Best Apple Orchards & Apple Picking Near Greensboro, NC (2026 Guide)
North Carolina ranks 7th in the United States for commercial apple production — and you don’t need to drive all the way to Hendersonville to find a great apple orchard experience from Greensboro. Whether you want a quick u-pick adventure an hour away, a full orchard day with cider donuts and hayrides, or a mountain apple festival worth the longer drive, here’s your complete guide to apple picking near Greensboro, NC.
Season: Apple picking season near Greensboro typically runs August through November, with peak variety and availability in September and October. Confirm current availability directly with each orchard before visiting — crop conditions vary by year.
Best Apple Orchards Near Greensboro, NC
Blueberry Thrill Farm
- 6938 Eaglesfield Road, Gibsonville, NC 27249 (~30 min from Greensboro, halfway between Greensboro and Burlington)
- Phone: (336) 449-7246
- Email: farmer@blueberrythrillfarm.com
- Website: blueberrythrillfarm.com
- Payment: Cash or check only
- Distance from Greensboro: ~30 minutes
A beloved second-generation family farm that has been growing blueberries and blackberries for the local u-pick market since 1982 — now celebrating 40+ years of operation. The apple orchard features over 20 varieties including the best heritage and commercial selections, making it one of the most impressive apple variety offerings of any farm close to Greensboro.
Fall u-pick produce includes apples, muscadines, pumpkins, and farm-fresh eggs. Summer u-pick includes blueberries, blackberries, peaches, heirloom tomatoes, and flowers. Integrated pest management practices keep chemical use minimal — not certified organic but about as close as it gets without the label.
Visitors consistently praise the beautiful property, well-decorated porches, vibrant flower displays, exceptional fruit quality, and friendly, helpful staff. Saturday farm tours are sometimes available during blueberry season — a 30-minute guided tour to meet pigs, chickens, and goats and learn about the farm’s history. Check their website before visiting as hours and availability vary by season and crop conditions.
Best for: Apple picking + blueberries + muscadines in fall, farm-fresh eggs, pumpkins, 20+ heritage apple varieties, family farm outing
Don’t miss: The heritage apple variety orchard; Saturday farm tours when available
Note: Cash or check only. Hours vary — check website or call before visiting.
Century Farm Orchards
- 1614 Rice Rd, Reidsville, NC 27320 (~45 min north of Greensboro)
- Phone: (336) 349-5709
- Email: david@centuryfarmorchards.com
- Website: centuryfarmorchards.com
- Open to public: Open House days only — Saturdays in November (check website for 2026 dates)
- Distance from Greensboro: ~45 minutes
One of the most extraordinary and unique apple experiences in all of North Carolina — and a genuine destination for anyone passionate about heritage fruit. Century Farm Orchards is a small, family-owned and operated nursery run by David Vernon, specializing in old Southern and disease-resistant apple varieties. The collection spans 100+ heritage apple varieties — many of them rare and nearly impossible to find anywhere else.
The farm is not open to the public year-round, but the annual Open House days every Saturday in November are a truly special event. Visitors come from Georgia, South Carolina, and beyond to sample dozens of apple varieties, taste fresh apple cider, and speak with David about heritage apple cultivation. Over 100 varieties on display and available for tasting make this one of the most educational apple experiences in the Southeast — you’ll leave knowing the difference between a Limbertwig, a Grimes Golden, and a York Imperial.
The farm is also taking tree orders for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 for those who want to grow their own heritage apples at home.
Best for: Heritage apple enthusiasts, food lovers, educational experiences, unique fall day trip, apple variety discovery
Don’t miss: The Open House apple tasting — over 100 varieties available to sample
Note: Not open to the public except on Open House days in November. Check centuryfarmorchards.com for 2026 specific dates.
Galliher Farm (Certified Organic)
- 183 Garwood Rd, Mocksville, NC 27028 (~1 hr west of Greensboro)
- Phone: (336) 940-6784
- Email: galliherfarm@gmail.com
- Distance from Greensboro: ~1 hour
The largest organic fruit and vegetable producer in Davie County and one of the most significant certified organic farm operations near Greensboro. As of May 2025, Galliher Farm uses natural farming practices and is completing organic certification with ICS Certifiers — making it the closest thing to a truly organic apple source in the Triad area.
