Few experiences scream fall in New England like a trip to a local apple orchard. Within an hour of Boston, you'll discover farms offering pick-your-own apples, hayrides, corn mazes, cideries, and so many more fall activities. You won't want to miss out on this iconic tradition this fall, so we've assembled a list of the top 10 local farms (+2 honorable mentions) to check out.
RED APPLE FARM @ BOSTON PUBLIC MARKET
100 Hanover Street, Boston, MA
If you want to taste the flavors of fall without leaving the city, stop by the Red Apple Farm stall at the Boston Public Market. Located near Boston's North End, Faneuil Hall, and the Freedom Trail, the Red Apple Farm stall at the Boston Public Market provides a convenient stop to grab fresh apples, cider donuts, and apple cider while you explore downtown Boston.
Apple Farms North of Boston
BROOKSBY FARM
54 Felton Street, Peabody, MA
Take a short trip north of the city to Peabody to visit Brooksby Farm. As you peruse their orchards, don't forget to stop by their on-site farm store to indulge on cider donuts and other baked goods before taking a hayride around the farm, visiting their barn animals, or finding the perfect pumpkin in their pumpkin yard.
You'll be close to Salem while at Brooksby Farm, so this is the perfect stop before attending Salem's Haunted Happenings or a spooky tour!
RUSSELL ORCHARDS
147 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA
Located just under an hour north of Boston near Crane Beach in Ipswich, Russell Orchards is well worth the drive. With fields of pick-your-own apples, a bakery and farm store selling baked goods, cider, small batch ice cream, and local produce, and a winery all on-site, you can spend an entire day exploring the farm. Don't miss out on grabbing a Cider Slushie to enjoy while you explore!
CONNORS FARM
30 Valley Road, Danvers, MA
When you arrive at Connors Farm, you'll forget you're just off Route 1 in Danvers. With a dinosaur-themed corn maze, train rides, hayrides, a ropes course, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, and tons of other fall-themed activities, Connors Farm can't be beaten when it comes to family fun this autumn.
Feeling spooky? Every Friday and Saturday night in October, Connors Farms transforms into HYSTERIA, featuring the spine-chilling Haunted Fields and the family-friendly, non-haunted flashlight corn maze.
BOSTON HILL FARM
1370 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA
Boston Hill Farm has been a staple in the North Andover community for 13 generations! This family-owned farm offers a variety of apples to pick and a farm stand selling local produce, freshly baked pies, homemade soups, grain cups to share with the farm's animals, and, of course, apple cider donuts. After your visit, stop by the nearby Harold Parker State Forest for breathtaking views of New England's iconic fall foliage.
Smolak Farms
315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, MA
Smolak Farms is an apple lovers dream. With 20 varieties of apples grown on-site, including a unique selection of heirloom apple varieties that are no longer commercially grown, chances are, you'll discover something new on this stop. Beyond the apple orchards, you'll find a bakery with incredible pies, a farm stand, and even a petting zoo. The farm also hosts various events throughout the season, from fall festivals to hop-on hayrides.
Apple Farms West of Boston
Honey Pot Hill Orchards
138 Sudbury Road, Stow, MA
Honey Pot Hill Orchards is a popular spot offering a quintessential New England apple-picking experience 45 minutes west of Boston. With over 200 acres of apple orchards to explore and three corn mazes, the farm is the perfect place to lose track of time on a fall weekend. Don't forget to stop by Honey Pot Hill's farm store for freshly baked goods, including their iconic apple cider donuts, and local produce, or their Hard Cider Tent for handcrafted hard cider, picturesque views of the orchards, and live music.
Belkin Family Lookout Farm
89 Pleasant Street, South Natick, MA
Some things are meant to go together—like farm-fresh hard cider, apple cider donuts, and apple picking. That's exactly what you'll find at Belkin Family Lookout Farm, one of America's oldest working farms. Located just 20 miles west of Cambridge, Lookout Farm offers U-pick apples, a farm store, outdoor dining, and an on-site taproom.
Carlson Orchards
115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard, MA
Nestled in the charming town of Harvard, Carlson Orchards is a must-visit this fall. The orchard is well-known for its wide variety of apples, from the classic McIntosh to lesser-known heirloom varieties, and its cidery, which features flights of their legendary hard ciders and a full food menu.
Shelburne Farm
106 W Acton Road, Stow, MA
Shelburne Farm won Boston Magazine's "Best Apple Picking" for a reason. Featuring dozens of varieties of apples available for picking or purchase, barn animals like llamas, goats, donkeys, and rabbits, weekly live music, food trucks, a hard cider barn, and a John Deer tractor-themed playground, there's something for every at the farm.
Apple Farms South of Boston
Pakeen Farm
109 Elm Street, Canton, MA
Located just 15 minutes south of Hyde Park, Pakeen Farm is the perfect place to get pick-your-own pumpkins. Although you can't pick apples at the farm yet, make sure to stop by the "Little Apple Orchard," to see Pakeen Farm's future pick-your-own apples before purchasing fresh cider and pies from the shop.