Best Apple Orchards in the Chicagoland Area for Kids and Families
Every year we take our children apple picking at a local orchard that has become our favorite. After visiting Apple Orchards in Chicago and Illinois for the past 20 years, I know them all. I have compiled a list of the Best Apple Orchards in the Chicagoland Area for kids and families.
Apple picking at Illinois Apple Orchards is a family outing that we look forward to every year, and our day there never disappoints. Families should visit orchards because they are charming, inviting, and always make for an enjoyable day.
My children are no strangers to apple picking and dive right into the activity with their bags in tow. They fill up their bags and move on to ours (my bag and my husband's). I happily walk along, tagging behind with my camera while munching on a delicious, fresh Jonagold apple. I relish in the sunshine, the Fall scent of the orchard, and the family fun that is taking place.
The official first day of autumn isn't until September 23, but that doesn't mean you can't start thinking about apples now. Always call ahead to verify the apple orchards on our list are open before making the trip.
Best Apple Orchards in the Chicagoland Area for Kids and Families
McHenry County
All Seasons Apple Orchard - - Woodstock, Illinois
All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock offers more than 30 farm activities in addition to apple and pumpkin picking. All Seasons has been our apple orchard of choice for so long now. However, last year, we were pretty disappointed in what they had to offer. Although it was still the same great apples, the bags were so much smaller, and the staff really monitored the number of apples the visitors were picking. I even saw them checking personal bags and purses when getting off the trailer ride.
The activities for children seemed tailored down as well, which was also disappointing. Some of the attractions for kids and their parents include the pig races, zip line, enormous swings, petting zoo, and corn maze. A large corn box, and an orchard express train. This year, a singing chicken performance using robotic chickens will debut (fall 2023). There are 15,000 apple trees in the orchard, which is open daily throughout the months of September and October. Young children can also harvest Asian pears from the tree during certain periods of the year.
Cost: Parking is free. Tickets are not required for the farmers market, country kitchen or concession stand. Apple picking and entrance is $17 per person. Price includes 1/4 peck bag of apples and a wagon ride (weather permitting).
Homestead Orchard - - Woodstock, Illinois
Picking season at Homestead Orchard begins in late July, with Duchess and Early Blaze apples ready in the final two weeks of August for the early birds. The orchard requires a $20 minimum purchase of one "peck" for each family with minor children. The family-run farm is also involved in the breeding of heirloom apples to recreate breeds from the seventeenth century and keeps bees for the production of honey. A collection of photographs, maps, and models from the Second World War are on display in a room of the orchard's store, a converted horse barn from the 1880s.
Cost: Parking is free. One peck = 12lbs. or about $1.65 lb. 1 peck bag is $20.00
Lang's Orchard - - Woodstock, Illinois
We visited here once when the kiddos were younger and it was very simple. Just apples and I think this is where we are going to head this year since all my kiddos just want the apples and not the activities.
Lang's Orchard is great for families who like to take things slow. The 44-year-old Woodstock orchard is operated by a local family, and it advertises itself as "old fashioned" and "affordable" because the only cost is the apples you take home. Although it's not as big as some other orchards, the apples at this no-frills Woodstock spot are second to none. Choose from Galas, Golden Delicious, Empires, and McIntoshes, among 13 more types! Lang's now features 13 varieties of apples for customers to choose themselves, in addition to a small store selling condiments including jams, jellies, salsa, and honey.
Cost: Prices are $20 per peck bag. Free parking and no admission charges.
More information on Lang's Orchard website.
Prairie Sky Orchard - - Union, Illinois
Young people established Prairie Sky Orchard. The daughter, then 10, and son, then 7, of Ralph and SueEllen Arndt pooled their allowances to purchase $8 worth of pumpkin seeds in 1991 to plant in their backyard. The seeds produced 200 pumpkins, which in turn spawned an orchard of 2,000 trees. The orchard is open for picking apples, pears, and pumpkins today. A take-home pie that the parents can bake themselves is also available.
Cost: Free parking and admission. U-Pick minimum is limited to one bag for every four people. A 1-peck bag costs $24, 2-peck bag costs $48.
More information on Prairie Sky Orchard's website
Royal Oak Farm Orchard - - Harvard, Illinois
Get ready to explore Royal Oak, which is home to more than 20,000 trees and 30+ varieties of apples. Traverse 1.5 miles of apple trees bearing nine different apple varieties, or pick your own apples from among 30 different varieties in the U-pick area of the orchard. On the weekends, visitors can ride the train, the carousel, and the hayride while sipping on an apple cider slushie. Train rides, a carousel, and a Royal Oak specialty, a full-fledged apple tree maze, are just a few of the exciting attractions at this farm.
Cost: Apple picking admission costs $12 per person and includes access to the orchard and pollination garden, and a 1/4-peck bag to fill with apples.
