From quiet mountain orchards to full fall-day destinations, these apple-picking spots are all within about two hours of Lexington and Rockbridge County.

Fall in Rockbridge County practically calls for an apple-picking day, especially with Apple Day coming up at the Jackson House Museum on October 23, 2026. 

While you won’t find many pick-your-own apple orchards right in Lexington, you don’t have to drive far to fill a bag straight from the tree. Head east toward Nelson County and Charlottesville, north into the Shenandoah Valley or south toward Bedford and you’ll find everything from small family orchards to destinations with cider donuts, pumpkins, farm markets and plenty to keep the kids busy after the apples are picked.

We’ve rounded up pick-your-own apple orchards within roughly two hours of Downtown Lexington, so you can choose the kind of fall outing your family is actually looking for.

Choose Your Apple-Picking Day

Want a more traditional orchard experience? Try Dickie Brothers, Gross’ Orchard or Showalter’s.

Want plenty to do besides pick apples? Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter Mountain are easy choices for turning apple picking into a bigger fall outing.

Looking for mountain scenery? You’ll have plenty of it at Dickie Brothers, Showalter’s, Chiles and several of the Nelson County orchards.

Want to hunt down a specific apple variety? Check the orchard’s picking update before leaving home. Apples don’t all ripen at once, which means what’s available can change considerably from one weekend to the next.

Find Apples Near Rockbridge County

Gross’ Orchard | Bedford

6817 Wheats Valley Road, Bedford, VA 24523

Gross’ Orchard is a family-run Bedford County farm with the Peaks of Otter rising in the distance and a much more traditional orchard feel.

Pick-your-own apples begin in the fall, with different varieties ripening as the season moves along. Visitors check in, choose and pay for a picking container, then head into the orchard to fill it.

This one works especially well if the goal is simply to pick apples, enjoy the scenery and bring home a seriously heavy bag of fruit. Pair with their Annual Apple Harvest Festival on October 17! 

Good to know: The orchard is generally open Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. Check the current picking schedule before making the drive.

Learn more: grossorchard.com | 540-586-2436

Morris Orchard | Monroe

226 Tobacco Row Lane, Monroe, VA 24574

Morris Orchard sits at the base of High Peak Mountain and grows everything from summer berries and peaches to pumpkins and a long list of fall apples.

Apple picking is offered on designated weekends rather than every day. When PYO is open, you’ll purchase an orchard bag before heading out and staff will direct you to the varieties currently available.

The orchard grows familiar favorites including Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji and Pink Lady alongside heirloom varieties such as Winesap, York and Arkansas Black. Fresh apple cider arrives in the fall too.

Good to know: Pick-your-own apples are weekend-only and availability can change quickly. As of the orchard’s current update, its 2026 PYO apple dates had not yet been announced, so check before planning your drive.

Learn more: morrisorchard.com | 434-929-2401

Seamans’ Orchard | Roseland

500 Dark Hollow Road, Roseland, VA 22967 

In Nelson County, Seamans’ Orchard is especially worth watching for its designated pick-your-own apple dates rather than assuming picking is available every day.

The family orchard grows several familiar fall varieties, and its apple-picking days have traditionally included apples such as Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, Empire and Jonagold.

If your timing works out, you can combine an orchard trip with the larger fall happenings connected with Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchards, including the annual Apple Butter Makin’ Festival.

Good to know: Confirm the specific picking location and date before heading out since Seamans’ and Silver Creek operate multiple orchard properties.

Learn more: silvercreekseamansorchards.com | 434-277-5824

Chiles Peach Orchard | Crozet

1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA 22932

Don’t let the name fool you. Once peach season winds down, Chiles Peach Orchard turns into a serious apple-picking destination.

Pick-your-own apples generally run from mid-August into November, with different varieties becoming available as the season progresses. You prepay for a picking container before heading into the orchard, and staff will point you toward what’s ready that day.

This is a particularly good pick if you want more than an hour of picking and heading home. The Farm Market & Bakery has cider donuts, pies, fudge and ice cream, and fall brings pumpkins and other seasonal activities to the farm.

