18 Strawberry Picking Farms near Raleigh (Wake County & Beyond)

Who doesn’t love the sweet taste of strawberries in the spring? They’re even sweeter when you pick them yourselves, and fortunately for us Raleighites, there’s plenty of strawberry picking farms in Raleigh where you can do just that!

It’s not just Raleigh either – there are some great strawberry picking farms near Raleigh and further afield as well, most less than an hour’s drive away. If you’re looking for strawberry picking near me, these are the best of the best!

We have a full spring guide to Raleigh if you want to find other activities to do in this season. You can also get our printable Spring bucket list when you join our free email community. We regularly share insider tips, bucket lists, updates and freebies!

When is strawberry picking season in Wake County?

But first, when is strawberry picking season? Strawberry picking is a popular activity to do during the spring and summer months. Berries should be ripe for the picking in early May and continue through to the end of the month and into June.

The hours of operation for each farm varies and can be dependent on the supply and demand, so it is recommended to check their websites, Instagram or Facebook – or call ahead before planning a visit. Most farms are open during the week and on weekends, with some offering extended hours during peak season.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Pre-picked berries will always be available until supplies last. The earlier you arrive the better!

Where to go strawberry picking in Raleigh

There are several strawberry picking farms in Raleigh and neighboring Wake County districts. Just look for the places that have more land and less development! In addition to strawberry picking, many of these Raleigh U-pick farms offer other activities and events, including festivals, games, farm animals, farm stands, and other seasonal produce.

DJ’s Berry Patch, Apex

DJ’s is that charming southern roadside stand you’re searching for. It’s located just outside downtown Apex. This family-owned farm has been in operation for over 35 years. The farm is usually open for strawberry picking from mid-April to mid May, depending on the weather (if Mother Nature decides it’s time to rain, the farm won’t open).

You can enjoy picking their own strawberries or purchase pre-picked ones (picked fresh daily). They have the large Sweet Charlie strawberries that have a good balance of sweet and tart. Their Camarosa is a blood-red strawberry great for pies, shortcake and freezing. 

The farm also offers hayrides, a playground, and a picnic area for visitors to enjoy. They advise that you wear sturdy shoes, long pants, hat and sunscreen as the farm offers little shade.

• Address: 1223 Salem Church Road Apex, NC 27523
• Website

Porter Farms and Nursery, Willow Spring

In Australia we’re kinda obsessed with big things – like the Big Pineapple or the Big Banana. Giant sculptures that become tourist attractions and point the way to things like banana or pineapple farms. 

At the Porter Farms and Nursery produce stand in South Raleigh you have the Big Strawberry – large grain bin out front – painted to resemble a strawberry! Porter Farms has five luscious acres of sweet red ripe strawberries – where the ones you eat in the fields are free! Two locations in Willow Spring and Raleigh.

Their Willow Spring Market location has rich and creamy homemade ice cream in 16 seasonal flavors, including strawberry! Strawberry picking is open from mid-April to early-June, and you’re given a container to fill. Containers come in quarts, 4-quart buckets, and 8-quart flats. They also offer freshly picked buckets for those who don’t want to get their hands dirty.

• Address: 3525 NC Highway 42, Willow Spring, or 7615 Ten-Ten Rd., Raleigh
• Website 

Phillips Farms, Cary

One of the most well-known farms in the Triangle area is Phillips Farms, located in Cary. This year will be their fifth year of their Spring Shop & Play Saturdays (starting April 11th, 2025) featuring a market, family fun, and MORE!

They partner with local farmers and artisans to showcase their offerings. Each Saturday has a particular theme, so check their site for details. It also includes a Family Fun Zone with activities the kids will love from a giant slide to cow trains. Watch our video.

In early May, they will be hosting an annual Strawberry Fest Farmer’s Market, which is all about those juicy red fruits! They’ll be open each Saturday in May from 10:00am-5pm, and they’re excited to partner with local farmers and artisans to showcase their offerings.

This family-owned farm has been serving North Carolina for over 100 years. While they do not have u-pick strawberries, they partner with a farm in Dunn to supply the market with sweet, fresh strawberries for purchase.

• Address: 6720 Good Hope Church Rd, Cary
• Website

Page Farms, Northwest Raleigh

Page Farms is located in Raleigh and is open for strawberry picking from mid-April to first week of June, depending on the weather and the ripeness of the strawberries. Visitors can pick their own strawberries or purchase pre-picked ones subject to availability. The farm also offers a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and a farm stand where visitors can purchase fresh produce.

