Spending fall in Chicago and looking for a fun way to celebrate the season? Try Apple picking! There’s no better activity than observing Illinois’ changing leaves up close and picking apples while you are at it. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and if you’re planning a trip to Chicago, apple picking and all of the other activities that come along with should be added to your day trip. Here are a few locations that offer a variety of experiences near Chicago so you can find the perfect apple-picking spot near you:

Where Can I Pick Apples Near Chicago, Illinois?

All Season Orchard

Just over an hour north west of Chicago, Illinois is All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock, Illinois. All Seasons Orchard has so many things for you to do from apple picking to pumpkin, picking and even a petting zoo and a corn maze. Let me not forget about the cute and seasonal snacks that they offer as well in case you get hungry while having fun. There’s so much to do that. This is a great activity for solo travelers, couples and bigger families. Make sure to check out more about the experience at All Seasons Orchard on their website listed here so you can plan your trip.

Hank’s Farmstand

Located just about 45 minutes southwest of Chicago is Hank’s Farmstand in Orland Park. Instead of being focused on activities, this family ran farm offers a huge variety of local produce. I would not recommend only picking up apples from Hanks, but also checking out all of the other seasonal vegetables they have on hand like their sweet corn, pickling cucumbers, peaches and so much more! You can find more information about the experience at Hank’s farmstand and all of the seasonal vegetables that they are carrying this year on their Facebook page listed here.

Heinz Orchard

Just an hour north from Downtown Chicago is Heinz Orchard. Self-described as a ‘no frills‘ orchard, this family ran farm solely offers you a pure apple-picking experience – and they do it well! Unlike the other locations who charge an admission fee, Heinz Orchard only requires you to pay for the bag that you will use to fill with your apples; there are no additional admission fees for this experience so you don’t have to worry about the experience getting expensive. This is a great place for you to go and pick apples without the distractions of all the other seasonal activities. You can read more about the experience that Heinz Orchard offers and their current selection of apples on their website listed here.

Keller’s Farmstand

Last, but certainly not least is Keller’s Farmstand located in the western suburbs of Chicago. This is another family ran location with a wonderful range of activities from spring to fall. They don’t just offer an apple picking experience, but you can buy a variety of their pre-picked apples as well. They may have started in Naperville, but you can read up on their history and how they came to open a farmstandd in Plainfield and Oswego too. You can find more information about the experience at Keller’s farmstand, their locations and the apples they offer on their website listed here.

Map of Apple Picking Locations Near Chicago, Illinois

Where do you go apple picking near Chicago?

Did I mention one of your favorite locations or is there another place I should add to the list?

When planning a trip to Chicago during the Fall season, I highly recommend participating in seasonal activities like apple picking to get into the festive spirit. One of my favorite parts about this activity is that all of these farms are so different with fun energy and you can get a different experience every single time. I can’t forget to mention all of the cute photos that you can take with a beautiful backdrop of Illinois’ ever-changing leaves.

If you are looking for more fun things to do, make sure to check out my blog posts about Chicago and around the state of Illinois. Don’t forget to fill your itinerary with the 25+ fun and free activities that are available all year. I have also included some information for beginners who are flying to Chicago and spending your first three days here.