School is open and fall is here (almost) making it the best time to go apple picking in NJ. Because many NJ apple picking farms offer more than just apples—think hayrides, cider tastings, and lots of donuts (yum)—there are so many ways your family can celebrate the delicious fall fruit. And it’s even better this fall because apple picking in New Jersey is a great socially distant outdoor activity. If you plan to go, click on the farm’s website for the latest COVID-19 updates and social distancing guidelines as well as their picking schedules (which vary with each farm). Want more fall fun? Check out NJMOM’s Pumpkin Picking Guide and Family-Friendly Farms to Visit This Fall for ones near you.

featured image via @insta.megz

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Here is the best apple picking in NJ this fall:

Bergen County – Apple Picking in NJ

Demarest Farms
This farm has the honor of being named not only the best apple picking farm in New Jersey but also one of the best places to pick your own apples in the entire country. Because of its popularity, it fills up fast, so be sure to make your reservations and buy your tickets ahead of time.
Farm open daily from 8AM – 6:30PM
Apple picking season starting approximately September 3 through October 
244 Wierimus Rd.
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-0472

Burlington County – Apple Picking in NJ

Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm
Get in the fall spirit at Russo’s Fall Festival on September 26 and 27, and in the meantime, get to picking Red Delicious apples in their bursting apple orchards. These apples are perfect for eating and baking (can’t you just smell the pie?). While you’re there, don’t forget to check out their fun corn maze, and they also offer pumpkin picking.
Farm open daily from 9AM – 6PM
529 Medford Lakes Rd.
Tabernacle, NJ 08088
609-268-0239

Johnson’s Corner Farm
Get your baskets ready and hop aboard a hayride to the apple trees for picking. You can also take a pumpkin picking hayride and check out their Fall Festival Weekends where you can enjoy live music, a corn maze, gem mining, food tents, and more.
Open daily from 8AM – 7PM
Apple picking hayrides: September 7 through October
Monday – Friday 10AM – 5PM (on the hour), Saturday & Sunday 9:30AM – 5PM continuous 
133 Church Rd.
Medford, NJ 08055
609-654-8643

Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm
Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm will be celebrating their Fall Harvest weekends throughout September and October with Live Music and a fall feast menu created by Sensational Host Catering. This year, they’re offering a drive-through experience where you can drive along their “Park N’ Pick” Route and make stops at the Apple Orchard, Pumpkin Patch, Sunflower Field, and Corn Maze. Reservations are offered 7 days a week, so be sure to book ahead of time on their website.
Open weekdays from 9AM – 12PM, weekends from 9AM – 3PM
Apple picking available September 4 through October 31
2691 Monmouth Rd
Jobstown, NJ 08041
609-353-9000

Strawberry Hill Farm
Get your baskets ready to pick fresh Macintosh and Gala apples, great for eating and making apple sauce, and be sure to check their Facebook for the latest updates.
Open daily from 9AM – 5PM
Apple picking available now through mid-November
3 Waln Rd.
Chesterfield Twp, NJ
609-298-0823

Cape May County – Apple Picking in NJ

Stiles Farm and Nursery
Pick from varieties like Nova Easygrow, Summer Mac, Redfree, Gala, and more throughout the season.
Open Tuesday and Thursday from 9AM – 12PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10AM – 4PM
Apple picking available now through October
172 South Delsea Dr
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
609-600-7939

Gloucester County – Apple Picking in NJ

Mood’s Farm Market
Get your flannels on and head out to the farm to pick a variety of different apples, including Pippen, Ginger Gold, Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and more. Because of COVID, hayrides won’t be available, but be sure to check out their website and Facebook for the latest updates.
Open Monday through Saturday from 8AM – 7PM
Saturdays from 11AM – 4PM
901 Bridgeton Pike
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
856-478-2500

Duffields Farm
Take a fun hayride out to the orchards for apple picking in NJ straight from the tree.
Open Monday through Saturday from 9AM – 6PM
Apple picking available now through October
280 Chapel Heights Road
Sewell, NJ 08080
856-589-7090

Hunterdon County – Apple Picking in NJ

Melick’s Town Farm
Enjoy picking your own Ginger Gold apples, a free kid-friendly corn maze, and a fun tractor to play on and take the cutest pictures at two locations, one in Califon and one in Oldwick.
Open daily from  9AM – 6PM
472 County Road 513
Califon, NJ 07830 
908-439-2318

19 King Street
Oldwick, NJ 08858
 

Mercer County – Apple Picking in NJ

Phillips Farms
Make some memories at this family-favorite farm picking delicious Gala apples, then stop by their farmer’s market for locally-sourced goodies.
Open from September through October, Wednesday through Monday from 9AM – 6:30PM
91 Crab Apple Hill Rd.
Milford, NJ 08848
908-995-0022

Terhune Orchards
Fall and apples go together at Terhune Orchards. Littles will love picking here, since the apple trees are kept short, so they’re easy for picking. Once your done picking, head back around the corner for fun with the barnyard animals.
Open daily from 9AM – 5PM
Apple Days Harvest Festival, every weekend in September and October from 10 AM to 5 PM
330 Cold Soil Road (picking fields are on Van Kirk Road)
Princeton, NJ
609-924-2310