Don’t just stop with the strawberries though. Page Farms have pre-picked flower bundles, which include their popular Snapdragons, as well as several other varieties of beautiful blooms.

Is there anything more beautiful than the aroma and bright colors of fresh cut flowers in your home? Even better when you’ve gifted them to someone. You can also purchase spring vegetables while here. 

• Address: 6100 Mount Herman Road, Raleigh, NC 27617
• Website

Ogburn Berries and Produce, Willow Springs

Located in Willow Springs just outside Fuquay Varina is Ogburn Berries and Produce, a fourth-generation family farm committed to providing the best quality strawberries and the freshest produce. 

At this Wake County farm, you’ll find sweet red strawberries available for picking mid-April through June. They also have a variety of jarred goods including watermelons, cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, and jams. The local honey is also delicious, and they have a few flavors of ice cream from a local dairy.

• Address: 13065 Old Stage Road, Willow Spring, NC 27592
• Website

Pope’s Strawberry Farm, Knightdale

Pope’s Strawberry Farm is located in Knightdale and is open for strawberry picking and pre-picked strawberries for purchase from April-June. Throughout the year you can also pick your own corn in July, tomatoes in June – August, and blueberries from July-August.

• Address: 1305 Fayetteville St Knightdale, NC 27545
• Check their Facebook updates for opening hours. 

Hunts Strawberry Farm, Raleigh

Hunts Strawberry Farm in Raleigh is open for mostly U-Pick strawberries from April until stocks last. Come early to ensure supply. They also sell a famous pound cake and strawberry honey! 

• 4505 Watkins Rd, Raleigh, NC, United States, North Carolina
• Check their Facebook updates for opening hours. 

Buckwheat Farm, Apex

Buckwheat Farm is an award-winning strawberry farm, aptly named the “Grower of the Year” by the North Carolina Strawberry Growers Association (2005) and “Best of the Triangle” by Independent Weekly (2008). April 2026 is the 29th year of growing strawberries!

Located in Apex and is open for strawberry picking from mid-April to early June. They also have fresh bouquets of tulips for sale. 

• Address: 2700 Holland Road Apex, NC 27502
• Check their Facebook page for updates on supply & hours. 

Strawberry picking near Wake County

Below are some additional strawberry picking farms in Johnston County, Chatham County, Orange County, and Durham County.

Double R Cattle Farm, Hillsborough

This Northern Orange County farm has a long family history of farming (over 150 years).  Double R typically starts their strawberry picking season in May, but call ahead in case it’s earlier. You can either pay per pound, or per gallon when available. They also sell grass-fed beef and pastured pork. 

• Address: 701 Ollie Lane, Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
• Website

McAdams Farm, Efland

The McAdams Farm has been in operation since 1885. In the year 2000, the family pivoted due to changes in the economic climate of farming, and replaced the tobacco fields with strawberries, produce, and cut flowers.

They grow about 2-acres of the Chandler variety of strawberries. Their strawberry picking season usually runs from late April to June. They also have pre-picked strawberries until supplies run out. 

They also have a huge variety of produce including vegetables, fresh cut flowers, meat, local honey and eggs.

• Address: 1100 Efland Cedar Grove Rd, Efland, NC 27243
• Check wesbite for hours and updates. 

Lyons Farm, Creedmoor

Lyon Farms in Granville County is a family owned and operated fruit and vegetable farm with pre-picked and u-pick strawberries available. They also have a Fruit and veg stand in Raleigh with other produce available. 

• Address: 1544 Munns Rd Creedmoor, NC 27522
• Check Facebook for updates

Smith’s Nursery and Strawberry Farm, Benson

Located in Johnston County, Smith’s Nursery farm offers pick-your-own strawberries from late April through May. They also offer pre-picked strawberries and a farm stand with other fresh produce, plants, and flowers.

A great additional feature of this strawberry farm near Raleigh is their Ice Cream Shack which offers Maple View Dairy Ice Cream products including milkshakes, slushies, and delicious hot and cold coffee drinks using the wonderful Larry’s Coffee.

For the season they’ll also host fun and educational workshops, egg hunts, lots of pick-your-own strawberries, story times, and family fun!

• Address: 443 Sanders Road, Benson, NC
• Website

Pace Family Farms, Clayton

Pace Family Farms is a family-owned farm who practices sustainable agriculture. Apart from farm fresh meat they offer pre-picked and U-Pick fresh strawberries – from mid-April to around the second week in June.

