One Virginia pie shop spends three days making its crust.
Three days, for the part some people leave on the plate.
I love that kind of stubborn devotion.
That same shop packs more than three pounds of local apples into a single pie.
Another bakery on this list has been at it since 1981, mixing Crispin, Northern Spy, and Granny Smith apples into one filling.
A third sits on a mountain orchard where the apples grow just outside.
Apple pie feels like fall in edible form. Crisp air, a flaky top, cinnamon drifting out of a paper box.
I can’t think of a better reason for a weekend drive. Honestly, the drive is half the fun.
So which slice belongs on your autumn calendar?
The answers stretch from city sidewalks to quiet country crossroads, and one of them even comes with arcade games.
Mom’s Apple Pie Bakery, Leesburg, VA
Three apples walk into a pie, and somehow it works. The signature pie here blends Crispin, Northern Spy, and Granny Smith apples under a flaky butter crust.
That mix matters more than you might think. Each apple brings its own balance of tart and sweet, so the filling never tastes flat.
The bakery has been turning out pies since 1981, when the company started in Virginia. Crusts are made from scratch with real butter and flour.
Sugar gets used sparingly, which lets the fruit do the talking.
Local farm-grown fruit goes into the pies when it’s available. The company also skips preservatives, so you’re getting a straightforward bake.
Prefer a little crunch on top? An Apple Crumb Topped Pie is on the menu too, and it’s a fine choice for crumble fans.
Whole pies run 9 inches across and weigh roughly two to two and a half pounds. That’s a solid haul for a holiday table.
Not feeling a full pie? Slices are available, along with cookies, quiche, and coffee.
This shop is takeout only, so plan a stroll through downtown Leesburg with your box.
Address: 220 Loudoun St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
Carter Mountain Orchard and Country Store, Charlottesville, VA
Few pie stops let you meet the apples before they become dessert. On this mountaintop, the trees and the bakery share the same address.
Carter Mountain is a working orchard with seasonal fruit picking. You can wander the rows, fill a bag, and then head to the country store for something already baked.
The store’s bakery turns out apple pie alongside apple cider donuts and apple cookies. It’s basically an apple buffet with a scenic backdrop.
And that backdrop is a big part of the draw. The views from the mountain stretch across the Charlottesville area, which makes a slice taste even better.
Fall is prime time here for obvious reasons. Picking season, crisp weather, and a pie in hand feel like the official start of autumn in Virginia.
The orchard keeps steady hours, open from 9 AM to 6 PM seven days a week. That gives you room for a morning trip or a late-afternoon detour.
Want a smart plan? Pick your apples first, then grab a pie for home and a donut for the ride down.
Nobody will judge the donut crumbs on your jacket.
Address: 1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Livin’ The Pie Life, Arlington, VA
Three days for one crust sounds a little wild. At this Arlington bakery, that patience is the whole point, and the crust uses plenty of butter.
Two Arlington moms started the business in 2011 by selling pies at farmers markets. The storefront on North Glebe Road opened in 2016.
Then came a big headline. Newsweek readers voted it America’s Best Pie in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
So what should you grab first? Mom’s Flaky Apple Pie packs more than three pounds of locally grown apples from Twin Springs Fruit Farm.
That’s a lot of fruit for one pie plate. Expect a tall, hefty slice rather than a skimpy layer of filling.
The Apple Caramel Crumb Pie also uses three pounds of those local apples. Caramel and crumb topping make it the fall sweater of the dessert case.
Every pie gets made from scratch in-house, and the bakery buys from local growers when it can. Cookies, key lime pie, and chicken pot pie fill out the lineup.
Keep the schedule in mind before you go. The shop closes Mondays and Tuesdays, and Sunday hours wrap up at 2 PM.
Address: 2166 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22207
Pie Gourmet, Vienna, VA
Pink Lady apples get the starring role here, and they’ve earned it. The classic Apple Pie packs them in under the bakery’s signature circle crust.
Pie Gourmet has been baking since 1987. It moved into its Vienna home on Maple Avenue a year later, in 1988.
