9 Fun New York U-Pick Farms Families Will Be Eager To Visit This Year
The baskets start out empty, but that never lasts long. Rows stretch ahead, colours pop between the leaves, and it doesn’t take much for everyone to get involved.
New York has plenty of ways to spend a day outside, but these U-pick farms turn it into something more hands-on and a lot more memorable.
The pace stays easy, and that’s part of the appeal. Kids run ahead to find the best spots, adults slow down and take their time, and the whole experience feels relaxed without losing its energy.
Fresh fruit, open space, and just enough structure to keep things simple. It’s the kind of outing where you lose track of time, leave with more than you planned, and already start thinking about the next visit.
1. Lewin Farms
Four generations of farming and counting. Lewin Farms in Calverton, Long Island has been growing some of the freshest produce on the East Coast, and families keep coming back every single season for good reason.
Located at 812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 11933, this farm is one of the rare spots in New York that offers U-pick options for almost the entire calendar year.
Spring kicks off with strawberries, summer brings raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and peaches, and fall rolls in with apples and pumpkins. If you time it right, you can even snag a Christmas tree on your way out.
The variety here is honestly hard to beat anywhere else on Long Island.
Kids absolutely lose their minds running through the rows of crops, and parents get to feel like they actually did something wholesome that weekend. The farm stand is stocked with fresh goods too, so you are not leaving empty-handed even on an off-picking day.
Lewin Farms is the kind of place that makes you want to cancel your Sunday brunch plans and just spend the whole morning outside getting your hands a little dirty. Honestly, no complaints there.
2. Fishkill Farms
Mountain views and berry rows are a combination that just works. Fishkill Farms sits in the heart of the Hudson Valley and delivers the kind of wide-open farm experience that feels genuinely refreshing after a week stuck in the city.
The scenery alone is worth the drive up from the boroughs.
Located at 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12524, this farm has been operating since 1913 and has built a solid reputation for eco-friendly farming practices. They grow apples, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, and more, all managed with a strong focus on sustainability.
You can feel good about what you are picking here.
The fields are spacious and well-organized, making it easy for families to spread out and take their time. The farm market is fully stocked with jams, pies, and fresh-pressed juice that pairs perfectly with a crisp fall afternoon.
Kids can wander the rows without getting lost, and parents can actually breathe for a second. Fishkill Farms also hosts seasonal events and educational programs, so there is often something extra happening beyond just picking.
If you are looking for a proper day trip that does not require a five-star reservation, put this one at the top of your Hudson Valley list. It delivers every time.
3. Indian Ladder Farms
Apple picking season hits differently when the orchard stretches out as far as you can see. Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont, New York has been a go-to fall destination for Capital Region families for decades, and the place earns every bit of that loyalty.
There is a reason the parking lot fills up fast on October weekends.
Located at 342 Altamont Rd, Altamont, NY 12009, the farm sits right along the Helderberg Escarpment, giving it some of the most dramatic views you will find at any orchard in the state. Apple picking is the main event, but the farm also offers seasonal activities that keep younger kids fully occupied.
Face painting, farm animals, and open orchard space make this a full afternoon rather than a quick stop.
There is also a cidery on site that sells fresh apple products, including pressed juice that the kids will absolutely demolish before you even make it back to the car. The farm market carries a great selection of locally made goods too.
Indian Ladder Farms manages to feel both lively and laid-back at the same time, which is honestly a tricky balance to pull off. Families who visit once tend to mark it on the calendar for the following year before they even leave the parking lot.
That kind of repeat energy says everything.
4. Wickham’s Fruit Farm
Some farms have history baked right into the soil. Wickham’s Fruit Farm on the North Fork of Long Island has been in the same family since 1661, making it one of the oldest continuously operating family farms in the entire country.
Yes, you read that right. 1661.
Located at 28700 Main Rd, Cutchogue, NY 11935, the farm sits on the scenic North Fork and specializes in strawberries and cherries that are genuinely worth the drive out east. The U-pick experience here is relaxed and unhurried, which feels like a welcome change from the more crowded orchard spots closer to the city.
You pick at your own pace, no rush, no noise, just good fruit.
The classic farm stand is stocked with fresh produce, jams, and locally grown goods that make excellent souvenirs for people back home who did not make the trip. The atmosphere is quiet and charming without being sleepy.
Kids get to experience real farm life without the overstimulation of a big ticketed event. Wickham’s keeps things simple, and that simplicity is exactly the point.
Sometimes the best farm visits are the ones that do not try to do too much. This place has been feeding Long Island families for over three centuries, and honestly, that track record speaks louder than any marketing campaign ever could.
5. Greg’s U-Pick Farm
Western New York does not always get the farm tourism spotlight, but Greg’s U-Pick Farm is the kind of place that makes a strong case for the region. Located at 9270 Lapp Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032, this farm has become a reliable staple for families across the County who want a hands-on outdoor experience without driving halfway across the state.
Berries are a big deal here. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries all make appearances throughout the season, along with vegetables and flowers that you can cut and take home yourself.
The flower picking element alone makes this stand out from your standard orchard visit. Bringing home a bouquet you picked yourself hits different than anything from a grocery store.
