As a kid, I remember schools and families going apple picking in Virginia during the fall and I always thought it was one of the coolest seasonal activities! As an adult, I still agree!
Virginia has a deep apple history and we even have a festival in Winchester that celebrates the famous fruit. In fact, Virginia was the nation’s top apple producer before the Civil War (and then our farmers went to war and our industry declined).
Nowadays, we may not be a mass producer of apples, but we definitely celebrate fall after our blisteringly hot summers, and the Virginia apple orchards and pumpkin patches become a popular destination activity during the season.
These are some of the best apple orchards in Virginia – but please list your favorites below in case we missed some!
Apple Picking in Virginia Map
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Best Virginia Apple Orchards
1. Carter Mountain Orchard
Address: 1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Website: https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/orchards/carter-mountain-orchard/
The Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, Virginia is easily one of the most beautiful in the state. The Virginia apple orchard is famous for its wide variety of apples, including Ginger Gold, Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Granny Smith.
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Visitors will be able to enjoy the apple harvest between the months of July and November each year. The sweet, tasty apples can be used for a variety of different purposes, including baking, making sauces and jams, and more.
Be sure to check out the apple orchard during the peak season so that you can take some delicious, organic apples home to enjoy.
2. Hollin Farms
Address: 1584 Snowden Rd, Delaplane, VA 20144
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Located right on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Sky Meadows State Park is Hollin Farms, which is well known for providing visitors with the opportunity to pick their own vegetables and fruit.
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Apples are among the most popular fruits to pick, and their best season tends to be in September and October. Be sure to check out the website for more details regarding the best fruits to pick during each season.
There are so many wide varieties of apples to choose from, including Gold Rush, Fuji, Pink Lady, Mutsi Crispin, and Golden Delicious that you are sure to have a great time picking.
3. Morris Orchard
Address: 226 Tobacco Row Ln, Monroe, VA 24574
Website: https://www.morrisorchard.com/
Right in Monroe, Virginia, Morris Orchard is also well known due to the fact that it is family-owned and operated. The fruits and vegetables you can pick here are among the freshest and best quality.
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Not only will you get to enjoy the delicious food, but also the stunning views provided by the High Peak Mountain. Some of the best fruits here include apples, peaches, blueberries, and blackberries, and the orchard is especially known for its press apple cider.
The orchard presses fresh cider every week between September and December, and right around then, you will be able to visit to pick fresh apples.
Be sure to check out the schedule for more information on when specific varieties of apples will be available for picking.
4. Crooked Run Orchard
Address: 37883 E Main St, Purcellville, VA 20132
Website: https://www.facebook.com/CrookedRunOrchard/
This family farm has been open for over 250 years, and it’s functioning as a pick your own farm currently. Crooked Run Orchard prides itself on the minimal use of chemicals and mineral fertilizers for the crops.
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The best seasons for picking apples in Virginia are in the summer and fall, specifically between July and September depending on the type you want.
The farm also features tons of animals, a nature trail, and picnic tables.
You can easily get quantity amounts of apples and pumpkins, too. Some of the other fruits and vegetables available include asparagus, blackberries, peaches, plums, and pumpkins.
5. Stribling Orchard
Address: 11587 Poverty Hollow Ln, Markham, VA 22643
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Stribling Orchard is one of the best pick your own apple and peach orchards in Markham, Virginia.
Aside from apples, you can also pick peaches, pumpkins, cider, and freshly baked pies and bread. You can also visit during the fall every weekend for some delicious wine tasting.
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The orchard has a Facebook page (linked to above!) where you can stay up-to-date on different events taking place, as well as when everything will be in season and fresh for picking.
The apples are available between August and November, and you can get fresh cider in September. This is one of the best places for apple picking in Virginia.
6. Dickie Brothers Orchard
Address: 2685 Dickie Rd, Roseland, VA 22967
Website: https://www.dickiebrothers.com/
The Dickie Brothers Orchard, which has been around since 1750, is one of the most loved family farms in Virginia.
Located in Roseland, the farm features a wide variety of apples that you will be able to choose from and pick on your own, providing your family with some delicious fruit to snack on.
