Fall Weekends In Maryland Mean Apple Cider Doughnuts From These 5 Orchards

Once the leaves start turning, a lot of Maryland families plan their Saturdays around one thing: a warm apple cider doughnut in a paper bag. The best ones come straight from working orchards, where you can pick apples, grab a jug of cider, and eat your treat before you even reach the car.

This list covers five orchards across the state, from Carroll County to the Catoctin Mountains to the Delaware line. Each one offers something a little different, so pick the farm that fits your weekend and go get your dozen.

1. Baugher’s Orchards, Farm & Bakery, Westminster, MD

Few farm stops in Carroll County pack as much into one visit as Baugher’s. The bakery side turns out homemade treats like apple pie and apple cider doughnuts, and the doughnuts come warm from the warm treats section.

That same counter is where things get fun. You can order hot or slushy apple cider, plus apple cider or orange floats, which makes a cold cider and doughnut combo an easy fall lunch upgrade.

Kids get plenty to do here too. There are two playgrounds, a petting zoo, and wagon rides out to the fields for pick-your-own fruit.

Plan around the schedule. The farm is closed Mondays and open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and parking options include a free lot.

Find it at 1015 Baugher Rd in Westminster.

2. Lohr’s Orchard, Churchville, MD

Snake Lane might be the best-named road on this list, and it leads to one of Harford County’s favorite fall stops. Lohr’s Orchard keeps things focused on the classics: apples, pumpkins, cider, and doughnuts.

The pick-your-own apple orchard and pumpkin field are the main draws, so this is a good choice if you want to fill a bag and a wagon in one trip. The staff has a reputation for being friendly and helpful.

Then comes the reward. The apple cider and apple cider doughnuts are the pair people seek out here each season.

I like that Lohr’s opens early, at 8:30 AM Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Sundays. Early birds can beat the crowd and still get doughnuts for the ride home.

The address is 3212 Snake Ln, Churchville.

3. Butler’s Orchard, Germantown, MD

Weekend fall festival days at Butler’s turn a doughnut run into a full afternoon. Barbecue, kettle corn, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking all share the calendar during the season.

The apple cider doughnuts still deserve top billing. They are served warm, soft, and well spiced, and plenty of families make a point to buy a bag before heading out.

Butler’s is a family-focused farm with pick-your-own patches, a kids’ play area, hayrides, and a market and cafe. That mix makes it an easy pick for Montgomery County families who want farm time without a long drive.

Hours run daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, and there is a free on-site parking lot. Set your GPS for 22222 Davis Mill Rd in Germantown.

4. Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Thurmont, MD

Here is a road trip tip for Frederick County: come on a weekday morning if you can. Saturday afternoons are the busiest time at this family-run market, while weekdays stay much calmer.

The fruit is grown right on the property, and the homemade baked goods include moist apple cider doughnuts that often go home by the dozen.

Leave room in the trunk for the shelves, too. Jams and pickles make easy gifts, and the market also carries flowers and prepared foods.

Catoctin Mountain Orchard is open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, with on-site parking and restrooms. Pair it with a scenic drive through the Thurmont area.

The address is 15036 N Franklinville Rd.

5. Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD

Your GPS may send you to a huge field instead of the front door, and that is on purpose. At Milburn Orchards, that big field is where to park if you plan to stay a while and see everything.

Staying a while is easy. The orchard is a lovely spot for picking apples, and depending on the season, peaches and berries too.

Still, the apple cider doughnuts are one of the main attractions, and many visits end with a box of them. The staff is known for being friendly, which helps when the lines grow on busy fall weekends.

Milburn has the latest Saturday hours on this list, open until 7 PM. Weekdays run 8 AM to 6 PM and Sundays 9 AM to 6 PM.

Find it at 1495 Appleton Rd in Elkton, close to the Delaware line.

Whichever orchard you choose, go early, bring a cooler for cider, and buy one more doughnut than you think you need.