11 Unique Apple Orchards in Ellijay, GA (and why you should visit each one)

^{By Brianna Leonhard • December 15, 2021}

If you are looking to do some apple picking near Atlanta then you will want to head straight to Ellijay! This beautiful mountain town has small town charm and big time orchards, all located just an hour north of the perimeter. Ellijay apple orchards are arguably the best apple orchards in Georgia. Read through our list and then check some out for yourself!

(Looking for other fun things to do in Ellijay, GA? Check out our post here for our favorite recommendations.)

Our favorite apple orchards in Ellijay:

Mercier Orchards

Mercier Orchards is technically located in Blue Ridge but it is literally right “up the road” from downtown Ellijay. This is a family-owned and operated 300 acre farm that has been in business for 75 years! They specialize in apples but they also grow a variety of other fruits and vegetables. Mercier Orchards is one of the more well known apple orchards in Georgia due to its large market and variety of U-pick events throughout the year.

Mercier Orchards offers U-pick tours through the farm for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and (you guessed it) apples. When you are finished picking your own, stop by their cafe to pick up some lunch or some delicious homemade baked goods.

What you should know before you go: Your family is free to walk through the orchards on weekend days for any of their U-pick events. As a general rule, strawberries are in May, blueberries are in June, blackberries are in July, and apples are August-October. We brought a jogging stroller with us to hold our bags, jackets, etc. and it travelled very easily through the orchards. Weekdays are primarily off limits because the staff works the fields on those days.

Address: 8660 Blue Ridge Dr. Blue Ridge GA 30513

Cost for Admission: Free!

Check out their website here for more information about one of our favorite apple orchards in north Georgia!

Penland’s Apple House

Another fantastic family-owned apple orchard in Georgia is Penland’s Apple House. If you are wanting a U-pick option then this may not be your first choice. Penland’s is a family owned and operated store that has two locations in north Georgia.

Penland’s Apple House is located in Gilmer County and has been farming since 1936! Their orchard offers fresh peaches, apples, vegetables, ciders, jams, local honey/syrup and various baked goods (including our homemade fried pies and apple fritters). This is a perfect stop for some local goodies, fresh baked pies, and perfectly picked produce. Our kids loved the variety of snacks they could choose from and each ended up getting some baked goods to eat not he way home. We all had a fried peach pie and they are WONDERFUL!

Address: 41 Talona Mountain Road Ellijay, GA 30540 & 7678 Tails Creek Road Ellijay, GA 30540

Hours: Open daily 9-6 from August-December

Check out their Facebook page here for up to date information!

Panorama Orchards & Farm Market

We came to Panorama Orchards because it was one of the most highly recommended Ellijay apple orchards. The reason? Their fried pies! People apparently drive from all over north Georgia just for these pies. After having one, I can honestly say they are so good and definitely worth the drive.

Although they are famous for pies, we really enjoyed the homemade Panorama ice cream just as much. I think its very underrated! My three year old’s favorite treat was actually the homemade applesauce. It will be very hard to go back to store-bought after having something so authentic.

Panorama Orchards offers a variety of baked goods and apple products that are all made fresh in their market kitchen from their home grown ingredients. You can even stick around and watch the apple cider being made!

Panorama Orchards is not a U-pick destination so if you are looking for apple picking near Atlanta then you may want to try some of our other options. Their farm store has some of the freshest baked goods and produce in the area so it is definitely worth visiting, even if you can’t pick your own.

Hours: Open daily 9-6 all year except for major holidays

Address: 63 Talona Mountain Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536

Check out their website for more apple picking information!

Hillcrest Orchards: Our family’s favorite Ellijay apple orchard!

Hillcrest Orchards is probably the best apple orchard in north Georgia for families with kids. They are the farthest south which makes them the most convenient location for apple picking near Atlanta. They also offer a large variety of other activities for a small admission fee.

Hillcrest has one of the shortest “seasons” for an Ellijay apple orchard. The U-pick season is open from labor day weekend through Halloween. In addition to apple picking, they offer a petting zoo,  wagon rides, giant slides, kiddie corn maze playground, trike rides, jumping pillow and the new ball zone. These activities will continue to be open through the end of November.

