Chicagoland Apple Orchards: Fall 2022 Guide

ILLINOIS — While fall isn't quite here, at least officially, many orchards have been offering apple picking across the state for several weeks. By the time summer ends on Sept. 22, all of Patch's favorite apple spots will be open.

Did you know Illinois designated Goldrush apples as the official state fruit in 2008? According to statesymbolsusa.org, a fourth-grade class at Chicago's Woodlawn Community Elementary School initiated legislation to make it happen after learning that Illinois was one of only a few states that did not have a designated state fruit. The class discovered that the University of Illinois was instrumental in developing the apple, contacted Illinois State Senator John Jones, who then became the primary sponsor of a bill that made the Goldrush apple our state fruit.

Whether baking a pie is your thing, making some delicious apple sauce or just eating all the fresh apples that you pick, we have the perfect guide for all your apple needs.

DeKalb County

Honey Hill Orchard

• Address: 11783 Waterman Rd, Waterman
• Hours of operation: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Oct. 31
• Details: In addition to the apple orchard, Honey Hill has a 1880s converted apple barn with a craft/gift loft 25 varieties of apples. There is a free children's play area with a farm petting zoo and straw maze. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, wagon rides are available to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch (weather permitting).
• Admission: Guests must have a picking bag to enter the orchard. (2 and under are free, but do not receive a bag). $10 per person per 1/4 pk. bag/$30 peck bag (maximum of 2 people sharing peck bag).
• Phone: 815-264-3337

More details via Honey Hill Orchard.

Jonamac Orchard

• Address: 19412 Shabbona Road, Malta
• Hours of operation: Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
• Details: Along with an apple orchard, Jonamac offers a pumpkin patch, cider house, a haunted corn maze (opens Sept. 30, regular corn maze open now), wagon rides, animal barn petting zoo and a play area for children. Fall Festival Days are Saturday and Sunday.
• Apples and pumpkins: The pumpkin patch opens in mid-September. Apples are available now. Find out which ones are currently available for picking here.
• Admission: U-Pick bags are $15 for 1/2 peck of apples (about 5.5 pounds). Up to four people can pick per apple bag. For Fall Festivals Days (Saturday and Sunday), admission is $8.00 per person (ages 2 and under free).
• Phone: 815-825-2158

More information can be found at Jonamac Orchard's website.

Kuipers Family Farm

• Address: 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park
• Hours of operation (during fall harvest through Oct. 30): 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Sunday
• Details: Along with an apple orchard, Kuipers also has a pumpkin farm opening Sept. 17, which includes a tractor train, pig races and a corn maze, among other activities.
• Apples and pumpkins: Pumpkins available Sept. Sept. 17. Visit the Apple Information Page to see which varieties are available to pick in the orchard and for sale in the orchard shop.
• 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. Entrance to the pumpkin farm varies by age and visitation day; pricing can be found here.
• Phone: 815-827-5200

More details via Kupiers Family Farm.

McHenry County

All Seasons Apple Orchard

• Address: 14510 IL-176 in Woodstock
• Hours of operation through Oct. 30: Weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekends, plus Labor Day and Columbus Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last entry for the apple orchard and corn maze is 60 minutes before closing.
• Details: Along with an apple orchard, All Seasons also has a corn maze, pumpkin patch, barnyard and petting zoo. On weekends, they also offer pony rides, live shows and an apple cannon. The pumpkin patch and pick-your-own pumpkins starts mid-September, according to its website.
• Cost: Parking is free. Tickets are not required for the farmers market, country kitchen or concession stand. Apple picking costs $11 per person and an additional $4 per person for Honeycrisp apples when in season. Price includes 1/4 peck bag of apples and a wagon ride (weather permitting). More details on pricing can be found here.
• Phone: 815-338-5637

More via the All Season website

Lang's Orchard

• Address: 17411 Secor Road, Woodstock
• Hours of operation: Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends
• Details: McHenry County favorite for more than 20 years now. This is the perfect small mom & pop orchard for those who just want to pick apples without the fuss of some of the bigger orchards.
• Cost: Prices are $20 per peck bag and $14 per half peck for Honeycrisp. Free parking and no admission charges. Just pay for what you pick or grab out of the cooler.
• Phone: 815-568-7547

Find out more about Lang's Orchard on their website.

Prairie Sky Orchard

• Address: 4914 N. Union Road in Union
• Hours of operation (opened Sept. 13): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
• Details: U-Pick apples is available Saturdays and Sundays only. Bags of picked apples — currently including Gala, Jonamac, McIntosh and Honeycrisp — are available in store, along with pies and apple cider donuts.
• 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.
• Phone: 815-923-4834

More information via the Prairie Sky Orchard's website.

Royal Oak Farm Orchard

• Address: 15908 Hebron Road in Harvard
• Hours of operation (through Halloween): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
• Details: In addition to apple picking, Royal Oak Farm also has a pumpkin patch, orchard tour, farm carousel and an apple tree maze.
• 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. See the full price list on the website.
• Phone: 815-648-4141

More information via the Royal Oak Farm website.

Stade's Farm & Market

• Address: 3709 Miller Road, McHenry
• Hours of operation: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31
• Details: Stade's Farm offers both fruits and vegetables for you to harvest, including strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, peppers, and more. The apple orchard features also offers about 30 acres of pick-your-own pumpkins in the fall. Stade's is home to a large entertainment area, including a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hayrides, and a large variety of unique attractions. The fall festival, Shades of Autumn, is a harvest time extravaganza featuring 40+ farm-related attractions, pumpkin picking, special events, great food, and lots of family-orientated fun.
• Cost: A 1/4 bag costs $10, a peck bag is $30 and a 1/2 bushel is $50. Bags are included in the price, but apple pickers must use bags provided by the orchard.
• Phone: 815-675-6396

Find out more at Stade's Farm & Market's website.

Lake County

Heinz Orchard

• Address: 1050 Crest Road, Green Oaks
• Hours of operation (opening Sept. 16): Open days and hours will be updated on the orchard's website weekly.
• Details: For the 2022 season, the orchard will not be able to host field trips, and will not have bathrooms available. A schedule of available apples can also be found online.
• Cost: A 1/2-peck bag costs $10 and a 1-peck bag costs $20.
• Phone: 847-770-3449

More information via the Heinz Orchard website.

Kane County

Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard Pingree Grove

• Address: 42W813 Reinking Road in Pingree Grove
• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Halloween.
• Details: Along with apple picking, Goebbert's also has a pumpkin patch. On weekends, admission to a magic show is included with tickets, and pony and camel rides, along with the shooting gallery attraction, are available for an extra fee. A cafe at the farm also offers baked goods, meals and apple cider donuts. An additional list of activities included in the admission fee can be found on Goebbert's website.
• Cost: General admission is $18 on weekdays and $22 on weekends and on Columbus Day. Admission is free for children ages 2 and younger. Online tickets are required ahead of visiting and can be purchased here.
• Phone: 847-464-5952

More via the Goebbert's website.

Kendall County

Keller's Farmstand in Oswego

• Address: 2500 Johnson Road in Oswego
• Hours of operation (through Oct. 30): 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For holiday hours, customers should call ahead. The last entry to the orchard will be 30 minutes before closing.
• Details: Along with apple picking, for which a list of in-season apples can be found here, the Oswego Farmstand also has a pumpkin patch, a corn maze and fall festivities that take place Saturdays and Sundays.
• Phone: 630-219-8194

More on the Keller's Farmstand website.

Did we forget to mention your favorite apple orchard in the area? Let us know in the comments or email eric.degrechie@patch.com.