For 2026, apple orchard passes are required for adults ages 12 and older on Saturdays and Sundays from October 3 through October 25, so this is one you’ll definitely want to plan ahead for on an October weekend.

Good to know: Apple availability changes daily, and weekend admission rules change during peak fall dates.

Learn more: chilesfamilyorchards.com | 434-823-1583

Johnson’s Orchard | Bedford

1218 Elmos Road, Bedford, VA 24523

Set beneath the Peaks of Otter, Johnson’s Orchard combines a working orchard with a country store and Peaks of Otter Winery.

The farm grows a huge assortment of apples and offers seasonal pick-your-own fruit, although the U-pick apple selection can be more limited than at some of the orchards on this list. That makes checking availability especially important before driving down from Lexington.

There’s still plenty to browse if picking is limited, including apples in the store and seasonal farm products, and kids can check out the farm animals while you’re there.

Good to know: Call or check the orchard’s current update before making a special trip specifically for pick-your-own apples.

Learn more: peaksofotterwinery.com/johnsons-orchard | 540-586-3707

Drumheller’s Orchard | Lovingston

1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane, Lovingston, VA 22949

If your family has strong opinions about which apple belongs in a pie and which belongs in a lunchbox, Drumheller’s Orchard gives you plenty to choose from.

The orchard grows a long list of varieties throughout the season, beginning with early apples in July and continuing all the way to Pink Lady apples in November. You’ll find familiar favorites including Honeycrisp, Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith and Winesap along the way.

Fall also brings more activity to the farm, with the orchard known for seasonal traditions including cider, apple butter and its fall festival.

Good to know: The apple calendar is especially helpful if you’re making the drive for one particular variety.

Learn more: drumhellersorchard.com | 434-263-5036

Carter Mountain Orchard | Charlottesville

1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Carter Mountain Orchard is the big-destination option on this list.

The mountaintop orchard offers pick-your-own apples from around mid-August into the late fall, along with a Country Store and Bakery, cider, pumpkins and those famous apple cider donuts. The view over Charlottesville and the surrounding countryside alone makes this one feel like a full fall day trip rather than a quick stop for apples.

That popularity also means you’ll want to plan ahead. Carter Mountain uses ticketed entry on many fall weekends, including multiple weekends in September, October and November 2026. Apple picking is purchased separately from admission.

If your kids want an orchard with lots going on, put this one toward the top of your list. If you’re hoping for a quiet afternoon among the trees, one of the smaller orchards may be a better fit.

Good to know: Check both entry requirements and the current picking chart before leaving Lexington.

Learn more: chilesfamilyorchards.com/carter-mountain-orchard | 434-977-1833

Dickie Brothers Orchard | Roseland

2685 Dickie Road, Roseland, VA 22967

Dickie Brothers feels like the kind of place you go when the apples themselves are the main event. The historic Nelson County orchard has been in the same family for generations and grows numerous apple varieties against a beautiful Blue Ridge backdrop.

Pick-your-own availability changes with the harvest, so check before making the trip. One particularly nice perk for Lexington families is the drive itself. The orchard’s own directions put it about an hour from Lexington via Route 60.

If you want to stretch the outing into a full day, you’re also in prime waterfall and hiking country near Crabtree Falls.

Good to know: This is a working orchard rather than a large fall amusement-style farm, making it a good option if you’re after a simpler apple-picking trip. Due to crop loss, pick-your-own Pink Lady apples will be available on a limited basis on October 31, November 1, November 7 and November 8. Availability may be limited, so check with the orchard before making the drive.

Learn more: dickiebrothers.com | 434-277-5516

Showalter’s Orchard | Timberville

17768 Honeyville Road, Timberville, VA 22853

For a Shenandoah Valley apple-picking day, head north to Showalter’s Orchard.

The family orchard grows more than 30 apple varieties and lets visitors choose between picking their own or buying fruit already harvested. Apple season stretches from summer well into fall, with Gala and Ginger Gold among the earlier varieties and Granny Smith, Fuji, York, Stayman and Pink Lady arriving later.

