Virginia is one of the largest apple-producing states in the nation, with plenty of apple orchards scattered throughout the state.
Many apple orchards in VA sell their apples locally, along the east coast, and even nationally/internationally.
While you can visit these farms and pick up pre-picked bushels, many VA apple orchards also have opportunities to pick your own apples.
While you’re there, you can also enjoy other activities, including special events, festivals, and browsing farm markets that are stocked with delicious goodies.
To help you find the perfect apple orchards to explore, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best places for Apple Picking in Virginia, with options in Charlottesville, Front Royal, Roanoke, Waynesboro, and more.
Each entry includes general information about the farm, as well as some of the different varieties of apples you can look forward to picking there!
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Apple Picking in Virginia/VA Apple Orchards Guide
- Carter Mountain Orchard
- Henley’s Orchard
- Fruit Hill Orchard
- Morris Orchard
- Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market
- Showalter’s Orchard
- Valley View Farm
- Stribling Orchard
- Mackintosh Fruit Farm
- Hollin Farms
- Gross’ Orchard
- Levering Orchard
- Silver Creek Orchard
- Dickie Brothers Orchard
- Seamans’ Orchard
Apple Picking in Charlottesville VA
1. Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville VA • 434-977-1833
Located just a few minutes from downtown Charlottesville, Carter Mountain Orchard is open all year-round.
It has spectacular views, as the Virginia orchard overlooks breathtaking vistas, rows of fruit trees, and vineyards.
In the spring, apple blossoms take over. You can either pick your own or buy ready-picked apples from mid-August through mid-December.
You can also buy fresh-pressed apple cider, apple cider donuts, or some delicious apple pies!
Carter Mountain Orchard grows a number of popular apple varieties, including Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Winesap, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Pink Lady.
You can also visit the Carter Mountain Wine Shop, where you can buy wine by the glass, tasting flight, or bottle!
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2. Henley’s Orchard
2192 Holly Hill Farm, Crozet VA • 434-823-7848
Henley’s Orchard has been family-owned for four generations, and has been producing quality apples and peaches since 1932.
The orchard is just a 20-minute drive west of Charlottesville, surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
The peak Virginia apple picking season here starts in July and runs through October. However, late-season apples are kept in a cold storage system and are usually available through April!
At Henley’s Orchard, you can also pick your own apples, and there are over 25 varieties to choose from.
Some varieties you can look forward to in the early months of their 2022 season include Lodi, Summer Rambo, Ginger Gold, Gala, Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, and Prima.
As the fall colors start to turn, they’ll have varieties like Virginia Gold, Rome, Winesap, Black Twig, and Henley Gold.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Waynesboro VA (Augusta County)
3. Fruit Hill Orchard
2745 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Palmyra VA • 434-589-7215
This family-owned business in the small town of Palmyra VA was started by Robert Solenberger in 1929, when he planted 900 apple trees.
The operation grew gradually over the decades. Fruit Hill Orchard now has over 2,000 fruit trees and plants thousands of other vegetables each year.
In terms of apples, you can either pick your own or choose from a selection of pre-picked apples.
Examples of varieties they grow include Ida Red, Crispin, Arkansas Black, Enterprise, Honeycrisp, Gala, Blondie, and Crimson Crisp.
They typically have more of some varieties than others. So if you’re picky about your apples, be sure to call in advance to see what’s available.
Other offerings at this family-run farm include peaches, tomatoes, canned goods (jams, jellies, salsas, and fruit butters), honey, and cider.
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Apple Picking Near Lexington VA
4. Morris Orchards
226 Tobacco Row Ln, Monroe VA • 434-929-2401
Located at the foot of High Peak Mountain, Morris Orchards is a family-owned and operated farm about 35 miles east of Lexington VA.
They operate with the goal of providing the highest quality and freshest produce possible, and providing good times for all their visitors.
During your visit, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and quaint farm atmosphere as well as apples, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, and pressed Apple Cider.
The apples are harvested from late July through mid-October, and include Ginger Gold, Gala, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Rome, and Arkansas Black, among other varieties.