Greg’s keeps things refreshingly simple. No elaborate ticketing systems, no overpriced snack stands, just genuine farm access and friendly staff who actually enjoy being there.
The farm has a hands-on quality that kids respond to immediately. You are not watching a farm from behind a fence.
You are in it, picking things, getting your shoes a little muddy, and loving every second. Families who prioritize authentic experiences over polished ones will feel right at home here.
Greg’s U-Pick is the kind of honest, straightforward farm that reminds you why this whole U-pick movement became popular in the first place.
6. Hicks Orchard
Being the oldest U-pick apple orchard in New York is not a small thing. Hicks Orchard in Granville has been welcoming apple pickers since 1927, which means multiple generations of the same families have been showing up here with baskets in hand.
That kind of legacy does not happen by accident.
Located at 18 Hicks Orchard Rd, Granville, NY 12832, the farm sits in Washington County near the Vermont border, and the fall foliage in that area makes the trip feel like something out of a postcard. The orchard grows a wide range of apple varieties, so you are never stuck picking just one kind.
Honeycrisp fans, Macoun loyalists, and Empire enthusiasts all leave satisfied.
The rustic setup at Hicks adds a lot of character to the experience. Old wooden structures, classic farm equipment, and open rows of mature trees give the place a timeless quality that modern agritourism spots often try to recreate but rarely achieve.
Kids get to pick apples the same way kids did here in the 1950s, and there is something genuinely special about that. The farm market carries fresh cider, baked goods, and seasonal produce that round out the visit perfectly.
Hicks Orchard is not trying to compete with anyone. It has simply been doing this longer than almost everyone else, and that confidence shows in every row of trees.
7. Samascott Orchards
Variety is the whole personality at Samascott Orchards. Located at 5 Sunset Ave, Kinderhook, NY 12106, this Columbia County farm is one of the most comprehensive U-pick destinations in the entire Hudson Valley.
The sheer range of crops available throughout the season is genuinely impressive and keeps families coming back at multiple points in the year.
Earlier in the season you can pick strawberries, cherries, and blueberries. As summer moves into fall, the orchard opens up for apple picking across dozens of varieties.
Pumpkins, gourds, and late-season vegetables round out the calendar nicely. Samascott essentially gives you a reason to visit in spring, summer, and fall without ever running out of something new to pick.
The fields are expansive and well-maintained, which matters a lot when you have energetic kids who need room to move. The farm market is fully stocked with fresh produce, preserves, and seasonal items that make excellent additions to any kitchen.
Samascott has a well-run, organized feel that makes the whole visit smooth from arrival to checkout. Staff are knowledgeable and the signage throughout the farm is clear enough that you never feel lost or confused about where to go.
For families who want maximum crop options and a polished farm experience in one location, Samascott Orchards consistently delivers the goods.
8. Ochs Orchard
Warwick, New York has a well-earned reputation as one of the best apple-picking towns in the entire state, and Ochs Orchard fits right into that tradition.
Located at 4 Ochs Ln, Warwick, NY 10990, this long-running family farm has been providing reliable U-pick experiences for generations of Orange County families and visitors from the metro area alike.
Apples are the star of the show here, with a good range of varieties available through the fall picking season. Pumpkins take over as October rolls in, and the seasonal produce available at the farm stand keeps things interesting well beyond the orchard itself.
The farm has a straightforward, no-frills layout that makes navigation genuinely easy for families of all sizes.
The scenery around Ochs Orchard is hard to argue with. Rolling hills, mature trees, and crisp fall air combine to make the whole experience feel like a proper seasonal celebration rather than just a grocery run.
Kids can roam the rows freely, and the open space means nobody feels cramped or crowded even on a busy weekend afternoon. Ochs Orchard does not rely on gimmicks to draw people in.
The quality of the fruit and the beauty of the surroundings do all the work. For families who want an honest, scenic, and satisfying U-pick visit in the Hudson Valley, Ochs is a completely dependable choice that holds up year after year.
9. Bowman Orchards
A farm with a bakery attached is basically a cheat code for a perfect weekend outing. Bowman Orchards in Rexford, New York has figured this out completely, and the result is one of the most well-rounded U-pick experiences in the Capital Region.
People drive from Albany, Saratoga, and beyond just to spend a few hours here, and they leave with full baskets and full stomachs every time.
Located at 147 Sugar Hill Rd, Rexford, NY 12148, the orchard grows apples, strawberries, and raspberries across spacious, well-kept fields that give families plenty of room to spread out and pick at their own pace. The variety of apple types available in the fall is particularly impressive, with something to satisfy every preference from tart to sweet.
The farm market and bakery are genuinely worth a visit on their own. Fresh-baked apple pies, cider donuts, jams, and seasonal treats line the shelves and make it nearly impossible to leave without spending a little extra.
Kids are entertained by the open space and the act of picking, while parents appreciate the quality of everything on offer. Bowman Orchards manages to feel both accessible and special at the same time, which is exactly what a great U-pick farm should feel like.
Mark your calendar now, because fall weekends here book up faster than a hot Brooklyn brunch spot.