Milburn Orchards
200+ acres just over the Maryland line: summer u-pick, the BIG BackYard play area, hayrides and the Fall Festival. No apple picking in 2026 after a spring freeze.
1495 Appleton Rd, Elkton, MD 21921 · ~30 min from downtown Wilmington
Hours
8 AM – 6 PM
Show the week Hide the week
| Fri | 8 AM – 6 PM |
|---|---|
| Sat | 8 AM – 6 PM |
| Sun | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | 8 AM – 6 PM |
| Wed | 8 AM – 6 PM |
| Thu | 8 AM – 6 PM |
- The Deck: 10:30 AM – 5 PM
- The Farm Market: 8 AM – 6 PM
Last checked 2026-09-14
- Cost
- Market free; BIG BackYard fall admission $14 weekdays, $21–24 weekends online (ages 2–59) adult · Same as adult for ages 2+ child
- Best for
- All ages, sweet spot 2-9
- Indoor / outdoor
- Outdoor
- Typical visit
- 2-4 hours
Ticketed farm play yard with a tractor playground, giant sandbox, super slides, rope maze and goats to greet; no outside food.
The Quick Version
- • 200+ acre family-run farm just over the Maryland line, ~30 minutes from Wilmington. Family-owned since 1902 — currently the fourth generation working the land.
- • U-pick starts with cherries in June, then berries and peaches. No apple picking in 2026: the farm says a late spring freeze took nearly the whole crop, the first time in over 30 years.
- • Fall Festival weekends are the marquee — hayrides, the BIG BackYard play area, barnyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch. Activity admission required on weekends. The 2026 calendar of events is posted on their site.
- • No outside food or picnics anywhere on the property — including parking lots, BIG BackYard, the Deck, and picking fields. Plan to eat from the market.
- • Budget 2-4 hours. The BIG BackYard alone will eat 90 minutes with a 4-year-old.
Best Ages
All ages, sweet spot 2-9
Plan For
2-4 hours
Adults
Market free; BIG BackYard fall admission $14 weekdays, $21–24 weekends online (ages 2–59)
Kids
Same as adult for ages 2+
What to Expect
Milburn is what Linvilla would be if it were 30 minutes closer to Wilmington and quieter. A real working orchard, family-owned since 1902 and now in its fourth generation, with a Fall Festival operation that's serious without tipping into theme-park territory. The crowd is mostly families with kids under 10, and the place is built for them.
The Farm Market is the hub — produce, pies, the cider donut counter, fresh apple cider, jams, gifts. The BIG BackYard is the centerpiece for kids: a sprawling play area with slides, a giant jumping pillow, a corn-cob box, pedal tractors, tunnels, and the apple cannon. It's the kind of place where you sit on a hay bale with coffee and watch your kids disappear for an hour.
U-pick is the long arc. Cherries in early/mid June (the underrated highlight — almost no one knows about it). Berries late June into July. Peaches early July through August. In a normal year apples and pumpkins run through October, but there is no apple picking in 2026 after a late spring freeze. You check in at the market, get a container, and either walk or take a hayride to the field. The cherry rows are particularly low-stress with toddlers.
Fall Festival weekends are the big draw. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, the corn maze (kid-friendly, not haunted), the barnyard, the BIG BackYard at peak, and seasonal extras. The vibe is busy but well-organized — they've been doing this a long time.
The edge over Linvilla: closer, calmer, and the BIG BackYard is a stronger play asset than anything Linvilla has for under-7s. The edge Linvilla has: more u-pick variety on any given day and a bigger event slate. For most NCC families with little kids, Milburn is the better default.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers: the barnyard, easy strawberry/cherry/blueberry picking, the toddler-scaled corners of the BIG BackYard. Preschoolers: pumpkin picking, hayrides, the slides and play structures, the corn maze. Elementary: u-pick, the maze, the apple cannon, hayrides, the bigger play structures. Tweens are less of a fit — the activity layer is squarely under-10. Multi-age groups thrive here because the play area is large enough to absorb a wide spread.
Highlights
BIG BackYard Play Area
Ages 2-9The signature kid asset. Slides, a giant jumping pillow, a corn-cob play box, pedal tractors, the apple cannon, tunnels. Will absorb a full hour of a 4-year-old's attention without effort.
Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch
Ages 1-10Weekends from September 19 into early November (through Nov 8 in 2026). Hayride to the pumpkin field, kid-friendly corn maze, full BIG BackYard, barnyard. Activity admission required.
U-Pick Cherries (Early/Mid June)
All agesThe underrated season — almost no one comes for cherries. Low rows, calm crowds, beautiful weather. The best u-pick visit of the year for a family with toddlers.
Fall Festival Hayrides & Pumpkins
All agesNo apple picking in 2026 (a late spring freeze took nearly the whole crop). The Fall Festival still runs: hayrides through the orchard, the corn maze and the BIG BackYard. Check the farm's site for pumpkins before you go.
Hayrides
All agesTractor-pulled hayrides to the picking fields during peak seasons. Short, kid-friendly, included in the activity pass on Fall Festival weekends.
Farm Market & Cider Donuts
All agesFarm Market with fresh produce, pies, jams, ice cream. Seasonal operation — Farm Market and BIG BackYard grand reopening June 5, 2026. The cider donuts are a real reason to come — buy a half dozen warm.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Saturday afternoons in October. The lot, the BIG BackYard, and the hayride line all peak between 1 and 3 PM.
