Best Apple Orchards Near the Twin Cities

Apple picking is one of those things every Minnesotan has to do at least once a fall. It's a whole tradition: the cider donuts, the hayrides, the bag of apples you swear you'll bake with (and then just eat). And since Minnesota is literally the home of the Honeycrisp, we take our apples pretty seriously around here.

The tricky part is picking which orchard, because there are a lot of them. So here's my breakdown of the best apple orchards near the Twin Cities, split up by direction so you can pick the one that's easiest to get to.

Short on time? Here's where I'd go based on what you're looking for:

• Closest to St. Paul: Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake
• Best for picking your own plus a drink: Aamodt's Apple Farm in Stillwater
• Best corn maze: Afton Apple Orchard in Hastings
• Best for a date: Everly Farms in Minnetrista
• Most Minnesota: the University of Minnesota Apple House, birthplace of the Honeycrisp
• Best for a full fall festival: Ferguson's Minnesota Harvest in Jordan

• Pine Tree Apple Orchard (White Bear Lake, about 20 minutes from St. Paul). One of the closest orchards to the cities, with around 25 apple varieties, pies, and cider donuts, plus a corn maze and pumpkin patch. Heads up: the apples here are already picked, so come for the store and the treats.
• Aamodt's Apple Farm (Stillwater, about 30 minutes). Pick your own apples, take a wagon ride, and say hi to the goats. They also have hard cider, and there's a winery on the property, so it's a great one for adults. It usually wraps up in mid October, so go SOON.
• Waldoch Farm (Lino Lakes, about 25 minutes). Pick your own since 1916! In October they do flashlight nights in the corn maze, which sounds so fun.

• Afton Apple Orchard (Hastings, about 35 minutes). Pick your own apples and get lost in one of the best corn mazes around. There's an admission fee and weekends get busy, so go early.
• Whistling Well Farm (Hastings, about 30 minutes from St. Paul). Growing Minnesota apples since 1972, and the coins tossed in their wishing well go to a children's hospital. Love that.
• Applewood Orchard (Lakeville, about 35 minutes). Over 20 apple varieties, pick your own, hayrides, and caramel apples.
• Ferguson's Minnesota Harvest (Jordan, about 45 minutes). The full fall festival experience: an apple cannon, mazes, and a craft cider bar. It's a longer drive, so make a day of it.
• Sweetland Orchard (Webster, about 50 minutes). A family run cidery with cider tastings and cider donuts. Perfect if you care more about cider than corn mazes.

• Everly Farms (Minnetrista, about 30 minutes from Minneapolis). Formerly Minnetonka Orchards, Minnesota's first apple orchard. Pick your own, then hang out in the vineyard and wine garden or eat at their farm to table restaurant. This is my pick for a fall date.
• University of Minnesota Apple House (Victoria, about 35 minutes). The birthplace of the Honeycrisp, which is so cool. The apples are already picked, but you can try varieties you won't find at the grocery store, and there's a food truck with cider donuts on weekends.
• Apple Jack Orchards (Delano, about 40 minutes). A corn maze, a hay bale pyramid, an apple cannon, and a big bakery and cafe. Great for groups.

A few tips so your orchard day goes smoothly:

• Check the orchard's website or socials the morning you go. Pick your own varieties change every week and can sell out.
• Go on a weekday or early on a weekend if you can. October Saturdays get busy fast.
• Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy.
• And get the cider donuts. Every time. No exceptions.

If you want to make a full fall day out of it, pair your orchard trip with a few spots from my fall in the Twin Cities guide!

Till next time :)