Farmer Tim raises agriculture awareness through magic and a variety of food trucks on the Pumpkin FunFarm.
Cost: Customers can purchase tickets online for $14.99 per person for weekends and holidays; select weekday tickets may be purchased at the gate for $11.99 each. Admission includes a quarter-peck bag of apples per person; kids under 2 are free but don’t get an apple bag.
Jonamac Orchard
19412 Shabbona Road, Malta; weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Through Oct. 26.
With a pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo and wine and hard cider, this family-owned and operated orchard offers something for every member of the family. The four-generational family operation has been in business since 1984, when Gerald and Mary Lynn McArtor purchased a farm from the Johnson family, changing the name to “Jonamac” in honor of both families. Jonamac prides itself on using sustainable practices, from encouraging natural predators and pollinators to practicing crop rotation and utilizing cover crops.
Action-packed weekends: Pony rides are on offer, but for the adventurous, guests can ride a camel on weekends. There’s also duck races, apple cannons, a corn maze and more. Apple tokens are also required for some activities. Families can also rent a campfire site to kick back and recap the day’s adventures by the cracking flames. Don’t forget to pack your favorite s’more provisions, or if you do, you can choose one of Jonamac’s add-on options.
Pro tip: Want to know exactly when your favorite apple is ripe for the picking? Sign up for Apple Alerts on Jonamac’s website.
Cost: Visiting the store and bakery is free, but buying a general admission ticket is required on weekends and holidays to visit the activity area, which includes access to the cider house, orchard, flower field and pumpkin patch. A bag also must be purchased to pick apples; pricing for u-pick starts at $16 for a half peck.
Beyond Illinois
Apple Holler
5006 South Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, Wisconsin; orchard and farm park daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Through mid-November, weather permitting.
Located about 90 minutes north of Chicago, Apple Holler offers not only 40-plus varieties of the fruit, but also plums, nectarines, pears and peaches for picking. The family farm began in 1987 when Dave and Vicki Flannery bought the then-abandoned orchard. The couple began planting trees and flipped the milking barn into a bakery. Nearly 40 years later, the Flannerys continue to run the farm. Last admissions for entry are at 4 p.m. daily.
Animal encounters: “We have pygmy goats that the kids can come in and feed,” said manager Riley Flannery, son of Dave and Vicki. “On the weekends, we have pony rides and this year we’re actually adding a rubber duck race as well.”
Recommended eats: Flannery said, “We have different food stands during the fall season where you can get pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, brats” and more. The orchard additionally offers a small grocery section for those who want to take home something other than fruit.
Autumn activities: A day at Apple Holler “turns into a full day of activities,” Flannery said. “We have a tractor-drawn train ride that shuttles you to the orchard. We have an ‘enchanted forest’ where there’s a bunch of characters in the trees for kids to see. There’s an entire family fun park; we have a corn maze, giant slides, pedal karts and more.”
Cost: U-pick pricing starts at $24 per person for a quarter-peck bag, and includes a tractor-drawn train tour of the orchard family farm and Enchanted Forest and all-day access to the Kids Korral Play Area.
County Line Orchard
200 S. County Line Road, Hobart, Indiana; open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Through Nov. 3.
Just outside of Illinois you can find County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana. Known for its annual corn maze, the orchard went viral in 2024 after revealing a maze in the shape of WNBA star Caitlin Clark. County Line features a selection of nearly 30 apple varieties alongside pumpkins and sunflowers for picking. Admission without apple picking begins at $15 with free admission for children 2 and under.
Animal encounters: “We have our kids farm with chickens, goats and pigs. There’s usually a donkey, too,” Training and Development Manager Dan Muldowney said. “We also have bees, so kids get to learn about the process of making honey, which is really fun.”
Recommended eats: In addition to desserts such as doughnuts and fudge, the orchard offers several novelty items. “We have a goat float, which is vanilla ice cream and apple cider with an apple cinnamon doughnut in it. There’s the apple cider boba. We’re doing apple ‘eggrolls’ too, that has doughnut sugar, caramel dip and it’s fried up and served like an eggroll,” Muldowny said.
G.O.A.T.S: The orchard’s theme for 2025 is “Who’s the GOAT?” They’re not talking about the animals but the acronym meaning “greatest of all time.” The idea started after its Caitlin Clark corn maze was a hit last year. “What we support is children and their education,” Muldowney said. “After the Caitlin Clark [maze], we thought, ‘Let’s do role models.’”
Cost: U-pick pricing starts at $10 per person for a quarter-peck bag, or $25 for u-pick and an all-access pass to enjoy all the activities.
Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Company
5454 County Road Q, Colgate, Wisconsin; open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Through late October.
Northwest of Milwaukee lies Peck & Bushel. The family farm is in the running for USA Today’s vote for the best apple orchard in the nation (the winning orchards will be announced Sept. 17). “We’ve never been honored with something like this before, but [we’re] happy to represent the Upper Midwest,” said owner Jenny Fahey. The certified organic farm boasts over 50,000 dwarf apple and fruit trees over 80 acres. Last admissions for entry are at 3:30 p.m. daily.
An affordable trip: Fahey said they haven’t raised apple prices in more than five years. “We are adamant that we want prices to remain the same for our crop,” she said. “Our goal is to make more, grow more and expand the orchard so that we have more product and we can keep prices flat.”
Recommended eats: From the orchard’s on-site bakery and cidery, Fahey recommends, “the apple cider slushy. It’s our own organic apple cider. We’re also going to have a cream puff apple cider doughnut, so a take on the Wisconsin State Fair treat, only more fall themed. Then we’ve got 10 new varieties of gourmet caramel apples including Dubai chocolate and turtle.”
Pro tip: No reservations are needed at the orchard, but Fahey says there’s no need to worry about having to wait to get in. “Everybody wants to be the first there at 10 a.m., so my suggestion is to come an hour later at 11 a.m. It’s actually a much more pleasant experience,” she said.
Cost: U-pick pricing starts at $10 for a quarter-peck bag.
Radke Orchards
8999 W. 200 N, Michigan City, Indiana, daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Through Oct. 31.
For those looking for a small orchard to enjoy a quiet afternoon, Radke Orchards in Michigan City may fit the bill. The northwest Indiana farm has been tended by the Radke family for over five generations. About 12 acres in total, the farm is budget-friendly for an autumn excursion. “We don’t do anything as far as charging for parking, nor charging for entering the orchard or anything like that,” co-owner Randy Radke said. “The only thing we charge for is what you pick and take home.”
Pickers choice: The small, family-run orchard has planted apple varieties based on visitors’ requests. “It takes about five years once you plant an apple tree for it to come into a full bear,” Radke said. “But we’ve had a few people that say, ‘We’ve got some recipes that call for Northern Spy,’ so we figured we’d put in 25 trees.”
Recommended eats: A small baked goods area offers apple cider doughnuts, chocolate doughnuts and blueberry doughnuts, which the orchard started offering last year, Radke said. The family also makes apple fritters in-house, an operation that Radke isn’t part of because he is “usually just there washing dishes.”
Cost: U-pick pricing starts at $1.60 per pound. Visitors can purchase a bag for picking at the orchard or bring their own.