Apple Orchards Near Charlotte, NC

The owners of the Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill got their start 20 years ago when they wanted to create the perfect apple cider (they apparently succeeded). Their main apple variety is the Stayman Winesapp and u-pick opens up in mid August. The orchard asks that everyone 2 years of age and older have their own pre-purchased bag before heading into the orchard. They also have weekend events that include live music. Reservations are required to U-pick apples. 

 Opening Date: August 14th, 2025

Offers:
U-pick Apples
Farm Store with baked apple goods
Hard Cider Tastings
Cider donuts
Apple cider slushies

Located in a picturesque part of Hendersonville with views of the mountains, Justus Orchard is the perfect place to go apple picking. Their apple cider donuts are also a treat not to be missed. This apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC was one of the first in the state to invite customers to not only buy apples already picked but allow visitors to go into the orchard and pick their own apples.

OPEN for 2025 season
Check the Justus Orchard Facebook page for current u-pick status, before heading up.

Multiple varieties are available for we-pick. U-pick begins in August. 

OFFERS:
Blackberries – July thru August
Apples – Mid August thru Early November
Pumpkins
Taproom
Bakery
Apple cannon ($)
Jumping pillow ($)
Cow Train ($)
Playground

Well-behaved dogs on leash allowed and owners must pick up after them.

Don’t miss our Kidding Around Review of Justus Orchard for all the details!

At the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies this gorgeous farm and orchard, which is not only a working farm but also a popular wedding venue.
Besides a pick-your-own experience, Chattooga Belle Farm also offers cabin rentals, a bistro for lunch and dinner, disc golf, and an amazing variety of exotic fruits like Asian pears, figs, pawpaws, and persimmons.

Open for the 2025 season
Apples will be available for Upick beginning in August
Farm store is open year-round – Check the Chattooga Belle Farm Website for daily updates on available options.

Offers:
Restaurant serving lunch and dinner
Cabin rental
Event Venue
Disc Golf
Distillery
Pre-picked apples, table grapes, wine grapes, peaches, exotic fruits, and more.
Farm Store

Dogs are allowed, but not in the fruit areas or inside dining. They are allowed for outside dining and the disc golf trail.

Twisted Apple will NOT open the farm and retail outlet in 2025. However, they can be located at local farms and apple festivals throughout the season.

Twisted Apple is a farm and retail outlet. They generally do not offer u-pick, but it is one of very few places to purchase local naturally grown, eco-friendly apples. They do offer baked goods and a variety of apples to purchase at local farmers markets and stands.
Check their Facebook page for updates.

Offers:
Naturally grown and conventionally grown apples
Baked goods
Apple beverages
Retail farm products.

With over 20 different varieties of apples, you are bound to find a favorite at Grandad’s Apples N’ Such. They also have a bakery on-site that sells pies, donuts, caramel apples, and cider. Activities for kids include a corn maze, cow train, and a huge pumpkin patch where kids are bound to find their ideal pumpkin.

2025 season-opening date: OPEN
2025 Christmas on the Farm begins in November

Fall Offers:

Prepicked apples and Upick apples
Pumpkin Patch (late September – October)
Farm Store and bakery
Corn Maze ($)
Cow Train ($)
Apple Cannons ($)
Play area

Christmas on the Farm Offers:

NC-grown Fraser Firs
Christmas gift shop
Light displays
Seasonal baked goods
Fresh apples for sale
Kids Activities Friday – Sunday

All pets must be leashed and picked up after while visiting.

Check out our fun fall day at Grandad’s in our Kidding Around® Review!

Jeter Mountain Farm is the result of more than 150 years of farming history in the Hunsader family. Located on 411 acres near Hendersonville and Brevard, this farm offers Choose N’ Cut Christmas Trees, plus u-pick includes berries, peaches, pumpkins, grapes, and over 20 varieties of apples. Be sure to check the Jeter Mountain Farm Harvest Calendar to see what’s ready for picking. Important to note for the tractor enthusiasts in your family, orchards are accessed via tractor ride!

2025 season: OPEN. Get updates for availability on their Facebook page.

• Open weekends in July 2025  for u-pick berries and peaches.
  
• Apple U-pick begins mid-August
• Pumpkins will be available in early October, 2025.
• Christmas at the Farm

Offers:

U-pick Apples & other fruits according to season
Market with pre-picked apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and other goods
Hard Cider Tap Room
1813 Smokehouse
Wagon rides
Covered play area
Christmas trees in late November/ December (reservation required)

Pets are not allowed at the u-pick orchards, inside the market, inside the tap room, coffee shop, and wagons. 

Don’t miss our Kidding Around® Review of Jeter Mountain Farm!

