10 pick-your-own apple orchards within 2 hours of Charlotte
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Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery is located less than one hour from Charlotte. Photo: Axios archives
Picking the perfect apple is a fall staple, and there are plenty of spots within driving distance from Charlotte where the tradition is already underway.
Here are 10 orchards within two hours of Charlotte where you can pick your own apples:
Apple Hill Orchard
This orchard has a cider mill, a country store, educational tours, group tours and a bakery. Stock up on cider and sweets (including apple cider doughnuts) before you leave.
Stop by: 2075 Pleasant Hill Ave., Morganton, N.C.
- The bakery and U-pick are open six days a week. Reserve a pass for picking here for $3.50 per person.
Blueberry Thrill Farm
Pick your own apples, pumpkins and muscadines at this second-generation family-owned farm that started in 1982.
Stop by: 6938 Eaglesfield Road, Gibsonville, N.C.
- Open Saturdays from 8am-12pm.
Carrigan Farms
Their tractor-drawn apple orchard hayrides take you through rows of short apple trees that are easy to pick.
- Apple picking tickets for September are sold out. More tickets may be added in October.
Stop by: 1261 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, N.C.
Jeter Mountain Farm
Find over 25 varieties of apples at this farm's U-pick orchard located minutes from downtown historic Hendersonville.
Stop by: 1126 Jeter Mountain Road, Hendersonville, N.C.
- Apple picking is open Thursdays—Fridays from 10am-3pm and Saturdays—Sundays from 10am-5pm. No reservation required.
Millstone Creek Orchards
On select Saturdays and Sundays in September, a $18.95 ticket gets you access to the orchard, a bag of U-pick apples, apple and cider tastings, a hayride and a four-ounce apple cider slushy.
- Reserve a spot here.
Stop by: 506 Parks Crossroads Church Road, Ramseur, N.C.
Perry Lowe Orchard
Reservations are required and you can make them here. There's a tractor playground, jump pad, apple cannon, megaslide and bee train available for an additional cost.
- A tractor ride through the orchard is included with the $2 admission.
Stop by: 4085 Price Road, Moravian Falls, N.C.
- U-pick open Fridays from 1pm-5pm, Saturdays—Sundays from 10am-5pm through October.
Sky Top Orchard
Sky Top is a gorgeous mountaintop orchard where you can pick apples, bring a picnic, meet farm animals and relax with your friends and family. They have apple cider doughnuts and tons of apple-related goods you can purchase and take home — like apple butter, jams, fudge and cider.
- The U-pick season has begun. Check out which varieties are available here.
Stop by: 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road, Zirconia, N.C.
Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard
Make a day of apple picking, hayrides, a corn maze and more — all with beautiful mountain views. You can find a full breakdown of all the apple varieties (and possible uses) here.
Stop by: 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, N.C.
- U-pick open Friday-Saturday from 9am–6pm, Sundays from 10am-6pm and Monday-Thursday from 9am-5:30pm.
The Orchard at Altapass
The orchard boasts more than 20 varieties of apples. It also hosts events with live music regularly. Plan your visit.
Stop by: 1025 Orchard Road, Spruce Pine, N.C.
- U-pick tours happen every hour, on the hour 10am-4pm Wednesday-Sunday. Read the guidelines here.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill
After you fill your basket, reward yourself with a well-earned flight of hard cider and apple doughnuts.
- The farm stand is open for to-go purchases and The Cider Bar has hard cider ready for drinking.
Stop by: 1860 Black Highway, York, S.C.
- Reservations are required.
Editor’s note: This guide was updated as of Sept. 12, 2025, with this season’s dates/times.