If you’re looking for a roundup of some of the best apple orchards in Michigan, this post has you covered! Michigan is a major contributor to the apple market, so it’s really no wonder that there are so many opportunities for cider tasting and apple picking throughout the state.
Nothing says ‘Autumn’ like spending a crisp, sunny day sipping fresh apple cider and biting into warm donuts. Apple picking is a fantastic way to spend time with friends and family while getting some much-needed time in the great outdoors.
Here are 15 of the best apple orchards in Michigan that you should definitely check out this fall!
1. Uncle John’s Cider Mill
Saint Johns, Michigan
There’s a little something for everyone at Uncle John’s Cider Mill!
This fifth-generation, family-owned cider mill located in St. Johns is always a welcome sight for travelers, springing up out of nowhere along a stretch of highway. The farm is sprawling, complete with a cider mill, apple orchard (one of the best apple orchards in Michigan!), intricate corn maze, and more, all set into the picturesque landscape of mid-Michigan.
The orchard has several varieties, including Northern Spy and Gala. Fresh baked donuts and pies, a 40-foot mining sluice, and a wide-open pumpkin patch round out the offerings and make this one of the best orchards and cider mills in the state of Michigan.
2. Sunny G Orchard
Stephenson, Michigan
Sunny G Orchard, an up-and-coming, family-owned and operated business located in Stephenson, stands out on the Upper Peninsula.
The farm grows more than 10 varieties of apples and even offers tours and hayrides to anyone who wants to schedule a visit to see what life is like on the farm.
Their hours are dictated by the weather and growing season, but they’re very open to meeting new friends.
3. Knaebe’s Apple Farm and Ciderworks
ROgers City, Michigan
Knaebe’s Apple Farm and Ciderworks, in Rogers City, is home to one of the best apple orchards in Michigan containing over 50 varieties of semi-dwarf and dwarf apple trees. All of this is set against acres of hardwood forest drenched in fall colors, making it the perfect backdrop for a gorgeous fall day in Michigan.
It’s best to visit with a good appetite: the farm houses a main barn with a bakery offering all kinds of baked goods from donuts to pies, as well as a separate barn where you can try wood-fired pizza and hard cider.
They also have a full 13-acres of u-pick and hand-picked apples available until the end of the season.
4. Friske’s Farm Market
Ellsworth, Michigan
Fourth on our list of best apple orchards in Michigan is Friske’s Farm Market: a great day-trip destination if you find yourself near Ellsworth. The orchard opens for u-pick around the beginning of September and is home to several varieties of apples, including Gold Rush, Gala, and Red Delicious.
The farm offers a variety of other activities and options as well, including a home-made breakfast or lunch at the Orchard Café, and a market, a bakery, and a gift shop to peruse. There’s also a petting zoo and playground, so you can bring the whole family along for the fun!
On top of all that, Friske’s hosts three fall events: The Harvest Festival in September, and Apple Fest and Fall Fest in October.
5. Rennie Orchards
Williamsburg, Michigan
Rennie Orchards is a gorgeous family-owned farm in Williamsburg, just 15 minutes north of Traverse City.
The farm is a fruit-lover’s paradise and is home to 19 varieties of apples, including Honeycrisp, along with cherries, pumpkins, peaches, and gourds. Both pre-picked and u-pick are available throughout the season.
Scenic hay wagon rides, a kid’s hay bale maze, and more are also available during the autumn months. That’s what makes it one of the best apple orchards in Michigan!
6. King Orchards
Central Lake, Michigan
Run by a family of farmers who wholeheartedly welcome visitors, King Orchards in Central Lake is a fantastic spot for apple enthusiasts and fruit lovers of all stripes. That’s what landed it on this list of best apple orchards in Michigan! The on-site bakery makes all kinds of pies, jellies, and jams from the local fruit, and the orchard itself has beautiful views of Grand Traverse Bay and Torch Lake.
7. Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Open year-round and with sprawling grounds full of activities for all ages, Robinette’s Orchard, in Grand Rapids, has been a destination for apple lovers of all types for over 100 years.
Robinette’s goes beyond the classic cider and donuts—though you’ll find plenty of pies, pastries, and more in the gift shops and bakery. They also have a lunch menu, on-site dining area, and a tasting room for sampling their ciders and wines.
