With the kids heading back to school and fall on the horizon, it’s time to go apple picking. No matter where you live in central Iowa, there’s bound to be a farm or orchard nearby and many also offer fun activities like corn mazes, hayrides, and petting zoos. So, grab a few baskets and head out to one of these great apple orchards and farms close to Des Moines.
Apple picking season typically kicks off in late August and lingers into late October, depending on the orchard. Be sure to call ahead or check social media sites to confirm hours, attractions, availability, and prices, as weather, fruit conditions and other circumstances can create unexpected changes.
For other fun fall outings, check out our Fall Fun Guide and be sure to sign up for our Weekend Fun Guide to get posts like this delivered to your inbox. You can also check out our round up of fall’s other beloved harvest: pumpkins.
Where to take the kids apple picking near Des Moines this fall:
Appleberry Farm
2402 W Main Street • Marshalltown, IA 50158 • (641) 752-8443
Apple Varieties: Red Delicious, Candy Crisp, Enterprise, Fuji, Gold Rush, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Red Jonagold, Sweet Sixteen, Blushing Golden, Cheifton, Fireside, Gala, Granny Smith, Jonafree, Macoun, Regent, Wealthy, Braeburn, Cortland, Freedom, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Jonagold, Mcintosh and September Wonder
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm.
Head to Appleberry Farm in Marshalltown for some old-fashioned fall family fun. In addition to picking apples, you can enjoy apple cider, apple cider mini-donuts, and other goodies from their Apple Wagon. They also have many different produce for sale, like corn, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, and fall decorations, making great backdrops for family photos.
The Berry Patch
62785 280th Street • Nevada, IA • (515) 382-5138
Apple Varieties: Williams Pride, HoneyCrisp, Mollies Delicious, Red Free, Gala, Ruby Jon, Zestar and Earligold
Hours: Monday through Saturday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. CLOSED Sunday.
The u-pick apple season has already started at The Berry Patch. A popular farm destination near Nevada, it’s a local favorite for berry and apple picking. Whether you’re visiting during the week or the weekend, the friendly helpful owners and employees make it an enjoyable day for families. Several varieties of apples, as well as, berries are currently ready to pick. The farm furnishes containers for you to pick or they will pick for you. Be sure to watch their website or Facebook page for updates on what’s ready to pick and changing hours.
Center Grove Orchard
32835 610th Avenue • Cambridge, IA • (515) 383-4354
Apple Varieties: Zestar!, Red Free, Wolf River, Blondee, Cortland, Gala, McIntosh, Golden Supreme, Daybreak Fuji, Autumn Crisp, Jonamac, Crimson Crisp, Honeycrisp, Empire, Jonathan, Snow Sweet, Cameo, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Lysgolden, Mutsu, Candy Crisp, RJ Gold, Chieftain, Fuji, Braeburn and Granny Smith
Hours: Barnyard: Daily 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, CLOSED Tuesday; Country Store: Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Center Grove Orchard opens August 31 for the 2024 season and has grown to an 18-acre apple-growing powerhouse committed to showing families kid-powered fun focused on running, climbing adventure, and fresh air. Visitors pay a $16.95 admission so kids can tire themselves out riding the train, running through the corn maze, jumping on giant bouncy pillows, and much more. In addition to apples the orchard also sells u-pick sunflowers, peaches, and pumpkins.
Deal’s Orchard
1102 244th Street • Jefferson, IA 50129 • (515) 386-8279
Apple Varieties: Lodi, Duchess, Whitney Crab, Paula Red, Earliblaze, Earligold, Zestar, Wealthy, Pippin, Macintosh, Chenanego, Gala, Sharon, Cortland, Jonathan, Jonadel, Jonagold, Empire, Snow, Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, Yellow Delicious, Grimes Golden, Haralson, Chieftain, Rome Beauty, Winesap, Turley and Arkansas Black
Hours: August through October – Daily 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Opening August 24, 2024 Deal’s is a family-run apple orchard with 45 acres of apple trees and 25 varieties of apples. You can find their apples, cider, and hard cider in many central Iowa grocery stores. The sprawling orchard is also home to “Apple Acres”, which has fun activities for the entire family. Admission is $12.95 for adults and children (ages 3-17); 2 and under/65 and older are FREE. You’ll love their jumping pillow, giant slides, human hamster wheel, pedal tractors, goat run, and more. You can also try to navigate your way through their corn maze and check out their 1.5-acre sunflower field.
Hinegardner Orchard
1348 295th Street • Montour, IA 50173 • (641) 492-6353
Apple Varieties: Jonathon, Red Del., Gold Del., Gala, Jonagold, and Honeycrisp
Hours: The farm is open Monday through Friday 1:00 to 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. (However, the Orchard is only open on specific weekends.)