Stade's Farm & Market - - McHenry, Illinois
This McHenry U-pick not only has apples, but also raspberries, pumpkins, green beans, tomatoes, and sugar snap peas, making it a good option for families. Stade's "Farmtractions Park" is open on weekends and features more than 30 activities for families. These include a petting zoo, a giant pumpkin cannon, a kiddie train, a water wheel, a tractor lift, a swing ride, a carousel, a semi-truck slide, a hamster run, a zip line, a corn maze, duck races, and much more. It makes for an amazing weekend for the family! Stade’s has been a family tradition for many years with my family!!
Cost: A 1/4 bag costs $10, a peck bag is $30 and a 1/2 bushel is $50.
Kane County
Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard - - Pingree Grove, Illinois
The apple orchards of Goebbert's Farm are actually in Pingree Grove, albeit the farm itself is at two different sites. Pingree Grove is the place to go if apple picking is a must for your trip. Not only can you select your own apples, but there is also a full-fledged fall festival with everything from a haunted house to a pig race to a pumpkin slide to a magic performance to a carousel and more! There are additional costs for some activities.
Cost: General admission is $18 on weekdays and $22 on weekends. Online tickets are required ahead of time.
Windy Acres Farm - - Geneva, Illinois
Windy Acres has 5,000 apple trees that you may pick from, and they also offer classes on how to create caramel apples and pumpkins in their store. Trackless trains, petting zoos, corn mazes, and zip lines are just few of the exciting agricultural activities that are available on the weekends during the fall festival. This year, there are brand-new activities including a corn play bin, garbage can ball pong, a corn crawl, and teeter totters installed in the orchard.
Cost: $14.99 per person – 1/4 peck bag. Fall Festival admission Weekday $18.00 per person Weekend $22.00 per person
More information on Windy Acres Farm's website
Kendall County
Keller's Farmstand - - Oswego, Illinois
Although Keller's Farmstand has three locations in the suburbs, visitors can only harvest apples from the trees in the Oswego location. Pick up Ruby Mac apples, EverCrisp apples, and Golden Supreme apples all season long, and wash them down with apple cider donuts and apple cider slushies. Weekend activities during the Autumn Festivals include Pumpkin picking is just one of many activities available to families at the pumpkin patch, which also features a 10-acre corn maze, wagon rides, pedal tractors, a kids' straw labyrinth, sandboxes full of corn, farm animals, and a kids' play area with a pirate ship and castle. More than 30 different kinds of apples can be found at Keller's. Before entering the orchard, each picker must buy a bag.
Cost: Cost of admission : $11.99 per ticket (plus fees)
DeKalb County
Honey Hill Orchard - - Waterman, Illinois
The only thing you can do at Honey Hill Orchard is pick apples. Kids will enjoy the petting zoo, play area, and straw maze at the orchard. If you prefer a more contemplative experience where the apples are the main attraction, this is the place to go. Beginning in the middle of September, they hold weekend events every weekend that include food trucks and wagon rides. This far northwest suburban apple orchard has a free play area, a petting zoo, and a straw maze for children to explore. Weather permitting, Honey Hill provides horse-drawn wagon rides in the fall. Families can purchase crafts and gifts from the location's renovated 1880s barn, where they can also purchase apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, honey, caramel apples, and freshly baked pies.
Admission: Admission is free; U-pick runs $9 per 1/4 peck bag
More information on Honey Hill Orchard’s website
Jonamac Orchard - - Malta, Illinois
There are about 20,000 apple trees spread across the 105 acres of land owned by this family. The barnyard at this orchard hosts programs for children after school. Pony rides, an apple cannon, a launcher for apples, an apple launcher, and a jumping cushion are just few of the activities available in the barnyard. Weekends are the best time to explore the farm's corn maze and barnyard with the whole family. A cider house demonstrates apple pressing for kids and serves up hard cider, apple wine, and apple ale for the grownups.
Admission: U-Pick bags are $16 for 1/2 peck of apples. Fall Festivals Days (Saturday and Sunday), admission is $8 per person, in advance, $10 per person at the gate.
Kuipers Family Farm - - Maple Park, Illinois
Kuipers is a seasonal farm in the far west suburbs where you can pick apples, pumpkins, and Christmas trees in that order. Weekends see nonstop hayrides and train rides through the orchard, while weekdays see rides every hour. A children's play area offers paid activities like a big spider web, pig races, and a chalk house. Hot dogs, burgers, and sandwiches are available in the onsite restaurant, while the orchard's bakery offers a variety of sweet treats like cider donuts, fruit pies, caramel apples, homemade fudge, and more.
Admission: Pricing for the orchard is $12.99 per person (at gate), $10.99 per person (online), which includes a 1/4 peck bag of apples.
Lake County
Heinz Orchard - - Green Oaks, Illinois
As the nearest orchard to Chicago, Heinz Orchard prides itself on being simple. Beautiful apple trees and several varieties of u-pick apples are offered instead of a straw maze and farm animals. Because there is no entry fee and parking is free, this is one of the least expensive options for apple picking in the Chicago area.
Cost: A 1/2-peck bag costs $10 and a 1-peck bag costs $20.
More information on Heinz Orchard’s website