Fall is in the air, and that can only mean one thing—it’s time to start planning your trip to the pumpkin patch! In Southern Arizona, there’s no better place to take your family than Apple Annie’s. From their award-winning apple pie to their massive corn maze, there’s something for everyone at Apple Annie’s. Here are five reasons why Apple Annie’s is the best pumpkin patch in Southern Arizona.
We visit Apple Annie’s (almost) each fall and sometimes during the summer. Apple Annie’s is our favorite day trip from Tucson. The fruit is delicious and the farms are fun. Buddy and I love our fall tradition.
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Apple Annie’s: The details
Apple Annie’s is a family friendly orchard and produce farm located in Willcox, AZ about an hour and a half drive east of Tucson, AZ on Interstate 10. There are three Apple Annie’s locations the Orchards located at 2081 W. Hardy Rd, the farm located at 6405 W. Williams Rd., and the Country Store which can be found near the I-10 Interstate at 1510 N. Circle I Rd.
Depending on what you want to do during your visit, will depend on where and when you want to go. For example, if you want to pick peaches – and the peaches from Apple Annie’s are so good! – you will want to visit the orchard location in July. However, if you are looking for a fall family adventure and want to pick pumpkins and brave the corn maze when you visit, you will want to go to the farm on Williams Road in late September or October. The Country Store is great if you are on a road trip and driving through Willcox, but don’t have time for a full day trip fruit and vegetable picking adventure.
At all Apple Annie’s locations, admission is free, parking is free, and no reservations are required. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at Apple Annie’s. During the season, Apple Annie’s is open daily. For the most up to date information about Apple Annie’s visit the website.
Apple Annie’s is a family favorite! Buddy and I (sometimes joined by Dad!) have been making daytrips from Tucson since he was in kindergarten. We have picked peaches, apples, vegetables, sunflowers and of course pumpkins at the best pumpkin patch in Southern Arizona. We also enjoyed walking (er, getting lost in!) the corn maze! And eating the delicious food! It really is fun time.
5 reasons why Apple Annie’s is the best pumpkin patch in Southern Arizona
1. The Pumpkin Patch
Apple Annie’s has 40 acres of pumpkins for visitors to pick their perfect pumpkin! When you arrive on the farm, grab a wheelbarrow and your gardening supplies and head out to the pumpkin patch. Once there, you have your choice of pumpkins! There are the traditional Halloween orange pumpkins, Cinderella pumpkins, pumpkins with warts, and Jack-Be-Littles. Apple Annie’s offers pumpkins of all colors and sizes. At the best pumpkin patch in Southern Arizona, you and your family will get to literally pick the fall fruit that is right for you!
And there is nothing more exciting for kiddos than getting down in the dirt in a pumpkin patch and picking their Halloween pumpkin!
Buddy says, “There are A LOT of pumpkins in the pumpkin patch so choose which one you want wisely.”
When we visit Apple Annie’s we usually end up picking one or two pumpkins to bring home and carve. There is something fun about searching the rows and rows of vine for our favorite pumpkins. It is like a fall themed scavenger hunt!
2. The Corn Maze
Of course, the best pumpkin patch in Southern Arizona would have a corn maze! And Apple Annie’s maze is fun! Their 12.5-acre corn maze is one of the biggest in the state of Arizona. So, pack up your family and sense of adventure and brave the maze!
There are three levels of difficulty for Apple Annie’s. Depending on which difficulty level you choose the entrance to the maze may be different. There are signs numbered 1-10 in the corn maze and each sign corresponds to a different themed passport that visitors can grab before entering. Correctly answering the questions on the passport will lead you down the right path to the next number. If you answer the questing correctly that is! Passports come in different topics, so you can choose the subject that best interests you.
Getting lost in the maze is half the fun, but if you need a little help finding your way out, staff members are always happy to give you a hand. Don’t forget to bring your camera because there are plenty of photo ops throughout the maze.
Pro tips:
- Bring your water bottle and sunscreen! It is still hot in Southern Arizona in September and October.
- When we visited, it was very muddy! Wear appropriate shoes!
- To minimize trips to your car, do the maze before heading to the pumpkin patch to pick your pumpkin.
While admission to Apple Annie’s is free, entrance to the corn maze is not. For up-to-date pricing information, including group rates, visit their website.
Buddy says, “There is a different design each year for the corn maze. So every year it is a new challenge. I would recommend it. It is great to visit with friends.”
