12 New Jersey Orchards That Make A Perfect September Road Trip

September has a funny way of making perfectly reasonable adults want to spend Saturday carrying a bag of apples around.

And why fight it? New Jersey orchard season brings cooler mornings, ripening fruit, farm markets, country roads, and the annual challenge of pretending you definitely need that many apples.

A road trip makes the whole ritual even better. Instead of rushing through one stop, you can turn the day into a leisurely drive between orchards and farm stands, filling the car a little more at every stop.

There is always room for one more cider donut, right?

September does not need an elaborate itinerary to feel special. A good road, an open orchard, and a trunk slowly filling with farm-fresh finds can do the job beautifully.

Just remember where you parked the apples before taking the corners too enthusiastically.

1. Alstede Farms, Chester

Few farms in the state pack this much into one visit. Alstede Farms spreads across a big stretch of Chester countryside, and the pick-your-own list runs from apples to berries to rows of vegetables you can gather yourself.

Wagon rides carry visitors out across the property, which is the easiest way to see how large the place really is. The sunflower trail is a favorite for photos, and the corn maze keeps kids busy long after the apple bags are full.

An ice cream stand sits within easy walking distance, which helps when little legs start to slow down. The farm uses sustainable and certified organic growing methods, something you notice in how carefully the fields are tended.

September also brings special events here, including Harvest Moon Nights and Fall Flavors Breakfasts, so checking the schedule before you drive out is smart. Mornings tend to feel calmer if you prefer room to wander.

Bring a tote, wear shoes you do not mind getting dusty, and plan on staying longer than you expected. It is that kind of farm.

Address: Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ 07930

2. Wightman Farms, Morristown

Operating since 1922, Wightman Farms has been part of the Morristown landscape for generations, and that long history shows in how smoothly everything runs. The orchard grows more than 30 different varieties of apples, which is a lot of tasting to work through.

Across the year, the pick-your-own calendar covers strawberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, and then apples as the air turns cooler. September is when the apple rows really take over.

The farm market stays open seven days a week, stocked with produce grown on the property. Baked goods and prepared meals share shelf space with the fruit, which makes it a reasonable stop even if you only have an hour.

A Community Supported Agriculture program runs here too, sending out weekly shares of freshly picked fruits and vegetables to members.

What I like most is how unfussy the whole place feels. You park, you grab a bag, you pick, you leave with more than you planned.

Simple is sometimes exactly right, especially on a Sunday morning drive through this part of New Jersey.

Address: Wightman Farms, 1111 Mt. Kemble Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960

3. Riamede Farm, Chester

Here is a fun bit of trivia for the drive: Riamede Farm is the oldest pick-your-own apple orchard in the state. That history sits on 68 acres of rolling Chester land, with roughly 50 apple varieties growing across the rows.

Pumpkins, winter squash, sunflowers, and tomatoes round out the harvest, so the bags fill fast. Weekend hayrides run through fall and make the whole trip feel properly seasonal.

The farm store is worth a slow browse, stocked with local foods plus the apple cider donuts and pies people come back for year after year. Get there early if donuts are your priority.

Beyond the trees, there is a corn trail, a pumpkin house, an apple slingshot, lawn games for kids, and plenty of spots set up for photos. Live music sometimes accompanies seasonal events like Apple and Pumpkin Days.

It has a friendly, slightly old-school feeling that I appreciate. Nothing feels overproduced, just a working orchard doing what it has always done.

Address: Riamede Farm, 122 Oakdale Rd, Chester, NJ 07930

4. Melick’s Town Farm Califon Orchards

Hills do something for an orchard, and Califon has them in abundance. Melick’s Town Farm at this location covers more than 200 acres, so the views stretch out in every direction while you fill your bag.

Peaches, apples, and pumpkins all take turns in the pick-your-own fields depending on the week. September usually lines up nicely for apples with early pumpkins appearing beside them.

Families get plenty to do without paying extra for entertainment. A free corn maze, a tractor tire playground, and farm animals keep younger visitors happy while the rest of the group wanders the rows.

Wagon rides roll through the orchards, mostly on weekends, giving a wide look at the property from a seat you do not have to walk.

