5 Apple Orchards Within About 30 Minutes of the Twin Cities

Is it really fall in Minnesota until you’ve gone apple picking?

There is something about spending a crisp September or October afternoon wandering through an apple orchard that just feels like fall.

Throw in apple cider, warm donuts, hayrides, pumpkins and a corn maze, and you’ve pretty much created the perfect Minnesota fall day.

Luckily, you don’t have to drive hours from Minneapolis and St. Paul to find one.

There are several apple orchards around the Twin Cities metro where you can pick apples and enjoy plenty of other fall activities. Some are perfect for families with younger kids, while others have enough food, drinks and activities to make them just as much fun with teenagers or a group of adults.

Here are five Twin Cities-area apple orchards worth adding to your Minnesota fall bucket list.

Drive times will vary considerably depending on where you are in the Twin Cities, traffic and road construction, so always check your route before leaving.

1. Aamodt’s Apple Farm — Stillwater

If you’re looking for the quintessential Minnesota apple-orchard experience, Aamodt’s is hard to beat.

Aamodt’s Apple Farm has been part of the Stillwater area since 1948 and now has more than 6,000 apple trees spread across more than 50 acres.

You can pick your own apples when varieties are available or head into the Apple Barn to buy apples that have already been picked.

Apple varieties change throughout the season, so this is one orchard where it’s worth checking what’s available before you leave home.

What Can You Do at Aamodt’s?

Depending on when you visit, activities can include:

• Pick-your-own apples
• Wagon rides through the orchard
• Honeycrisp Express barrel train
• Visit the goats
• Play areas
• Walk around the orchard
• Shop inside the historic Apple Barn
• Grab fresh apple treats
• Enjoy cider and other seasonal food

And come hungry.

Aamodt’s serves apple pies, apple cinnamon donuts, apple oatmeal cookies and other seasonal treats.

For the adults, there’s another reason this orchard makes a great fall destination.

Saint Croix Vineyards and Thor’s Hard Cider are located right on the property, so you can easily turn an afternoon of apple picking into a more grown-up fall outing.

Why Visit?

This is the orchard I’d choose if you want a classic Minnesota fall experience without having to pay admission simply to walk onto the property.

Aamodt’s currently offers free general admission and free parking, although some activities and anything you pick or purchase cost extra.

It’s also easy to combine an orchard visit with an afternoon or evening in downtown Stillwater.

Pick apples, grab some cider and then head into town to walk along the St. Croix River.

That’s a pretty fantastic Minnesota fall day.

Location: 6428 Manning Ave. N., Stillwater, MN

2. Pine Tree Apple Orchard — White Bear Lake

Pine Tree Apple Orchard is a great option if you live in the northern or eastern Twin Cities.

Located in the White Bear Lake area, Pine Tree is particularly well known for its apples, bakery and fresh cider.

This one feels a little more like a traditional orchard outing than an enormous fall amusement park—which may be exactly what you’re looking for.

What Can You Do at Pine Tree?

Fall activities can include:

• Shop for numerous varieties of Minnesota apples
• Walk through the orchard
• Navigate the corn maze
• Pick your own pumpkins
• Enjoy weekend entertainment on select dates
• Shop for fall gifts and treats
• Stock up on fresh cider
• Visit the bakery

And the bakery is a pretty compelling reason to visit all by itself.

You’ll find seasonal baked goods and apple treats that you can enjoy there or bring home.

Personally, an orchard trip without some sort of apple bakery item feels like a wasted opportunity.

A Great Choice for a Relaxed Fall Afternoon

Pine Tree is a nice choice if you don’t necessarily need an entire day of rides and attractions.

You can enjoy the scenery, walk around, get apples, buy some cider, let the kids do the maze and pick up something delicious from the bakery.

They also schedule special activities and live entertainment during portions of the fall season, so check the current calendar before visiting.

Location: 450 Apple Orchard Road, White Bear Lake, MN

3. Afton Apple Orchard — Hastings

If your kids want more than just apple picking, put Afton Apple Orchard on your list.

This place is huge.

Afton Apple is a family-owned orchard covering more than 250 acres in the St. Croix Valley and offers 15 varieties of pick-your-own apples during its fall season.

But the apples are only the beginning.

What Can You Do at Afton Apple?

Fall activities can include:

• Pick-your-own apples
• Pick fall raspberries
• Choose pumpkins and gourds
• Take a hayride
• Visit the petting farm
• Play on the huge playground
• Climb Straw Mountain
• Explore Retread Hill
• Visit Grammamals Barnyard
• Check out Johnny Combine
• Sit in the Giant Rocking Chair
• Try the Giant Swing
• Bounce on the Jump Pad when available
• Explore the 15-acre corn maze

Yes.

Fifteen acres of corn maze.

So if your family is directionally challenged, perhaps clear your afternoon.

The corn-maze area also includes additional maze experiences and games.

What Does It Cost?

