Pennsylvania only gets a few short weeks when the hillsides turn red and gold, and the apple trees are heavy with fruit at the same time. That timing makes fall the best season to grab a bag, walk the orchard rows, and reward yourself with a warm apple cider donut.
From the rolling farms of Chester County to the hills outside Scranton, these seven orchards each bring something different, like tractor rides, corn mazes, garden centers, and even axe throwing. Save this list, pick a Saturday, and get there before the leaves and the best apples are gone.
1. Highland Orchards, Inc., West Chester, PA
Plenty of Chester County families have been coming here since they were kids, and now they bring their own kids along. Highland Orchards has that kind of staying power.
The farm on Marshallton Thorndale Road offers seasonal pick-your-own fruit, and apple season brings tons of varieties to choose from. The open fields give everyone room to spread out, which matters on a busy fall weekend.
Once the picking bags are full, the farm market is the next stop. Shelves are stocked with fresh-baked pies made from farm produce, jams, fresh-pressed apple cider, and the usual farmstand fruits and vegetables.
Then there are the apple cider donuts. They are the item most people leave holding, and I would grab a few extra for the car ride home.
Food trucks also show up at the farm, so a quick lunch can become part of the visit. That makes it easy to turn a short apple run into a full afternoon.
Plan around the schedule. The orchard is closed Mondays, open 9 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 9 AM to 5 PM on weekends, with free parking on site.
2. Solebury Orchards, New Hope, PA
No long list of rules. No complicated check-in.
Solebury Orchards keeps apple picking refreshingly simple, and that is exactly why it earns a spot here.
The orchard sits on Creamery Road just outside New Hope, a Bucks County town that already draws crowds for fall weekend trips. After you check in, a tractor wagon ride carries you out to the apple trees.
Apples are plentiful, with lots of variety, and pricing has stayed fair. In recent seasons there has been a small entry fee of around $2.50, with apples sold by the pound, so it is an easy outing to budget for.
Back at the stand, the treat lineup is short but strong. Fresh-baked apple cider donuts, caramel apples, and apple cider served hot or iced make it tough to walk away empty-handed.
A cup of hot cider and a donut for the wagon ride is the move I would make.
Timing matters with this one. Solebury is typically open Thursday through Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM and closed Monday through Wednesday, but hours change with the season, so check the orchard website before you head out.
3. Linvilla Orchards, Media, PA
Early birds and after-work pickers both win at Linvilla. The Media orchard opens at 8 AM every day and stays open until 8 PM most nights, or 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Those long hours make it one of the easiest orchards in the Philly suburbs to fit into a busy week. It also helps with crowds, since weekend afternoons are the busiest times and weekday evenings tend to be much quieter.
A classic visit starts with pick-your-own apples. In fall, U-pick pumpkins join the lineup, and pumpkins seem to show up everywhere you look.
After picking, the farm store is the natural next stop. It sells cider, seasonal local produce, prepared foods, and baked goods, with fresh corn on the cob among the fall favorites.
The freshly made apple cider donuts are treated as a required part of the trip. Honestly, leaving without a bag feels like skipping the last chapter of a good book.
Free parking is available, and restrooms are on site. If you want the full apple and pumpkin experience without the weekend rush, try a Tuesday or Wednesday evening.
4. Weaver’s Orchard Inc, Morgantown, PA
Road trippers, take note. Weaver’s Orchard sits about five minutes from the Morgantown interchange on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and roughly 15 minutes from Reading.
That location puts it in the scenic hills of Berks County, which is prime leaf-peeping territory in fall. It is an easy detour whether you are heading home or just out for a drive.
The farm offers pick-your-own fruit in season, and it is a strong pick for apples. Weaver’s also hosts family events and educational programs throughout the year, so the calendar is worth checking before you go.
Unlike some seasonal stands, the farm market here is open year-round. Inside, you will find local produce, specialty jams and jellies, local honey, homemade breads, and desserts.
The apple cider donuts have a serious following. They are often so fresh they are still warm, and buying a dozen is smart if you want any left by the time you reach your driveway.
Many visitors wrap up with a small pumpkin, a jug of apple cider, or an iced coffee from the store. Hours run 8 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, and the farm is closed Sundays.
5. Soergel Orchards, Wexford, PA
Western Pennsylvania gets its turn on this list, and Soergel Orchards makes a big first impression. The Wexford farm, north of Pittsburgh, packs a full fall day into one address on Brandt School Road.
Apple picking is just the start. Fall brings pumpkin picking, flower picking, a corn maze, and hayrides past what look like miles of pumpkins.
The farm also has something the other stops on this list do not highlight: a full garden center. You can pick up plants alongside your apples and produce.
Soergel runs its own cider press, and the apple cider is made right on the premises. Cherry apple cider is a fun twist to look for.
The bakery covers the sweet side, with apple cider donuts and caramel apples as the fall headliners. I would call the donut and caramel apple combo the official Soergel snack.
The farm is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM. Weekend afternoons, especially Friday through Sunday, get crowded during peak season, so a weekday morning is the calmer option.
6. Cherry Hill Orchards, Lancaster, PA
Here is a fun fact for the name-curious: yes, the orchard grows more than cherries. Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster is a year-round stop for fruits and vegetables, and fall puts apples front and center.
The main market and farm sits at 400 Long Lane, with a second farm on New Danville Pike. Pick-your-own options are part of the operation, and the apple selection runs wide.
The market is where Cherry Hill really stands apart. Along with fresh produce, it stocks pies, jams, jellies, cider, and baked goods.
Look for craft sodas made by Reading Soda Works, a regional touch you will not find at every farm stand. Outside, there is a big selection of plants and garden statues.
The apple cider donuts are large and a big reason people keep returning. Cherry donuts also make an appearance, which feels only right given the name.
The market is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM and closed Sundays. Saturdays are the busiest, while Monday through Thursday are much quieter, and free on-site parking keeps things simple.
7. Lakeland Orchard & Cidery, Scott, PA
Twenty thousand trees. More than 30 kinds of apples.
Lakeland Orchard brings some big numbers to Scott Township in Lackawanna County.
The orchard, formerly known as Roba Family Orchard, got its start in 2012 when the Roba family expanded their farming work. It is still family owned and operated.
U-pick apples are the main draw, and with that many varieties, you can taste your way down the rows. Pumpkin picking is available in fall too.
The U-pick list keeps going with sunflowers, zinnias, produce, and flowering kale. That makes it a strong choice for anyone who wants a bouquet along with their apples.
Lakeland also leans into the fun. Axe throwing, live music, fire pits, and a corn pit for kids turn a quick picking trip into an evening out.
Of course, the apple cider donuts belong in the plan, along with other apple desserts.
Hours stretch later than most orchards, running 10 AM to 9 PM Thursday and Sunday and 10 AM to 10 PM Friday and Saturday, with the farm closed Monday through Wednesday. Fall season runs August through November, and the orchard reopens in December for Christmas trees.
From the Philly suburbs to the Pittsburgh area to the northeast hills, these seven orchards prove Pennsylvania does fall right. Pick one close to home, or plan a leaf-peeping road trip and try a few donuts along the way.
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