Move over blueberries and cherries, it’s apple-picking season. Discover the best U-pick apple orchards in Nebraska.
Fall in Nebraska means vibrant foliage, corn mazes, harvest festivals, and, of course, apple picking. Nothing screams fall more than strolling through an orchard, enjoying the crisp, cool air, and plucking fruit straight from the trees—especially if the experience is followed by warm apple cider or freshly baked apple cider donuts.
In Nebraska, there are plenty of U-pick apple farms to explore this fall. Many of the state’s best apple picking spots also offer other fall fun, like pumpkin patches, scarecrow building, and cider-making demonstrations.
Keep reading to learn more about the top Nebraska farms for apple picking.
1. Apple Acres Orchard
Apple Acres Orchard: Come for the U-pick apples, stay for the other festive fall attractions and treats.
Varieties you can pick include Honeycrisp, Jonaprince, Ambrosia, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Gala. Orchard admission is $10 per person, and U-pick apples are $2 per pound.
There’s also a corn maze, corn dig (large sandbox filled with corn), pumpkin patch, and petting zoo. The store is stocked with goodies like fresh apples and apple cider, popcorn, honey, and bread.
Address: 7460 W. 100th St., Kearney
2. Arbor Day Farm
Arbor Day Farm spans 260 acres and includes a lodge, a unique Tree Adventure attraction, a market, a park, and plenty of apple trees. The orchard is open for U-pick Tuesday through Sunday, and if you plan to pick during an AppleJack Festival weekend, buying tickets in advance is highly recommended.
If you want to get some treats to take home with you (in addition to your fresh-picked apples), stop by the Apple House Market, where you’ll find apple cider (hard and sweet), a variety of pies, jellies, and jams, as well as popcorn. You can also sip wine, cider, or beer while you’re there.
Address: 2611 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City
3. Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard
At Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard, U-pick apples are available during harvest festivals, including the Applejack Festival (Sept. 19-20) and Scarecrow Festival (Sept. 26-27).
The Applejack Festival will also feature treats like apple pies and caramel apples, as well as a vendor fair and live entertainment. At the Scarecrow Festival, when you’re done picking apples, you can build your own scarecrow or decorate a pumpkin.
In the orchard’s Apple Barn, you can watch a cider-making demonstration while sipping cider, or indulge in a freshly baked apple donut. Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Gala, Ginger Gold, and Summerset apples are also available for purchase in the Apple Barn.
Address: 5995 G Rd., Nebraska City
4. Martin’s Hillside Orchard
Martin’s Hillside Orchard is a family-owned operation with U-pick apples and plenty of other fall activities to keep you busy for hours.
U-pick apple varieties include Honeycrisp, Gala, Jonagold, Rosalee, Cameo, and Jonathan, and picking bags are provided. There is a $6 entry fee, and U-pick apples are sold by the pound.
In the Apple Barn, you can shop for jams, jellies, craft items, and candles. There’s also a corn maze, a tractor trike track, a climbing fort, a butterfly garden, a half-mile trail that winds through the orchard, and tons of other attractions.
On weekends, the Apple Barn also has cider slushies, smoked pulled pork sandwiches, and hot dogs available for lunch. Or, you can bring your own food and enjoy it at one of the picnic tables.
Address: 2024 Ashland Rd., Ceresco
5. Picnic Hill Orchard
At Picnic Hill Orchard, you’ll find about 2,000 trees with more than 25 apple varieties spread across five acres. When you’re done picking, head to the Orchard Market for farm-made treats like apple cider, donuts, and ice cream, and then grab a picnic table to enjoy everything (blankets and games are also provided for picnickers).
Pricing for U-pick apples is:
- $5: 1/8 peck (3-4 apples)
- $10: 1/4 Peck (6-8 apples)
- $16: 1/2 Peck (12-15 apples)
- $28: 1 Peck (24-30 apples)
Address: 10500 Yankee Hill Rd., Lincoln
6. Super Bee Orchard
Super Bee Orchard is a family-owned orchard offering U-pick apples, a store, and a picnic area.
When you arrive, check in at the store first to get a bag and directions to the U-pick area. After you get your apples, head back to the store for treats like apple cider donuts, cider, and caramel apples. Take them home, or enjoy them at one of the picnic tables (guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunch).
There is no admission fee to enter the orchard, and apples are sold by the pound.
Address: 4571 US Highway 75, Fort Calhoun
7. Union Orchard
Union Orchard’s hay wagon runs every fall weekend to take you to and from the apple orchards where you can pick from apple varieties that are ripe and ready to be harvested.
At the Country Store, you can shop a wide selection of fresh produce, baked goods like cider donuts and pies, popcorn, jams and jellies, local wines, and cider. The bakery also sells an assortment of pies including apple, caramel apple, cherry, peach, and strawberry rhubarb.
On-site concessions sell treats like turnovers, cookies, and donuts, and beverages, including cider slushies, root beer floats, coffee, and hot cider. You can sip also Nebraska wines in the tasting room.
If you visit between Sept. 18-20, you can check out the Applejack Festival with apple picking, a straw maze, barrel train rides, wine tasting, and baked goods.
Address: 2405 S. Hwy. 75, Union
8. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard is home to Nebraska’s largest apple orchard with more than 40 acres and 45 apple varieties, including classics like Honeycrisp and Jonathan, as well as newer varieties like Ludacrisp and Sweet Zinger.
Once you arrive, you can take a tractor ride out to the orchard and get dropped off at a spot where the apples are ripe and ready to be picked. You must purchase a bag first, with prices starting at $12.99 for a half peck.
You can easily spend a whole day here: In addition to apple picking, there are more than 50 attractions, including a roller coaster, zip line, corn maze, and pumpkin field. There are multiple food and beverage options, such as sweet or hard cider from the Cider Mill, apple pie (and others) at the Pie Barn, and caramel apples at Kelsey’s Sweet Shop.
You can also plan your visit around the Apple & Cider Festival, which runs through Sept. 30 and features freshly pressed cider, limited-time food specials, flower picking, butterfly releases, and other activities.
Address: 12102 S. 180th St., Gretna
