Hot summer days are now a distant memory. As the weather turns chilly and the leaves fall to create a crunchy blanket of charming fall colors, this beckons the start of pumpkin season.
It’s time to prep for pumpkin picking—whether for Halloween decorations or whipping up scrummy pumpkin dishes. By now there should be plump orange gourds popping up all over your social media feed or on front porches in your neighborhood.
The good news is that the Charlottesville area is bursting with picturesque pumpkin farms, gardens, and orchards. They offer an excellent adventure opportunity for folks of all ages. Plan a group outing, a rustic retreat, a romantic date, or a family day trip to hunt for the best pumpkins while basking in the dazzling fall views and indulging in the mouth-watering delicacies that characterize the Blue Ridge Mountains region.
Here are some of the best places to go pumpkin picking in the Charlottesville area for your pumpkin haul:
1. Carter Mountain Orchard and Chiles Peach Orchard
The pumpkin picking experience at the orchards owned by the Chiles Family is one of a kind. From awe-inspiring views, a bounty of fresh produce, to the crisp fall mountain air, Carter Mountain Orchard is a memorable adventure waiting to happen.
The Chiles Family Orchards offer different varieties of pumpkins for your picking—including thick-skinned jack-o-lantern pumpkins for carving and smaller luscious ones for cooking.
Please note that the Carter Mountain Orchard only offers pre-picked options. If you want to pick your own, head over to the Chiles Peach Orchard.
Website: https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/
Address (Carter Mountain Orchard): 1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Address (Chiles Peach Orchard): 1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA 22932
2. Liberty Mills Farm
You may know Liberty Mills Farm as Virginia’s largest corn maze, but they have another card up their sleeve: a pumpkin patch nestled on a beautiful hill with a panoramic view of the scenic countryside and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The farm is only a few minutes’ drive from Charlottesville, but the experience will keep you engaged for a couple of hours as you attempt to navigate the corn maze and pick out the perfect pumpkins directly from the patch.
Liberty Mills Farm also features a famed L.O.V.E sign that makes for a great spot to take Instagram-worthy pictures that immortalize the already memorable experience with your loved ones.
Website: https://www.libertymillsfarm.store/pumpkin-patch
Address: 9166 Liberty Mills Road, Somerset, VA 22972
3. Fruit Hill Orchard
Grab a porch-full haul of pumpkins from Fruit Hill Orchard’s pumpkin patch. And while you’re at it, consider picking your own apples, unleashing the athlete in your in the orchard’s ‘apple dash obstacle course’, or simply lounging in the relaxing flower gardens savoring a delish dessert.
In line with the Halloween mood, find time to attend one of Fruit Hill Orchard’s pumpkin painting workshops to bring the near-endless pumpkin decorating ideas in your social media feed to life. But make sure to check the dates on their website.
Website: https://www.fruithillorchard.com/
Address: 2745 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Palmyra, VA 22963
4. Blue Ridge Mountain Maze
Fun is a place called Blue Ridge Mountain Maze. The venue offers a truckload of outdoor activities for all ages – including a 5-acre corn maze, campfires, giant slides, farm animals, apple slingshot, and of course, picking from their huge selection of pumpkins.
Located a few miles from Charlottesville, the Blue Ridge Mountains Maze proudly claims to have among the best pumpkins around—and we have little reason to doubt them, especially with a patch offering hundreds to thousands of options.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a monstrous pumpkin that’ll take two adults to move or smaller ones for your kiddos, the Blue Ridge Mountains Maze’s pumpkin patch is the place to be.
Website: https://www.blueridgemountainmaze.com/
Address: 165 Old Ridge Rd., Lovingston, VA 22949
5. Back Home—on the Farm
Rest your eyes on a wide variety of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes at Back Home—on the Farm, located on the scenic Shenandoah Valley. The farm, which has been a destination for fall fun for over a decade, is home to a 7-acre pumpkin patch, a spooktacular enchanted garden, aMAZEing corn mazes, and 30+ activities to excite the whole family.
You can either walk into the farm and cut your favorite pumpkins right from their vines or chose one from the pre-picked selection. As the saying goes, east or west, home is best. So, plan a trip with your family to ‘Back Home – on the Farm’ to celebrate the fall harvest season.
Website: https://backhome-onthefarm.com/
Address: 2915 Willow Run Rd., Harrisonburg, VA 22802
6. Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch
Head over to Sarah’s pumpkin patch where the secret ingredient is love. The family farm was started in 2010 as a product of Sarah’s love for everything pumpkin-related. What started as an honest pumpkin patch has now grown into a sizeable 4-acre farm overflowing with pumpkins.
Keep an eye on wheelbarrow and wagon deals at Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch to kick start your upcoming festive season in full gear.
Website: https://www.sarahspumpkins.com/
Address: off of Caves Ford Lane, Orange VA
7. Chisholm Vineyards
Live music, pumpkins ripe for the picking, a stunning backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, great food & wine, and a tranquil setting for family fun – what else could we ask for? Chisholm Vineyard’s October pumpkin patch is just one facet of the exciting experience that awaits.
Website: https://chisholmvineyards.com/
Address: 1135 Clan Chisholm Lane, Earlysville, VA 22936
Ready, Set, Go Pumpkin Picking!
It’s pumpkin time! Grab your squad, dress up for the weather, and venture out to explore the bountiful pumpkin patches in the Charlottesville area.