They already have pre-pick strawberries available so the u-pick shouldn’t be far behind. Check Facebook for updates. 

• Address: 12701 Buffalo Road, Clayton, NC, United States, North Carolina
• Website 

Heeks Farm, Durham

Heeks Farm grows strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, muscadines, elderberries, carrots, sugar snap peas, arugula, kale, basil, tomatoes, green beans and more. Most crops are available for you to pick, and sometimes pre-picked will be available.

You’ll be happy to know fruits and vegetables herea re grown using sustainable farming practices and no synthetic pesticides or fungicides are used on crops.

To make sure everyone has plenty of ripe berries to pick, advance reservations are required. Strawberry picking starts mid-April.

• Address: 3602 Hall Road, Rougemont, NC (Durham County)
• Website

Waller Family Farm, Durham

Located in Durham County, Waller Family Farm has been a working farm since 1943. The tobacco fields were replaced with strawberries but they still have cows, chickens, and now horses.

They offer pick-your-own strawberries from late April through May, as well as pre-picked strawberries and a farm stand with other fresh produce. 

They also have other seasonal produce, eggs, fresh cut flowers, honey and homemade pound cake. Check Facebook for current updates. 

• Address: 5030 Kerley Rd, Durham, NC, United States, North Carolina
• Website

The Collard Patch, Wake Forest

The Collard Patch is another pick-your-own roadside farm where you can get not only strawberries, but other fresh, locally grown vegetables.

Pick some garden vegetables, such as collard greens (of course), and much more. The strawberries here are juicy and sweet, and 100 times better than those you find in stores.

Strawberry picking starts from around Mother’s Day and continue until June, but other vegetables are grown throughout the year. They give you a bucket to fill for about $20. They open all throughout the week, so you can beat the weekend crowds. They only accept cash.

• Address: 7012 Pulley Town Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587
• Website

Eno River Farm, Hillsborough

Eno River Farm is another popular spot for u-pick and pre picked strawberries. They usually begin strawberry picking from mid April until early June.

They have three large strawberry patches where you can pick the freshest, organic strawberries. Check the website to see when their strawbs are ripe for the picking!

• Address: 2127 St Marys Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278
• Website

Map of the U-Pick Farms near Raleigh

To use the map below, Click the top right button to open it in a full page. From there, click the top left drop down to make a copy of the map. Then you can adjust it as needed for your personal use. Or click the star next to the map, to add it to your Google Maps account. You’ll then find it under Your Places on the menu tab in google maps.

Things to consider when strawberry picking

• The best strawberries grow in the sun. So expect little shade when picking. Arrive early in the day and wear sun protection and drink plenty of water.
• Pick only red berries. They’re the sweet and ripe ones. The berries will get redder once they’re picked, but they won’t get sweeter!
• Keep an eye on small children. Strawberry patches can get busy. 
• Take care of the strawberry patches. Don’t walk on them or the black plastic surrounding them. It’s protecting the fragile strawberries. 
• Always check with the farm as to opening hours, supply and conditions. And whether they accept cash or card. 
• Store strawberries in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Don’t wash strawberries until ready to eat. It’s probably best not to eat them before you do!! 
• Cover up! Most farms are out in the sun so wear long pants and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
• Wear closed shoes. These are farms and you will need to walk through soil.
• Take lots of photos. Have fun!
• Remember Mother’s Day is in May, so cover those chocolates in strawberry and serve them up to Mom with a glass of bubbly! 

Final Thoughts

Strawberry picking farms in Wake County and in neighboring counties offer a fun and enjoyable experience for families and friends to do in springtime. We remember when our girls were in that toddler/preschooler age, waiting for this season to come as they loved it so much – and we were so grateful for an activity that didn’t need our creative input. 

Just show up, pass them the basket, let them have fun, sneak a few in between the cutting, and snap those cute pics of the strawberry rimmed grin. Many of their farms on this list also include activities throughout the year, such as u-pick tulip farms, pumpkin patches in the fall, Halloween fear farms, and Christmas tree farms in the winter. Some also offer birthday party packages and group tours.

With several farms to choose from, we hope you found one where you can pick your own strawberries, enjoy other activities, and purchase fresh produce. So, grab your baskets and head out to one of these farms for a sweet and memorable day!

Now, you may want to continue planning for a great season with this Spring bucket list, places to enjoy spring blooms, and spring break destinations to consider.

Do you know of any other strawberry picking farms near Raleigh? Share your favorites in the comments.