Produce including fruit is available from late April through November. The farm offers CSA shares, farm pick-up, and farmers market sales — making their apples accessible through multiple channels even when farm visits aren’t always available. A genuinely meaningful farm for those who prioritize organic practices and want to support local sustainable agriculture.
Best for: Certified organic produce, CSA membership, supporting sustainable local farming, those who prioritize organic practices
How to buy: CSA shares, farm pick-up, or farmers market — contact directly for current availability and schedule
Note: No standalone website — contact via email galliherfarm@gmail.com or call (336) 940-6784. Farm hours and access vary.
Millstone Creek Orchards
- 506 Parks Crossroad Church Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316 (~45 min east of Greensboro)
- Phone: (336) 824-5263
- Email: info@millstonecreekorchards.com
- Website: millstonecreekorchards.com
- Hours: Mon–Sat 9 AM–6 PM | Sun 1–5:30 PM | June 1–October 31
- Distance from Greensboro: ~45 minutes
The closest and most comprehensive orchard experience to Greensboro — and genuinely one of the best farm destinations in all of central North Carolina. Millstone Creek is an 84-acre family orchard specializing in u-pick fruit with an extraordinary variety of offerings: apples, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, grapes, pecans, pumpkins, and more across the season.
The apple experience is exceptional. Crop availability runs August through November across multiple apple varieties. The Apple Barn Country Store carries fresh-pressed apple cider made on the premises, Granny’s Goodies bakery with famous apple cider donuts and apple cider slushies, wine cake, candy apples, and apple bread. The farm also hosts vendor markets, barn quilt painting classes, luxury picnics, Sunset Saturdays at the Cider House, and homeschool day events.
The Apple Orchard Adventure — a 75-minute guided experience including an orchard hayride, pressing and drinking your own apple cider, and heading home with a quarter peck of freshly picked apples — is the signature experience and worth booking in advance. Baby Highland cows from nearby Cellar Creek Farm sometimes make appearances for u-pick days.
Best for: Full orchard day, families, cider donuts, apple cider pressing, pumpkin patch, day trip from Greensboro
Don’t miss: The apple cider slushies; Granny’s Goodies bakery; the Apple Orchard Adventure — book in advance
Worth the Drive — Apple Picking in NC Mountains
NC Apple Festival — Hendersonville, NC
- Date: Early September (Labor Day weekend)
- Location: Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792 | ~2 hrs from Greensboro
The most famous apple festival in North Carolina and worth the drive if you’re planning a mountain trip. The NC Apple Festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors over the Labor Day weekend — street vendors, apple dishes, live music, an apple parade, and mountain views at peak apple picking season. The surrounding Henderson County orchards are the most prolific apple-producing area in the Southeast.
Best for: Mountain apple experience, fall festival, combining with a mountain weekend
Henderson County Apple Orchards — Hendersonville Area
~2 hours from Greensboro
Henderson County NC produces the largest apple crop east of the Rocky Mountains. The Hendersonville area surrounding the city is packed with u-pick orchards in September and October — Stepp’s Orchard (21 apple varieties, corn maze, wagon rides), Sky Top Orchard, and dozens more. A day trip to Hendersonville in apple season is one of the best fall experiences in NC.
Best for: The most apple variety selection in NC, mountain scenery, combine with the Blue Ridge Parkway
Tips for Apple Picking Near Greensboro
- Call ahead or check social media before visiting any orchard — crop availability varies dramatically based on weather. Millstone Creek lost 70% of their apple crop in a difficult season due to frost. When crops are light, pre-picked options are usually still available even when u-pick is limited.
- September and October are peak months for apple variety and availability near Greensboro. August has some early varieties but the selection expands significantly in September.
- Bring cash — smaller farm stands are often cash only
- Wear closed-toe shoes for orchard walking — rows can be uneven and muddy after rain
- Book the Apple Orchard Adventure at Millstone Creek in advance — it’s the most structured and popular experience and fills up on fall weekends
- The apple cider donuts at Millstone Creek are genuinely worth the drive on their own — plan your visit around when Granny’s Goodies bakery is open
