Apple Picking in Atlanta (& Nearby) Guide
(Arranged Alphabetically)
- Aaron Family Orchards
- B.J. Reece Apple House and Orchard
- The Folk Collaborative
- Hillcrest Orchard
- Hillside Orchard Farms
- Jaemor Farm
- Mercier Orchards
- Payne’s Apple Orchard
- R & A Orchards
- Red Apple Barn
READ MORE: The 24 Best Pumpkin Patches in Georgia to Visit
The building now known as Aaron’s Apple House was constructed in 1938 as a place to sell wholesale and retail goods from the farm.
Since then, the property has been passed down multiple times and is now run by the third generation of the Aaron family.
Though there is not a you-pick option available at this Ellijay GA apple orchard, there are over a dozen varieties of pre-picked apples you can buy.
The Aaron family invites you to stick around and enjoy this beautiful apple orchard near Atlanta, explore its surroundings, and take some time to wander around their farm shop.
There you can get your hands on all kinds of delicious treats, such as jams, jellies, apple butter, apple sauce, apple chutney, apple relish, and fresh-pressed apple cider.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Fall Fairs in Georgia to Visit
2. B.J. Reece Apple House and Orchard
9131 Highway 52 East, Ellijay GA • 706-276-3048
Family-owned since the 1960s, the B.J. Reece Apple House is located in the most stunning setting, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Head on over to this Ellijay GA orchard for some fun harvesting you-pick-apples with the whole family.
There are over 20 different varieties of apples to choose from, all grown right on one of the most popular apple farms in Georgia.
Once you have your bags full of apples, stick around on weekends for festivities ranging from wagon rides and rides on the cow train to taking turns on the farm slide and shooting the apple cannon.
If you work up an appetite, you can try some of the Apple House’s delicious fried apple pies and apple cider donuts. Don’t forget to stop by their market to stock up on goodies before you leave!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Apple Orchards in Ellijay, Georgia
3. The Folk Collaborative
2984 Mobile Road, McCaysville GA • 706-492-7753
The Folk Collaborative is one of the most beloved apple orchards in Georgia, but they offer so much more.
Located near the border of Georgia and Tennessee, this apple orchard near Blue Ridge GA offers you-pick apples and tractor rides down to the orchard.
This 20-minute ride allows you to enjoy the surrounding vistas, but a 45-minute ride will have you learning all about the history of the family-run farm.
The Folk Collaborative also offers a wonderful picnic experience under the trees of the orchard, where you’ll be provided with a picnic basket full of goodies, a blanket, and some beverages.
There are opportunities to enjoy campfires, camp food, Appalachian music, and storytelling at this amazing North Georgia apple-picking place. They also offer yoga classes and outdoor movie nights.
READ MORE: 25 Fun Things To Do in Georgia for Fall
4. Hillcrest Orchard
9696 Hwy. 52 East, Ellijay GA • 706-273-3838
This long-standing apple orchard in Ellijay GA has been growing apples since 1946. They offer you-pick apples and a bunch of other fun activities to keep kids (and their parents) busy.
Visitors can have a go at navigating their way around the apple maze, or take rides on the hay wagon, cow train, and/or pedal carts.
There’s also a jumping pillow and a number of playgrounds to help kids burn off some energy.
If you make it to the orchard on weekends in September and October, you can experience the Apple Pickin’ Jubilee, with live music, carnival food, and all the apple picking in Georgia your heart (and stomach) desires.
Before you leave, swing by their market and bakery and get your fill of local goodies and delicious fried apple treats.
READ MORE: The 30 Best Fall Fairs and Festivals in Georgia
5. Hillside Orchard Farms
18 Sorghum Mill Dr, Lakemont GA • 706-782-2776
Visitors are encouraged to spend a day at this apple orchard near Clayton GA to enjoy all the fun activities Autumn has to offer.
You can wander around the farm, try your luck at indoor gem mining, or hang out at the playground.
Hillside Orchard Farms features you-pick apples as well as a corn maze, a train ride, and hayrides around this 100-acre farm.
In addition to their apple picking in GA adventure, they also have many other fruits available for purchase throughout the year.