In addition to apple picking and fun on the farm, they also have a market and a bakery that are full of fresh produce and homemade baked goods. They make perfect gift ideas for the upcoming holidays!

Hours: Open daily 9-6 from September 4th-November 30th

Cost: $15 for fall festival admission

Address: 9696 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay, Georgia 30536

Check out their website for up to date information on U-pick events.

R & A Orchards

R&A Orchards is a family-owned and operated orchard that specializes in apples, peaches, and nectarines. Their prime season for peaches begins June first and prime season for apples begins August first. They are located just east of downtown Ellijay so they are very convenient to local shops and restaurants.

Here is the thing we love most about R&A Orchards (and what sets it apart): they offer family tours by appointment only! They will drive you around their farm to give you an up close look at their day to day work in the fields. R&A also offers U-pick on weekend days so your family could easily make a day out of this place on a Saturday or Sunday.

When you are done picking apples and touring the farm you will want to tour their market. Their roadside market sells fresh baked goods, butters, jellies, cider, and more. There are some delicious snacks inside that you’ll feel obligated to take with you for a road trip snack!

Address: 5505 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536

Hours: Their roadside market is open 7 days a week from 9am-6pm

You can check out their website here.

Red Apple Barn

The Red Apple Barn is definitely at the top of our list of favorite apple orchards in north Georgia. They offer U-pick apples (and pumpkins beginning in October) as well as games, a playground for kids, and a market. The market was a dangerous place for me because not only did they have fresh produce, but they also had fudge and fresh donuts. Needless to say, I had plenty of snacks for the ride home!

Here is a note from their site: $8.50 admission includes a tractor ride to and from the orchard, an apple from the orchard, a cup of apple cider (water if cider is unavailable), an apple cider doughnut, 2 flowers, water at the orchard, rock & pumpkin painting, games, picnic areas and playground for the kids. Pumpkins are in the field, at the U-Pick shed and the Apple Barn. (Pumpkin cost is based on what type or size you pick). That is a whole day’s worth of fun for $8.50 per person!  

Tractor rides only run on weekends in September, October, and November until apples are picked out.

Hours: August through December 23 | Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 12:30pm-5:30pm

Cost: $8.50 for adults and children 3+ | Children 2 and under are free

Address: 3379 Tailscreek Road, Ellijay, Georgia 30540

Check out their website for specific dates and more information.

B.J. Reece Orchards: One of the most exciting apple orchards in Ellijay

This is definitely one of the more widely known apple orchards in Ellijay, and for good reason! B.J. Reece Orchards offers a variety of ways to have a blast at their farm. During the week, everyone 2 and up pays $2 to enter the orchard and play on the giant farm slide. You will pre-purchase an apple bag to fill (prices vary by season) while you are in the orchard. They also offer a petting zoo during the week that is an additional $3 per person.

On the weekends, everyone 2 and older will pay $5 per person for admission, then you will pre-purchase a bag to u-pick and take home. With your $5 admission you get to milk the cow, play on the giant slide and watch the pig races.

Another great option is the weekend package option. The weekend package includes the apple cannons, wagon rides/farm tours, petting farm, scavenger hunt, cow milking, jumping pillow, cow train rides, pig races, pony rides & racing ziplines.

The yellow package costs $17 per person and includes: Admission, 1/2 Peck Bag to pick Apples, Wagon Ride, Cow Milking, Giant Slide, Pig Races and the Petting Farm. The blue package costs $30 and includes everything the farm has to offer: Admission to both Orchards, 1/2 Peck bag to U-pick Apples, Wagon Ride, Cow Milking, Giant Farm Slide, Pig, Races, Petting Farm, Apple Cannon, Giant Jumping Pillow, Cow Train Ride, Pony Rides, and a Scavenger Hunt.

In addition to all of the family activities at B.J. Reece Orchards, you will also find a market that is filled with fresh produce, fried pies, apple cider doughnuts, and a variety of other baked goods. Their claims to fame are their fried pies but I personally think the doughnuts are just as good!

Address: 9131 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

Hours: August 28 – October 31, 2021 Saturdays 9-6 & Sundays 1-6

Check out their website here!

