Hudson Valley Apple & Pumpkin Harvest · fall harvest
Hudson Valley Apple & Pumpkin Harvest
The Hudson Valley's official farm guide spreads roughly 35 orchards across ten counties on both sides of the river, an ideal spine for a multi-day fall RV trip. Per Hudson Valley Tourism (affiliated with I LOVE NEW YORK), picking begins on Labor Day weekend, peaks September through mid-October, and stretches into mid-November at some farms (closing out with Granny Smiths) - with Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun and heirloom Esopus Spitzenburg among 30-plus varieties. Farms pair U-pick apples, pumpkins and pears with hayrides, corn mazes, cider donuts and cider tastings. River-valley scenery and short hops between farms make the drive itself part of the trip.
Harvest window
Labor Day weekend through mid-October, with some farms running into mid-November
Crops & activities
U-pick apples, pumpkins & pears · Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun, Esopus Spitzenburg · Hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches · Cider donuts & cider tastings
Where
10 counties along the Hudson River, from Westchester north through Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia and the Catskill foothills, New York
Nearest RV base
Mills-Norrie State Park near Staatsburg/Hyde Park (Dutchess County) - about 51 sites with only six electric hookups and a 20-ft RV maximum (back-in). The camping season is short and shoulder-season dependent, so for a peak-October trip book a private full-hookup park nearby.
Plan it honestly
Peak shifts with the season's weather and is never guaranteed, so check ripeness before a long haul. Every farm is a private business with its own hours, U-pick days and fees - confirm before you go. Note Mills-Norrie's short season and 20-ft RV limit; a private full-hookup park is the safer October base for larger rigs.
Plan the route with the official agritourism source: Hudson Valley Tourism / I LOVE NEW YORK .