We are in the thick of apple picking season! Each October brings thousands of visitors up Carter Mountain to enjoy autumn’s splendor (and some delicious treats!). Whether you’re coming for the first time or a seasoned pro, we’ve assembled some tips to help you navigate your visit. Happy fall, y’all!
Beat the crowds: come out during the week or in November!
We are open seven days a week, and weekdays are much less crowded. We offer apple picking, apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies, wine, and hard cider every day, with food trucks available throughout the fall, including on select weekdays.
Though October is an iconic month for apples, apple picking is typically available ’til mid-November. Make sure you get the good ‘uns by checking out our apple picking tips video.
Be prepared for all weather and ground conditions
Dress in layers and have jackets, hats, scarves, and gloves available — it’s often windy up on the mountain. We also recommend sunscreen! To check the weather in our area, use zip code 22902 on your favorite weather app.
Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes when you visit. Boots are recommended if there’s been rain, as parking areas and the orchards can get muddy.
Ready-picked apples taste just as good!
Apple picking, though a lot of fun and very rewarding, involves a hilly 5–15 minute walk in each direction. If you’re more interested in the apples themselves, we have plenty of fresh apples available in the Apple Barn, including some varieties that are ready-picked only.
Weekend and holiday traffic and parking information
- Please arrive as early as possible (see our hours of operation) to be assured of parking. Keep in mind that apple picking ends one hour prior to closing.
- We contract with a professional parking and traffic control service. Please follow all directions from these attendants
- Be prepared for slow-moving traffic both entering and departing the orchard during peak times.
- Our only entrance and exit is located on Route 53 (Thomas Jefferson Parkway), a winding 2-lane road which we share with Monticello, Michie Tavern, Highland, area wineries, and local residents. October is peak season and traffic is often heavy on area roads. We have a flagman moving traffic, and we work closely with our local police department. Many of you are making a left turn when you leave the orchard. When there are a lot of cars departing at one time, it will take time to get everyone safely down the mountain and merged into the traffic flow on Route 53. We appreciate your patience and understanding that we have no control over local traffic and other events, nor how many folks visit us at any given time.
- On occasion, we reach full capacity in our parking lots. There is no off-site parking. If we reach that capacity, we have to deny access to our entrance until parking spaces clear out.
- Follow us on Twitter for regular parking and traffic updates as you are approaching Charlottesville so you will be fully informed.
- Vehicles over 20 feet, unfortunately, cannot be accommodated on the weekends, as there is no parking and turnaround space. Weekday parking is not an issue.
Sorry, no dogs allowed
Update 07.22.2020: We have made the difficult decision to no longer allow dogs or other pets on our property. There are several reasons for this policy change, and we thank you for your understanding.
Are you a Leaf Peeper?
Virginia fall foliage typically peaks in late October or early November. 2018 has been an extremely wet year and our foliage is expected to turn color later than normal.
For more information, please review our Visitor Guidelines. Have a wonderful time and thank you for supporting our family farm!
