Butler's Orchard Summer Fun in Maryland with Kids

Visiting Butler’s Orchard is one of our favorite kid’s activities in Maryland, near Washington DC. Just about 30 minutes from DC, Butler’s Orchard has so many fun things to kids to do and so many pick your own fruits that we never get tired of coming here.

From early summer all the way into late fall there’s plenty of kid-friendly activities on this farm near DC for your entire family.

Butler’s Orchard Location: 22222 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876

Tip for Visiting Butler’s Orchard

$3 entrance fee per person over 24 months
Opening Days and Hour:
- Spring: Tuesday – Sunday 9:30am – 6:00pm
- Summer: Tuesday – Friday 8:30 am – 6:30 pm (Farm and Fields close at 5:30 pm)
- Saturday & Sunday 8:30 – 5:30 (Farm and Fields close at 4:30 pm)
- Fall: Tuesday – Sunday 9:30 am – 6:00 pm (Farm and Fields close at 5:00 pm)
Parking is free
Porta-Potties are available at the Farm Park and a Baby Changing Station
Outside food and drinks are allowed (non-alcoholic)
Bring plenty of water as it gets really hot during summer
There is a Concession that sells food and drinks

Pick Strawberries at Butler’s Orchard

Butler’s Orchard is definitely our favorite place to pick strawberries near Washington DC in June. They have more than one variety of strawberries and we found our favorite to be the small ones. This is probably our daughter’s favorite activity. We’ve taken her to Butler’s a few times already and she’s usually more into strawberry eating than picking! But don’t worry the staff are really friendly and don’t really mind!

Remember to wear sunscreen and a hat when strawberry picking because there is little shade in the fields.

Butler’s has strawberries available for picking from mid-May to June.

Strawberry Picking at Butler’s Orchard 2022

You can no longer bring your own container to pick strawberries and must purchase one. Butler’s charges for pick your own strawberries by container now instead of weight, you will need to purchase a container when you reserve a slot for picking. They also prefer that you reserve ahead of time and walk-ins will only be accommodated if there is availability.

GETTING TO THE FIELDS
WEEKDAYS: You drive your vehicle directly to the fields
WEEKENDS: You ride the trolley from the Farm Park to the fields

RESERVATIONS
Sundays at 5:00 pm: online reservations will be available for the following Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Thursday at 5:00 pm: online reservations will be available for the following Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

You must purchase a container when making your reservation (price includes cost of fruit)
No outside containers allowed (additional containers may be purchased in the field)
Only one reservation is needed to pick multiple crops
Admission also gives you access to our 5 acre Farm Park of fun
Farmers Porch kitchen is open Saturdays & Sundays only, from 8:30am – 4:00pm

Butler’s Orchard Blueberry Picking

Last year was the first time we made it here to pick blueberries! I’ve never picked blueberries before and really wanted to check it out at Butler’s Orchard. And boy am I glad we did. The blueberries here are so plump and delicious.

Also, I can’t believe how satisfying it is to find a giant clump ripe blueberries. I really thought it would be hard to find and pick blueberries but it really wasn’t at all. And our pre-schooler absolutely loved it! Just like with the strawberries, she definitely ate more blueberries than she picked.

You can pick blueberries at Butler’s Orchard from late June to early August.

Pick Flowers at Mrs. Butler’s Flower Garden

If you’ve followed my blog for a while you know I’m completely obsessed with flower fields of any sort near Washington DC. So when I learned you can pick your own bouquet here, I was sold! Their pick your own flower field isn’t big but it’s definitely a pretty way to spend an afternoon. Butler’s Orchard has flowers for picking from July through September.

Want more flower fields near Washington DC? You can pick your own lavender at Purple Rain Lavender Farm in Maryland, or Springfield Manor, which bloom in late June. There’s also McKee Beshers which offers several fields of sunflowers and is never crowded. If you missed the bloom at McKee Beshers 5 more sunflower fields in Maryland and Virginia bloom in August and September. For even more flowers these gardens in DC offer spectacular blooms all year round!

Visit the Sunflower Field

If you miss the sunflower field at McKee Beshers, Butler’s Orchard also has a sunflower field that blooms later in August. This sunflower field in Maryland is extensive and very pretty and just 30 minutes from Washington DC. I’ve only had the chance to drive by it, but even from the road, it looked stunning!

Have a Slide

One of our daughter’s favorite activities at Butler’s Orchard is definitely playing on their slides! They have a really big one 2 smaller ones for younger children. After picking fruit we always stop by the slides for some fun! And yes you will have a hard time getting your kids to leave once they start sliding.

Feed the Animals

There are quite a few animals at Butler’s including pigs, goats, and donkeys. You can buy feed from the feed machines for a quarter.

Eat Kettle Corn

There’s no mistaking the smell, it’s Butler’s kettle corn. Every time we come to Butler’s we always buy some kettle corn at the concession to eat at the picnic tables and enjoy at home!

Pick Apples

A classic fall activity in the Washington DC area is picking apples! We’ve not picked apples at Butler’s yet but we’ve driven by their orchards on a hayride over to pick berries. The orchards are gorgeous and I’m sure the apples are delicious. You can pick apples at Butler’s Orchard from September to mid-October. Here are a few other farms in Maryland to pick apples.

Visit the Epic Playground at Butler’s Orchard

The playground at Butler’s Orchard is pretty epic. There are so many play structures including a 2 level castle and a pirate ship! Our daughter absolutely loves playing here.

Check out the Pumpkin Festival

Starting at the end of September Butler’s has its Pumpkin Festival running to the beginning of November. During the Pumpkin Festival admission is $13-$15 depending on when you go.

The fun activities included in the Pumpkin Festival: