
Virginia Overland Adventures: Expo East Travel Ideas
Make the most of Overland Expo East in Virginia with nearby overland trails, Blue Ridge Parkway drives, camping, fishing, breweries, and mountain towns.
Overland Expo EAST is just east of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains along Highway 29. It is 22 miles north of Lynchburg and 35 miles south of Charlottesville and is a short drive to Shenandoah National Park.
OCTOBER 23-25, 2026
OAK RIDGE ESTATE // ARRINGTON, VA
FRI 9-5 | SAT 9-5 | SUN 9-3
Oak Ridge Estate is a professional event venue sitting on 4,800 acres of lush Central Virginia countryside in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The popular event venue hosts numerous large events each year including the Lockn’ Music Festival, a 3-day mega-event blending more than 30,000 attendees with top music acts, local foods, craft spirits and extensive weekend camping packages.
Your Overland Expo East adventure kicks off the moment you hit the road. With Hipcamp, explore unique camping spots that make every step of the journey memorable.

Make the most of Overland Expo East in Virginia with nearby overland trails, Blue Ridge Parkway drives, camping, fishing, breweries, and mountain towns.

My trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains with the 2022 Ultimate Overland Build started as the remnants of Hurricane Ian made their way through western Virginia.

Just north of Harrisonburg, Virginia you’ll find a section of George Washington National Forest with an incredible density of trails. This area really has something for every adventurer with great options for trail difficulty, camping, and other activities, all within relatively close proximity to each other.

