Strawberry Picking in Raleigh and Nearby (25+ U-Pick Farms!)

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Looking for the best strawberry picking near Raleigh, North Carolina? The Research Triangle has a large concentration of u-pick farms within a short-to-reasonable drive from Downtown Raleigh.

This NC travel guide features the best Raleigh-area strawberry farms, when to pick, and more!

Strawberry farms in and around Wake County typically open in early to mid-April, weather-permitting. Not only can you do a U-pick, but many of these Raleigh-area strawberry farms also offer ice cream and other fun activities.

Thanks to that already-mentioned abundance of locally owned farms, we have a great lineup of places to pick strawberries in Raleigh! First, let’s dig into the best times to go strawberry picking and some other tips for this region of North Carolina.

Whether you’re a new resident, a frequent visitor, or a local, we’re leaving no detail behind. If you live in Raleigh and are wondering, “Where is there strawberry picking near Raleigh?” or “Are there any strawberry farms near Raleigh?”, we know this NC travel guide will help you out!

In case you’re looking for something specific, here’s how we’ve organized this guide:

When to Pick Strawberries in Raleigh
Strawberry Picking Tips
List of North Carolina Strawberry Farms in This Guide
- Strawberry Farms in Raleigh (and Nearby)
- Strawberry Farm Day Trips from Raleigh
Raleigh Strawberry Picking Map

You can skip ahead to any section or continue reading about when to go strawberry picking in Raleigh and its surroundings!

When to Pick Strawberries in Raleigh

Eno River Farm Strawberries Near Raleigh NC Image by NC Tripping

Strawberry-picking season in North Carolina usually lasts from mid-April to the end of May. Of course, each year timing depends on the weather and how quickly the strawberries are picked!

In Raleigh, Wake County, and the rest of the Research Triangle, strawberry farms will open in early to mid-April. This is earlier than farms west of the area, thanks to the lower elevation and our warmer Piedmont climate.

Read More: Spring in North Carolina

Strawberry Picking in Raleigh Tips

two ripe strawberries and one unripe strawberries in the garden

Many farms offer carts/baskets for picking, sometimes at an additional cost. However, feel free to bring your own basket, and make sure it’s pretty!
If you want the sweetest berries, try to plan your picking for sunny days. Berries tend to ripen in the sun: if the farm you’re visiting experienced rain the previous day, your berries won’t taste as juicy and delicious.
Grab the reddest berries, as you might be tempted by those red or bright red with green strawberries. The very red ones are the tastiest, as determined by the NC Tripping “laboratory,” aka us.
Strawberries can also spoil quickly. When you bring them home, wash them only before you intend to eat them. Washing strawberries and storing them may cause them to break down faster.
Before heading to any of these farms to pick strawberries, it’s always a good idea to check their website and social media to see if hours have changed. We will list either underneath each individual farm.

Read More: The Best Things to Do in Raleigh

List of North Carolina Strawberry Farms in This Guide

Within each section, we’ve alphabetized these Raleigh-area strawberry farms and categorized them by location, including the following:

Strawberry Farms in Raleigh (and Wake County)
Strawberry Farm Day Trips from Raleigh (Durham, Hillsborough, and More)

Strawberry Picking in Raleigh (and Wake County)

This image and all others are from places to go strawberry picking in Raleigh, NC, and nearby.

This section is dedicated to strawberry farms in Raleigh and elsewhere in Wake County. You’ll find places to go strawberry picking in Apex, Cary, Knightdale, Wake Forest, and Willow Spring, as well as in Raleigh.

Buckwheat Farm

Address: 2700 Holland Rd, Apex, NC
Facebook Page

Buckwheat Farm in Apex offers strawberry picking with 1-quart containers and 4-quart containers. Check their Facebook Page for updates and prices.

This strawberry farm hosts groups, field trips, and company picnics. Beyond strawberry season, Buckwheat Farm also sells watermelons, tomatoes, and various peppers through the summer.

The Collard Patch

Address: 7012 Pulley Town Rd, Wake Forest, NC
Official Website

The Collard Patch in Wake Forest is a roadside U-pick stand. Strawberries aren’t the only food they grow, as you can likely tell from the name.

Collards, kale, sweet potatoes, and other nutritious, locally grown goods await at the Collard Patch.

Read More: The Best Restaurants in Raleigh

DJ’s Berry Patch

Address: 1223 Salem Church Rd, Apex, NC
Official Website

Take a trip to DJ’s Berry Patch in Apex to pick delicious ripe strawberries and purchase homemade goods like ice cream, preserves, and salad dressing.

DJs cultivate two varieties of strawberries: the Sweet Charlie and Camarosa. Whether you’re here as a family or for an educational group tour through daycare or school, try both varieties!

