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Eight orchards in Illinois and beyond to pick apples
· Updated
Lisa Shames rounds up eight destinations where you and the whole family can enjoy corn mazes, cider doughnuts, petting zoos and plenty of u-pick apples (as well as sunflowers, raspberries and pumpkins in some cases) at farms within driving distance of Chicago.
This guide was originally published on suntimes.com and wbez.org on Sept. 28, 2026.
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Orchards in Illinois
Honeycrisp fans will want to add All Seasons to the must-visit list. This farm boasts one of the largest orchards of the popular sweet-tart variety, which ripens in September. “We are well known for our Honeycrisps and they go fast,” said Annette Jenkins, representative for the orchard. “When they’re gone, they’re gone.” Pro tip: To avoid the weekend rush, swing by during the week before 11:30 a.m. except on Tuesdays when they’re closed. On the weekends, Jenkins recommends visiting the barnyard first to avoid the hordes of overly eager apple-pickers.
- All ages
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Edwards Apple Orchard
This fourth-generation family-owned farm has 50,000 apple trees featuring more than 30 varieties and plenty of fruit to go around. Can’t decide? Stop by the sample tables to taste as well as ask the orchard experts questions like what’s a good pie apple versus what’s a good sauce apple.
- All ages
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- Nostalgic
Honey Hill Orchard
Orchard for pick-your-own-apples, plus a straw maze & a converted 1880s barn selling donuts & pies.
Honey Hill Orchard offers a “laid-back and quiet country atmosphere,” co-owner Brittany Richey said. “What makes us special is we’ve been able to stay small and keep it simple. This is a place for folks to relax and experience Mother Nature.” On the weekends, wagon rides to the orchard and pumpkin patch, weather permitting, add to the farm-life experience. With nearly 40 different varieties of apples, Honey Hill’s most popular offerings include Gala and Honeycrisp.
- All ages
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Kuipers Family Farm
Casual farm featuring apple orchards, pumpkin patches and a gift shop.
In 1998, when Wade and Kim Kuipers opened their 71-acre farm, its pumpkin patch was the star. Now 230 acres, it’s a seasonal farm boasting 45 apple varieties.
Jonamac prides itself on using sustainable practices, from encouraging natural predators and pollinators to practicing crop rotation and utilizing cover crops.
Orchards beyond Illinois
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Apple Holler
Seasonal apple orchard & farm park with a year-round American restaurant.
Located about 90 minutes north of Chicago, Apple Holler offers not only 40-plus varieties of the fruit, but also plums, nectarines, pears and peaches for picking during the season. The family farm began in 1987 when Dave and Vicki Flannery bought the then-abandoned orchard. The couple began planting trees and flipped the milking barn into a bakery. Nearly 40 years later, the Flannerys continue to run the farm.
- All ages
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County Line Orchard
Quaint farm offering apples & baked goods, plus kids' activities like tractor rides & a corn maze.
Located in Hobart, Indiana, about an hour southwest from Chicago, County Line features a selection of nearly 30 apple varieties alongside pumpkins and sunflowers for picking.
- All ages
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Peck & Bushel Fruit Company
This family farm northwest of Milwaukee is the largest certified organic apple orchard for pick your own in the upper Midwest, boasting over 50,000 dwarf apple and fruit trees over 80 acres, which are grown on a trellis system similar to a vineyard making for the fruit easier to grow.