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The best part is that you will get to spend some time in nature, making it a popular activity for both adults and children. Some of the types of apples available here include Paula Red, Gala, HoneyCrisp, and McIntosh.
The main season tends to be between July and early November depending on the type.
7. Silver Creek and Seamans’ Orchard
Address: 5529 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Tyro, VA 22976
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The Silver Creek and Seamans’ Orchard was founded in 1959, and it is especially known for its freshly pressed apple cider that you can purchase on-site.
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The website includes dates for September and October where you will be able to visit and pick certain types of apples yourself. In addition, the orchard offers the Apple Butter Festival, which takes place on the first and third Saturdays in October.
Here, you will be able to take part in the apple butter-making festivities, as well as purchase apples, jams, jellies, honey, and cider.
8. Fruit Hill Orchard
Address: 2745 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Palmyra, VA 22963
Website: https://www.fruithillorchard.com/
For five generations, the Fruit Hill Orchard has been operating in Palmyra, Virginia with its start in Winchester.
Now, there are over 2,000 fruit trees for people to swing by during the on-season and pick their favorite fruits. It’s a great place for some family fun, picking apples, playing corn hole, learning more about the apple museum, or picnicking.
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The park opens in July and is close to plenty of AirBNBs for accommodation. In addition, there are tons of different apple varieties available, so you can plan your visit based on when the apples are in season.
9. Albemarle Cider Works & Vintage Virginia Apples
Address: 2545 Rural Ridge Ln, North Garden, VA 22959
Website: https://www.albemarleciderworks.com/
Founded in 2000 by the Shelton family, Vintage Virginia Apples is home to many tree fruits that are becoming rare due to commercial marketing. The farm is home to more than 200 types of apples, including heirlooms and recent varieties.
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Some of these varieties can’t be found anywhere else. In addition, besides apples, you will be able to check out some peaches, pears, and plums. The farm also makes its own cider, which can be purchased on site.
However, keep in mind that you can’t pick your own fruits because of the small size, but you can purchase the apples in the tasting room.
10. Johnson’s Orchard
Address: 1218 Elmos Rd, Bedford, VA 24523
Website: https://www.peaksofotterwinery.com/johnsons-orchard
This family-owned and operated farm is located near the Blue Ridge Mountains and Peaks of Otter, as well as the National D-Day Memorial, so there are plenty of things you could do nearby during your visit.
Johnson’s Orchard has over 200 acres, 7,500 apple trees, and 200 types of varieties. The orchards are also known for an apple that was developed on-site called the Gold Nugget.
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Aside from picking apples, there are tons of festivals and other events that you can participate in, so be sure to check the website for some more up-to-date information near your trip.
11. Cullipher Farm
Address: 772 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457
Website: https://cullipherfarm.com/shop/
Cullipher Farm in Virginia Beach is home to over 20 varieties of fruits, including strawberries, blueberries, melons, figs, peaches, nectarines, plums, and apples.
The apples are especially ripe in the fall season. Fall is the perfect time to visit Cullipher Farm with your family to do some apple picking, and the best part is that you will have a large variety of different apples to choose from.
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The farm does its best to use sustainable and environmentally friendly means to grow its produce while maintaining the high standards that it is known for.
12. Drumheller’s Orchard
Address: 1130 Drumheller Orchard Ln, Lovingston, VA
Website: https://drumhellersorchard.com/
Drumheller’s Orchard, founded in 1937 in Lovingston, Virginia, is another orchard well known for its large variety of apples that visitors can pick during the late summer and early fall.
Some of the types available include Honey Crisp, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Granny Smith. For more information on the types available, their season, and what you can use the apples for, be sure to check the website.
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This 5th generation family-owned farm also grows peaches, blueberries, and brambles.
Did we miss any of the best places for apple picking in Virginia on this guide? Let us know the best apple orchards in Virginia in the comments!
Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she has lived all around the world (including Germany, Finland, Norway, etc) but her heart always finds its way back to Virginia. This blog is to help encourage travelers to explore the great state of VA… and its wonderful neighbors! Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, the New York Times, and more. She has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries… and wholeheartedly believes that Brunswick Stew is probably the greatest food to ever exist.