The hilltop location is a big part of the appeal, with wide views across the Shenandoah Valley. The orchard also presses sweet cider on site, while Old Hill Cider operates its tasting room at the farm.

Good to know: Showalter’s sells apples by volume, with containers ranging from a half peck up to a bushel.

Learn more: showaltersorchard.com | 540-896-7582

Doe Creek Farm | Pembroke

412 Doe Creek Farm Road, Pembroke, VA 24136

If you don’t mind heading farther southwest, Doe Creek Farm gives Lexington families another option for a true pick-your-own orchard day.

The historic farm grows more than 15 apple varieties, and its smaller dwarf trees make reaching the fruit easier for younger pickers. There’s also a farm store with seasonal products including cider, jams, jellies and honey.

This is one to turn into a New River Valley day trip. The Cascades waterfall trail and the area’s historic covered bridges give you easy options for adding another stop before heading back toward Lexington.

Good to know: This is one of the longer drives on the list, so confirm apple availability before leaving home.

Learn more: doecreekfarm.com | 540-922-2705

One More to Know About in 2026

Fruit Hill Orchard | Palmyra

2745 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Palmyra, VA 22963

Fruit Hill Orchard would normally belong on an apple-picking list, but 2026 is an unusual season.

Multiple freezes caused major damage to the orchard’s apple and peach crops this year, so traditional pick-your-own apples are limited and sporadic. The farm is still open and has created an Apple Trail on Saturdays using bins of different Virginia-grown apple varieties placed throughout the orchard. Each stop identifies the apple and shares information about its flavor, uses and history.

It’s a creative alternative if you want an orchard experience this fall, but don’t make the drive expecting the usual pick-from-the-tree experience without checking the farm’s latest update first.

Learn more: fruithillorchard.com | 434-589-7215

Before You Grab the Apple Bags

Apple season isn’t one long harvest. Gala might be ready while Granny Smith is still weeks away, and a busy weekend can clear a picking block faster than expected.

Before leaving Lexington, check the orchard’s website or social media that morning to make sure pick-your-own is open and see which varieties are available. For the larger fall destinations, check admission requirements too. A few require passes on peak weekends even when weekday admission is free.

And don’t underestimate how heavy a bag of apples gets. Let the kids do the picking. You may want to volunteer to carry the cider donuts.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are there pick-your-own apple orchards in Lexington, Virginia?
There aren’t many pick-your-own apple orchards directly in Lexington, but families have several options within about a two-hour drive. Orchards can be found toward Bedford, Nelson County, Charlottesville, the Shenandoah Valley and the New River Valley. 

When is apple-picking season in Virginia?
Apple season typically begins in late summer and continues through fall, but the exact timing depends on the variety and orchard. Some apples are ready in August, while later varieties such as Fuji, Granny Smith and Pink Lady may be available well into October or November. 

Which apple orchard near Lexington has activities for kids?
Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter Mountain Orchard are two of the better options if you want to make apple picking part of a bigger fall outing. Both offer more than just picking, including farm-market treats and other seasonal offerings. 

Do I need reservations or tickets to go apple picking?
It depends on the orchard and date. Some larger destinations require admission passes on busy fall weekends, while smaller orchards may simply ask you to check in and purchase a picking container. Always check the orchard’s current requirements before leaving home. 

What apples are available for pick-your-own?
That changes throughout the season. Depending on the orchard and when you visit, you may find varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Winesap, York and Pink Lady. Check the orchard’s picking update the morning of your trip if you’re looking for a particular variety. 

What should I bring apple picking?
Comfortable shoes are a must, and it’s a good idea to check the weather before heading out. Orchards have different rules about picking bags and containers, so check ahead rather than bringing your own. And remember, a full bag of apples gets heavy surprisingly fast.

Should I check the orchard before driving there?
Yes. Pick-your-own availability can change quickly based on weather, crop conditions and how heavily an orchard was picked the previous day. Check the orchard’s website or social media the morning you plan to visit.