Red Delicious are ripe in mid-September, while Granny Smith are ripe in early October. Both are available for U-pick.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lexington VA & Natural Bridge VA
Apple Picking in Luray & Front Royal VA
5. Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market
3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester VA • 540-662-1391
The land on which Marker-Miller Orchards is located was bought back in 1908 by Amos Marker. The fourth and fifth generations of his family are still farming the land today.
Their original Virginia apple orchards were planted back in the 1930s. Since then, the number of varieties of apples and other fruits has been diversified considerably.
Today you can find varieties like Gala, Empire, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, Idared, Lodi, and Rambo. To find out what apple varieties and other fruits/veggies are available, it’s best to call before your visit.
Before picking apples, go to the check-out area inside the market or the pick-your-own building to buy containers and get directions.
Marker-Miller Orchards also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including the Apple Harvest Festival (October 8-9, 2022) and the Pumpkin Festival (Oct 22, 2022).
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6. Showalter’s Orchard
17768 Honeyville Rd, Timberville VA • 540-896-7582
This family-owned orchard and event venue started in 1965, when Joe Showalter began farming the property. He also set up a fresh market for local customers, which is now home to their cidery.
Today, Shannon and Sarah Showalter (along with their kids, Ben and Ava) are continuing the family tradition of operating the Shenandoah Valley apple orchard, which features breathtaking mountain views.
They grow 30+ varieties of apples during the apple harvest season, which runs from mid-July through November. You can pick your own fruit for a fun day trip, or skip the work and grab some pre-picked options.
Their fruit is sold by volume (which is measured in bushels), so you can select a 1/2 peck, peck, 1/2 bushel, or bushel-sized container.
Some of the apple varieties you can look forward to in 2022 include Gala, Ginger Gold, Granny Smith, Rome Beauty, York, and Sweet Lady.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Luray VA (Gateway to Shenandoah)
7. Valley View Farm
1550 Leeds Manor Road, Delaplane VA • 540-592-1021
Situated in the northern Piedmont of Virginia, Valley View Farm has been run by five generations of the Strother Family.
It’s an educational farm and agritourism destination that is open to the public seasonally.
Their u-pick apple orchards include blueberries, peaches, blackberries, cherries, and of course apples, which are available in September and October.
Be sure to check out their Locavore Farm Market, which offers local artisan foods and beverages.
Pick-your-own pumpkins and a new corn maze will be available in 2022, as well as an opportunity to try their latest wines, hard ciders, and meads!
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8. Stribling Orchard
11587 Poverty Hollow Ln, Markaham VA • 540-364-3040
At Stribling Orchard, you can enjoy a relaxing picnic, visit with the farm animals, and pick apples in the beautiful Virginia mountains.
The Stribling family has been farming this land for the last 200 years, and continues to welcome visitors from late July through early November.
Don’t miss the Harvest House, where you can purchase jams, jellies, salsas, local cheese, cookbooks, fresh baked goods, and more. It’s open at the same time the orchard is, but the bakery is only open on weekends.
When you visit the pick your own apple orchards, you can choose from a number of varieties. They include Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and lesser-known varieties such as Empire, Smokehouse, Rambo, Lodi, and Rome.
Farm tours are also available for schools, corporate team building, and other organizations, where you can see first-hand how apples are grown.
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9. Mackintosh Fruit Farm
1608 Russell Rd, Berryville VA • 540-955-6225
Tucked away in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the Mackintosh Fruit Farm is a family-owned pick-your-own farm.
It started in 1988 with apple and peach trees, and since then has grown to include many more varieties of fruit trees, berries, and vegetables.
When you get to the farm, they’ll have everything you need to pick your own fruit, including containers and wagons. Note that apple picking is first-come, first-served, so no reservations are necessary.
Gala apples become available starting in August, while popular varieties like Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Queen’s Blush, and Fuji ripen in September and October.
They also have a restaurant on-site where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dessert, and drink items. Cheese, meats, and other items from local farmers can be purchased there as well.
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10. Hollin Farms
1524 Snowden Road, Delaplane VA • 540-623-8854
Hollin Farms is a fourth-generation family farm located on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
They specialize in a number of pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, as well as Angus cattle and pasture-raised beef.
While you’re at the farm (depending on the season), you can pick your own kale, cabbage, broccoli, plums, peaches, squash, blackberries, blueberries, and more.
For VA apple picking, the best time to visit is in September and October, just before the fall colors start to peak.
