Blueberry picking near NYC begins in July, and juicy blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are usually in season through the end of August. Some farms even have a second crop of raspberries that ripen later in the summer. So, if you missed the short but sweet strawberry picking season and can’t wait for peach picking come August, now is a good time for your family to plan an outing to go blueberry picking near NYC.
Read on for the lowdown on 12 places to go blueberry picking near NYC. These tri-state area farms are all less than 2 hours from NYC and include one accessible by mass transit. We’re also including our helpful been-there-done-that blueberry picking tips. Check out our comprehensive Guide to Pick-Your-Own Farms near NYC for everything from peaches to flowers and veggies.
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Please note, that many of these farms for blueberry picking near NYC are dependent on fruit availability and the weather, so call ahead.
Go Blueberry Picking in Connecticut
1. Jones Family Farms – Shelton
About 90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Pick blueberries and strawberries at this 400-acre family farm that also offers cooking classes and a winery for grownups. Everyone venturing out to the berry picking fields must have a Jones berry container, and there is no eating what you pick in the fields. Online reservations are strongly recommended.
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Pick berries in Bishop’s Orchards’ gorgeous fields.
2. Bishop’s Orchards – Guilford
About 100 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
This orchard offers several varieties of pick-your-own strawberries and blueberries, followed by raspberries and peaches in August, which last through the fall. Kids love visiting with goats, alpacas, and llamas. It’s pay before you pick, at this popular spot for blueberry picking near NYC. No outside containers are allowed. Also, there is no picnicking on the farm at this time.
Find more places to go blueberry picking near NYC on our Connecticut site.
Where to go Blueberry Picking on Long Island
3. Lewin Farms – Calverton
About 90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Lewin Farms is my family’s go-to pick-your-own spot on Long Island. It’s the first farm on the North Fork to allow blueberry picking in its fields. Pluck blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries right off the stem, or come back in August for a go at the peach trees.
4. Patty’s Berries and Bunches – Mattituck
About 95 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Pick blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries at this female-owned, 40-acre farm, and then cool off with a scoop of its locally made ice cream. There is an $8-per-person charge to go blueberry picking, but that also nets you one basket of berries per picker.
5. Wickham’s Fruit Farm – Cutchogue
About 105 minutes from Midtown Manhattan
A Long Island institution, Wickham’s is the largest and oldest farm on the North Fork. Blueberry picking is available in July. Pickers pay upfront rather than by the pound, and you must use containers provided by the farm. Strollers are not allowed in the fields, so be prepared to carry infants and tots.
Find more farms for blueberry picking near NYC on our Long Island site.
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Fill your basket at Alstede Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Blueberry Picking Farms in New Jersey
6. Alstede Farms – Chester
About 60 minutes from Midtown Manhattan; also accessible via New Jersey Transit
This popular fall spot also offers blueberry picking and raspberry picking in June and July. Alstede offers a slew of entertainment extras, including hayrides and pony rides to enhance your visit. You don’t need a car to get here. Instead, take New Jersey Transit to the Gladstone Station and arrange for a FREE shuttle service to the farm (available on weekends and holidays by appointment). There’s an admission charge, and most activities require tickets or a wristband. But after picking apples and pumpkins here, I can attest to how much fun this property is for kids, including quality time with an array of farm animals. For a calmer experience, arrive before noon on weekdays when you just have to pay to enter the picking fields, and most attractions are closed. To guarantee a spot, visitors must pre-purchase timed-entry tickets before arriving on the farm.
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Enjoy a day in the lovely fields at the Sussex County Strawberry Farm in Andover.
7. Sussex County Strawberry Farm – Andover
About 75 minutes from Midtown Manhattan
This is my family’s go-to spot for strawberry picking in New Jersey; we often head back in late August to pluck raspberries, too.
8. Johnson’s Corner Farm – Medford
About 90 minutes from Midtown Manhattan
Pick some famous New Jersey blueberries and sweet corn right off the stalk here. Bring swimsuits for a session in the splash pad to round out the day. Tickets include hayrides that make stops at the freshest crops. For an additional fee, combine your pick-your-own ticket with admission to the Discovery Barnyard Playground and the Animal Farm. Reservations are required.
9. Terhune Orchards – Princeton
About 80 minutes from Midtown Manhattan
A trip to Terhune Orchards for blueberry picking and blackberry picking also gives kids a chance to visit the animals, walk along the farm trail, or play with the barnyard toys. There is also an extensive farm market and a winery, plus more fun things to do with kids at this farm for blueberry picking near NYC.
Find more farms for blueberry picking near NYC on our New Jersey site.
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Organic blueberries are ready for picking at Fishkill Farms. Photo by Sara Marentette
Blueberry Picking in New York’s Hudson Valley
10. Fishkill Farms – Hopewell Junction
About 75 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Fishkill’s blueberry picking season begins around the 4th of July, while raspberry picking generally begins in mid-June. The farm also has U-pick cherries, peaches, nectarines, and more. Kids can visit small farm animals, including rabbits and chickens. Reservations are required; each reservation includes admission for five visitors. Anyone beyond that group of five is charged $5 per person. Ages 2 and younger are not included in the reservation count and enter for FREE.
11. Ochs Orchard – Warwick
About 80 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Perched at the top of a hill, the orchard has gorgeous views of the Hudson Valley to enjoy while you go blueberry picking near NYC. There’s also a small petting zoo with ducks, goats, and other barnyard animals for the kids. There is a $5 admission charge for adults and kids over the age of 4 with $3 credited back when you pay for your berries. The farm is cash-only.
Find more berry farms on our Westchester site.
Where to go Blueberry Picking in Pennsylvania
12. Shady Brook Farm – Yardley
About 90 minutes from Midtown Manhattan by car
This historic working farm and garden center in bucolic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, offers blueberry picking near NYC, plus strawberry picking and blackberry picking. On regular, non-festival days, the berry picking fields are accessible only via a hayride from the farm market. Admission is $5 online, $7 at the door (children 23 months and under are FREE), and includes a wagon ride from the farm market.
Know Before You Go Blueberry Picking near NYC
- Call ahead to confirm hours, crop availability, and prices. Many farms for blueberry picking near NYC are small, family-run establishments that can close unexpectedly and often run out of fruit before the season ends. You can usually get up-to-the-minute information on their social media feeds.
- While on the phone with farm personnel, confirm that they allow children to pick. I was turned away from a strawberry field when my son was a toddler.
- Leave pets at home. They are not allowed on most farms.
- Ditto for strollers. While they may be allowed in the main entrance, they typically are not welcome in the sensitive berry fields.
- If you’re thinking of a picnic, call ahead to make sure the farm allows you to bring your own food.
This story was first published in 2018. It is updated annually. Unless noted, photos courtesy of the farms/orchards
