Best Places to Go Blueberry Picking: Columbia, SC

It’s summer berry season, and if you love blueberry picking, Columbia, SC has a few patches and local farms that are perfect for upick blueberries. Need details? We’ve got you covered! Berry season is short, so get ready to fill up your basket at one of these local farms.

Things to Know Before You Go Blueberry Picking

First off, speaking from the experience of someone who picks blueberries in Columbia yearly, here are some tips to make your experience better for kids:

1. You will need bug spray. These berries grow in the shade of bushes that can last decades, and in our experiences that moist, green area invites those itchy monsters. Whatever you use, you’ll want to use it well to make sure this experience isn’t just scratching and aloe-inducing.

2. Also, going early in the day really seems to help. This way you can beat the crowds and the heat!

Several of the usual patches will be closed for the 2023 Season

Now, blueberry picking is one of our favorite summer traditions, and so are blueberry dumplings- YUM! While Columbia, South Carolina is a capital city, it is also the center of a very agricultural state, so you usually have no trouble finding blueberry picking.

Typically, three farms close to Columbia provide blueberry picking. Unfortunately, both last year and this year unpredictable weather has forced most of them to close. 

For example, PK Blueberries, our family favorite, and Double A Farms, a very popular option, both remain closed or have made announcements that they do not have enough crop for this year.

But, if you’re still desperate to get your hands on those little berries, there are a few options still!

Patches Open for Blueberry Picking: Columbia, SC

Berry Hill Farm

Berry Hill Farm is open now for blueberry picking! This farm has been around for 40 years and uses organic pesticides only. 

First, here are a few things to know before you go:

• It is not walker friendly but there are lower fields they will try to help make wheelchair accessible. 
• They are open from 7:30 am – 1:00 and 6:00 pm till dark, Monday – Saturday. Yes, they are closed in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day, and you will likely be glad. Also, they are closed on Sundays. 
• Please note, the blueberries are $1.75 per lb and they only take cash or check, no cards. However, you will not need buckets; they have their own for you to use. 
• You can call the farm ahead of time to make sure they are open, but do not call late at night or on Sunday.

Berry Hill Farm
219 Bluefield Road, Lexington, SC
803.957.4203

Smith Blueberry Farm

Smith Blueberry Farm is a pesticide-free blueberry farm in Leesville, SC will open for upick on June 17, 2023, from 7 am to 10 am. They will have sporadic upick dates, so follow their Facebook to see which days they will have the patches open to the public.

Their general season hours are Monday – Saturday from 7 am to 11 am, and 5 pm to 8 pm. Sunday hours are 5 pm to 8 pm. Please call ahead to make sure the patch is open before heading there.

Smith Blueberry Farm
341 Holley Ferry Road, Leesville, SC
1.803.532.6219

Southern Blues Blueberry Farm

If you cannot make it to Lexington, Southern Blues Blueberry Farm in Chapin also has blueberry picking near Columbia.

They are the same price as Berry Hill, $1.75 per pound. It is upick and honor system pay. They are open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 am- 4 pm according to their Facebook page. 

Southern Blues Blueberry Farm
216 East Boundary Street, Chapin, SC
803.227.9660

Redmond Road Blueberries

Redmond Road Blueberries is a mom-and-pop operation in Lexington, SC. Remember, the season is short (end of June), but online posts look like people are filling up here this season.

They are also closed during the heat of the day and on Sundays. Their hours were listed as Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Redmond Road Blueberries
1126 Redmond Road, Lexington, SC

Drive a Little Further for Blueberry Picking

Oak Grove Farm of Gaston, SC

You can find upick blueberries in nearby Oak Grove Farm, but you’ll need to keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates about hours. You can also contact them directly by phone to see if they are open the day you want to go. You can also purchase prepicked blueberries, eggs, and the occasional pork for the bbq from them.

Oak Grove Farm
872 Old Sandy Run Road, Gaston, SC
803.917.2694

Farms That Are a 1+ Hour Drive from Columbia, SC

Up for a longer drive? You’ll find options in North, SC (Orangeburg County) and a few in Aiken/North Augusta. These farms are all about one hour’s drive away, including Honalee Farm, Herbs N Berries, and Kiser Family Farm.

Did we miss anyone?  What is your favorite place to go blueberry picking near Columbia?