As a family, we did Apple Annie’s corn maze twice. The first time Buddy was very little, and we opted to do the easiest version of the maze so that his legs would not get tired. On this trip, we visited during the weekend and the corn maze was packed! But it was a lot of fun.
The second time, Buddy and I visited for a mother son fall break trip and we did the most difficult version. We did get a bit turned around at the end of the maze, between numbers 7, 8, and 9. This time we visited during the week as it was Buddy’s fall break. There were less people in the corn maze then. If you want to beat the crowds and have the flexibility to visit during the week, we highly recommend it!
3. The Orchards
Apples, peaches, and pears – oh my! While Apple Annie’s does have the best pumpkin patch in Sothern Arizona, there is so much more to this family run farm than the pumpkin patch. Apple Annie’s has extensive orchards. It is Apple Annie’s after all, named after the farm’s famous apple trees! After picking the perfect pumpkin, jump in the car and head over to pick your fall apples on the orchard. Apple Annie’s has 10 varieties of apples, great for making pies, applesauce, or eating them fresh!
If you’re visiting in the fall, you can also pick up some delicious pears. With nine varieties of pears at Apple Annie’s, you are sure to find something you love.
Not a big fan of apples or pears? Visit during the mid-to-late summer and pick your peaches from Apple Annie’s orchards! With almost 20 varieties of peaches, you cannot go wrong! Yes, it may be a bit warm in the desert in the summer, but Apple Annie’s peaches are worth it!
The Orchards are located at the Apple Annie’s on Hardy Road. And pick your own produce pricing is available on the website.
Pro tip:
- If you want to pick apples, go early in the season. We went later in the season and there were very few apples left.
Buddy says, “You have to twist the apples off the tree to get them when you are trying to pick them from the tree. You will have to use an apple picker to reach higher spots on a tree. Be careful!”
We have been to Apple Annie’s orchards three times, twice to pick apples and once to pick peaches. My favorite experience was picking the peaches! Not only was the fruit absolutely delicious (seriously, best desert grown peaches!), but it was fun to wake up early and beat the heat of Tucson for a few hours. While peaches are not a fall fruit, they are my favorite fruit to pick at Apple Annie’s orchard.
4. Vegetable picking
One of the best things about fall is all of the delicious seasonal produce that becomes available at the produce farm. At Apple Annie’s, not only can you pick your own apples right off the tree and pumpkins straight from the vine. But you can also pick your own vegetables! Yes vegetables!
Visiting Apple Annie’s is a great way for kids of all ages to get closer to how and where their food is grown. You can pick tomatoes, black-eye peas, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, okra, broccoli, green chile, summer squash, and even sunflowers to pick at Apple Annie’s! Vegetable picking is a great activity for families – it’s a great way to get outside and enjoy the mild autumn in the desert. Plus, what could be more fun than filling up a basket with all of your favorite fall fruits and vegetables?
Pick you own vegetables is available at the Apple Annie Farm location on William’s Road. And pick your own produce pricing is available on the website.
If you aren’t into picking your own vegetables, Apple Annie’s offers already picked vegetables at all three locations including watermelon, cantaloupe, and sweet corn.
Pro tips:
- Visit the website to check harvest dates on the calendar to make sure the vegetables you want to pick are available when you go.
- If you are keen on getting a lot of vegetables, go early in the season.
Buddy says, “It is fun to pick your own food. You can get some squash and bell peppers.”
We love walking through the fields and picking our own fruits and vegetables. I love to go early in the season and get the vine ripened tomatoes and summer squash to make calabacitas. I also like picking the green chile and roasting it at home on the grill for some delicious Southwest fall smells. Nothing says fall in the Southwest like freshly roasted green chile!
5. Great food
Fall may be known for its pumpkin spice lattes, but at Apple Annie’s offers delicious fall food and sweet treats!
Apple Annie’s homemade apple pie is delicious! Made with fresh apples picked right off the apple trees, the pies are truly unbeatable. You can get a slice of pie from the Farm and Orchard locations on the weekend. Full pies are available at the country store and gift shop.
In addition to the apple pies, there are freshly made apple cider donuts and kettle corn at Apple Annie’s. For a sweet treat, visit the gift shop. The gift shop sells apple bread, apple butter, and many more items.
