Seasonal · Day trip

Apple Picking Near Boston: 7 Orchards Worth the Drive This Fall

Orchards in Stow, Northborough, Natick and north of the city are picking right now. Here's where to go, what it costs, and how to dodge the weekend crush.

By Fun Boston Published 6 min read

Apple season is on, and you've got at least seven pick-your-own orchards within about an hour of Boston. Bag prices run from $25 for a peck to $50 for a half-bushel box, and most farms post what's picking that day on their own sites.

The single best tip: go on a weekday morning, and check the farm's "today" page before you leave. Orchards get picked out, close for weather, or open late for school groups, and nobody wants to drive 40 minutes to stare at a bare tree.

Before you go: the ground rules

A few things apply almost everywhere on this list:

  • Leave the dog home. Shelburne, Honey Pot Hill, Tougas and Carlson all say no pets. Carlson Orchards says it's "due to state regulations."
  • Your bag is your ticket. At most farms, you buy a bag or box, and it admits a set number of people. What doesn't fit in the bag, you pay for again.
  • Call ahead in iffy weather. The state's own pick-your-own guide says availability varies with the weather and suggests calling ahead to check conditions. Good advice, from people who'd know.
  • Wear real shoes. Tougas Family Farm requires closed-toe shoes, and orchards are dirt paths and dropped fruit. Your white sneakers have been warned.

All prices and hours below are as of Sept. 2026, pulled from each orchard's own site.

Stow: two orchards, one town

Stow is the classic move. It's got two big orchards a short drive apart, so if one lot is jammed, you've got a backup.

Shelburne Farm

Shelburne Farm calls itself "just 20 miles west of Boston" and says it's open every day, rain or shine. Its Sept. 29 update listed Honeycrisp, Macoun, Crimson Crisp, Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, SnowSweet and Fuji among the apples picking now, plus Asian pears and a pumpkin patch.

A peck (about 10 pounds) is $32 and admits up to three people; a half-bushel (about 20 pounds) is $46 and admits up to five, per its hours and prices page. Hayrides are $3 a person. Weekday orchard hours are 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; weekends run 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Extras: cider donuts made while you watch, farm animals, playgrounds and a hard cider barn. Note it takes cards and Apple Pay only, no cash.

$32–$46 per bag · Drive, about 45 minutes to an hour · Daily, as of Sept. 2026

Honey Pot Hill Orchards

Honey Pot Hill is celebrating 100 years this season. Picking runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the farm says it will be open on the holiday Monday, Oct. 12.

A peck bag is $25 (admits up to three) and a half-bushel is $38 (up to five), per its pick-your-own page. Big catch: apple picking is cash only, though there are ATMs. That page listed Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, Empire, Honeycrisp, Crimson Crisp and more as picking, plus Harrow Crisp pears.

The draw beyond apples is the mazes. Its farm activities page describes a small hedge maze, a kids' tunnel maze, and a "Monster Maze" it bills as the largest hedge maze in North America, open only on certain weekends. Fall weekend hayrides are $2 a person over age 3.

$25–$38 per bag, cash only · Drive, about 45 minutes to an hour · Daily 9–5, as of Sept. 2026

West of the city: Northborough and Harvard

Tougas Family Farm

Tougas in Northborough describes itself as about 45 minutes west of Boston and says it grows more than 30 apple varieties. Its what's picking today page for Sept. 29 listed Macoun, Crimson Crisp, Early Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, Golden Delicious and Autumn Crisp.

A peck box (about 10 pounds) is $36 and admits two; a half-bushel box is $50 and admits up to five. Extra people are $10. Pick-your-own runs Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and until 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. It's closed Mondays, so plan around that.

The farm says to "always check here or Facebook page before heading to the farm," and it means it: hours are last entry, or until picked out.

$36–$50 per box · Drive, about 45 minutes to an hour · Tue–Sun, as of Sept. 2026

Carlson Orchards

Carlson Orchards in Harvard says its 2026 pick-your-own season is on and lists picking hours as daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. But when we checked, that page still showed a summer peaches-and-blueberries update, and no apple prices were posted.

Carlson also makes hard cider, so it's a good stop if the grown-ups want something for later. Just check their site and Facebook page before you go, since that's where the farm says daily updates live.

Prices not posted · Drive, about an hour · Check their site before you go

North of the city: North Andover and Tyngsboro

Smolak Farms

Smolak Farms in North Andover posted on Sept. 29 that pick-your-own apples, flowers and pumpkins were open, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:15 p.m. Check in at the farm stand when you arrive.

That 8 a.m. start is the earliest on this list, which makes Smolak our pick for beating the crowds. Prices weren't posted on the homepage, so budget accordingly or call the farm.

Prices not posted online · Drive, about 45 minutes to an hour · Daily hours posted on its homepage

Parlee Farms

Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro grows 20-plus varieties and runs hayrides to the orchard on weekends and fall holidays. Its farm news page listed Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Fuji, Ruby Mac, Gala and Cortland for Sept. 30.

Hours shift daily. That same update said pick-your-own opened late on weekdays that week because of morning school tours, with weekend hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 4. Prices are on a chart linked from the farm news page. The farmstand sells homemade apple cider donuts.

See farm news for prices · Drive, about an hour · Hours change daily, check before you go

Closest to the city: Lookout Farm

Belkin Family Lookout Farm in South Natick says it's about 30 minutes from Boston, and it works differently from the rest. You pay per person, not per bag: $39 online or $42 at the register for everyone 2 and older.

That pass gets you a half-peck bag (about 6 pounds) plus the corn maze, play areas and farm animals. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.), and Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (last entry 4:45 p.m.). Varieties listed include McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonagold and Macoun. Cider donuts are weekends only, first come, first served.

For a family with little kids, the all-in pass can make sense. For two adults who mostly want apples, the bag-price farms in Stow are a better deal.

$39–$42 per person · Drive, about 30–45 minutes · Tue–Sun, as of Sept. 2026

Can you do this without a car?

Honestly, not easily. None of these orchards sits within an easy walk of a T or Commuter Rail stop.

The closest thing to a car-free option is Lookout Farm. Natick Center is on the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail Line, but the farm is in South Natick, a few miles away, so you'd still need a rideshare or taxi for the last leg. Check the Commuter Rail schedule both ways before you commit, because missing the last good train with a bag of Macouns is a special kind of sad.

Otherwise, borrow a car, rent one, or befriend someone with a Subaru. If you want to hunt further afield, the state's MassGrown map, built by the Department of Agricultural Resources, filters for pick-your-own apple farms.

The short version

  • Best value: Honey Pot Hill in Stow, $25 a peck. Bring cash.
  • Earliest start: Smolak Farms in North Andover opens pick-your-own at 8 a.m.
  • Best for little kids: Lookout Farm in Natick, where the $39 pass includes the corn maze and play areas.
  • Closed Mondays: Tougas and Lookout Farm (Lookout opens on holiday Mondays).
  • No dogs: Shelburne, Honey Pot Hill, Tougas and Carlson all say no pets.
  • Always: check the farm's "today" page or call before you drive. Hours and varieties change daily.

Sources

Prices, hours and schedules change. Tap through to the official source before you go, and if we got something wrong, tell us. We log every fix on our corrections page.

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