Aaron Family Orchards

This apple house is a perfect mix of roadside stand and market. They offer a large variety of apples (18 to be exact) throughout the season, gallons of cider (apple, muscadine, peach, scuppernong, and strawberry), apple cider vinegar, jams, jellies, butters, and even cookbooks!

In addition, you can also find salsas, honeys, syrups, pickles, tomato relish and corn relish. They also have seasonal produce and seasonal products!

Address: 8350 Hwy 52E Ellijay, GA 30536

Hours: August-December 9:00-6:00 // January-July By Appointment Only

Check out their website here.

Hudson’s Apple House

Hudson’s Apple House is a working apple house producing apple cider, jams, jellies, and a variety of other apple-related products. They also had honey and syrup when we were there last time so we picked up some local honey as gifts for family members! Our family is obsessed with local honey and mountain sorghum syrup.

In addition to all things apples, you can find seasonal vegetables and fruits throughout the year. They also have muscadine cider and peach cider! You’ll be able to find something to take home; we probably found too much.

Address: 8036 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536

Seller’s Orchard

Seller’s Orchard is technically a roadside stand but it is packed with farm fresh goodies. If you’re looking for a quick stop on the way to the mountains then this is your place.

Seller’s is what I call a “classic” mountain roadside stand. It is not big but it has some of the freshest produce you can find! We also found some fun seasonal goodies when we stopped by in the fall. I’m sure they have seasonal products year round. Stop by Seller’s for one of the fastest and tastiest Ellijay orchard experiences!

Address: 255 Parks Dr, Ellijay, GA 30536

Hours: 9-6 Monday-Friday

Mack Aaron’s Apple House

This apple house does not offer U-pick apples but they offer more than enough products in their store to make up for it! At Mack Aaron’s you can find whole pies, fried pies, a large selection of apple varieties that rotates throughout the season, and seven varieties of peaches that are sold from July-Labor Day.

Mack Aaron’s Apple House is more of a roadside stand than an Ellijay apple orchard but it is definitely worth stopping at if you’re looking to grab a quick bag of apples and a snack for the road!

Address: 8955 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536

Hours: Open every day, all year from 9am-6pm

When can you pick apples in Ellijay, GA?

Apple orchards in Ellijay begin their apple season in August. Every apple orchard in north Georgia grows and sells apples through Halloween. Most of them continue into December or until their U-pick supply runs out. There are a few Ellijay orchards that have apple seasons running through March. So, when can you pick apples in Ellijay? Primarily from August-December, with some season running through March.

What is the best month to go apple picking?

Warning: this is an opinion (although it is well founded). The best month to go apple picking is October. October is peak apple picking season but it’s not so far into the season that the apple crop will be slim. If you wait until November or December then you run the risk of the U-pick apples being picked over.

I am personally a fan of honey crisp apples so we have gone apple picking earlier in the season to be able to get those. They are at their peak in September. Many of the other popular varieties (gala, fuji, granny smith, pink lady, etc.) are in peak season through November.

What apples are in season in Ellijay, GA?

Each of the apple orchards in Ellijay grows its own varieties of apples. There are a ton of varieties of apples in season in Ellijay during the fall. The following are some of the types of apples you can expect to find throughout apple orchards in north Georgia:

Detroit Red, Gala, Ginger Gold, September Wonder, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Honey Crisp, Granny Smith, Mutsu, Cameo, Arkansas Black, Pink Lady, Fuji, Stayman Winesap, and Gold Rush.

How much does it cost to pick apples at an orchard?

It actually does not cost anything to enter an apple orchard, unless you are starting at Reece Orchards. Almost all apple orchards in north Georgia have free admission to walk through the orchards. If you choose to pick apples, you will be charged by weight once you complete your U-pick or you will pre-purchase a picking bag before entering.

Each Ellijay apple orchard has their own pricing so be sure to ask before you start picking!

Looking for some directions? Check out this Ellijay apple orchards map!

Wrap-up: Best apple orchards in Ellijay, GA

These are our favorite apple orchards Ellijay, GA. Is your favorite on the list? We would love to know which one you think is the best. Leave us a comment (and a picture if you have one)! Happy picking!