This family-owned and -operated business has grown since its beginning almost 60 years ago. You can get already-picked apples in their Cider Shed or they’ll be open for their annual Apple Picks the weekends of September 20-21; 27-28; and October 5-6, 2024. On these weekends, they’ll also have apple cider, apple pies, caramel apples, squash, pumpkins, raspberries, and other seasonal produce for sale. You can also see how far you can launch your picks on their Giant Apple Slingshot!
Iowa Orchard
U-Pick Orchard: 13140 NW 102nd Avenue • Granger, IA 50109
Store & Family Fun Zone: 9875 Meredith Drive • Urbandale, IA • (515) 276-0852
Apple Varieties: HoneyCrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, Cortland, Fuji, Red and Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Pink Lady, and Braeburn
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Labor Day Monday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday – CLOSED
If you’re looking to fill your fall basket with more than just apples, then Iowa Orchard’s two locations should make your itinerary. They offer u-pick apples at their Granger location just off of Highway 141, September through mid-October. Admission to the apple orchard is $5 a person ( kids 2 and younger are FREE). Your first apple is FREE, plus you receive a coupon for an apple cider donut from their Urbandale store. Additional apples are priced per bag. Apples are available for purchase at their Urbandale location, along with an array of homemade pies, fresh apple cider, decorative pumpkins, and gourds.
Schneider Orchard
57495 230th Trail • Lacona, IA • (641) 862-3841
Apple Varieties: Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Red and Golden Delicious
Hours: Daily 8:00 am to 7:00 pm during apple season (late September through October).
Watch Schneider Orchard’s website or Facebook Page for their opening date. The orchard offers pre-picked apples and pick-your-own apples. You’ll also find a country store and will want to save room for something sweet, the orchard serves fresh-baked apple crisp, caramel apples, caramel apple cheesecake, apple cookie on a stick, and lots of other goodies.
Storybook Orchard
12832 Royal Orchard Drive • Story City, IA 50248 • (515) 733-4474
Apple Varieties: Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, Jonagold, Jonadel, Jonathan, Cortland, and Zestar
Hours: Sunday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Storybook Orchard in Story City offers a wide selection of naturally grown fruits and veggies available for U-pick as well as pre-picked. Open mid-July through mid-December, you’ll find lots of tree fruits produced in season, including peaches, plums, cherries, and pears. In addition, they sell pumpkins, mums, baked goods, cider and caramel apples.
The Community Orchard
2237 160th Street • Fort Dodge, IA 50501 • (515) 573-8212
Apple Varieties: Cameo, Yellow Delicious, Walthy, Honey Sweet, Haralson, Chieftain, Honey Crisp, Zestar, Red Delicious, Paula Red, Jonathan, Gala, Cortland and Braeburn
Hours: August 1 through December 22, 2024; Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
If your family likes the hustle and bustle and activities of a county fair, then a stop at The Community Orchard is for you. Established in the early 1940s, this orchard offers several varieties of apples, u-pick pumpkins, and lots of room for the kids to enjoy some country air. You’ll want to be sure to check out their Back 40 Playground where you can wander in a corn maze, feed the goats, climb a tire mountain and more. This is also a great place to stop for lunch at The Apple Orchard Café or just enjoy one of their freshly baked pie, turnover, or dumplings for dessert.
Upstream Gardens & Orchard
5987 NE 88th Street • Altoona, IA 50009 • (515) 957-1303
Apple Varieties: Honey Crisp, Granny Smith, and Other Varieties
Hours: Tuesday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Monday CLOSED, hours can change as the season progresses.
Upstream Gardens and Orchard is a working farm that offers pick-your-own apples, berries, and other produce in Altoona. They also have honey from their hives for sale. Watch their website to know when their Honey Crisps and Granny Smiths will be ready to pick. They do not charge admission; you just pay for what you pick.
Wills Family Orchard
33130 Panther Creek Road • Adel, IA • (515) 321-1847
Apple Varieties: Pristine, Williams Pride, Redfree, Zestar, Priscilla, Freedom, Spartan, Snowsweet, Liberty, Jonafree, Enterprise and GoldRush
Hours: Apple & Pumpkin Fest starts on September 14, 2024, and is held on WEEKENDS only until October 20, 2024. Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 to 6:00 pm
This family-owned and -operated business includes four acres of organic apple trees, one acre of peach trees, three acres of pumpkins, one acre of winter squash, and ornamental gourds. In addition to the solid selection of produce, the Orchard draws families in with a one-acre corn maze, wagon rides, hens, and goats. You’ll also want to be sure to visit their on-farm store where you can find all kinds of fresh, handmade foods such as apple cider donuts, caramel apples, Queens apple dessert, sliced apple pie, and more.
If you aren’t up for a drive or have limited apple-picking opportunities, another way to celebrate the harvest is to visit a local Farmers’ Market. Several of the farms and orchards listed are vendors at local farmers’ markets and will be selling their picks throughout September and October.
