12 Maine Apple Orchards Worth Visiting At The Height Of Picking Season
There is something about apple picking that makes fall feel official. In Maine, the season brings cool air, fresh cider, and trees so full of fruit that it is hard to stop at just one bag.
You can wander the rows, taste a crisp apple right after picking it, and bring home plenty for pies or afternoon snacks. A lot of farms make the day even more fun with corn mazes, wagon rides, or friendly animals nearby.
Fresh cider donuts are often waiting too, which is reason enough to save a little room before heading home. Each orchard has its own personality, and the apple varieties change as the season moves along.
Grab a pair of comfortable shoes, clear some space in the trunk, and get ready for one of Maine’s easiest fall traditions to love.
1. McDougal Orchards, Springvale
Seven generations of the same family have kept this Southern Maine farm humming, and you can feel that history the moment you roll into 201 Hanson Ridge Rd in Springvale. The land here is dedicated to good fruit and good time spent outdoors, which is exactly what you get.
More than 40 varieties of apples grow here, along with peaches, plums, pears, and pumpkins ready for the taking. When your bags are full, the Farm Store tucked inside a historic barn stocks apple cider, pre-picked fruit, and local goodies worth grabbing.
Fresh apple cider donuts are the real star, and there are picnic areas, a fairy village, and a corn maze to keep everyone wandering happily. Wagon rides make the whole place feel like a proper fall outing.
Hours run Monday through Wednesday and weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM, with Thursday and Friday stretching to 6 PM. Bring the kids, plan for an afternoon, and let the little ones get pleasantly lost among the trees before the donuts call you back.
2. Rocky Ridge Orchard, Bowdoin
Early birds rejoice, because this Bowdoin farm swings its gates open at 7 AM every single day, giving you first crack at the crispest apples before the crowds arrive. You will find it at 38 Rocky Ridge Ln, and the variety of apples alone makes the discovery half the fun.
Handy carts are available to haul your haul, so gathering a big pile of apples never turns into a workout. The friendly staff keep things pleasant from the moment you park.
Baked goods are a serious draw here when the season is in full swing, and the pumpkin and apple cider doughnuts have a loyal following for good reason. Grab a bag before you leave and thank yourself later.
One smart tip: timing matters, since picking depends on what has ripened, so plan your visit for peak weeks in the heart of the season. Dogs are not allowed in the orchard, so leave pets at home before heading out to pick apples.
Come hungry and leave with your arms full of flavorful fruit.
3. Randall Orchards, Standish
Rooted in the Maine countryside since 1906, this Standish orchard has grown into something more than a place to pick apples. The farmstand at 1 Randall Rd presses its own cider daily and turns out apple cider donuts on weekends when the season is rolling.
What sets this spot apart is the recently added wood fire pizza oven, serving apple wood fired pizza from 11 AM to 8 PM. That means you can pick your apples and then sit down to a hot slice without ever leaving the farm.
The stand overflows with apples, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, and plenty more grown right on the property. Prices stay reasonable, and there are apple picking bags in every size, right down to an extra small one for solo pickers.
Free parking is easy to find, dogs are welcome, and the farm proudly welcomes everyone as an LGBTQ+ friendly, transgender safe space. Open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM, it is a warm, laid-back place where kids adore the donut stand and grownups linger over pizza.
4. Thompson’s Orchards, New Gloucester
A century of tradition sits behind the trees at this New Gloucester farm, which has served its community since 1906. Located at 276 Gloucester Hill Rd, the orchard rests on a beautiful piece of land with rows of great trees begging to be picked.
The reputation here goes well beyond apples. Fresh baked goods, including pies and donuts, fill the air with a scent that makes it hard to leave empty-handed.
Honeycrisp apples grow especially divine here, and the apple cider donuts come out fresh and downright heavenly. Grab a hot cider, settle into the pumpkin patch, and let the day slow down.
Families come for seasonal festivals, charming weddings, or simply a quiet afternoon in the Maine countryside, and every guest is treated like part of the family. Dogs are not allowed in the orchard or cider mill, so pets should stay home during your visit.
Hours run 9 AM to 4 PM early in the week and on Sunday, stretching to 6 PM from Wednesday through Saturday. Plan a relaxed visit and soak up the picturesque rural setting while your bags fill with fruit.
5. Ricker Hill Orchards, Turner
Perched on a hill with a scenic vista that stretches for miles, this Turner farm has been growing apples through nearly nine generations of the same family. You will find the whole operation at 295 Buckfield Rd, and the sheer size of it surprises most first-timers.
Beyond apples, the farm also offers pick-your-own blueberries during their season, giving you another reason to return. The variety is impressive, and the views make the walking rows a joy.
Mornings come with fresh apple cider donuts and homemade cider that make an easy treat after picking. You can even start your day with a filling breakfast or squeeze in a round of disc golf between picking sessions.
Parking is free and the farm is open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, but pets are not allowed in active pick-your-own fields. This is a place built for both adults and their offspring, so nobody feels left out.
If you miss pick-your-own season, their Cortlands and Honeycrisps show up in Hannaford supermarkets, but nothing beats grabbing them straight off the tree.
6. The Apple Farm, Fairfield
Picture a big, beautiful orchard with rows upon rows of many kinds of apples, and you have got this Fairfield favorite pegged. Sitting at 104 Back Rd, it is a kid-friendly farm that packs a whole day of fun into one visit.
Apple picking is only the beginning. There is a sunflower field to explore, a barn store to browse, and a playground where kids can burn off energy after the last apple is bagged.
