The 10 Best Apple Orchards in Tennessee for Apple Picking & More

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With its beautiful Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains and seemingly endless rolling foothills, it makes perfect sense that local farmers have planted numerous apple orchards in Tennessee. 
 
Thankfully, a number of these orchards in TN have opened their gates and invited visitors in to enjoy the splendor of apple picking and other fun Autumn activities. 
 
There are some apple farms in Tennessee that are strictly about selling bags of ready-picked apples to their customers.
 
Other apple orchards in TN offer “u pick apples,” so you can get a half-peck (5-6 pounds), peck (approximately 10 pounds), or a half-bushel (around 21 pounds) of their freshly ripe varieties.
 
Some TN orchards offer a full day of fun Fall experiences, ranging from playgrounds and corn mazes for kids to farm markets and apple cider-making demos. 
 
Read on for our in-depth guide to the 10 best apple orchards in Tennessee for apple picking and more, including some history of each farm and the variety of activities and attractions they have to offer. 
 
 

Apple Orchards in Tennessee for Apple Picking Guide

  1. Apple Valley Orchards (Cleveland TN)
  2. Oren Wodden’s Apple House (Pikeville TN)
  3. Wheeler’s Orchard and Vineyard (Dunlap TN)
  4. The Apple Barn and Cider Mill (Sevierville TN)
  5. Carver’s Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant (Cosby TN)
  6. Mountain Mist Farms (Pigeon Forge TN)
  7. Apple Hill Orchard (Treadway TN) 
  8. Buffalo Trail Orchard (Greeneville TN)
  9. Morning Glory Apple Orchard (Nolensville TN)
  10. Shade Tree Farm and Orchard (Adams TN)

READ MORE: 25 Fun Facts About Tennessee History and Culture

 

Apple Orchards in Chattanooga TN

apple valley orchards in Tennessee - Apple Valley Orchard
Photo courtesy of Apple Valley Orchard

1. Apple Valley Orchards

351 Weese Road SE, Cleveland TN • 423-472-3044

Official Website

Apple Valley Orchards is located in Cleveland TN, about 40 miles west of Chattanooga and an hour south of the Craighead Caverns and the Lost Sea Adventure.

What started out as a very small family farm (with just two apple trees planted in the backyard) has gradually grown into an orchard that boasts 15,000+ trees!

This TN apple orchard now has its own cider mill and welcomes guests to enjoy its apple house and pavilion. With over two dozen varieties of apples available between late Summer and mid-Fall, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Apple Valley Orchard also offers tours that include a wagon ride, an explanation of the apple-growing process, a retelling of the Johnny Appleseed legend, and a tour of their packing house and cider room. 

After your afternoon of apple-picking, don’t leave without getting your complementary apple and mug of cider.

READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lookout Mountain GA/TN

Oren Wooden apple house in TN
Photo courtesy of Oren Wooden’s Apple House

2. Oren Wooden’s Apple House

6351 New Harmony Rd, Pikeville TN • 423-447-6376

Official Website

Located an hour north of Chattanooga near Dayton TN, Oren Wooden’s Apple House offers everything from an apple orchard and farm market to a restaurant, bakery, and gift shop.

Opened back in the 1940s, this family-run farm now grows 21 varieties of apples, plus a bunch of other fruits and vegetables (including pumpkins), on 100 acres between Pikeville and Dayton.

Their restaurant offers down-home Southern, family-style meals that incorporate lots of produce from the farm, including green beans, fresh-cut corn, apple cole slaw, and more.

Don’t miss out on dessert from the bakery, where apple pies, apple cakes, and apple dumplings are high on the list of tasty treats to try!

READ MORE: The 10 Best Civil War Sites in Tennessee to Visit

apple orchard in TN - Wheeler's Orchard
Photo courtesy of Wheelers Orchard

3. Wheeler’s Orchard and Vineyard

960 Wheeler Rd, Dunlap TN • 423-949-4255

Official Website

Located just an hour from Chattanooga (and the famous Ruby Falls), Wheeler’s Orchard encourages guests to bring a picnic and a blanket to relax and enjoy the cool mountain air and spectacular vistas.