For the 2026 fall season, general orchard admission is listed at $7 for ages 5 and older and $5 for ages 4 and younger.

That includes access to several of the farm attractions and hayrides when they’re operating.

Some activities, including the corn maze and Jump Pad, cost extra.

Fruit you pick is also purchased separately.

Why Visit?

I’d choose Afton if you’re looking for an orchard that can entertain the family for several hours.

You aren’t just driving out, grabbing a bag of apples and leaving.

There is enough happening here to make the orchard itself the day’s activity.

Location: 14421 90th St. S., Hastings, MN

4. Applewood Orchard — Lakeville

For families in the southern Twin Cities metro, Applewood Orchard in Lakeville is another fun option.

Applewood combines traditional apple picking with several family-friendly attractions.

What Can You Do at Applewood?

Depending on what’s open during your visit, activities have included:

• Apple picking
• Pumpkin patch
• Corn maze
• Fort Applewood playground
• Tractor rides
• Seasonal farm activities
• Shopping in the farm market
• Bakery treats

The Apple Barn Market is another highlight.

In addition to fresh apples, you’ll find seasonal foods and specialty items such as jams, jellies, mixes, gifts and baked goods.

Apple nachos and warm apple pies?

Yes, please.

Why Visit?

Applewood is a nice middle ground between a simple orchard and a giant fall festival.

You can still get the classic apple-picking experience, but there are enough additional activities to keep kids interested after they’ve decided they’ve picked approximately enough apples to last the family until 2028.

Because activities and picking availability change throughout the season, check the orchard’s current updates before making the drive.

Location: 22702 Hamburg Ave., Lakeville, MN

5. Everly Farms — Minnetrista

If you’ve been going to Twin Cities apple orchards for years, you may know this one by another name.

Minnetonka Orchard is now Everly Farms.

The 43-acre property in Minnetrista has been an orchard destination since the 1970s, but it’s now expanding beyond the traditional orchard experience with wine, cider, dining and events.

Fall is still very much about apples.

What Can You Do at Everly Farms?

For the 2026 fall season, weekend activities include:

• Pick-your-own apples when available
• Unlimited hayrides
• Animal barn
• Corn pit
• Face painting
• Family games and attractions
• Live music
• Food booths
• Wine garden
• Pumpkin patch
• Fresh apple donuts
• Hot cider
• Shopping in the Retail Barn

This is another orchard where you could easily spend several hours.

And I especially like that there’s something for different ages.

Little kids can enjoy the animals and corn pit.

Older kids and teens can pick apples, take photos and grab donuts.

Adults can enjoy the Wine Garden and the larger Everly Farms property.

Weekday vs. Weekend Visits

This is important when planning your trip.

For the 2026 season, Everly Farms says weekday admission is free, but Monday through Friday is primarily for U-pick apples and the Retail Barn.

The full lineup of orchard activities happens on Saturdays and Sundays.

Weekend admission for 2026 is currently listed at:

• Adults: $12
• Seniors 65+: $8
• Children ages 3–12: $8
• Children 2 and younger: free

Apples, food, cider, donuts and other purchases are separate.

Why Visit?

Everly Farms is probably the orchard I’d choose if I were going with a group containing several different ages.

There’s traditional apple picking, plenty for kids and food and drink options for adults.

It’s also a great choice if you want your orchard visit to feel like a bigger fall outing instead of simply stopping somewhere to buy apples.

Location: 6530 County Road 26, Minnetrista, MN

Which Twin Cities Apple Orchard Should You Visit?

Honestly, it depends on what kind of fall day you’re looking for.

For the classic Minnesota orchard experience:
Go to Aamodt’s.

For apples, cider and a more relaxed outing:
Try Pine Tree Apple Orchard.

For tons of activities with kids:
Head to Afton Apple Orchard.

For families in the south metro:
Try Applewood Orchard.

For an orchard with activities for kids AND adults:
Check out Everly Farms.

Or make September and October your excuse to try more than one.

I fully support conducting your own highly scientific investigation into which Minnesota orchard has the best apple donuts.

Before You Head to the Orchard

Apple orchards are working farms, and Mother Nature is ultimately in charge.

Apple varieties ripen at different times.

U-pick fields can get picked out.

Hayrides and outdoor activities may be affected by weather.

Hours can change.

And some attractions only operate on weekends.

Before getting everyone into the car, check the orchard’s website or social media for current hours, apple availability, admission prices and activities.

This is especially important if you’re going specifically to pick Honeycrisp or another favorite variety.

Make Apple Picking Part of Your Minnesota Fall Tradition

One of the best things about living in Minnesota is that you don’t have to travel far to experience a beautiful fall day.

Grab a sweatshirt.

Pick up your favorite fall coffee.

Drive out to an orchard.

Pick way too many apples.

Eat a warm apple donut.

Take the obligatory fall pictures.

And bring home enough apples to make apple crisp, muffins, pie and everything else you can think of.

Fall doesn’t last nearly long enough around here.

You might as well make the most of it while you can.