When is just one apple cider donut enough? Never is the right answer. So we made the Apple Cider Donut Tour to help you taste test the best of apple cider donuts near Upstate, SC.
If you’re looking for places to go apple picking near Greenville, SC, we have our Apple Orchards Near Greenville, SC guide for that! But this is specifically for apple cider donuts near Greenville and in Western NC because they are pretty much the best thing about fall.
Many of these places offer u-pick apples and other fall goodies like slushies, fried apple pies, apple cakes, and cider. But we’re here for the donuts. These donuts have a crispy outside sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and are hot and soft on the inside, bursting with fall flavors. Save your appetite though so you can be sure to taste donuts at all of the stops.
Donut Tour Tips
When you’re planning your trip, look at the hours at where you want to go. A couple of places are only open weekends and Holt Orchard is open Wednesdays-Fridays and Sundays.
And try to go early in the day. Most of these places are pretty popular.
Apple Cider Donut Driving Tour
Here’s the map of your best fall foodie adventure, which should take you a few hours:
List of Stops
🍎 Sky Top Orchard
1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock, NC
Open daily 9 am – 5 pm (9 am – 6 pm after Labor Day)
🍎 Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
170 Stepp Orchard Drive, Hendersonville, NC
Open Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
(Opens for the season on August 15, 2025)
Kidding Around® Review of Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
🍎 Holt Orchard
17 Holt Pond Dr, Flat Rock, NC
Open September 1 – end of October. Hours TBD for 2025, but the Holt Orchards Facebook is a great resource.
They also have a stunning u-pick flower field that will be ready by September 1st, 2025!
*You can also get their donuts at the Greenville Saturday Market beginning August 16th, 2025.
🍎 Black Bear Snow Tubing
373 Kerr Road, Hendersonville, NC
For the fall season, only open Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm starting October 4, 2025. This would be an awesome stop with the family, but be forewarned, you may not want to leave because you can go snow tubing without snow during the fall, plus satiate your apple cider donut desires.
Kidding Around® Review of Black Bear Snow Tubing
🍎 Coston Farm & Apple House
3748 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC
Open Monday – Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm (2025 Season Opening TBD– Typically mid-August)
🍎 Justus Orchard
187 Garren Rd, Hendersonville, NC
Open daily 9 am – 5 pm.
Kidding Around® Review of Justus Orchard
🍎 Grandad’s Apples
2951 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC
Open daily 8 am – 6 pm (Bakery closes at 5 pm).
Kidding Around® Review of Grandad’s Apples n’ Such
🍎 Mountain Fresh Orchard
2887 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC
Open daily 8 am – 6 pm; apple season starts August 20, 2025.
🍎 Jeter Mountain Farm
1126 Jeter Mountain Rd, Hendersonville, NC
July 12 – August 24, 2025: Saturdays and Sundays 10 am-5 pm
August 28 – October 26, 2025: Thursdays and Fridays 10 am-3 pm; Saturdays and Sundays 10 am-5 pm
Open on Labor Day
Extra Stops
These two orchards offer amazing apple cider donuts but sadly, are too far away to be included in our donut tour. If you happen to be out in their direction, our readers recommend you stop and eat their apple cider donuts for the sheer joy and love of them. They are marked in purple on the map.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery
1860 Black Hwy, York, SC
Open Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from Noon-6 pm.
Opens August 14th, 2025
Barber Orchards Fruitstands Inc.
2855 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville, NC
Open daily 9 am – 6 pm
Which place has your favorite apple cider donut?
For more fall fun, see our huge Guide to Fall in the Upstate!
Do you know of any other places to grab some apple cider donuts near Greenville, SC? Let us know!
What would you rate the different donuts and why? 🙂
We love Sky Top, and their donuts really are to die for, HOWEVER, and this is a BIG however, their large picnic area is infested with yellow jackets. Last year we sat at a picnic table with my 95 year old mother in law, trying to have coffee and donuts, and were overrun by aggressive hordes of yellow jackets.
We were there 8/5 & didn’t have any issues with any bugs…& my children leave no area unvisited. That said bees, wasps, bugs in general are a part of outdoor spaces
Didn’t see any last weekend when I was there enjoying the picnic area. 🙂
We visited Sky Top Friday (8/5) to enjoy their perfectly stimulating orchard. We visit every year & love everything they offer! Of course we savored the donuts & apple slushees before playing & exploring. It couldn’t be more perfect
09/09/2023 Sat 12-5 did Donut Trail . Drove past Grandad’s & Mtn Fresh & Justus. Holt was CLSD? 2 Adults Handicap& no kids. Favorite Apple Cider donut was Skytop! Hot, Fresh, crispy edges & light Cigna sugar.Sky Top NOT easy parking to walk, but 360 Views on a Mtn spectacular. Favorite Family spot was Black Bear- where else can you TUBE in 87 deg weather? ! Black Bear also had radio controlled area that was unique & kids playground was ok, porch overlooking tubing .Favorite all around was JETER MTN EVERYTHING , from huge indoor kids play area, to enclosed noise free Grand Views Coffee House to the best bathrooms on the trail. Was also Private ran BBQ Truck going till end of Oct 2023, Wagon ride pick your own apples, or $3 for the ride, HUGE undercover tables, and FLIGHTS of cider. Stopped at Lively Orchard Barn since Holt as closed, packaged donuts were available & crisp juicy Asian Pear was FREE! Best BAKERY variety stop was Coston Farm, packaged donuts not fresh , but apple Carmel cookie was awesome. Most HOME Family Feel was Steeps Hillcrest, fresh donut too much sugar though, apple cannon target was $5 for 6 apples & they had wagon rides with easy parking.
Thank you for your awesome review!