Cottonwood Farm Airport — Crozet, Virginia
Cottonwood Farm Airport is a private agricultural aviation strip located near Crozet in Albemarle County, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Crozet is a rapidly growing community approximately 12 miles west of Charlottesville, situated in the Rockfish Gap area where the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park begin. The Blue Ridge backdrop to the west creates a dramatic flying environment, and pilots operating from Cottonwood Farm Airport must be proficient in terrain avoidance procedures given the proximity to ridgelines that rise sharply from the surrounding Piedmont floor.
Farm airports in the Crozet area have historically supported agricultural operations in Albemarle County's western reaches, where orchards, vineyards, and livestock farms occupy the broad valley floor between the Blue Ridge and the Southwest Mountains. Cottonwood trees, from which the airport takes its name, are common along Virginia's streams and river margins, suggesting the strip may be situated near a creek or drainage feature. Operating near Crozet requires awareness of Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO) departure procedures to the east, as well as the mountain terrain to the west that creates complex wind patterns during frontal passage and afternoon heating events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Crozet, Virginia known for?
Crozet is an unincorporated community in western Albemarle County that has transformed from a small agricultural village into a fast-growing suburb of Charlottesville. It is known for proximity to Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, its vibrant craft brewing scene including Blue Mountain Brewery, and a historic downtown revitalization that has attracted families from the greater Charlottesville metro area.
How close is Cottonwood Farm Airport to the Blue Ridge Mountains?
Crozet sits at the immediate eastern base of the Blue Ridge, with ridgelines rising to 3,000–4,000 feet MSL within a few miles to the west. Pilots operating near the airport should maintain awareness of terrain and allow extra altitude margins when operating near the mountain front, especially in reduced visibility or turbulent conditions.
Is there aviation fuel available near Crozet?
Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO), approximately 12 miles to the east, provides 100LL avgas and Jet-A through its on-airport FBO. Cottonwood Farm Airport, as a private strip, does not offer fuel services to transient aircraft.
Cottonwood Farm Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Crozet, Virginia.
| Name | Cottonwood Farm Airport |
| Address | 5691 Cottonwood Farm, Crozet VA 22932 Map |
| Phone | (434) 823-5055 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Cottonwood Farm Airport
Airports near Crozet
Blue Ridge Foothills Flying — Crozet Area Aviation
The area around Crozet and western Albemarle County offers some of Virginia's most scenic flying conditions, with the Blue Ridge Mountains providing a dramatic western horizon while the Piedmont valleys below display a patchwork of farms, vineyards, and residential developments. Pilots flying VFR over this terrain should be aware that the Blue Ridge creates significant orographic effects — updrafts on the windward side and potentially severe turbulence in the wave zone on the lee side, particularly with northwest winds following cold front passage. Mountain wave activity can extend far downstream from the Blue Ridge into the Piedmont.
The Crozet area's agricultural heritage supports the tradition of farm strips like Cottonwood Farm Airport, though the community's rapid residential growth has increased the density of development around previously rural aviation sites. Pilots in this area benefit from filing flight plans and briefing thoroughly, as the terrain transitions rapidly from flat Piedmont to steep mountain ridgeline within a few miles. The Virginia Department of Aviation and FAA Eastern Region encourage private strip operators to participate in safety seminars and maintain current knowledge of NOTAMs for the area, including any temporary flight restrictions associated with Shenandoah National Park activities.