Grasshopper Farms

Address: 8004 Poole Rd, Knightdale, NC
Official Website

Grasshopper Farms in Knightdale is another great strawberry farm in NC, a short drive from Raleigh and Durham. The farm is pretty busy year-round, especially in the spring when strawberries are picked.

They also have a plant nursery with many flowers, shrubs, trees, perennials, and annuals.

Hunt’s Strawberry Farm

Address: 4505 Watkins Rd, Raleigh, NC
Facebook Page

Hunt’s Strawberry Farm in Raleigh offers fresh strawberries, either pre-picked or for you(U) to pick.

If you’re looking for more farm-fresh goodies, try some of their homemade honey!

Ogburn Berries and Produce

Address: 13065 Old Stage Road, Willow Spring, NC
Official Website

Open since the 1910s, Ogburn Berries and Produce offers U-pick and pre-picked strawberries from April through June.

This fourth-generation farm near Fuquay-Varina in Willow Spring also sells a variety of produce and jarred goods, honey, and ice cream.

Page Farms

Address: 6100 Mt. Herman Rd, Raleigh, NC
Official Website

Page Farms is one of the best places for strawberry picking in Raleigh.

They are open for strawberry picking in the spring, blackberry picking in the summer, and a pumpkin patch and corn maze in the fall.

They also welcome field trips and birthday parties.

Read More: The Best Museums in Raleigh

Phillips Farm

Address: 6800 Good Hope Church Road, Cary, NC
Official Website

Phillips Farm in Cary is one of the largest strawberry farms near Raleigh. They offer pre-picked strawberries and strawberry-centered concoctions in their spring farmers’ market, usually open on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Phillips Farm Family Fun Park is a destination in itself, with rides, multiple acres of fun activities, and more.

Read More: Things to Do in Cary

Pope’s Strawberry Farm

Address: 1305 Fayetteville St, Knightdale, NC
Official Website

Pope’s Strawberry Farm in Knightdale lets you pick your own strawberries. They also offer a wide variety of fresh produce, including squash, turnips, collard greens, and more.

Porter Farms

Raleigh Address: 7615 Ten-Ten Rd, Raleigh, NC
Willow Spring Address: 3525 NC-42, Willow Spring, NC
Official Website

Go strawberry picking at Porter Farms at either their Raleigh or Willow Spring location, where you can pick and pay for strawberries by the quart, 4-quart buckets, and 8-quart flats.

Want to try before you buy? You can eat as many strawberries as possible while picking them in the fields!

When visiting Willow Spring, try their homemade ice cream, available in 16 flavors.

Strawberry Farm Day Trips from Raleigh (Durham, Hillsborough, and More)

If you’ve tried all the strawberry farms in Raleigh and Wake County, don’t worry, because there are plenty of other places within a 2-hour drive. These day trips from Raleigh might be the most delicious you’ll ever find.

Cottle Farms

Address: 2488 NC-403, Faison, NC
Official Website

At Cottle Farms in Faison (Duplin County), pick from a large variety of strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Interested in buying your own strawberry plants? They have those, too!

One thing I love about Cottle Farms is that if I’m not able to drive to Faison, I can usually find their blueberries and strawberries in Food Lion and Harris Teeter near my house!

Double R Strawberry Patch

Address: 701 Ollie Ln, Hillsborough, NC
Official Website

Double R in Hillsborough offers a strawberry patch and its own pastured beef and pork. Strawberry picking makes for a fun family activity, and they encourage visitors to capture the memories made while there.

Read More: The Best Day Trips from Durham

Eno River Farm

Address: 2127 St Marys Rd, Hillsborough, NC
Official Website

Eno River Farm is another Hillsborough favorite, and it’ll likely be among yours for strawberry picking near Raleigh!

The farm’s facilities are brand new, and the fields are really easy to access.

They have the best fresh-made ice cream in the Triangle, making things even sweeter!

Gillis Hill Road Produce

Address: 2899 Gillis Hill Rd, Fayetteville, NC
Facebook Page

Head to Gillis Hill Road Produce in Fayetteville for pick-your-own strawberries in quart baskets or gallon buckets.

Beyond this really fun thing to do (especially with kids), you can purchase fresh produce and firewood here throughout the entire year.

Hedgecock Strawberry Farm

Address: 3011 Abbotts Creek Church Rd, Kernersville, NC
Facebook Page

Growing strawberries for more than 20 years, Hedgecock Strawberry Farm near Winston-Salem is both conveniently located and known for its friendly staff. Pick some of the sweetest strawberries near Raleigh right off the bush at Hedgcock’s!

Read More: Day Trips from Greensboro

Heeks Farm

Address: 3602 Hall Rd, Rougemont, NC
Official Website

Just up the road from our house is Heeks Farm in Rougemont. This small farm sells delicious strawberries you can pick, and sometimes offers limited amounts of pre-picked strawberries.

