Orchards Near Me
Cherry Picking Near Annapolis: What You Need to Know
Maryland's orchard belt in the western counties—Frederick, Washington, and Carroll—includes cherry orchards that are open for pick-your-own visits in late May and June. The cherries grown in this region include both sweet varieties like Bing and Rainier and sour varieties used for baking, and the season is brief enough that calling ahead to check ripeness before making the drive from Annapolis is highly recommended.
Mid-Atlantic Cherry Season
The mid-Atlantic states offer some of the best cherry picking access on the East Coast, with the orchards of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, Maryland's western counties, New Jersey's Hunterdon County, and Pennsylvania's Adams County all growing sweet and sour cherries that support pick-your-own programs in late May and June. The cherry harvest in this region precedes the apple season by several months, providing an early-summer reason to visit the same orchard country that draws apple pickers each fall. Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is particularly notable for its cherry production, with the orchards around Winchester producing sweet varieties that rival anything grown in the Pacific Northwest for quality and flavor.
Best Time to Go Cherry Picking Near Annapolis
Late May through June for the Frederick and Washington County orchards, with sweet and sour varieties typically at their best in early June.
Tips for Your Annapolis Cherry Picking Trip
The western Maryland cherry orchards near Frederick and Thurmont are accessible from Annapolis in about ninety minutes and are worth targeting in late May and June when the sweet varieties are at their peak. The same orchards often run blueberry picking in July and apple picking in fall, making them year-round destinations for Annapolis residents who discover them.