Be sure to stroll around their apple orchards and vineyards, too.

There is produce for sale all year round here, from tomatoes and cucumbers to all of their apple products (try their fresh-pressed cider).

They try their best to grow sustainably, using organic practices and a low-spray regime. 

Wheeler’s Orchard won’t be offering apple picking in Tennessee in 2023. But they do have farm animals you can feed, u-pick flowers in the pollinator garden, a nature trail, and educational farm tours and field trips.

 

Apple Orchards in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN

apple barn in pigeon forge tn
Photo courtesy of The Apple Barn and Cider Mill

4. The Apple Barn and Cider Mill

230 Apple Valley Rd, Sevierville TN • 865-453-9319

Official Website

The central attraction of this famous apple barn in Sevierville, Tennessee is the old cattle barn, which was built in 1910 from chestnut and walnut trees felled on the property. 

When the Kilpatrick family realized they were growing more apples than they could eat, they set up a little produce stand in their garage to sell apples to their friends and neighbors.

Finally, they converted the old barn into a place to buy apples and house the cider press. Now this apple barn in TN has an amazing website with tons of info on the different types of apples and what they’re best used for.

Visitors can try their apple cider and ice cream, buy souvenirs at the general store, get a jump on holiday shopping at the Christmas and Candle Shop, or sample the sweet fruit wines at the Winery

If you visit around dinner time, stop at their Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant & Grill, which is one of the area’s most popular restaurants

READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the Smoky Mountains

apple orchard in Cosby TN - Carvers Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant
Photo courtesy of tnvacation.com

5. Carver’s Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant

3460 US-321, Cosby TN • 423-487-2419

Official Website

Started in 1942 by Kyle Carver, this apple orchard in Cosby TN encompasses 75 acres and boasts over 40,000 trees.

There are 126 varieties of apples that are sold here, used in their restaurant, and/or made into country store products ranging from apple butter to fried apple pies .

In addition to apples and apple product, Carver’s Orchard offers a lot of information to help you choose the right apples for your home cooking and baking projects. 

Their Applehouse Restaurant is a great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the Smoky Mountains, with an extensive menu of classic Appalachian food fare.

Just being at this apple orchard near Gatlinburg TN gives you a rich sense of mountain life, with vistas of the stunning Smokies all around.

READ MORE: The 15 Best Great Smoky Mountains Campgrounds to Visit

apple farm in Pigeon Forge TN - Mountain Mist Farms
Photo courtesy of Mountain Mist Farms

6. Mountain Mist Farms

722 Caney Creek Rd, Pigeon Forge TN • 865-258-3276

Official Website

Originally best-known for their u-pick berries, the Mountain Mist Farm in Pigeon Forge TN has finally brought apples to the table, too.

In our experience, this apple farm in Pigeon Forge is definitely the place to go for your Smoky Mountain you-pick apples experience. 

They have a myriad of products made from farm-grown fruits, and guests can also sample some tasty wines.

The farm has 3 varieties of apples for sale, and they love to share recipes for making apple cider, apple pie, and more. 

You can take the family in Autumn for fruit-picking fun with the spectacular backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, and come back in the Winter for farm-fresh Christmas Trees!

READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

Apple Orchards in Knoxville TN

Apple orchard in Knoxville TN - Apple Hill Orchard
Photo courtesy of Apple Hill Orchard

7. Apple Hill Orchard

600 Eskola Ln, Treadway TN • 423-733-2017

Official Website

Apple Hill Orchard is located a little over an hour northeast of Knoxville, in the small town of Treadway TN.

This popular East Tennessee apple orchard offers a fun u-pick experience the whole family will enjoy.

There are around 10 different varieties of apples available here, and they encourage you to bring the kids, grab a bag, and pick yourselves a peck or two.

