City residents gain straightforward weekend access to a dozen orchards and farms within about two hours, places that pair pick-your-own apples with cider, hayrides, petting zoos and other family-friendly activities. The region’s offerings range from small, multigenerational farms to larger operations that double as markets and event venues, making apple picking a full-day escape rather than a single errand.
The Story in Pictures
Alstede Farms, at 1 Alstede Farms Lane in Chester, New Jersey, sits about an hour and 15 minutes from Manhattan by car. The farm blends orchard rows with a wider farm market, selling everything from homemade ice cream and fresh-churned Amish butter to seasonal vegetables. Visitors can order through an online store for delivery, attend guided tours, join harvest moon evenings, or even book the grounds for a wedding. Nearby lodging options include Pendry Natirar in Peapack, an estate-style hotel with a spa set on more than 500 acres.
Fishkill Farms, located at 9 Fishkill Farm Road in Hopewell Junction, New York, is roughly an hour and 45 minutes by car. The family-run farm presses its own Treasury Cider from orchard fruit and grows varieties such as Crimson Crisp and Spartan under organic and ecologically grown standards. The site also supports on-site dining at the Fishkill Farms Grill and stages live-music nights, which can extend a trip into an evening outing.
Dr. Davies Farm, at 306 NY-304 in Congers, New York, is about an hour’s drive from the city and offers a classic pick-your-own experience from an operation founded in 1891. Run by fourth- and fifth-generation family members, the farm manages more than 5,000 trees across 27 apple varieties. Admission is $17 in cash per person, and the farm publishes a “Meet Our Apples” guide online to help visitors choose varieties. Its Red Barn Cidery produces several ciders, local beers and nonalcoholic beverages on site.
Masker Orchards, at 45 Ball Road in Warwick, New York, lies roughly an hour and 45 minutes by car and about three hours by train. The orchard keeps regular hours, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is set up for visitors to drive directly to the trees they want to pick or to picnic among the lanes. The farm posts a banner online announcing which varieties are ready each day and provides a mapped layout showing named lanes such as “Strudel” and “Pie” where specific cultivars are located.
These destinations show that apple season around New York is more than fruit gathering; it supports small-scale producers, regional cider makers and local tourism. Prospective visitors should check each farm’s website for current variety availability, hours and any admission requirements, and consider nearby accommodations if they plan to make a longer weekend of it.