Their Hillside bakery is constantly making bread, fried apple pies, and fritters, and they produce over 700 different types of jam, jelly, and cider!
READ MORE: The 20 Best Corn Mazes in Georgia (Haunted Mazes, Kids Mazes & More)
Run by the Jaemor family for six generations, this apple orchard in Georgia was founded in 1912, and now offers much more than just apples.
Located in Alto Ga near the Schoolbus Graveyard, the Jaemor Orchard grows two types of apples and typically offers you-pick options. Unfortunately they will not be offering apple picking for the 2023 season.
They do offer other apple varieties grown on nearby orchards, and sell them at their roadside market.
There are Jaemor Farm tours and field trips available, as well as a chance to try homemade goodies such as apple-fried pies, apple cider doughnuts, apple jelly, and jam.
Keep your eyes peeled for details on their “Night Out on the Farm.” This adults-only event allows grownups to explore the farm, tackle the maze, play farm games, pick pumpkins, and enjoy live music and food trucks.
READ MORE: The 15 Most Haunted Places in Georgia to Visit
7. Mercier Orchards
8660 Blue Ridge Dr, Blue Ridge GA • 706-632-3411
One of the most popular North Georgia apple orchards, Mercier is a beloved Blue Ridge GA orchard that sits on 300 acres of stunning land surrounded by the North Georgia Mountains.
Guests go on a wagon ride to the orchard, where they’re d given all the apple picking info they need. But there’s a lot of other fun things to do at Mercier Orchards.
Depending on the time of year you visit, they also offer “you pick” strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and flowers.
Their farm market features clothes, gift baskets, toys, butters, jams, and jellies. There’s also a bakery (try the apple cider donuts and fried pies), a candy kitchen (candied apples), and one of our favorite Blue Ridge GA restaurants!
If you still have time for more adventures, check out their North Georgia winery, where you can try some of their hard cider and delicious Georgia wines.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Things to Do in Blue Ridge GA
8. Payne’s Apple Orchard
326 Tankersley Ln, Epworth GA • 706-633-7185
This apple orchard can be found in Epworth GA, a lesser-known small town located in between Blue Ridge and McCaysville.
The second generation of the Payne family now owns and runs the apple orchard on land that has been in the family for decades.
This orchard specializes in older, more traditional varieties of Georgia apples, including Grimes Golden, Yates, and Arkansas Black.
Though there is no “you-pick” opportunity here, the owners run their business on an honor system. So customers can choose their own apples and leave the money in a box outside.
Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest information about which fruits are ripe and ready for you to pick up.
READ MORE: Fall in the Mountains of North Georgia: 25 Places to See Fall Colors
9. R & A Orchards
5505 GA-52, Ellijay GA • 706-273-3821
For more great apple picking in Ellijay, head over to R & A Orchards.
They’ve been growing fruits and veggies on 160 acres of land for 70+ years, ever since Leonard and Della Payne planted their first apple trees.
The business has grown a lot since then, and today the Ellijay orchard offers you-pick apples and you-pick cut flowers, so you can harvest your own beautiful bouquet of zinnias and sunflowers!
R & A Orchards also has a bakery, market (selling cider, jams, jellies, and butters), and a café where you can grab a sandwich or a burger to enjoy with your fried pie or apple cider donuts.
For more fun, visitors can take a tractor ride and farm tour to see the behind-the-scenes workings of this Ellijay farm.
READ MORE: The 30 Best Day Trips From Atlanta GA
10. Red Apple Barn
3379 Tailscreek Rd, Ellijay GA • 706-635-5898
The Red Apple Barn is one of the most popular places for apple picking near Atlanta, and admission to the Ellijay GA property includes a tractor ride down to the orchard.
After you finish picking apples, you’ll receive a free apple, a cup of apple cider, an apple cider donut. Then you can relax or enjoy all the fun you want on the playgrounds and in the picnic areas.
There are all sorts of family-friendly games available, from corn hole to horseshoes, plus fantastic photo ops on the covered bridge down by their creek.
Before you head home, stop by the Red Apple Barn’s farm store to stock up on apple butter, apple pies, candied apples, and just about every other apple-related treat you can think of. -by Emma Gallagher; featured photo of Apple Picking in Atlanta via Canva
