Cooler mornings, cider donuts, and bags of Honeycrisp are back on the calendar. Whether you're planning a quick outing close to home or a full weekend built around the harvest, here's where to go apple picking across Virginia, organized by how far you're willing to drive from Fredericksburg, plus a list of cideries worth pairing with your trip.

There isn't a true pick-your-own apple orchard right in Fredericksburg. Braehead Farm on Tyler Street is a great local stop for berries, tomatoes, and pumpkins in season, and they sell fresh local apples at the market, but the orchard itself isn't open for picking. For the real u-pick experience, you'll want to head toward the Shenandoah Valley, Charlottesville, or beyond.

Stribling Orchard, Markham, VA (Fauquier County) Mountain views, farm animals, weekend live music, and a Harvest House full of honey, jams, and baked goods. Apples typically run mid-August through early November, though a spring freeze hit the 2026 crop, so call ahead before you go if picking is the main event. 540-364-3040

Hartland Orchard, Markham, VA (Fauquier County) A smaller, no-frills orchard right down the road from Stribling. Pick-your-own Gala, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp runs August through October, open daily from 9 to 2. Apples are sold by the half bushel or peck, and it's cash or check only. 540-364-2316

Mackintosh Fruit Farm, Berryville, VA (Clarke County) A working farm with rotating varieties (Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and a few newer types like Blondee and Crunchfest) plus vegetables and flowers to pick alongside the apples. Open Thursday through Sunday. Quantities are limited, so call or check their email updates before you drive out. 540-955-6225

Crooked Run Orchard & Farm, Purcellville, VA (Loudoun County) A family-owned pick-your-own farm with farm animals, a nature trail, and picnic tables for making a day of it. Fall apples run August through September, and picking dates shift from year to year, so call the farm stand first. 540-338-6642

Great Country Farms, Bluemont, VA (Loudoun County) The pick if you're bringing kids who want more than picking. Along with pick-your-own apples, there's a corn maze, splash pad, pumpkin jumping pillow, and mini golf played with cow pies (yes, really). Their Apple & Corn Maze Festival kicks off September 1, with flashlight corn maze nights later in the month. General admission runs $10 to $18 per person.

Marker-Miller Orchards, Winchester, VA (Frederick County) A longtime Winchester Valley favorite with a big playground, bakery, and farm market alongside the orchard. Picking typically runs early August through early November with varieties like Gala, Ginger Gold, and Honeycrisp. A spring freeze affected this year's crop, so check ahead for current picking conditions.

Showalter's Orchard & Greenhouse, Timberville, VA (Rockingham County) More than 30 apple varieties across a season that runs mid-July through November, from early Lodi to late Pink Lady, with hilltop views of the Shenandoah Valley. Old Hill Cider, the family's hard cider tasting room, sits right on the same property if you want to make a stop of both. 540-896-7582

Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges, Syria, VA (Madison County) Set against the Blue Ridge with a family-style restaurant on-site that's worth the trip on its own (think fried chicken and homemade pie). Their Apple Harvest Festival runs the first three weekends of October, with pick-your-own, hayrides, and live music. 540-923-4231

Carter Mountain Orchard, Charlottesville, VA One of the most popular orchards in the state, with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge and Monticello, fresh-pressed cider, and cider donuts that sell out fast. Picking runs mid-August through mid-December, with weekend admission tickets required September through mid-November. Varieties rotate through the season, from Ginger Gold and Gala early on to Winesap, Stayman, and Pink Lady later in the fall. 434-977-1833

Chiles Peach Orchard, Crozet, VA Part of the same family of orchards as Carter Mountain, with a quieter, more low-key feel. Weekend picking in October requires a ticket, and the farm market has cider donuts, fudge, and hard cider for the grown-ups. 434-823-1583

Fruit Hill Orchard, Palmyra, VA (Fluvanna County) A working orchard with a long variety list, both pick-your-own and pre-picked. Ginger Gold starts things off in late July, with Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Fuji carrying the season into October. Timing depends heavily on the weather each year, so check their Facebook page or call before you drive out. 434-589-7215

