Apple picking near Chicago: 20 orchards within 100 miles of the city to visit in 2022

Not far from home, you’ll find some of the best varieties of apples to pick, plus farm-fresh apple cider doughnuts, home-baked pies and sweet local honey.

[ My son and I went apple picking at 5 new-to-us places near Chicago. Here are our thoughts and tips. ]

Click through the map below to see 20 orchards within a 100-mile radius of Chicago, then check out our list of top picks.

Address: 14510 Illinois Route 176, Woodstock

Phone: 815-338-5637

Website: allseasonsorchard.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Oct. 30

Hours for apple picking: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday and Oct. 10 (Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day)

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

What’s the cost?: $11-$17 per person

What makes your location unique?: “We press our own cider on-site, are making doughnuts daily and even make all our caramel products from scratch.” — Esther Hong, All Seasons Orchard

Address: 5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, Wisconsin

Phone: 262-884-7100

Website: appleholler.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through early- to mid-November, depending on supply

Hours for apple picking: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily (last orchard admission is at 4 p.m.)

Is there an admission fee?: Yes

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

What’s the cost?: Starting at $20 per person. Several picking packages available.

What makes your location unique?: “We are open year-round, offering horse-drawn sleigh rides in the winter, peach picking in the summer and so much more! Our Craft Beer & Hard Cider Biergarten is now open for the season! We also have free live music on Saturdays and Sundays.” — Elyse Flannery, Apple Holler

Address: 1072 288th Ave., Burlington, Wisconsin

Phone: 262-878-3000

Website: brightonwoodsorchard.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Nov. 20

Hours for apple picking: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: No

What makes your location unique?: “We grow more than 150 apple varieties, and because of this large number, we are not a pick-your-own. Instead, people can view and buy up to 60 different varieties in our on-site store where they can also walk through the orchard. We have trails through our 20-plus acres of adjacent woods that are open and free to the public.” — Bill Stone, Brightonwoods Orchard

Address: 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove

Phone: 847-464-5952

Website: goebberts.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Oct. 31

Hours for apple picking: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., daily including Oct. 10 (Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day)

Is there an admission fee?: Yes. $18 per person (age 3 and older) weekdays; $22 on weekends. $14 for seniors (age 65 and older). Weekday season passes available.

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

What’s the cost?: $10 for a ½-peck bag

What’s new this year?: A new playground and a new maze with elevated birdhouses

What makes your location unique?: “We are a one-stop shop for all of the fall favorite family activities.” — Emily Zoellick, Goebbert’s Farm

Address: W632 Hafs Road, Genoa City, Wisconsin

Phone: 262-279-3638

Website: hafsroadorchard.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Nov. 28. Closed Tuesdays in November.

Hours for apple picking: Check website for hours.

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: No

What makes your location unique?: “No frills small orchard with 50 varieties of apples, specializing in Honeycrisp. No pick your own, no hayrides, no petting zoos. Just well-grown apples, fresh cider, Honeycrisp caramel apples, pumpkins and gourds.” — Debbie Polansky, Hafs Road Orchard

Address: 1050 Crest Road, Green Oaks

Phone: 847-770-3449

Website: heinzorchard.com

Dates and hours open for apple picking: Check website. Dates may be added depending on crop availability.

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

What’s the cost?: $10 (½-peck bag); $20 (peck bag)

What makes your location unique?: “We are the last U-pick apple orchard left in Lake County, and one of the oldest around the area (nearly 70 years old).” — Anthony DeMoon, owner

Address: 11783 Waterman Road, Waterman

Phone: 815-264-3337

Website: honeyhillorchard.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Oct. 31

Hours for apple picking: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., daily

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

What’s the cost?: $10 (¼-peck bag).

What’s new this year?: Wagon rides to the orchard on weekends, pumpkin patch, farm animal petting zoo and straw maze.

What makes your location unique?: “We strive to keep our orchard simple and more like an old-fashioned farm without all the commercial bells and whistles. Our Apple Barn is in the original 1880′s farm barn.” — Kathy Bock, Honey Hill Orchard

Address: 19412 Shabbona Road, Malta

Phone: 815-825-2158

Website: jonamacorchard.com

Dates open for apple picking: Available until the trees finish producing, typically by late September or early October

Hours for apple picking: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Sunday (last entry to apple orchard is at 5 p.m.)

Is there an admission fee?: Yes. $6 per person (age 3 and older) on Saturday, Sunday and Oct. 10 (Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day).

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

What’s the cost?: $15

What makes your location unique?: “We have food trucks and live music every weekend. We also have a Cider House that features our own wine and ciders.”

Address: 2500 Johnson Road, Oswego

Phone: 630-219-8194

Website: kellersfarmstand.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Oct. 30

Hours for apple picking: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday

Is there an admission fee?: Yes. $14 per person for weekend-only fall festivities.

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

Then what’s the cost?: $9 (¼-peck bag); $18 (½-peck bag); $36 (peck bag).

What’s new this year?: “Keller’s Storytelling” live presentations

What makes your location unique?: “The corn maze theme this year is very unique — ‘vampires.’ We have several super fun photo-ops for people to find and take pictures, and there is a special Homecoming 2022 photo-op that people are loving. We also have a unique digital map of the corn maze this year, and with GPS on your phone, you can navigate your way to the various checkpoints.” — Stephan Perrault, Keller’s Farmstand

Address: 1N145 Watson Road, Maple Park

Phone: 815-827-5200

Website: kuipersfamilyfarm.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through November. Check website for dates.

Hours for apple picking: Check website for hours

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

Then what’s the cost?: $10.99 weekdays and when purchased online; $12.99 when purchased at the orchard (¼-peck bag).

What’s new this year?: Several new apple varieties.

What makes your location unique?: “The orchard shop is sprawling store full of seasonal gifts, gourmet foods and our own bakery where we make our famous apple cider doughnuts along with pies, fudge and caramel apples. We also press our own cider on site.” — Kim Kuipers, Kuipers Family Farm

Address: 15908 Hebron Road, Harvard

Phone: 815-648-4141

Website: royaloak.farm

Dates open for apple picking: Through Oct. 31

Hours for apple picking: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday-Sunday

Is there an admission fee?: No

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

Then what’s the cost?: $10 per person (¼-peck bag) for ages 4 and older.

What makes your location unique?: “We actually have the country’s only apple tree maze, Amaze ‘N Apples. It is grown with trees in a hedge like system (similar to a European hedge maze). The maze has 3,000 trees in nine different varieties and is filled with activity areas and a central tower. Admission is $6 per person for all guests age 3 and older and includes two picking apples.” — Sarah Bell, Royal Oak Farm

Address: 3709 Miller Road, McHenry

Phone: 815-675-6396

Website: stadesfarmandmarket.com

Dates open for apple picking: Through Oct. 30 or as long as supplies last.

Hours for apple picking: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and some weekdays. Call to confirm.

Is there an admission fee?: Although there is not an admission fee to pick apples, each person must make a minimum $10 purchase to enter the orchard.

Can you pick your own apples?: Yes

Then what’s the cost?: $10 (¼-peck bag); $30 (pack bag); $50 (½ bushel).

What’s new this year?: An expanded orchard means more apples will be ready for picking next year.

What makes your location unique?: “We have many varieties of apples that are ready for picking from late August through late October. They offer different tastes, textures, colors, and sizes and can be used for a variety of things from sauces, pies, fresh eating, crumbles, bakes, purées, etc.” — Vern Stade, Stade’s Farm & Market

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