Open 50 years, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard are experts on organizing their orchard for u-pick. They begin their family fun and farm activities in mid-August and invite you to bring a lunch and spend the day at the orchard.

Summer/Fall OPENING DATE: August 8th, 2025
Check their Facebook page for up-to-date info on what’s available for picking.
Pet friendly, on leash only. Not allowed in Apple House or wagon ride.

Offers:

U-pick tulips in Spring
U-pick Apples in Fall
Grapes
Sunflowers
Farm Store
Picnic Space
Corn Maze ($)
Jump Pads (on weekends) ($)
Apple Cannon (on weekends) ($)

Don’t miss our Kidding Around® Review of Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard!

A KAG reader favorite, Sky Top Orchard offers mountain views, ponds with ducks and geese, farm animals, play structures, and apple and fruit trees. Don’t miss the amazing apple cider donuts. Last year there were some concerns about Sky Top getting too crowded so maybe try to go during the week if you prefer smaller crowds.

2025 Official season-opening date: Now Open

• Open weekends in July for donuts, peaches, wagon rides, and farm store apples, follow their Facebook page for updates. 
• Apple Upick began at the end of July for Early Macs and Ginger Gold apples

Offers:
U-pick apples
Farm Store with Cider donuts
Farm animals
Wagon Rides
Playground
Gold Rush Gem Mine 

Dogs on leash allowed but not in the fruit stand.

Don't miss our Kidding Around Review of Sky Top Orchard

This smaller orchard has a lot to offer with much smaller crowds than its neighbors. Start with the farm store which has a wide variety of apples, pumpkins, produce, and decor items. Then, head inside with your purchases to check out. Of course, you’ll pass by the bakery full of apple turnovers, apple cider donuts, pies, tarts, and lots more.

The only way to head out into these orchards is to purchase a ticket to ride on the trackless train. The Apple Express is about a 10-minute ride through the beautiful apple orchards. There is no U-pick at this farm! Purchase tickets for the train at the register in the farm store, or purchase them online and show your receipt.

There’s also a small deck that overlooks the orchards where you can enjoy your baked goods or apple cider slushies while you enjoy the view.

This South Carolina orchard might be one of the friendliest farm stands you’ve ever been to. You’ll find a farm store with lots of seasonal produce including apples in the fall and peaches in the summer.

Very rarely this farm will offer a u-pick day for apples, but most of the time you’ll buy your apples pre-picked. They sell cider made at the farm, as well as eggs, produce, and baked goods from Travelers Baking Company (delivered Saturdays and Thursdays). We highly recommend the sourdough bread and the pretzels.

Purchase pre-picked pumpkins here and enjoy the pretty fall displays and photo ops. Don’t forget to say “hey” to the farm cat, you’ll likely find him around the front of the farm store.

Apple Hill Orchard farm market and bakery will be open for the season on August 9th, 2025, on Fridays & Saturdays only. U-Pick apples and flowers will open early August 2025. Check their social media page for more details and purchase your picking pass now.

They are open 9 am-6 pm Fridays & Saturdays

• bakery
• farm market
• To pick, purchase a Picking Pass, and you will also need to pay for the apples you pick by container size ($3 per person picking pass- Ages 2 and under are free)

Knob Creek Orchards offers homemade ice cream and lots of local produce, including berries, muscadines, Asian pears, peaches, and apples.

Offers:

Upick TBD for 2025
Produce grown on the farm
Peaches and apples available on stand
Homemade ice cream

Apple picking is a delight at Coston Farm with the mountains as a backdrop to the orchard. Like other orchards, they also offer delicious baked goods and apples already picked for sale.

Opening Date: Friday, August 15th, 2025

No pets allowed.

Offers:
U-pick apple orchard from late August – October
(See their apple ripening calendar for different varieties)
Farm Store with pre-picked apples, pumpkins, and fall decor
No pets  are allowed

Located in beautiful Hendersonville with views of the mountains, Pilot Mountain Pears is the only dedicated Asian pear orchard in the area. They have more than 5,000 Asian pear trees and will open in 2025 for their fifth u-pick season. Check the Pilot Mountain Pears Facebook page for current u-pick status, before heading up.

2025 Season: Opens August 15th, 2025 for Upick Pears
Opens August 9th, 2025 for Upick flowers

Offers:
Asian pears – Mid August – Early October
Bakery
Picnic area

No pets allowed.

Just a few miles from the Chattooga River, Bryson’s Apple Orchard is also close to gorgeous waterfalls and many of the hiking places that KAG has recommended (so maybe hiking and apple donuts one day this fall?). The Long Creek area, according to their website, is one of the “largest apple producing areas east of the Mississippi River.”

 Closed in 2025

Offers:
Prepicked apples
Fresh peaches
Homemade pies, jams, jellies