Apple and Pumpkin Picking in Jersey City

The end of summer is near, and it’s time to plan for your favorite summer/fall activities. We have many suggestions, but two probably near the top of everyone’s list are apple and pumpkin picking. Just because we live in a city doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy this rural treat! Here’s a list of apple and pumpkin-picking farms within driving distance of downtown Jersey City.   

Please call and check each farm’s website, as they are subject to change depending on the weather and picking conditions. 

Demarest Farms

244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642

Demarest Farm is the closest to downtown Jersey City. It’s located in Bergen County, about a 35-minute drive from downtown.  They offer numerous varieties of pick-your-own apples. You have to make a reservation online. Please arrive promptly at your scheduled time. They offer the same deal for pumpkin picking. Their farm store boasts fresh produce, baked goods, apple cider donuts made daily, the famous made-from-scratch salad bar, rotisserie chickens, and much more. Visit the seasonal garden center for all your fall decoration needs!

Ripple Hill Farm

181 Mountain Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Ripple Hill is just off Route 78, about a 40-minute drive from downtown Jersey City. This is your best option if you don’t want to travel far. They offer pick-your-own apples with many varieties of apples. The farm is CASH ONLY, and no reservations are required.  Any fruit you pick is weighed at checkout. Pumpkins are available in October and at the farm stand for purchase. Check out their Facebook page for up-to-date picking information and availability.

Melick’s Town Farm

170 Oldwick Road, Oldwick, NJ 08858

This farm is a bit further down Route 78 than Ripple Hill Farm. It’s about a 45-minute drive from downtown Jersey City. Melick’s also has two other locations in Califon and Bridgewater (a bit further from us). This well-known farm offers pick-your-own apples, including Empire, Macoun, and Cortland varieties. Be sure to check out their Cider Mill for excellent fresh apple cider. You can pick your own pumpkins at their Califon location, but they offer many already-picked pumpkins at all their farm locations. The farm market also has seasonal fruit and vegetables, plants, jams, baked goods, fall decorations, and various country store favorites. Most weekends in September and October, they also have free wagon rides into the orchards in Oldwick and horse-drawn wagon rides at the Califon Orchards. Kids can also enjoy animals, a corn maze, and a tractor ride. You can reserve your spot online on their website.

Terhune Orchards

330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540

This farm is a family favorite for us! The drive is about an hour and 15 minutes from downtown Jersey City. Terhune is open year-round and offers many pick-your-own options. Apple picking is good here and can be found in their Van Kirk Road location. You can see what’s available for picking each day, and always call before you go. Call the farm store at 609-924-2310 or look at the Pick-Your-Own Schedule to check on availability–each season brings slightly different timing. Pumpkin picking is available at the primary location on Cold Soil Road starting in September. Pick your own amongst the five acres in the pumpkin patch. Check out the farm store, which carries produce, baked goods, jams, honey, donuts, and much more. They have many other fun farm activities you can enjoy when you visit.

Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ 07930

Alstede Farms offers many activities for families looking for a day of Fall fun, and it’s just under an hour’s drive from downtown Jersey City. They offer everything from free use of pull wagons to transport your harvest from the fields to a free scenic hayride shuttle to the picking fields and orchards. Click here for apple varieties and availability, but remember to call before you go to confirm. You can pick more than just apples and pumpkins at this farm. After you’re done picking, check out the fun farm activities! Activities include pony rides, wagon train rides, corn kingdom, corn maze, farm animals, bunny run, and more!

Minard’s Family Farm

250 Hurds Road, Clintondale, NY 12515

Located an hour and a half from Downtown Jersey City, Minard’s off many fun fall activities. Apple picking begins in early September. The ripening schedule is approximate, depending on the growing season. The reservations are free, and so is the parking. You pay for the services you use. Your purchase of our Regular Wristband includes unlimited play at the bouncy pillow, sand pit, chalk bus, petting zoo, spider web, pony hop, barnyard football and baseball, tug of war, tic-tac-toe, apple checkers, pumpkin bowling, tire mountain, peddle carts, corn maze and corn hole. Purchase of a Super Wristband allows you to enjoy all of the activities included with a Regular Wristband, plus access to some new attractions such as gem mining, apple cannon, a ride on the busy bee train, and a small ice cream cone.

Battleview Orchards

91 Wemrock Road, Freehold Township, NJ 07728

Battleview Orchards, a family-owned and operated farm located in Freehold, harvests locally grown fruits and invites the public to pick their own strawberries, sour cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples, and pumpkins. Battleview Orchards is the oldest “Pick Your Own” orchard in New Jersey! They will be open for pick-your-own-apples starting in late August with certain varieties. Battleview also has a store that is open year-round. They only accept CASH at picking locations. Always call to confirm dates, hours, and supplies before visiting.

Pick-your-own is something kids love and never disappoint. While there are myriad activities for the kids to do with family, whether outdoors or indoors, going to a farm has it’s own charm.  Then of, course you have camping, biking, hiking, or visiting a lake – after which you can rewind by dining out at restaurants or meeting friends for drinks. There’s a lot you can do in and around Hoboken and Jersey City.

Updated August 26 2024