2023 Best Orchards for Apple Picking in Georgia

It’s apple season! Pick your own crisp, juicy apples and enjoy family-friendly extras at one of these orchards. Expect to pay around $10 per half-peck of apples. Be sure to check with the apple orchard on availability before you go.

B.J. Reece Orchard

Crimson Crisp, Rome Beauty and Stayman Winesap are just a few of the apple varieties available to pick; apple picking bags are $10-$40. Farm fun includes the slide, petting farm, wagon ride, pig races, rubber duck races and more, with the pricing from $13-$26. Grab an apple cider donut or fried pie at the Market & Bakery before heading home. Through Oct. 29. Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 1-6 p.m.

Hillcrest Orchards

The orchard’s farm market and bakery opens on Sept. 2, along with the petting farm, jumping pillows, wagon ride and playgrounds. Their Apple Pickin’ Jubilees occur on weekends and cost $18; visitors can pick from several tasty varieties, including Granny Smith and Goldrush. The $12-$18 admission fee includes farm activities and games. Sept.-Oct., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Nov., 9-5 p.m.

Mercier Orchards

Opening Sept. 4, take a tractor ride through this 300+ acre orchard of seasonal fruits and veggies. Pick up pecan chicken salad, pimento cheese, loaded potato salad, jams, jellies, preserves, apple butter, fried pies and more in the market. Admission is $14 and includes a 1/2 peck bag. Sept. 16-17, 23-24 and Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

R&A Orchards

This farm planted its first apple trees more than 70 years ago and today has more than 60 acres of trees, including Winesap, Ginger Golden and Jona Gold. Opening Sept. 2, u-pick apples, u-pick flowers and farm tours are available on weekends in September and October. The market is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Through Oct. 29.

Red Apple Barn

The orchard’s $10.75 admission fee includes picking one apple, a tractor ride to the orchard, farm tour, games, cider and a doughnut. Enjoy the kids’ playground, and stop in the farm market, which sells everything from fried pies to peanut brittle. The pumpkin patch is expected to open in late September. Through Nov. Sat. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 1-4 p.m.

Hillside Orchard

Take a train ride or hayride, purchase goat feed for their goats, search for gems, play on the playground, visit the animals in the barnyard, view antique equipment and more at this orchard. Pick your own apples, and shop their market for pumpkins, sweet potato fried pies and more. They also have a corn maze for $8 per person. Through Nov. 4. Mon., Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m. and Closed Tues.

Events:

Apple Pickin’ Jubilee at Hillcrest Orchards

Apple picking, cow milking, games, music, pig racing and more on the weekends. Weekends through Nov. 5.

Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay

Ellijay is known for being apple country and this fall festival celebrates their prize fruit with a parade and apple-themed activities. Oct. 14-15 and 21-22.