Seasonal guide ·
Apple Picking Season 2026: When Apple Picking Starts in Every State
Apple picking season runs roughly mid-August through early November across the U.S., with peak the last two weeks of September and the first two weeks of October — when mid-season Honeycrisp, Gala, and Empire are all ripe at the same time. The U.S. apple belt opens earliest in the Pacific Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, and the Southeast mountains, and closes latest in the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian highland orchards where late Fuji, Pink Lady, and Stayman ripen into early November. Below is a state-by-state apple picking calendar with opens, peak weeks, and wrap dates, plus notes on each state's flagship orchard corridor and which varieties dominate.
Quick answer
- U.S. apple picking season opens earliest in mid-August (Pacific Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Southeast mountains) and runs through late October across most of the country.
- Peak apple picking in most states is the last 2 weeks of September and the first 2 weeks of October — when mid-season Honeycrisp, Gala, and Empire are ripe at the same time.
- Honeycrisp, the highest-demand U-Pick variety, ripens in mid-September and is usually picked-out by mid-to-late October.
- If you want a specific variety, call the orchard a few days before — apple ripening windows are tight (typically 10–14 days per variety) and signs at the orchard often lag the actual pick window.
- Best U-Pick day-of: weekday mornings, 4–7 days after a hard freeze night — sugars concentrate in apples after the first frost.
State-by-state apple picking calendar
Each row links to a state page with verified U-Pick orchard listings. Sorted by region. Dates are 5-year averages — actual opening shifts up to 7 days year-to-year with summer weather and elevation.
| State | Region | Opens | Peak | Wraps | Notes | Orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | West Coast | Early August (Sierra foothills) | September–October | Late October | Apple Hill (El Dorado County) is California's biggest U-Pick corridor — 50+ farms in a 20-mile loop east of Sacramento. | View |
| Washington | Pacific Northwest | Mid-August | September–October | Late October | U.S. apple capital. Wenatchee and Yakima Valleys produce 60% of the U.S. apple crop, but most U-Pick is concentrated in the Cascade foothills around Cashmere and east of Seattle. | View |
| Oregon | Pacific Northwest | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Hood River Valley apple corridor runs alongside the Columbia River Gorge — pair apple picking with the Hood River Fruit Loop drive. | View |
| Michigan | Great Lakes | Mid-August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Third-largest apple state. West Michigan fruit belt (Sparta, Belding, Conklin) dominates U-Pick volume; Old Mission Peninsula apple farms are scenic favorites. | View |
| New York | Northeast | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Second-largest apple state. Hudson Valley orchards (Warwick, New Paltz) absorb NYC weekend traffic; Lake Ontario fruit ridge runs the volume. | View |
| Pennsylvania | Mid-Atlantic | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Adams County (Gettysburg) is the state's apple capital — 20,000+ acres of orchards. | View |
| Ohio | Midwest | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Lake Erie shore farms ripen 7–10 days later than central Ohio, giving Ohio a longer combined U-Pick window than most Midwest states. | View |
| Indiana | Midwest | Late August | September–October | Late October | South-central Indiana orchards (Bloomington, Bedford) tend to ripen first; northern Indiana lake-country farms last. | View |
| Illinois | Midwest | Late August | September–October | Late October | Eckert's in Belleville is the regional anchor; northern Illinois farms (Long Grove, Woodstock) absorb Chicago weekend traffic. | View |
| Wisconsin | Upper Midwest | Late August | September–early October | Mid-October | Bayfield Peninsula apple corridor on Lake Superior runs an extra week longer than southern Wisconsin. | View |
| Minnesota | Upper Midwest | Mid-August | September | Early October | Honeycrisp was developed at the University of Minnesota — Minnesota orchards (Aamodt's, Apple Jack, Pine Tree) showcase Honeycrisp at the variety's earliest U.S. ripening. | View |
| Massachusetts | New England | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Pioneer Valley and central Massachusetts apple corridor anchors the state's U-Pick volume. | View |
| New Hampshire | New England | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Apple Hill in Concord and the Souhegan Valley orchards run the volume. | View |
| Vermont | New England | Late August | Mid-September–early October | Late October | Champlain Valley (Shelburne, Charlotte) opens 7–10 days before Green Mountain orchards. | View |
| Maine | New England | Early September | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Coastal York County opens first; Down East and inland Aroostook County last. | View |
| Connecticut | New England | Late August | Mid-September–mid-October | Late October | Lyman Orchards (Middlefield) is the state's largest U-Pick operation. | View |
| Virginia | Mid-Atlantic | Late August | Mid-September–late October | Early November | Carter Mountain Orchard (Charlottesville) and Stribling Orchard (Markham) are the state's flagship U-Pick farms; the Shenandoah Valley apple corridor runs a longer season than Tidewater. | View |
| North Carolina | Southeast | Mid-August | Mid-September–late October | Early November | Henderson County (Hendersonville) is the state's apple capital and one of the few Southeast counties producing commercial apple volume. | View |
| Georgia | Southeast | Mid-August | Mid-September–late October | Early November | North Georgia mountain corridor (Ellijay, Blue Ridge) is the apple capital of the South — Mercier Orchards is the regional anchor. | View |
When does each apple variety ripen?
Early (mid-Aug – early Sep)
Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Zestar, Lodi, Yellow Transparent, Pristine
Mid (mid-Sep – early Oct)
Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan, Macoun, Liberty
Late (mid-Oct – early Nov)
Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Stayman, Mutsu, Braeburn, Crispin
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
When does apple picking season start in 2026?
Apple picking season starts in mid-August in the Pacific Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, and the Southeast mountains; late August across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest; and early September in northern Maine and the Upper Midwest. As a rule of thumb, the first U-Pick varieties (Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Zestar) ripen 30–40 days before the McIntosh and Honeycrisp peak in late September.
When is peak apple picking season?
Peak apple picking is the last two weeks of September and the first two weeks of October across most of the U.S. apple-growing belt. That's when mid-season varieties — Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire, McIntosh, Cortland — are all ripe at the same time, and the orchard is full of fruit. After mid-October, most early and mid-season varieties are picked-out and only late-season varieties (Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Stayman) remain.
When does apple picking season end?
Apple picking season wraps in late October across most of the U.S. and runs into early November in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast mountains, where late-season Fuji, Pink Lady, and Stayman ripen last. After Halloween, most U-Pick orchards close their fields even if some late fruit remains — staffing winds down with the pumpkin season.
What's the best month for apple picking?
October — specifically the first two weeks. Honeycrisp is at its sweetest, fall foliage peaks across the Northeast and Upper Midwest, weather is consistent, and orchards still have full inventory. September weekends are also strong but tend to be hotter, and the variety mix skews earlier (more Gala and McIntosh, less Honeycrisp). Mid-October weekends sell out at flagship orchards — book timed-entry tickets the week before.
What apple varieties are in season when?
Early season (mid-August–early September): Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Zestar, McIntosh-types. Mid-season (mid-September–early October): Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan. Late season (mid-October–early November): Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Stayman, Mutsu, Braeburn. Honeycrisp is the most-asked-for U-Pick apple in the U.S. and the variety with the tightest pick window — call the orchard the week of your visit to confirm Honeycrisp rows are still open.
Sources: state extension services and 5-year averages of U-Pick opening dates from 19 state apple corridors. Compiled and verified May 2026 by UPick Atlas.