Silver Creek and Seamans' Orchards, Tyro, VA (Nelson County) A seventh-generation family farm with over 20 apple varieties and mountain views. Pick-your-own opens on select weekends rather than daily, so call ahead to confirm dates. 434-277-5865

Saunders Brothers Farm Market, Piney River, VA (Nelson County) Not a pick-your-own stop, but worth knowing about if you're already in the area: their farm market sells fresh-picked apples and pears straight off a fruit ripening schedule that updates through the season. 434-277-8432

Ikenberry Orchards & Country Store, Daleville, VA (Botetourt County) A longtime farm market near Roanoke known for its apples and baked goods. Picking availability varies by year, so call ahead to confirm whether it's pick-your-own or market apples during your visit.

Gross Orchard, Bedford, VA A 100-acre orchard at the foot of the Blue Ridge in an area locally known as Apple Valley, with pick-your-own during harvest season plus hayrides and farm tours. 540-586-2436

Williams Orchard, Wytheville, VA A family-owned farm growing apples, corn, pumpkins, and gourds from July through October, with a Pumpkin Festival every weekend in October that includes hayrides and a corn maze.

Wade's Orchard, Woolwine, VA (Patrick County) A small roadside market rather than a pick-your-own operation, selling fresh Virginia apples since 1975. A good stop if you're already exploring Patrick County or the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ayers Orchard, Cana, VA (Carroll County) Pick-your-own and pre-picked apples and peaches at the foot of the Blue Ridge, open 9 to 5 weekdays from late May through early November. Call in mid-June for that year's harvest dates.

Pairing an orchard visit with a nearby cidery makes for a full day out. A few worth planning around:

Charlottesville area: Potter's Craft Cider (1350 Arrowhead Valley Road) pours from a converted century-old stone church with live music most weekends. Albemarle Ciderworks in North Garden focuses on heritage apple varieties and offers orchard tours on select days.

Nelson County: Bold Rock Hard Cider in Nellysford is one of the region's best-known names, with a large taproom and mountain views near Wintergreen.

Shenandoah Valley: Old Hill Cider shares its Timberville property with Showalter's Orchard, so it's an easy add-on if you're already picking apples there.

Winchester and Loudoun: Winchester Ciderworks runs a tasting room called The Cider House in Old Town Winchester. Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery in Middleburg pours cider alongside small-batch spirits in a restored barn.

Richmond: Blue Bee Cider and Buskey Cider both operate tasting rooms in the Scott's Addition area, each pouring a rotating lineup on tap.

Lake Anna: Coyote Hole Ciderworks (also known as Prospect Drafthouse) in Mineral combines a cidery with a full food menu, live music, and lawn games, about 45 minutes from Fredericksburg.

Highland and Bath counties: Big Fish Cider Co. in Monterey and Troddenvale near Warm Springs are worth the detour if you're already headed toward the Homestead or the western mountains. Troddenvale operates by reservation, so book ahead.

Call or check the website first. Orchards close fields when they're picked out, and a spring freeze hit several Virginia orchards this year, so crop conditions and picking availability can change week to week.

Weekday mornings are calmer. Weekends in October get crowded, especially at the bigger orchards near Charlottesville and Loudoun County. If your schedule allows it, a Tuesday or Wednesday visit means shorter lines and easier parking.

Bring cash. Some smaller orchards are cash or check only, especially the ones farther from Northern Virginia.

Know your varieties. Early fall (August through mid-September) is Ginger Gold, Gala, and early McIntosh. Mid-season (mid-September through October) brings in Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Jonagold. Late season (October into November) is when Winesap, Stayman, Rome, and Pink Lady come in, which are the best baking apples if you're planning a pie.

Dress for the field, not the parking lot. Closed-toe shoes and layers make a big difference once you're walking rows on a hillside.

Know an orchard or cidery closer to home that deserves a spot on this list? Send us a message and we'll add it.