Picking apples and pumpkins is easy. Picking where to pick them? That's the hard part.
Farms throughout central Ohio offer regular opportunities to pick your own fall produce. And most offer extra attractions as well, such as corn mazes, hayrides, games and music. A few don't just let people pick apples, but provide opportunities to throw them as well.
Here are some of the apple- and pumpkin-picking places around the Columbus region. Most require a bit of a drive for those in the city and suburbs, but the scenery along the way will only get more colorful as the season kicks into gear.
Be prepared to pay admission at places that offer extra fun and games. Apples and pumpkins aren't free for the picking, either. At Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala, one
of the most popular U-pick spots around, it's $25 to pick 10 pounds of apples and $40 to pick 20 pounds. Circle S Farms near Grove City charges $11 admission for its Fall Fun Days events – they start Sept. 24 – and $5 per pumpkin.
A word of advice: Visit the farms' Facebook pages before planning your trip for the most up-to-date information. They'll post the types of apples available for picking on any given day and whether activities are affected by the weather.
Where can you pick apples near Columbus?
Charlie’s Apples: The organic orchard north of Granville (about 40 miles northeast of Columbus) hasn't shared any info yet about U-pick plans for the fall, but its U-pick-up store was open daily last year starting in October. Details: 1740 Sportsman Club Road, Newark; 740-350-4270; charliesapples.com
Fruit-Full Acres: Molly's Delicious, Gala and McIntosh apples are ready to be picked at the orchard 40 miles northwest of Columbus. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; other days by appointment. Details: 18680 Bellville Road, Marysville; 937-642-6961; facebook.com
Legend Hills Orchard: "The 2026 apple crop is looking good," the 100-year-old orchard 45 miles northeast of Columbus promised in a recent website update. Twenty-five varieties on 45 acres are there for the picking. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Details: 11335 Reynolds Road, Utica; 740-892-2498; legendhillsorchard.com
Pumpkin farms in central Ohio
Circle S Farms: The farm 19 miles southwest of Columbus offers hayrides and includes corn and sunflower mazes. Its Fall Fun Days are set to begin Sept. 24. Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays beginning Sept. 24. Details: 9015 London Groveport Road, Grove City; 614-878-7980; circlesfarm.com
Lehner's Pumpkin Farm: Highlights for the coming season include live music, monster trucks and a visit from Columbus Zoo animals that's scheduled for Oct. 4. The farm is in Delaware County, 35 miles north of Columbus. Hours: Starting Sept. 19, Lehner's will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Hours in October also include 4:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays. Details: 2920 State Route 203, Radnor; 740-595-3207; lehnerpumpkins.com
Pigeon Roost Farm: Weekend attractions at the farm 25 miles east of Columbus includes a paintball range and wagon rides. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays starting Sept. 12. Details: 4413 National Road SW, Hebron; 740-233-1233; pigeonroostfarm.com
Timbuk Farms & Garden Center: To mark the opening of Caroline's Flower Fields, a pick-your-own-flowers feature at the venue 40 miles northeast of Columbus, Timbuk Farms has renamed its annual fall festival into a flower fest. Pumpkin-picking is still part of the activities, though, along with live music, tours and workshops on weekends. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 4. Details: 2030 Timbuk Road, Granville; 740-587-2178; timbuk.com
Van Buren Acres: Thousands of pumpkins, already picked or waiting in the patch, are available. Fall activities, which include a corn maze, hayrides, putt-putt golf and more, start Sept. 12. Van Buren Acres is 25 miles east of Columbus. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Details: 5066 Keller Road, Hebron; 740-404-8656; vanburenacres.com
Apple- and pumpkin-picking near Columbus
Bachman's Sunny Hill Fruit Farm: In addition to picking apples, one of the attractions at the farm 20 miles southeast of Columbus is the opportunity to shoot them at targets. Pumpkin picking – though no word on any shooting – starts in late September. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Details: 3885 Pickerington Road, Carroll; 740-756-7572; facebook.com.
Branstool Orchards: Fall highlights include an all-day Applepalooza celebration Sept. 19 and Pups, Pints and Pumpkins on Oct. 24 and 25. Apple-picking cycles through the 35 varieties grown at the orchard, and pumpkin-picking is expected to begin in mid-September. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Details: 5895 Johnstown Utica Road, Utica; 740-892-3989; branstoolorchards.com
Lynd Fruit Farm: The Honeycrisps have all been snatched up – or pulled down – but U-pick dates are coming up for Pixie Crunch, Suncrisp, Evercrisp and other varieties. Pumpkin season's likely start is mid-September. The farm 20 miles east of Columbus also includes a market, corn maze, apple cannons and other activities. Hours: Picking is typically 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Details: 9399 Morse Road SW, Pataskala; 740-927-1333;lyndfruitfarm.com
The Orchard & Company: In addition to apple- and pumpkin-picking, the orchard 20 miles west of Columbus offers wagon rides, zip lines, fishing and other activities for children and families. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Details: 7255 U.S. Hwy. 42, Plain City; 614-873-0510; theorchardandcompany.com
Paige’s Produce: The vendor at farmers markets in Bexley, Clintonville and Upper Arlington hosts apple- and pumpkin- (and flower, gourd and other produce) picking at its Fairfield County farm 35 miles southeast of Columbus. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; Sunday hours vary. Details: 7975 Cincinnati Zanesville Road SW, Amanda; 740-601-8419; paigesproduce.com
Follow Dispatch dining reporter Bob Vitale on Instagram at @dispatchdining. You can reach him directly at rvitale@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ready for fall? Where to pick apples, pumpkins in central Ohio