The rest of the grounds in this favorite of best apple orchards in Michigan are filled out by a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, scenic hiking and biking trails, and of course the horse-drawn hayrides. Apple varieties from Cortland to Zestar are available during the season.
8. Crane Orchards
Fennville, Michigan
Next destination on my list of best apple orchards in Michigan is located in Fennville, Crane Orchards is open for u-pick from Labor Day until the end of the season. It has one of the largest varieties of apples in the state of Michigan, and you can even taste them before going apple picking, so you can be sure which ones are your favorites.
During the u-pick season, the corn maze, hayrides, and cow train are also open, providing fun for all ages. Golf cart rides are also often available if you prefer not to walk around the orchard.
9. Jollay Orchards
Coloma, Michigan
Jollay Orchards is one of the Coloma area’s best-kept secrets, but those familiar with it await the beginning of apple season each year with a unique kind of eagerness.
Jollay is a naturally beautiful place tucked away in southwest Michigan. Founded in 1857, the farm has been around for seven generations and offers a variety of fruits, including fresh apples.
The on-site shop holds all kinds of jams, jellies, salsas, and more including their apple cider slushies and Signature Cider Donuts. No wonder it’s one of the best apple orchards in Michigan!
10. Gull Meadow Farms
Richland, Michigan
Gull Meadow Farms’ u-pick orchard has been operational for over 25 years in Richland. Early September gives visitors access to several apple varieties including Rome and Granny Smith. There’s also the barn and bakery, which offer cider, donuts, and other apple baked goods.
That’s not all either—the farm also has an apple cannon, wagon rides, a petting farm, a pumpkin patch, and a 6-acre corn maze.
11. Nye’s Apple Barn
St. Joseph, Michigan
Nye’s Apple Barn, in St. Joseph, has over 10 varieties of apples available throughout the seasons, including Winesap and Rome, and their u-pick apples are a huge draw come the autumn months. They also offer most Michigan-grown fruits including sweet cherries, raspberries, peaches, plums, grapes, pears, and vegetables. What could make for a better best apple orchard in Michigan?
12. Phillips Orchards and Cider Mill
Saint Johns, Michigan
Phillips Orchards and Cider Mill in Saint Johns has been growing delicious apples since way back in 1852. That means it’s been one of the best apple orchards in Michigan for a long time! The mill produces cider using a traditional rack and cloth process, with the flavors varying slightly from season to season depending on the varieties of apples available. More than 30 apple varieties are transformed into cider here.
You can also stop by the on-site market for all kinds of treats.
13. Wiard’s Orchards
Ypsilanti, Michigan
A nearly 100-acre space in Ypsilanti, Wiard’s Orchards is the oldest still-operating best apple orchard in Michigan, being “deliciously different” since 1837.
The autumn months are when the space at Wiard’s really comes alive. Not only are the apple orchard and cider mill opened, but the county fair is also in full swing, with wagon rides, mini golf, a corn maze, and much more.
The Country Market and Bakery is stuffed to the gills with fresh cider, donuts, candies, and some of the best caramel apples around.
14. Spicer Orchards
Fenton, Michigan
Next on our list of best apple orchards in Michigan is Spicer Orchards! The view of the rolling Fenton farmland from this orchard is absolutely breathtaking. A zip line, petting zoo, wagon and train rides, face painting, and bounce houses help ensure that kids of all ages also have a great visit to Spicer Orchards.
After visiting the on-site market and bakery, make sure you pay a visit to Spicer Winery, where you can sample both wines and hard ciders.
15. Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill
Armada, Michigan
Escape to the countryside with Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill in Armada, which is last but certainly not least on this list of best apple orchards in Michigan! Unlike some other options on this list, Blake’s is open year-round, offering a range of different experiences depending on the time of year you choose to visit.
This family-owned and operated establishment is located on a 120-acre farm about an hour northeast of Detroit, and there’s easily enough on the property to keep you (and your kids) busy for days—corn mazes, a market, a gift shop, and a massive play area are all located on-site.
Visit the Best Apple Orchards in Michigan!
So, there you have it—15 of the best apple orchards in Michigan that you and your family can check out this fall! Michigan is a gorgeous place to spend the fall season, whether you’re focused on the fruit or on the other experiences farms and cider mills in the area offer. Either way, there’s a little something for everyone out there. Ready for more apple content? Keep reading to discover everything you want to know about apples: more apple orchards, apple recipes, apple varieties, and more!