Keep Heeks Farm on your radar throughout the year, as they also grow blackberries, blueberries, muscadines, passion fruit, and more.

Read More: Things to Do in Durham

Ingram’s Family Farm

Address: 6121 Riverdale Dr, High Point, NC
Official Website

Ingram’s Family Farm in High Point invites all ages to come and pick strawberries by the bucket. You can also purchase them by gallon or half-gallon in their country store.

They also welcome birthday parties, as well as other special things such as “greeting a goat,” visiting their dessert barn, and group tours.

Jones Strawberry Farm

Address: G5590 Seward Rd, Pfafftown, NC
Facebook Page

Located outside Winston-Salem in Pfafftown, Jones Strawberry Farm is a well-loved farm offering strawberry picking. Known for their sweet berries and large strawberry patch, you must go picking at Jones Strawberry Farm!

Lyon Farms

Address: 1544 Munns Rd, Creedmoor, NC
Official Website

Lyon Farms in Creedmoor (Granville County) offers pick-your-own strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, and peaches. When they are not in season, buy a produce box from one of their pop-up locations.

And don’t forget to try one (or more) of their jams and jellies!

McAdams Farm (Efland)

Address: 1100 N Efland Cedar Grove Rd, Efland, NC
Official Website

Tucked between Mebane and Hillsborough off US-70 and I-85/I-40 is McAdams Farm in Efland. They grow strawberries for U-pick, and they also sell various vegetables, flowers, and meat.

If you visit the Carrboro Farmers Market, keep an eye out, and you’ll likely see McAdams there.

May Farm

Address: 6810 McLeansville Rd, McLeansville, NC
Phone Number: 336-375-3613

May’s Strawberries & Produce in McLeansville (Guilford County) lets you pick more than just strawberries. Pick your own tomatoes, squash, peppers, and more throughout the year!

Read More: Things to Do in Greensboro

Mike’s Farm

Address: 1600 Haw Branch Rd, Beulaville, NC
Official Website

Pick your own strawberries and buy some pre-picked from Mike’s Farm in Beulaville. During the strawberries’ off-season, enjoy fall and winter activities like pumpkin patches, hayrides, and Christmas lights.

Mikes Farm Products Barn Back Swamp NC Image by NC Tripping

While you’re there, make sure to check out their products barn (pictured above) and incredible restaurant!

Read More: Things to Do in Jacksonville

Pace Family Farms

Address: 12701 Buffalo Rd, Clayton, NC
Official Website

Pace Family Farms in Clayton is one of a few great strawberry farms near Raleigh. They have pre-picked and pick-your-own strawberries available in quarts, baskets, and buckets.

In the fall months, connect with the community by enjoying Friday movie nights on the farm, and keep an eye out for their Christmas Craft Fair in early December!

Smith’s Farm and Market

Address: 443 Sanders Rd, Benson, NC
Official Website

Smiths Family Farm Clayon NC Image by NC Tripping

Smith’s Farm and Market is located near McGee’s Crossroads off I-40 and is a family-owned, family-operated farm that offers strawberry picking near Raleigh. Enjoy a wonderful time on the farm and their delicious ice cream and coffee shack!

Smith’s Farm and Market has a wonderful local market where you can purchase NC products, eggs, and vegetables. They are also a wholesale nursery if you want to pick up some beautiful plants for your Spring garden.

Strawberries on 903

Address: 4064 NC 903 South, Winterville, NC
Official Website

a rustic building among the strawberry fields where you can buy strawberries

Pick through the three acres of strawberry fields at Strawberries on 903 in Winterville near Greenville. After picking, browse through their other offerings of produce, farm-fresh eggs, flowers, and more.

Read More: Breweries in Greenville

Waller Family Farm

Address: 5030 Kerley Rd, Durham, NC
Facebook Page

Last but not least of this guide’s strawberry farms near Raleigh is Waller Family Farm in Durham. This wonderful place lets you pick strawberries by the half-gallon or gallon.

Enjoy other produce and freshly picked flowers when available.

Read More: Things to Do with Kids in Durham

Raleigh Strawberry Picking Map

You can also plan a visit to these strawberry farms in Raleigh and elsewhere using this map created in Google Maps.

Ready to Go Strawberry Picking in Raleigh Now?

We’re always ready to go strawberry picking in Raleigh, as long as its in season. We hope you are, too!

If you’ve been out to some of these awesome strawberry farms, we’d love to know about your experiences.

As always, you’re welcome to share your Raleigh-area strawberry adventures in our Facebook Group! In case this is your first time strawberry picking in Raleigh, we’d love to know which of these places you’ll be visiting first!