Crumb lovers should eye the French Apple Pie. It pairs delicately spiced, freshly peeled apples with a brown sugar crumb crust.
Quick heads-up on that topping. The crumb may contain walnuts, so ask if nuts are a concern at your table.
Feeling adventurous? Apple-Raspberry and Apple Cranberry pies give the classic a fruity twist, and the cranberry version wears a walnut crumb too.
The bakery leans on fresh ingredients and skips artificial flavors and preservatives. That keeps the focus on fruit and buttery crust.
Gluten-free options exist for some pies with 24 hours of notice. A little planning goes a long way before a big family dinner.
Weekday hours start at 7 AM, which is great news for early birds. Swing by before work and you’ll be the office hero by lunchtime.
Address: 507 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180
Proper Pie Co., Richmond, VA
Richmond borrowed a page from New Zealand, and your fork is grateful. This small Church Hill bakery serves pies in the Kiwi style, both sweet and savory.
The menu rotates, so the lineup changes as you visit. That keeps things interesting and gives you a reason to come back.
Apple pie shows up among the sweet offerings, made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. A flaky, golden crust is the shop’s calling card.
Savory fans get plenty to chew on too. Sausage rolls, a bacon and Gouda pasty, and chicken pot pie share the case with the desserts.
Sweet options go beyond apple as well. Chocolate chess, coconut cream, key lime, and mince pie have all appeared on the menu.
Dairy-free and meat-free choices make it easier to feed a mixed crowd. Ask what’s available that day, since the menu shifts.
Plan around the hours. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 PM and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
There’s no dine-in, so this is a grab-and-go stop. A savory pie for lunch and an apple pie for later sounds like a balanced diet to us.
Address: 2505 E Broad St #100, Richmond, VA 23223
The Apple House, Linden, VA
Long before it sold donuts, this spot shipped apples. The Apple House began in 1963 as a shipping point with a small roadside market.
More than six decades later, it’s still family run. You’ll find it along John Marshall Highway in the northern Blue Ridge, right where mountain views meet appetite.
Apple pie is a flagship item here. Peach pie also gets plenty of love, so you may need to make a tough call.
Then there are the donuts. Apple butter cinnamon donuts are the most famous treat, and apple cider donuts are on the menu too.
Still hungry? A baked apple dumpling with caramel glaze is basically apple pie in a tidy little bundle.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with barbecue sandwiches and biscuits and gravy. A fireplace adds charm on chilly autumn days.
Before you leave, browse the gift shop. Jams, jellies, apple butter, hot sauces, and other Virginia products line the shelves.
Hours run from 7 AM most days, with an earlier close on Mondays. Reservations aren’t taken, so just show up hungry and ready to choose between pie and donuts.
Address: 4675 John Marshall Hwy, Linden, VA 22642
Mom’s Apple Pie at Hill High, Round Hill, VA
Western Loudoun County hides its sweet side along Leesburg Pike. Out in tiny Round Hill, this Mom’s Apple Pie location brings the family recipes to the countryside.
It’s part of the same company that started baking in 1981. That means the same butter crust and the same habit of using sugar sparingly.
The apple pie is the obvious move. Expect a flaky crust with a buttery flavor wrapped around a fruit-forward filling.
Variety is a strength here, though. Blueberry, banana cream, and Boston cream pies give you options if someone in the car isn’t an apple person.
Hungry for more than dessert? Sandwiches, quiche, and cookies round out the shelves, plus coffee for the road.
Round Hill has fewer than 1,000 residents, so the setting feels refreshingly rural. Fall drives through this part of Virginia come with rolling farmland and changing leaves.
Parking is free in the lot, which keeps the stop easy. Hours mirror the Leesburg shop, running 11 AM to 6 PM most days and closing at 5 PM on Sunday.
One pie might not be enough. Grab a spare for the freezer and thank yourself in November.