The Califon market handles the rest, selling freshly baked goods along with pre-picked produce for anyone short on time.

Honestly, the drive alone justifies the trip. Country roads, stone walls, and then suddenly apple trees on both sides.

Address: Melick’s Town Farm – Califon Orchards, 472 County Rd 513, Califon, NJ 07830

5. Oldwick Cider Mill and Orchard

A 150-year-old barn anchors this corner of Melick’s Town Farm, and it gives the whole property a settled, lived-in character. Around it sit 50 acres of orchards, close enough that the trees feel like part of the yard.

Apples ripen here in waves from mid-September into October, so the variety you pick changes almost week to week. Ask what is ready, then head out with a bag.

Cider gets pressed on-site at the Oldwick Cider Mill, which explains why the air smells the way it does. The apple cider donuts have their own loyal following, and they are best eaten warm on the walk back to the car.

Hay wagon rides run on weekends, winding through countryside that looks like a postcard once the leaves start turning.

Pumpkins and fall decorations show up as the month goes on, so you can leave with a porch display and a full bag of fruit.

Small, charming, and easy to love. That sums it up.

Address: Melick’s Town Farm – Oldwick Cider Mill and Orchard, 19 King St, Oldwick, NJ 08858

6. Longmeadow Farm, Blairstown

Blairstown sits in a quiet pocket of the northwest, and Longmeadow Farm fits that mood perfectly. A family business established in 1993, it grows 15 apple varieties open for picking, with the season running from the first weekend in September through the last weekend in October.

Apples are the headline, but not the whole story. Pumpkins come later, and berry rows include raspberries and blackberries for anyone who likes picking something smaller.

Fresh cut flowers are one of my favorite reasons to stop. Sunflowers, zinnias, and gladiolas brighten the place up and travel home surprisingly well in a car cupholder.

Inside the farm market you will find squashes, gourds, homemade jams and jellies, plus honey harvested right on the farm. Good gifts hide on those shelves.

October brings a Harvest Festival with food, live music, and artisan vendors, which is worth noting if you want a second trip later in the fall.

Go on a clear morning. The light out there is lovely.

Address: Longmeadow Farm, 561 Hope-Blairstown Rd, Blairstown, NJ 07825

7. Race Farm, Blairstown

Two locations, one farm. Race Farm splits its operation between a dedicated pick-your-own farm and a separate market and garden center, which is handy to know before you set the navigation.

The picking list is unusually long. Apples, pumpkins, peaches, raspberries, Concord grapes, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant all appear across the seasons, so September visitors often leave with dinner ingredients alongside dessert.

Apple cider donuts are the thing people talk about most here, and they earn the attention.

Free hayrides run on weekends during fall, and a picnic area gives you somewhere to sit and eat instead of balancing food on the hood of the car. Pack a sandwich and make an afternoon of it.

The market carries homemade ice cream, soups, juices, local dairy, eggs, baked goods, and prepared meals. Nursery plants and seasonal decor fill out the rest, which makes it easy to overspend on mums.

Simple pleasures, done well, in a part of the state that feels far from any highway.

Address: Race Farm, 87 Belcher Rd, Blairstown, NJ 07825

8. Tree-Licious Orchards, Port Murray

Two hundred years of farming leaves a mark on the land, and you can sense it at Tree-Licious Orchards. The property has been an active farm for more than two centuries and now covers 130 acres in Port Murray, run by one family.

Picking here shifts with the calendar. Berries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins all take their turn, and September is prime time for apples with pumpkins close behind.

The bakery on-site, called Just Made Bakery, turns out homemade pies, muffins, and cookies. I would not walk past it without stopping, and neither would most visitors.

Farm-to-table dinners happen here too, giving guests a chance to eat food grown just steps away. Events fill the calendar year-round, including an annual AppleFest that draws a crowd.

What stands out is the scale. Big enough to feel like a real working orchard, small enough that you are not fighting for a parking spot on a weekday.

Bring a cooler if you plan to buy pies.

