Your Guide to Cider Mills, Apple Orchards and U-Pick Pumpkins

With a Halloween store in many a shopping plaza and a golden leaf on almost every tree, there is no doubt about it – fall is here – and with this season comes a hankering for apple cider and cinnamon-sugar doughnuts. 

To save you gas and sanity, we've rounded up a few of the spots you can find your favorite treats with only minimal time spent behind the wheel.

Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill

Blake's Fall Festival runs weekends in October, and includes train rides, hay rides, pony rides, a straw maze, story book barn, petting farm, barnyard funland, cornfield maze, straw mountain and more. Blake's also offers u-pick fruits and vegetables and a store filled with tasty treats and fresh apple cider. See Blake's website for fall festival ticket information.

• Location: 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada, MI 48005
• Hours: The store is open daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Barnyard Funland open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through October, with ticket sales ending at 5:30 p.m. The u-pick orchard closes at 5:30 p.m.
• Contact: 586-784-5343

This popular historic cider mill is nestled in busy Oakland County. It offers cider and doughnuts, as well as apples, baked goods, meats and cheeses, jams, honey and vegetables. Parking is free.

• Location: 7450 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 (corner of 14 Mile Road and Franklin, 1 mile west of Telegraph)
• Hours: weekdays, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; weekends, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Contact: 248-626-8261

Goodison Cider Mill

Home of the world-famous Pistachio Nut Bread, Goodison also serves up fresh-pressed cider, warm doughnuts, home-baked goods and weekend fun for children and adults in the fall. Parking is free.

• Location: 4295 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306
• Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Labor Day until Christmas
• Contact: 248-652-8450

Hy's Cider Mill

Guests can pick their own apples at Hy's or buy a bushel at the store. Cider also is available.

• Location: 6350 37 Mile Road, Romeo, MI 48065
• Hours: Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 10-Nov. 6
• Contact: 810-798-3611

Middleton doesn't have many amenities, but the small cider mill makes up for that with great doughnuts and cider. There's a fenced duck pond and food for kids to toss in, but otherwise the doughnuts, pies and cider are the main attractions. Middleton Cider Mill remains family-owned since 1957.

• Location: 46462 Dequindre Ave., Shelby Township, MI 48317
• Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
• Contact: 586-731-6699

Miller's Big Red Apple Orchard

Through October, Miller's guests can pick their own apples and pumpkins, stop by the petting zoo and straw mountain, or visit the store for hand-dipped caramel apples, fresh pressed cider, doughnuts, pies, jams and jellies and much more. Visit the website for haunted hayride dates and ticket information.

• Location: 4900 32 Mile Road, Washington, MI 48035
• Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Contact: 586-752-7888

Rochester Cider Mill

From the corn maza and petting farm, to the giant hay climbing pyramid and antique wall, all activities at Rochester Cider Mill are free. A minimum of four varieties of apples are available for purchase at any given time, as well as cider, doughnuts and other baked goods. 

• Location: 5125 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, MI 48306
• Hours: Call to confirm hours.
• Contact: 248-651-4224

Verellen Orchards & Cider Mill

Verellen Orchards is open year-round, but guests during the fall season will find cider, several varieties of fresh apples and other fruits, vegetables, coffee cakes, ice cream, eggs, honey, cookies and more.

• Location: 63260 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 48095
• Hours: Open daily 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Contact: 586-752-2989

Westview Orchards

Every weekend, Westview hosts a different themed festival featuring a variety of activities for all ages. Guests can visit the petting zoo, try their luck in a six-acre corn maze or pick their own apples and pumpkins. In the store, guests will find fresh apples, 10-inch deep-dish pies, doughnuts, fruit flips, breads and, of course, fresh apple cider. See the website for weekend activity fees.

• Location: 65075 Van Dyke, Washington Township, MI 48095
• Hours: Farm market open daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m. until Dec. 24; u-pick apples and pumpkins daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Contact: 586-752-3123

Yates Cider Mill

Yates is one of the oldest cider mills in Metro Detroit, . Specializing in cider, the mill also sells doughnuts, pies, apple butter, cider slush and caramel apples. Yates also offers activities for the whole family, including pony rides, a petting zoo, Fudge Shoppe and an apple tent. 

• Location: 1990 E. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
• Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October
• Contact: 248-651-8300