Fall is the perfect time for a family road trip, with nearby orchards offering apple picking, farm activities and plenty of seasonal fun just a short drive from Spartanburg. Photo courtesy of Melissa Rhine.
There’s a very specific point every year when staying in Spartanburg for the weekend suddenly feels like a missed opportunity.
The temperature finally drops, the leaves begin changing and Western North Carolina starts calling — preferably with an apple cider doughnut waiting at the other end.
Fortunately, some of the Upstate’s best fall destinations are close enough to visit without packing an overnight bag. From apple orchards and pumpkin patches to wine and hard cider, here are six easy escapes to put on your fall calendar.
Jeter Mountain Farm | Hendersonville, North Carolina | About 50-55 minutes
If you have kids, start here.
Jeter Mountain Farm, at 1126 Jeter Mountain Road, sits on 400 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers U-pick apples and other fruit, a farm market, bakery, coffee house, barbecue, burgers, hard cider and weekend live music. U-pick reservations are required. The farm’s 2026 fall season runs Sept. 3-Nov. 1, Thursdays through Sundays.
My family has visited several times, and the indoor play area alone makes Jeter Mountain worth the drive. In terms of orchard playgrounds, it’s hard to beat — particularly when you’re trying to entertain kids while still enjoying an actual fall day yourself.
Visit www.jetermountainfarm.com or follow Jeter Mountain Farm on Facebook and Instagram for current picking conditions, events and weekend updates.
Sky Top Orchard | Zirconia, North Carolina | About 45-50 minutes
Sky Top Orchard, at 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road above Flat Rock, is another longtime family favorite and exactly what you picture when someone says “fall in the mountains.” It offers U-pick fruit, farm attractions, food and plenty of mountain scenery.
But I have to mention the apple cider doughnuts.
Warm, covered in cinnamon sugar and completely worth standing in line for, they’ve become one of those treats I associate with fall. Sky Top even makes pumpkin doughnuts during October.
Visit www.skytoporchard.com or follow Sky Top Orchard on Facebook and Instagram for hours, picking conditions and seasonal updates.
Strawberry Hill USA | Chesnee | About 25 minutes
For the shortest drive on this list, head to Strawberry Hill USA at Cooley Farms, 3097 Highway 11 West.
We’ve been coming here for years, and fall is one of my favorite times to visit. Strawberry Hill offers one of South Carolina’s largest pumpkin selections, plus a 10-acre corn maze, hayrides, farm animals and a playground. The 2026 fall activities run Sept. 26-Nov. 1, with special nighttime corn mazes on select Saturdays in October.
If your goal is pumpkins, this is my pick. Make time for homemade ice cream, too.
Visit www.strawberryhillusa.com or follow @StrawberryHillUSA on Instagram for current hours, events and fall updates.
Justus Orchard | Hendersonville, North Carolina | About 55 minutes
At 187 Garren Road, Justus Orchard combines traditional apple picking with enough activities to turn the trip into an afternoon. Visitors can pick apples, ride the Cow Train, bounce on the jumping pillow, fire apple cannons, visit the barnyard and stop at the Apple House and bakery. There’s also a taproom for the adults.
Don’t leave without checking out the fried apple pies, apple cider doughnuts and cider slushies.
Visit www.justusorchard.com or follow @justusorchard on Instagram for hours, events and weekly picking updates.
City Scape Winery | Pelzer | About 45-50 minutes
Fall road trips don’t have to involve pumpkin patches.
City Scape Winery & Vineyards, 589 Dunklin Bridge Road, offers a decidedly more grown-up escape with locally produced wines, tastings, seasonal food, events and vineyard views. Live music and food trucks are also regularly part of the weekend lineup.
It’s an easy option for a fall date afternoon or girls’ day when apple picking with the kids isn’t on the agenda.
Visit www.cityscapewinery.com or follow @cityscapewinery on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming events, live music and seasonal offerings.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery | York | About an hour
Finally, head east instead of north.
Family-owned Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery, 1860 Black Highway in York, has been operating since 1978 and produces its own award-winning hard cider. Fall visitors can find fresh-pressed cider, apples, apple pies and cider doughnuts at the farm stand, while adults can order hard cider flights or pints at the Cider Bar. Pick-your-own apples are available by reservation.
Visit www.windyhillorchard.com or follow Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery on social media for current hours, apple-picking reservations and seasonal events.
The best part? None of these trips requires a hotel, complicated itinerary or even a particularly early start. Pick a destination, grab a sweater and escape the Hub City for a few hours.
Just make sure there are doughnuts involved.