There are lots of apples to pick just at the right height for little ones, as well as helpful tools to help you get the hard-to-reach fruits way up high in the trees.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Bristol TN/VA

apple picking in Knoxville TN - Buffalo Trail Orchard
Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trail Orchard

8. Buffalo Trail Orchard

1890 Dodd Branch Rd, Greeneville TN • 423-639-2297

Official Website

Just over an hour’s drive east of Knoxville, Greeneville TN was named after Revolutionary War hero Nathaniel Greene and is the second-oldest town in Tennessee.

Started back in 1890, the Buffalo Trail Orchard is currently run by 5th-generation farmers Phil and Jean Ottinger, who grow all kinds of crops on their 34-acre property. 

This apple orchard in East Tennessee is one of the most popular places to go for a “pick-your-own apples” experience.

They also offer u-pick blueberries, peaches, corn, and a huge pumpkin patch in the Fall.

The farm hosts field trips where kids can go on a hayride, tour the apple orchard and pumpkin patch, and take a turn at picking their own apples. There’s also popcorn and drinks available at the apple barn. 

READ MORE: The 15 Most Haunted Places in Tennessee to Visit

 

Apple Orchards in Nashville TN

apple picking in Nashville TN - Morning Glory Orchard
Photo courtesy of Morning Glory Orchard

9. Morning Glory Apple Orchard

7690 Nolensville Rd, Nolensville TN • 615-395-4088

Official Website

Visiting the Morning Glory Apple Orchard near Nashville TN (26 miles south of the city) can be an all-day affair.

Guests are invited to enjoy walks through the orchards, and they offer self-guided tours for a small fee.

You’re invited to bring a picnic and make the most of your apple orchard experience. 

Morning Glory Orchard offers all kinds of seasonal events, such as painting in the orchard, a full apple tasting tour, and even deluxe picnic hampers delivered right to your picnic spot. 

There’s also a shop on site that sells local honey, ciders, preserves, elderberry syrup, and baked goods. Note that this isn’t a place for u-pick apples, but you can buy fresh-picked apples at their store. 

READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Smoky Mountains (NC & TN)

Nashville apple orchard - Shade Tree Farm & Orchard
Photo courtesy of Shade Tree Farm & Orchard

10. Shade Tree Farm & Orchard

2087 Kinneys Road, Adams TN • 615-696-2915

Official Website

If Adams TN rings a “Bell,”perhaps it’s because you’ve heard the Tennessee legend of the Bell Witch haunting.

But that’s not all the Tennessee town of Adams is known for! Folks flock here to get their hands on Shade Tree Farm & Orchard’s delicious apples, and enjoy a fun day of apple picking in Nashville.

Located approximately 40 miles north of Nashville, this is a u-pick apple orchard that also has other fruits, apple donuts, and fried pies available throughout the year.

There’s a store where you can buy products such as apple butter, sweet chili sauce, jalapeño ketchup, cookbooks, and other items that would make great Christmas gifts.

Kids can run wild in the play area, climb the giant wooden tractor, or cool off with a yummy apple cider slushie. 

The orchard also offers baking classes and field trips for kids, who can learn about the process of apple growing, make cool apple art, and ride on a hay wagon. -by Emma Gallagher; featured image via Canva

 

Leave No Trace logo

We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about the Leave No Trace principles of responsible environmental stewardship. 

Stay on marked trails, take only pictures, pack out your trash, and be considerate of others who share the trails and parks you explore. 

Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie.

When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic!

Born in Britain, writer/photographer Emma Gallagher lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC on a permaculture homestead with her husband, Jonathon. While traveling the world for 13 years, she fell in love with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge region when she lived at an artist retreat in Burnsville NC before moving to Brevard. Today Emma lives near Stone Mountain State Park and Doughton Park volunteers at the Surry County Fiddlers Convention, and cares for the gardens at the Reeves Downtown School of Music in Elkin. She's also a volunteer for the Elkin Valley Trails Association, which maintains segment 6 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.