Address: Tree-Licious Orchards, 135 Karrville Rd, Port Murray, NJ 07865

9. Hillcrest Orchard and Dairy, Branchville

Swimming pig races. That alone tells you Hillcrest Orchard and Dairy does things a little differently, and kids rarely want to leave.

The farm spreads across 67 acres in Branchville and works as both an apple orchard and a dairy. Over ten apple varieties grow here, and hay rides carry visitors up to the orchard rows.

Freshly pressed cider and fluffy apple cider donuts are the reward waiting at the bottom of the hill. The farm store also sells Jersey Girl Cheese, made right on-site using milk from the farm’s own cows.

Speaking of cows, you can go see them, along with the chickens. A cow milking demonstration runs for anyone curious about how the dairy side works.

More than 20 attractions fill the property, including a petting farm, pedal karts, slides and playgrounds, apple and moonshine museums, a jumping pillow, and mini golf.

Plan a long visit. Trying to squeeze this one into an hour would be a mistake, and honestly a shame.

Address: Hillcrest Orchard and Dairy, 2 Davis Rd, Branchville, NJ 07826

10. Mackey’s Orchards, Belvidere

Eight generations of one family have worked this land in Belvidere, and some of the apple trees at Mackey’s Orchards are over a hundred years old. Nearly 100 apple varieties grow across the property, which is remarkable for a single farm.

Apples share space with plums, pears, peaches, nectarines, pumpkins, and both sweet and sour cherries. In September, apples and pumpkins are the ones you can pick yourself.

The on-site bakery has a reputation built on homemade pies, cakes, dumplings, and donuts. Apple dumplings are a regional classic, and this is a fine place to try one.

Then there is the ice cream barn, offering 42 flavors of homemade ice cream. Choosing takes a while, and nobody seems to mind.

The farm market rounds things out with fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, and shrubs, so gardeners tend to linger. Hayrides run seasonally, and the farm hosts agricultural education sessions for students.

Of all the stops on a New Jersey orchard loop, this one feels the most rooted in place.

Address: Mackey’s Orchards, 284 County Rd 519, Belvidere, NJ 07823

11. Mood’s Farm Market, Mullica Hill

South Jersey gets its moment with Mood’s Farm Market, tucked into the farm country around Mullica Hill. The pick-your-own list here is one of the longest around.

Sweet cherries, pie cherries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, blackberries, pears, nectarines, apples, and pumpkins all rotate through the season. September centers on apples, with pumpkins taking over in October.

Apple cider donuts are made fresh daily from Monday through Saturday, which means you are rarely stuck with yesterday’s batch. Freshly pressed cider shows up in fall too.

Hayrides carry pickers out to the apple trees in September and to the pumpkin fields the following month. Kids get a corn maze, a pumpkin obstacle course, scarecrow making, free pumpkin painting, and a handful of pumpkin-themed games.

Festivals and events pop up across the season, so the atmosphere changes depending on the weekend you pick.

For anyone based closer to Philadelphia or the shore, this is the easy answer. Flat roads, farm stands, and enough fruit to keep your kitchen busy for a week.

Address: Mood’s Farm Market, 901 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062

12. Von Thun’s Country Farm Market, Monmouth Junction

Central Jersey families have been heading to Von Thun’s Country Farm Market for fall weekends for years, and the farm has been part of state agriculture for over a century. The Fall Festivals are the main draw.

U-pick crops cover strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and pumpkins across the seasons. A walk-to pumpkin patch means no waiting for a ride if you would rather stretch your legs.

The Activity Area holds over 25 games and attractions, plus corn cannons and apple blasters, which are exactly as entertaining as they sound. There is a corn maze as well.

Inside the barn market, shelves fill with homegrown sweet corn, Jersey tomatoes, other fruits and vegetables, Angus beef, local honey, farm fresh eggs, private label jams, jellies, dressings, and artisan soaps and lotions.

Apple cider, homemade apple cider donuts, and fresh baked pies make the checkout line dangerous in the best way.

Easy to reach, packed with things to do, and a solid final stop on any orchard road trip through the middle of the state.

Address: Von Thun’s Country Farm Market, 519 Ridge Rd, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852