Hayrides are a highlight, especially the horse-drawn version, and photo opportunities pop up everywhere among the trees. When hunger strikes, the food here impresses, right down to some of the best corn on the cob you will taste all summer.
Apple cider, pies, cider donuts, and pumpkins round out the treats, and vendors sometimes set up shop too. Fair prices keep the whole outing friendly on the wallet.
Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM with both free and paid parking lots, it is a warm family environment made for making memories. Bring a camera, an appetite, and room in the trunk for apples.
7. Bailey’s Orchard, Whitefield
Wandering among the trees here feels genuinely peaceful, and the fall colors that surround this Whitefield orchard make peak season look downright magical. You will find it at 255 N Hunts Meadow Rd, where different apple varieties ripen at different times all season long.
That staggered ripening is part of the charm, since it means fresh picking stretches out over many weeks. Red Delicious, Cortlands, McIntosh, and Northern Spy all make appearances depending on when you stop by.
The barn stocks apples, pears, plums, honey, and fudge, so even after the trees thin out you can leave with local treasures. It is one of those beloved family spots for picking, fall treats, and photos.
Pick-your-own runs during apple season with the orchard open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, and the family running the place keeps everything warm and welcoming. Grab a bag of Cortlands and you might just find yourself baking an apple crisp the moment you get home.
Come early in the season for the best selection, since this popular orchard picks out quickly once word gets around.
8. Treworgy Family Orchards, Levant
If you want the full farm experience packed into one address, this Levant destination at 3876 Union St delivers in a big way. It is a premier Maine family farm built for fun, adventure, and memory-making across every age group.
The nationally recognized corn maze is a marquee attraction, but the pick-your-own list is enormous. Strawberries, berries, apples, pumpkins, and flowers are among the seasonal crops grown around the farm.
A petting zoo introduces friendly goats, pigs, donkeys, and horses, and a playground keeps little ones busy. When the crew gets hungry, the farm cafe serves fresh pizza, homemade donuts, espresso drinks, and fruit smoothies.
Here is a handy trick: park by the store and playground for the full experience, or head to the back lot where apples, cider, and donuts wait closer to the action. Both free parking lots make it easy either way.
Hours run into the evening most days, though the farm is generally closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly. Between hayrides, animals, and heaps of apples, this is a place your whole family will beg to revisit.
9. Hooper’s Orchard, Monroe, ME
This family orchard in the countryside at 856 Back Brooks Rd in Monroe specializes in apples, cherries, and Asian pears, with a few vegetables thrown in for good measure. The trees stay in great shape and produce genuinely tasty fruit.
Plenty of varieties give pickers lots to choose from, and the honey sold here is pure and deliciously sweet. Grab a jar alongside your apples for a true taste of the farm.
Kids find this place especially delightful, with a pirate ship to play on, a corn maze to explore, and pumpkins to hunt down. The apple cider slushy has a way of winning over the youngest visitors.
The setting is beautiful enough that drone footage barely captures how good the view looks from above. It is the kind of spot where a few unhurried hours slip by without anyone noticing.
Open Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM and closed early in the week, it rewards those who plan ahead. Bring the grandkids, pick some pears and apples, and let the farm work its easygoing charm.
10. Conant Orchards, Etna
Sometimes the simplest orchards leave the biggest impression, and this friendly Etna farm proves it every fall. Set at 729 Stage Rd, it keeps the focus squarely on great apples and a warm welcome.
Tons of apples fill the rows here, and the prices stay refreshingly reasonable. Whether you want a small bag or a full half bushel, they have the sizes to match your ambitions.
The apple cider ranks among the best around, the kind that makes you glad you made the drive. Pair it with a bag of freshly picked fruit and the day is complete.
You get to choose your own adventure too, since you can pick your own apples straight from the trees or simply buy them ready to go at the store. Both options come with the same friendly service.
Free parking makes arriving painless, and the hours run 10 AM to 6 PM most days, stretching to 7 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. For pickers who love a straightforward, no-fuss orchard with stellar fruit, this Etna spot hits the sweet spot.
11. Johnston’s Apple Orchard, Ellsworth
Trees loaded so heavy the branches practically bow, that is the sight waiting at this Ellsworth orchard. Located at 371 Branch Pond Rd, it pairs beautiful views with apples that taste as good as they look.
The selection here covers just about any variety you might crave, and you can pick as many or as few as you like with a picker in hand. Having your pick of some or most of the apples you love is exactly the point.
Value is a real perk too, since large quantities come at surprisingly fair prices. Big apple projects, like decorating an entire event, become easy and affordable here.
Friendly staff keep the whole experience pleasant, guiding you toward the best trees and the tastiest fruit. The views from the rows add a scenic bonus to every basket you fill.
Open daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, it is an easy stop for anyone exploring the Downeast region. Bring plenty of bags, because with trees this full, you will want more apples than you planned.
12. Five Fields Farm, Bridgton
The view alone is reason enough to visit this Bridgton farm, where you can see for miles while picking apples off the trees. Find it at 720 S Bridgton Rd, a seasonal orchard that keeps the good times going all year.
Come fall, the fields fill with apples, including Macoun that ripen in early October, plus rows of pumpkins to gather. Bags and bags of fruit go home with happy pickers on a good day.
The farm stand stocks pre-picked apples for anyone short on time, along with cider, apple pies, and a variety of whoopie pies worth every crumb. Grab a treat before you head down the hill.
Here is a fun twist: once the snow arrives, this same orchard transforms into a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing destination, so it earns its keep in every season. The mountain views look spectacular whatever the weather.
Open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM with friendly staff to greet you, it is a scenic finale for any Maine apple tour. Pack your camera and prepare to fall for that incredible panorama.