Fall is a great time to visit the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. One of the best ways to experience these mountains is to explore the trails and forest roads that criss-cross this region.
Looking for more ways to connect with others? Join one of the many overland groups traveling together before or after the show.
Expedition Portal | American Adventurist | ADVrider | Overland Bound
Looking for a scenic route that uses dirt, gravel, and paved roads to wind through remote parts of the region?
Additional Hotel Search Options:
EXPO HOUSING SERVICES
WARNING: This is not a legitimate company. If you are contacted by them, do not use their services.
We do not allow motorhomes / RVs to camp on-site. It’s best to book a real RV park near Arrington.
RV PARKS IN THE ARRINGTON AREA:
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
In order to keep our culture of off-the-beaten-path travel alive and well, all on-site camping is restricted to motorcycles, tents, overland vehicles, and small overland trailers ONLY.
CAMPGROUNDS IN THE AREA:
NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest offer several campgrounds, click HERE for a list of campgrounds.
DISPERSED CAMPING
For those who prefer more solitude, dispersed camping is also allowed in the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest. For a detailed guide to regulations and suggested sites, see: Dispersed camping.
An eclectic arts venue, community space, coffee shop, and used bookstore located in The Packing Shed in historic Rapunzel’s Coffee.
Basic Necessities celebrates the European mentality of thoughtful food preparation, conversation and relaxation. “La table” in French signifies so much more than just “the table,” or dinner table. It means a place where family and friends can eat, drink, talk and just be together.
When you visit you’ll find amazing, locally roasted coffee paired with a wide selection of house-made food. Bean Tree Cafe serves coffee and espresso locally roasted and also features a full menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner items with several gluten-free options available upon request.
Remember Lynchburg’s wilder side with some of the most unique burgers and brews in town! You may feel like you’re entering a speakeasy through the lower entrance, but you’ll know you’re home when you sample Bootlegger’s brews and burgers.
Find more places to eat in and around Arrington, Charlottesville or Lynchburg.
Not sure what you want to do, but want to know what is available in the area? Visit Nelson County offers a treasure trove of tips and advice on how to make the most of your stay near Infinity Downs. Looking to get out and explore a little? Check out Visit Charlottesville, Lynchburg Tourism, or Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountain website. You can also take a look at this great article for 100 Best Things to Do in Virginia.
Cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, quiet wooded hollows—take a hike, meander along Skyline Drive, or picnic with the family. 200,000 acres of protected lands are a haven to deer, songbirds, the night sky…and you. Plan a Shenandoah escape today!
From Virginia’s oldest winery, farm wineries, terraced vineyards and rustic to elegant modern tasting rooms, Nelson County offers many unique wine-tasting experiences for the wine lover. With easy access to the Route 29 corridor, the following wineries are open to visitors: Lovingston Winery, Delfosse Vineyard and Winery, Brent Manor Vineyard, and Mountain Cove Winery. Along Route 151 are Veritas Vineyard and Winery, Cardinal Point Winery, Afton Mountain Vineyard, Flying Fox Vineyard, and Hilltop Berry Farm and Winery. Be sure to check out Nelson 151. Find out more at Visit Nelson County.
Charlottesville has Live Music almost every night of the week. There is something for everyone!
Looking for a great Concert to attend? Lynchburg may just have what you’re looking for.
Get lost in the beauty of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests with a great hike! Limitless options are available at Hiking Project.
Take a day hike on a section of the Appalachian Trail. Crabtree Falls claims to be Virginia’s most beautiful waterfall. Enjoy this hike to decide for yourself!
This list highlights 15 favorite hikes near Charlottesville.
The Brew Ridge Trail is a self-guided tour featuring five of the nation’s best craft breweries. With everything from lagers to stouts, there’s something for everyone along the trail… The five breweries along the Trail include Blue Mountain Brewery, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Starr Hill Brewery, and Wild Wolf Brewing Company. Visit brewridgetrail.com for more information.
Popular mountain biking trail suggestions from the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club.
Bicycle rentals and guides available through Blue Ridge Cyclery – Downtown in Charlottesville or Bikes Unlimited in Lynchburg. MTB Project or Singletracks also have maps and suggestions for great trails in Virginia.
Take a trip back in time at The Walton Museum.
Civil War enthusiasts have plenty of options in Lynchburg, or Charlottesville hosts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Nelson County offers many fishing opportunities along its rivers, lakes and streams, including the Tye River, James River, Little Piney River (stream) and Rockfish River.
Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout; largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill
Dead Drift Outfitters is here to get you locked in on fish. Services include custom flies, gear, tying materials, fly fishing and tying instruction and guided wade and float trips.
Although motorcycle rentals are not available locally in Arrington, you can fly to the surrounding areas and rent adventure motorcycles at:
Charlotte, NC – Carolina Adventure Cycles
Roanoke, VA – Eagle Rider
Townsend, TN – GSM MotoRent
Enjoy a ride through the Blue Ridge Parkway or Shenandoah National Park on your way to Overland Expo.
Every ticket helps restore the trails you love.
Meet @VentureUnknownFoundation, this year`s @OverlandExpoFoundation Charity Dinner beneficiary. They`ve cleaned and restored 755 miles of trails, hauled 260,000 pounds of trash off public lands, and continue to protect wild places.
Join us for a wild-foraged BBQ menu by Chef Natty from @food_for_adventures, play the 50/50 raffle and hear stories from recipients the Overland Expo Foundation has helped.
Overland Expo Foundation Charity Dinner
📍Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, VA
📅 Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, 6-8 p.m.
Must be an Overland Expo East camper or exhibitor to attend. Dinner tickets are sold separately.
Buy your ticket using the link in bio.
#OverlandExpoFoundation #PublicLands #TrailRestoration
#VentureUnknownFoundation CharityDinne
Cap on Monday for the tools. Bed wide open Saturday for the trail. SOLO from @VenturousTruckTops gives you both. 🛻
One person job, no tools needed. Pull the PolyFuse panels, open up the MOLLE-ready rack for your gear, and slide the panels into the bed. Truly modular, built for the workweek and the weekend.
Read more on The Compass, link in bio. 🧭
Fall is officially here. 🍂
Virginia will look like this soon.
Join us at Overland Expo East, Oct. 23–25 in Arrington, Virginia. Our final event of the year.
🎟️ Link in bio
📍 Oak Ridge Estate
#OverlandExpo #Overlanding #Fall #Virginia #AutumnAdventure
Coming to your first Overland Expo East? Welcome to the community, you`ll fit right in.
We rounded up the essentials: layers, solid shoes, and water bottles!
Read the full list of items on The Compass, link in bio.
📍 Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, Virginia
📅 October 23-25, 2026
#TheCompass #OverlandExpo #Virginia #Outdoors
Can’t hang. I’ll be at Overland Expo East.
📍Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, VA. Oct. 23-25.
Grab tickets using the link in bio.
#OverlandExpoEast #Overlanding #Virginia #Booked #Outdoors
Ready means never getting stuck for long. 🧭
We`re closing out the 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle series with the gear that keeps you self-reliant when it counts. @FreedomRecoveryGear, @Wilco_Offroad, @onXOffroad, @RotopaXOfficial and @ForrestTool cover every angle: a full recovery kit and traction boards for the tough spots, a sturdy hitchgate for carrying a spare tire, trusted navigation off the grid, water and fuel storage, and a multipurpose tool kit for whatever the trail throws at you.
A build that proves what`s possible when a proven vehicle meets the best in adventure gear.
The 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle heads to the Bring a Trailer auction this fall—and every dollar raised goes straight to the @OverlandExpoFoundation. Stay tuned for details.
#UltimateOverlandVehicle #OverlandExpo #OverlandExpoFoundation #RecoveryGear #TrailReady
@CVTTents is home again. 🏕️
Founder Bobby Culpepper just reacquired Cascadia Vehicle Tents (CVT), and he`s ready to rebuild.
Swipe to learn more. Full interview on The Compass, link in bio.
#TheCompass #CVT #OverlandExpo
Whether you`re just starting out or you`ve logged miles of dirt roads, you`ll fit right in.
Overland Expo East welcomes you with 200+ exhibitors and 260+ classes and activities.
🎟️ Buy tickets before midnight and save. Click the link in bio.
📅 October 23-25, 2026
📍 Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, Virginia
#OverlandExpo #Overlanding #OverlandExpoEast #Outdoors #Virginia
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo East in Arrington, VA.