Apple Picking & Pumpkin Patches Near Atlanta: September 2026 Guide

Updated September 21, 2026 · Farm outings around Atlanta

Choose the farm for the experience you want

B.J. Reece: choose the apple bag after counting admissions

9131 Highway 52 East, Ellijay. The 2026 picking season began August 29 and runs seven days a week through September and October, subject to the crop. Posted hours are Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 1–6 p.m.; the last picking tickets are sold at 5 p.m. Tickets are sold at the gate, not online. Market varieties and pick-your-own varieties differ, so check the picking update before driving for a specific apple.

Basic admission is $8 per person Monday–Friday or $13 on weekends; children two and under are free. Apple bags are extra: $12 half-peck, $24 peck or $48 half-bushel. The pricing page’s older worked example still uses a $10 bag, so use the listed $12 bag price when budgeting and confirm at the gate. Current package and bag prices ↗

Four paying visitors: basic admission plus one half-peck bag totals $44 on a weekday or $64 on a weekend, before applicable extras or payment charges. More expensive activity packages are available, but adults and children do not have to buy the same package. The farm lists a 3% credit-card surcharge.

Best fit: families who want the picking experience. If your real goal is a large amount of fruit for baking, compare the market’s take-home price with your full admission bill. A cheaper bag does not necessarily make a cheaper family outing. Picking updates and farm information ↗

Make time for a fried apple pie

The food stop to try at B.J. Reece is a fried apple pie. It is a reader-recommended highlight, and the farm confirms fried pies in its market and bakery. Save room for one after picking; ask what is fresh and available that day. If apples and pie are your whole reason for coming, a more expensive play package may not improve the visit.

Burt’s: a simpler pumpkin stop with optional hayrides

5 Burts Pumpkin Farm Road, Dawsonville. Burt’s opened September 1, 2026. The patch and store are open daily in September, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Admission and parking are free; pumpkin purchases are separate. Hayrides run daily from September 15 and cost $10 per person plus tax, with children under two free. Pets are not permitted.

Four paying riders would spend $40 plus tax before buying a pumpkin or food. You can keep this a lower-cost visit by choosing pumpkins without adding the ride. “Pumpkin patch” does not by itself promise cutting a pumpkin from its vine; ask about the actual selection experience if that matters to you. Burt’s September hours and hayride details ↗

Uncle Shuck’s: the maze-focused choice

125 Bannister Road, Dawsonville. The 2026 season runs September 19–November 8. September hours are Friday 4–10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Corn-maze admission is $18; ages four and under are free. Posted prices include tax, with a 3.5% card fee. Four paying guests total $72 before that fee, pumpkins and other purchases.

The 15-acre maze is the main reason to choose this stop. The haunted trail starts in October, so a September evening is not the same event as an October haunt night. The September 25–26 rodeo has a separate charge; do not assume it comes with maze admission. Maze prices and September schedule ↗

Southern Belle Farm, McDonough: ice cream and a weekend of play

1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough. This is south of Atlanta, in a different direction from the Ellijay orchards. The current fall program features pumpkins, a corn maze and seasonal flower picking; apple picking is not listed.

For September 26–27, the posted activity price is $18.95, with ages two and under free. Four paying visitors total $75.80 before applicable taxes, fees and extras. Activities run Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday 1–7 p.m. On Wednesday–Friday, the market, bakery and patch open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., but activities are reserved for field trips. Monday and Tuesday are closed. Market, bakery and pumpkin-patch entry is free; purchases are separate. Current fall schedule and tickets ↗

Do not skip the homemade ice cream. It is a reader-recommended reason to stop, and the market lists strawberry, peach, vanilla and chocolate flavors. Ask which flavors are available rather than counting on every one. An ice-cream-and-pumpkin visit can be a satisfying shorter outing without purchasing a full activity ticket.

Washington Farms, Bogart: flowers and a maze east of Atlanta

5691 Hog Mountain Road, Bogart, near Athens. Choose this farm for its fall activities, not as a confirmed apple-picking orchard. September 26 is listed at 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and September 27 at 1–6 p.m. Regular weekend admission is $18.95 for ages two and older, plus tax and fees; the Mega Slide package is $28.95 and has a 42-inch height requirement. Four basic tickets total $75.80 before tax and fees. The lower-cost weekday program has fewer activities and is not equivalent to the weekend visit. Hours, package differences and prices ↗

The farm is cashless and activity tickets are online-only. Pumpkin-patch entry is free, with pumpkins purchased separately. Sunflower and zinnia field access requires weekend admission even if you only want photos; cut flowers cost extra. Check bloom condition before traveling specifically for flowers. Enter the maze at least an hour before closing and plan flower photos before dark. Flower-field and pumpkin-patch rules ↗

Our take: choose one or two activities that justify the admission for your group. If you are coming only to buy a pumpkin, use the separate patch option instead of paying for attractions you will not use.

Build a day that does not become a driving marathon

1. Choose apples or Dawsonville first. B.J. Reece is in Ellijay. Burt’s and Uncle Shuck’s share a Dawsonville address area but are not the same property; check the actual drive between them.
2. Watch the Sunday start. Reece’s 1 p.m. opening changes an early-morning apple itinerary.
3. Make one paid attraction the anchor. Two sets of admissions can double the bill without doubling a young child’s enjoyment.
4. Leave room in the trunk. Bring a box or liner for fruit and pumpkins, and shoes suitable for uneven farm ground.

Should you book a mountain overnight?

A day trip works if the farm is your only destination. For a longer North Georgia weekend, choose lodging around Ellijay or Dawsonville after settling the route; the lowest room rate can be poor value if it adds substantial backtracking.

Add a scenic fall route →