Middlesex County – Apple Picking in NJ

Giamarese Farm & Orchard
With a season starting in mid-September and running through Columbus Day, you can pick a variety of apples from Autumn Gala, Blushing Golden, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, and so much more.
Farm open Wednesday through Saturday from 10AM – 6PM, and Sundays 10AM – 3PM.
Pick your own hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10AM – 5PM and Sundays 10AM – 2PM 
155 Fresh Ponds Road
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
732-821-9494

VonThun’s Country Farm Market
Get in the spirit of fall with apple picking in NJ and a family fun Fall Festival including the apple orchard, hayrides, a corn maze (kids 5 and up,) farm animals, pumpkin bowling, pony rides, and so much more.
Open Monday through Friday from 10AM – 6:30PM, and Saturday & Sunday 9AM – 6PM
Apple picking mid-September through October
519 Ridge Rd
South Brunswick, NJ 08852
732-329-8656

Monmouth County – Apple Picking in NJ

Battleview Orchards
The whole family can join in to pick apples like Gala, Jonamac, Macintosh, Cortland, Red Delicious, and more at this farm.
Open daily from  9AM – 6PM
September through October
91 Wemrock Rd.
Freehold, NJ 07728
732-462-0756

Eastmont Orchards
You can pick crowd-pleasing gala apples and other varieties at this South Jersey apple picking farm, which has been run by the same family since 1923.
Open September through October, Monday through Friday, 9AM – 5PM, Saturday & Sunday, 9AM – 6PM
181 County Road 537 East
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
732-542-5404

Happy Day Farm
Even though there’s no apple picking at Happy Day Farm, it’s still worth a visit to celebrate all things fall. You can check out their fall-themed festival with pumpkin bowling, hayrides, a corn maze, peddle carts, a giant slide, and so much more fall fun.
Reopening for their Fall Festival on September 12 through October 25, Saturdays and Sundays (Fridays in October only) from 10AM – 5PM
106 Iron Ore Road
Manalapan, New Jersey 07726
732-977-3607

Morris County – Apple Picking in NJ

Wightman Farms
Family-owned and open for almost 90 years growing the freshest fruits and vegetables, Wightman Farms offers pick-your-own apples in varieties like macintosh, greening, gala, and mollie delicious. Plus, dont forget to check out their Autumn Harvest Festival happening weekends from 9-5 this fall.
Open daily from 8AM-6PM
25 Bartley Road
Long Valley, NJ 07853
908-876-3351

Riamede Farm
Open to the public since 1974 with apple trees that are over half a century old and 64 acres of farmland, Riamede Farm provides a peaceful old-time apple picking experience with over 40 different varieties of apple Plus, check out the pumpkin field to make it a fall-themed day.
Opening for apple picking September 3, Monday – Sunday from 9AM – 4:30PM
122 Oakdale Road
Chester, NJ 07930
908-879-7762

Sussex County – Apple Picking in NJ

Pochuck Valley Farm
With 16 different varieties of apples from Honey Crisp and Granny Smith to Pink Lady and Golden Delicious, this farm is home to over 2,000 trees that hold a variety of different fruits.
Open daily starting September 1 through October 31, from 8AM – 4PM
962 Route 517, McCafee – Glenwood Rd
Glenwood, NJ 07418
973-764-4732

Warren County – Apple Picking in NJ

Mackey’s Orchard
Home to a 45-acre orchard atop a mountain, take a hayride up to pick Gala and Honeycrisp apples with a breathtaking view of Delaware Water Gap. There will be apple cider and donuts, and be sure to visit their farmstand for farm-fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, and ice cream (hello peach soft serve.)
September through October apple picking available Thursday through Sunday from 10AM – 4:30PM
284 County Road 519
Belvidere, NJ 07823
908-475-1507

Longmeadow Farm
Take a fun hayride to pick from Gala, Macintosh, Ginger Gold, and more apple varieties. They’ll also have pumpkins available for picking, plus jams, jellies, and honey available for purchase. Then on October 3, head to their 7th Annual Harvest Festival for a day filled with food, crafters, music, kids activities and of course, apple picking in NJ.
Open from now through October, Saturday & Sunday, 9AM – 5PM
561 Blairstown Rd (County Rd. 521)
Hope, NJ 07844
908-459-5351

VonThun Farms
Just like their South Brunswick location, VonThun Farms offers apple picking, along with a fun Fall Festival for the whole family, including apple picking, hayrides, a corn maze (kids 5 and up,) farm animals, pumpkin bowling, pony rides, and so much more.
Open Monday through Friday from 10AM – 6:30PM, and Saturday & Sunday 9AM – 6PM
Apple picking mid-September through October
438 Route 57 West
Washington, NJ 07882
908-689-3761

Somerset County – Apple Picking in NJ

Ripple Hill Farm
**No apple picking for 2020 season. Pick from a variety of different apples at this family-run farm (FYI, it’s cash only) and “see how much better they taste straight from the tree.”
Open September through October on Sundays from 12PM – 4PM
181 Mountain Rd
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
908-647-1300

Atlantic County

Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm
**No longer doing apple picking. A local farm provides Jersey locals with the freshest fruits and veggies.
Open daily from 10AM – 4PM
Egg Harbor City, NJ
609-965-1285