Best Places To Go Apple Picking Near Baltimore

One of the beautiful things about the autumn season is the apple harvest. One of the world's most versatile fruits, apples may be used for salads and deserts and entrees, or just enjoyed as a juicy, crunchy treat directly off the tree. But why allow someone else to go through all the fun of preparing America's signature fruit for you when you could pick it yourself? Maryland has an abundance of orchards from which you may enjoy your pickings. Check out these local locations for your apple picking pleasure.

Weber's Cider Mill Farm
2526 Proctor Lane
Parkville, MD 21234
(410) 668-4488
www.weberscidermillfarm.com

Baltimore is a fairly urban county, but Weber's lies on one of the more rural regions which makes it a short drive for any Baltimore residents who want down-on-the-farm pickin's without having to travel extreme distances. Not only does Weber's offer a variety of pick-your-own apples at their Peachberry Orchard, but if you prefer your apples a little less raw, they have a stunning variety of baked and canned apple products available for purchase. Autumn is an especially good time to swing by Weber's as they are gearing up with all sorts of crafts, sales and events including hayrides, a corn maze, a giant hill slide and more.

Butler's Orchard
22200 Davis Mill Road
Germantown, MD 20876
(301) 972-3299
www.butlersorchard.com

Butler's has been around in Maryland for a good long while, and for all that time, has been providing harvesting opportunities of every sort — including, of course, apples. Autumn is the season-du-jour for Butler's, making it well worth the drive from Baltimore. Come make a day of it: pick your own apples while the kids enjoy the fun of the evening hayrides and bonfires, pumpkin harvests, corn mazes, pumpkin cannons, pony rides and many, many more activities.
One can also purchase every imaginable sort of pumpkin dish homemade on the spot.

Lohr's Orchard
3212 Snake Lane
Churchville, MD 21208
(410) 836-2783
www.lohrsorchard.com

Just North of Baltimore lies an orchard famous for its apple cider and self-pick apple orchard. Lohr's is among the most established orchards in all of Maryland, having opened its doors in 1928. The Lohr's symbol is known from its cider bottles sold at stands and stores throughout Maryland: a boy licking his lips with a freshly cut apple behind him. The fresh taste of its apples is not misrepresented by this symbol — come sample them yourself this fall season.

Related:  Best Apple Pie In Baltimore

Baugher's Orchard
1015 Baugher Road
Westminster, MD 21158
(410) 848-5541
www.baughers.com

Head on out to Baugher's Orchard to pick your own apples from a particularly surprising variety of apple trees, including Empire, Fuji, Staymen Winesap, Golden Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, Ida Red, Jona-Gold and Red Delicious. Then stay to enjoy the farmer's market, gift shop and fall activities including live music, homemade fudge, pony rides, face painting, hay rides, a petting zoo and more. Or just sit down after a hard day of apple picking and enjoy a delicious meal at their on-sight, home-style restaurant.

Shaw Orchard
5594 Norrisville Road
White Hall, MD 21161
(410) 692-2429
www.shaworchards.com

Up in the scenic White Hall area, not far from Pennsylvania Dutch country, lies beautiful Shaw Orchard. Enjoy the fresh country air as you come out to pick your own apples in the expansive orchards behind its spreading market vista. Shaw is an orchard that knows what its doing, with over a century of experience under its belt. Come up on the weekends and enjoy the variety of autumn activities Shaw offers, including hay rides right through the orchards. For the best information about picking conditions and what is ripe when, visit the website, updated daily with information and tips on what's best to pick and when is best to come up.

Related: Best Autumn Desserts In Baltimore