For visitors who want something a bit heartier, the Orchard grill has breakfast and lunch options. For breakfast, try a pancake meal with seasonal fruit toppings from fruit picked on the farm. In July, your pancakes will be topped with peaches and in September or October, they will be topped with cinnamon apples. If you are hungry for lunch, try an applewood smoked burger topped with green chile with a slice of apple pie on the side! They have veggie burgers too!
Pro tip:
- If you are there for breakfast, it can get busy. Get there early to avoid lines.
Buddy says, “That was some yummy food. Especially the apple pie! I recommend you try the pie!”
I love eating at Apple Annie’s! Last time we visited, Buddy and I shared a Burger Meal Plus Apple Pie a la mode at the Orchard and then an ear of corn at the Farm. But my favorite was the freshly baked, still warm, apple cider donuts that we got at the orchard. Delicious!
There are no food photos because we didn’t stop a moment to take pictures of the food! It was that good!
There is also no Movement Postcard this week, but visit our archive of mini-dance films and let us know which one you like!
What to bring to Apple Annie’s
- Layers!
Fall in Southern Arizona has crisp chilly mornings and warm afternoons. Come prepared by dressing in layers. An adidas hoodie is perfect for a trip to Apple Annie’s, especially if you are arriving early in the morning. Buddy loves his adidas hoodie and wears them everywhere (even when it is warm outside)!
- Comfortable walking shoes
Whether you are picking produce from the farm or fruit from the apple orchard, you definitely want to wear comfortable walking shoes to Apple Annie’s. I recommend these shoes from adidas for all the moms out there, and Buddy recommends these adidas sneakers for teens.
- Sunscreen and a hat!
The autumn sun is still strong in Arizona. So, make sure you bring some sun protection.
- A water bottle
It is always a good idea to have some water on hand in the desert. Even in the fall.
If you’re looking for a fun-filled day out with the family this fall, look no further than Apple Annie’s pumpkin patch in Willcox, Arizona. With activities like vegetable picking and apple picking, as well as a massive corn maze and delicious fall food options, there’s something for everyone at Apple Annie’s. So what are you waiting for? Head on down to Southern Arizona’s favorite pumpkin patch today!
What is you favorite Fall place to visit? What is your favorite Fall activity? Let us know in the comments below.
Do you have questions about family travel or traveling with teens? Feel free to reach out! We are happy to chat and share our experiences! We look forward to connecting with you.
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I’ve been wanting to check out Apple Annie’s so badly. Maybe I’ll go this year! I would love to go apple picking and check out the corn maze 🙂
I hope you get a chance to visit! It is a lot of fun.
This looks such fun. Love pumpkins but would really love to grab those fresh peaches. Peaches just don’t taste right, where I live,
The peaches at Apple Annie’s are SO good! They are the best around. I wish I could send some your way!
This looks like so much fun! Don’t have anything like this where I’m from or where I’m living now, so thanks for sharing for us all to see!
You are very welcome!
This looks like so much fun!
I’d never visited a pumpkin patch growing up… but some of the ones I have seen here in Canada were just pumpkins arranged in a field, rather than the actual patch where they grow the pumpkins. Apple Annies looks so much better! Especially if you can pick/buy other veggies and fruits as well!
I can see why Buddy liked it, and I would like to follow his lead and try the apple pie. 😀
I would love to see the corn maze!
The corn maze would be so much fun! Loved it.
Oh how I love pumpkins! Apple Annies sounds like an awesome place. I should definitely check it our once I get to visit Arizona
This looks really fun! I’m traveling to Arizona around October and would absolutely love to see something like this.
It is indeed time to start thinking about Fall adventures. And a pumpkin patch sounds like great Fall fun. And a pumpkin patch at an orchard would send us home with some fresh fruit for sure. Who could pass on a fresh apple pie?
We have lots of places where you can pick your own berries but this is the first place I’ve see where you can pick your own veggies! I love that! ❤️ 🍅 ❤️
Okay this place looks like a lot of fun! I want to visit a pumpkin patch every year but somehow never make it to one. I love the fact that you can also pick some fruit and vegetables, I think that’s such a good addition to a fantastic day out. Thanks for sharing.
The giant sunflowers are beautiful!
I really liked the idea of spending a fall day with the kids at Apple Annie’s pumpkin patches. Passing the corn maze looks like such an adventure for both children and the grown-ups!
It is really a great day trip for the family!
These pumpkins are massive! Where I’m from we don’t have this tradition and I’ve never seen them grow this large. Fascinating!
I had no idea there was a pumpkin patch in AZ! We’ll have to visit later this year.