- • Trying to do u-pick AND the full Fall Festival AND the corn maze in one visit with a toddler. Pick two — the BIG BackYard alone is a full visit.
- • Buying BIG BackYard admission if you only want the Farm Market — the market itself is free.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
Market free; BIG BackYard fall admission $14 weekdays, $21–24 weekends online (ages 2–59)
Kids
Same as adult for ages 2+
Under
Free under 2
The Farm Market is free. The BIG BackYard (hayrides, play area, corn maze, barnyard) charges daily admission in fall 2026: Fall Festival weekends Sept 19–Nov 8 are $21–24 online for ages 2–59 ($19–22 for 60+); weekday Fall Fun Days through Nov 6 are $14 online ($12 for 60+). Paying in person costs $2–3 more. U-pick priced separately by container or weight.
Membership tip: Annual season passes for the BIG BackYard are worth it if you visit often. Sign up for the email list — they send picking schedules and weather updates.
Getting There
Parking
Large free gravel lots on the property. Multiple lots used during Fall Festival weekends.
Saturday and Sunday afternoons in October fill up by 11 AM. Arrive at opening (the BIG BackYard opens at 9 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on weekends in October) or after 3 PM. Weekdays in October are dramatically less stressful — same farm, half the crowd, and cheaper admission ($14 online vs $21–24 on weekends). The drive from Wilmington is straight down I-95 to Rt 279 — easy.
Entrance
Main entrance off Appleton Rd into the Country Market. The BIG BackYard, hayride loading, and pumpkin patch are immediately past the market. Activity ticketing is at the entrance on Fall Festival weekends.
Parent Logistics
Mostly yes. The market and BIG BackYard play area paths are hard-packed or paved. The orchard rows and pumpkin field are dirt and grass — strollers work but bumpy. A wagon is the best tool. Many families bring their own; some are available on site during fall.
Permanent restrooms in the Country Market. Porta-potties scattered around the BIG BackYard and field areas during fall.
Changing table in the market restroom. Porta-potties are bare-bones.
Mixed. The BIG BackYard has shade structures and trees. The market area has some shade. U-pick fields are exposed. Bring hats, sunscreen, and water in summer and early fall.
Food & Snacks
Substantial. The Country Market sells fresh-baked pies, cider donuts (famous), apple cider, fresh produce, jams, and prepared foods including sandwiches and ice cream. Food trucks and BBQ during Fall Festival weekends. Plenty of picnic tables.
Snack strategy: Milburn does not allow outside food or picnics anywhere on the property — including the parking lots, BIG BackYard, the Deck, and picking fields. Plan to eat from the market. The cider donuts are excellent and a real reason to come. The ice cream counter is the move on a hot July day after berry picking. There's enough on site to feed a family on a fall weekend.
Pro Tips
- ✓ No outside food or picnics allowed anywhere on the property. Eat from the market.
- ✓ It's 30 minutes from downtown Wilmington — closer than Linvilla and dramatically calmer. The drive is straight down I-95.
- ✓ Cherry season in early/mid June is the secret. Almost no one goes. Beautiful weather, low rows, calm crowd.
- ✓ Weekday visits in October give you most of the fall fun with a fraction of the crowd, and weekday admission is cheaper ($14 online for ages 2–59).
- ✓ Bring a wagon if you have one. The BIG BackYard plus a pumpkin haul plus a tired 3-year-old is a lot to carry.
- ✓ Cider donuts are best warm. Eat them on a bench by the BIG BackYard.
- ✓ Sign up for the email list. They send picking schedules a week ahead.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings in fall to dodge the crowd. Cherry season (early/mid June) is the quietest u-pick and underrated. Weekday afternoons in summer for berries and peaches. Avoid Saturday afternoons in October — the lots overflow and the BIG BackYard lines are real.
Seasonal Notes
Cherries early/mid June. U-Pick blueberries opened June 20, 2026, with other berries late June into July. The 2026 U-Pick cherry and peach seasons have ended; the farm says to check back in summer 2027. No U-Pick apples in 2026 (a late spring freeze caused near-total crop loss; the farm says check back for fall 2027). Pumpkins September through October. The Farm Market and BIG BackYard are open daily in October. Fall Festival weekends begin September 19, 2026. Christmas trees and wreaths arrive in late November and December. Confirm current hours and crop availability on milburnorchards.com before driving over.
Rainy Day?
The market stays open and the cider donuts are a perfect rainy-day errand. The BIG BackYard and u-pick close in heavy rain — check Facebook the day-of before driving over. Light rain is workable for a short market visit.
While You're in the Area
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area is 10 minutes north — great pairing for a longer outdoor day. Elkton's downtown is 10 minutes south for lunch. If you're already this far south, Plumpton Park Zoo is 15 minutes west in Rising Sun. Wilmington families often pair Milburn with a stop at Janssen's or Brew HaHa in Greenville on the way home.
Upcoming Events
Thanksgiving Pie Days at Milburn Orchards
Mon, Nov 23 at 9:00 AM
Families can pick up pies and other items from the farm market during Thanksgiving week. Tickets are required for entry.
More infoChristmas Extras at Milburn Orchards (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Fri, Nov 27 at 9:00 AM
Families can visit Milburn Orchards during Thanksgiving weekend for a holiday experience. The event typically features Christmas trees, various holiday treats, and access to the BIG BackYard area.
More infoBirthday parties here
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