They have a ton of different apple varieties to choose from. Some favorites include Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Mutsu Crispin, Idared, Cameo, Pink Wonder, and Wolf River.
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Apple Picking in Roanoke VA
11. Gross’ Orchard
6817 Wheats Valley Rd, Bedford VA • 540-586-2436
Located about 30 miles west of Roanoke VA, this beautiful orchard specializes in mountain-grown peaches and apples.
Throughout the fall season, you can choose from a selection of apples at the orchard’s store. Beginning on September 1, 2022, you can also pick your own apples straight from the tree!
Varieties available in September include Red Delicious, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, and Jonagold. Stayman Winesap, Arkansas Black, Fuji, Granny Smith, and York apples usually ripen in October.
Along with apples, you can also purchase honey, hams and bacon, jams and jellies, apple cider, syrups, and more.
During the apple harvesting season, they also offer field trips where you can enjoy a wagon ride around the orchard and pick a fresh apple to eat.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Roanoke VA
Apple Picking in Southwest Virginia
12. Levering Orchard
163 Levering Lane, Arat VA • 276-730-4722
The Levering Orchard was founded by Ralph and Clara Levering in 1908. It was just like any other basic apple orchard in VA until the 1970s, when cherries were introduced.
Today the family-owned business remains true to its origins as an apple orchard, but it continues to produce cherries along with peaches, nectarines, and even pears.
You can pick a variety of your own fruit at Levering Orchard, including apples during the fall season. Just be sure to call ahead to make sure they’re ready to harvest.
Their season runs from Labor Day through mid-October, but pick-your-own apples starts on September 10, 2022. Sales of pre-picked apples (such as Golden Delicious, Fuji, Mutsu, and York) will continue into November.
After your visit, stop by the Blue Ridge Music Center near Galax for some traditional Bluegrass music!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in SWVA (Southwest Virginia)
Apple Picking in Waynesboro VA
13. Silver Creek Orchard
3679 Pharsalia Road, Tyro VA • 434-277-5865
Sitting at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Waynesboro VA, Silver Creek Orchard is a 7th-generation family farm.
The Flippin family has been growing apples since the mid-1800s, and continues to impress visitors with their high-quality, fresh fruit.
You have two opportunities to pick your own apples at Silver Creek Orchard.
The first comes on the second weekend in September, when you can pick Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, September Wonder, Jonagold, Virginia Gold, and Mutzu.
The second pick your own opportunity is on the second weekend in October, when you can pick Fuji, Rome, Granny Smith, Pippin, and Arkansas Black.
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14. Dickie Brothers Orchard
2685 Dickie Rd, Roseland VA • 434-277-5516
Located in the tiny mountain town of Roseland VA, the Dickie Brothers Orchard has been in the Dickie family since England’s King George II sold three tracts of land to James Dickie in 1752, 1758, and 1760.
“Grandpa James” was required to begin working the land within 3 years, and the family has been farming the land ever since. Now, this historic Virginia orchard produces 70,000 bushels of apples per year!
They grow 20 varieties of apples, including Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Empire, Granny Smith, Rome, and Pink Lady. They also grow 7 varieties of peaches, plums, blackberries, pumpkins, corn, and more.
Customers are encouraged to pick their own apples at various times throughout the harvesting season, which gives you a chance to soak in the incredible views and family-friendly atmosphere.
While you’re there, you can also enjoy some fresh apple cider, apple turnovers, and fresh-roasted Virginia chestnuts.
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15. Seamans’ Orchard
415 Dark Hollow Rd, Roseland VA • 434-277-8130
Seamans’ Orchard is another family-owned and operated business.
Richard Seaman (the grandson of the orchard’s original founder) oversees farm operations with the help of Carter Parr, Brian Kidd, and Anne Seaman Kidd.
Along with apples, pumpkins, cherries, strawberries, and blueberries are all grown at the orchard. They also raise cattle for beef.
Throughout the property, you will find “pocket orchards” filled with trees producing Gala, Golden Delicious, Empire, Fuji, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, and Pink Lady apples.
In 2022, pick your own apples will be available on September 17th and 18th. Containers are provided for guests to pick Red and Golden Delicious, September Wonder, Empire, and Jonagold apples. -by Christina Maggitas