Address: 35246 Leesburg Pike Ste 120, Round Hill, VA 20141
Woodruff’s Cafe and Pie Shop, Monroe, VA
A blacksmith shop, a country store, and now a pie shop. This building near the Blue Ridge foothills has worn a lot of hats since the late 1800s.
The family history runs deep. A country store opened here in 1951, and it reopened as a pie shop in 1998.
National viewers got a peek in February 2020. That’s when the shop appeared on the Today Show with Al Roker.
The house specialty is a famous apple pie made with fresh, locally grown fruit. A fried apple pie also tempts anyone who likes a handheld treat.
You can order your slice a la mode too. Peach, pecan, blackberry, and key lime pies keep the dessert case colorful.
Need a real meal first? The seasonal cafe menu offers sandwiches on ciabatta and homemade soups.
A sugar-free, gluten-free pie option helps more people join the fun. The shop also accepts reservations, which is handy for a group outing.
Timing matters in Monroe. The shop opens Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, so a Sunday drive won’t cut it here.
Address: 3297 Elon Rd, Monroe, VA 24574
WPA Bakery, Richmond, VA
Gluten-free apple pie often gets treated like a consolation prize. At this Richmond bakeshop, it’s a reason to visit all by itself.
WPA Bakery sits in a historic building on Semmes Avenue. The space pairs old bones with a relaxed, hip feel.
Gluten-free and vegan options are a big part of the menu. That makes it a smart pick when friends have different dietary needs.
The apple pie earns plenty of praise, and the gluten-free version stands out. You don’t have to compromise on that flaky autumn fix.
Pie isn’t the only showstopper, either. The canelés here have a loyal following, with caramelized shells and soft centers.
Breakfast fans can grab vegan breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Coffee cake also makes a strong case for a morning stop.
Doors open at 7 AM daily, closing at 6 PM most days and 4 PM on Sunday. Free street parking helps keep the visit simple.
Planning a celebration? The bakery also handles birthday and wedding cakes.
Just maybe save room for a slice of apple pie while you place the order.
Address: 3414 Semmes Ave, Richmond, VA 23225
The Pie Shoppe/The Pie Lady, Fincastle, VA
Main Street in Fincastle has a sweet tooth. Right on the corner of the historic town, this pie shop blends an old setting with modern decor.
Fincastle has fewer than 1,000 residents. That small-town scale makes a pie stop feel like a proper event.
Homemade apple pie is a go-to here. Many folks take a whole one home for birthdays and weekend gatherings.
The menu covers both sweet and savory pies. Chocolate pecan and peanut butter pie offer tempting alternatives to the classic.
Lunch deserves attention too. The mac and cheese uses three different cheeses, which sounds like a fine warm-up for dessert.
Staff are happy to make recommendations if you can’t decide. Prices stay reasonable, which leaves room for an extra slice.
Hours stretch later than many small-town spots. The shop stays open until 9 PM Wednesday through Saturday and serves a Sunday window from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
Monday is the day off, so plan around it. A fall drive through this corner of Virginia pairs nicely with pie and a stroll down Main Street.
Address: 1 E Main St, Fincastle, VA 24090
Acme Pie Company, Arlington, VA
Pie and pinball might be the best pairing nobody asked for. This Arlington shop pairs handmade pies with retro arcade games.
Founded by a pastry chef, Acme started as a wholesale business in 2013. The retail storefront followed in 2019, and the shop moved to Columbia Pike in early 2025.
The name means the highest point or stage of something. That’s a bold promise for a pie shop, but the crusts back it up.
They’re handmade in an old Southern style, similar to puff pastry. Expect a crisp, flaky bite in each forkful.
The apple pie is vegan and all about the fruit. Fresh, locally grown apples get a hint of spice and just enough sweetness.
An Apple Cranberry pie adds a tart twist for fall. Pies come by the slice, as 7-inch minis, or as 10-inch large pies.
Small batches get baked daily with seasonal, local ingredients. That’s why the menu shifts with the calendar.
Check the hours, since mornings and afternoons vary by day. Weekends run longest, perfect for a slice and a high score.
Address: 2406 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
