Tales from the Trail: Piney River & Beyond
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.
Guide ToTHE ARRINGTON REGION
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 3-5, 2025
OAK RIDGE ESTATE // ARRINGTON, VA
FRI 9-5 | SAT 9-5 | SUN 9-3
ABOUT THE VENUE
OAK RIDGE ESTATe
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.
DRIVING TIMES TO OAK RIDGE ESTATES:
- Richmond, VA via I-64 to US-29: 2 hrs
- Washington, DC via US-29: 3.5 hrs
- Charlotte, NC via I-85 to US-29: 4 hrs
- New York City, NY via I-95: 7 hrs
- Atlanta, GA via I-85 to US-29: 7.5 hrs
OVERLAND ROUTES & RESOURCES
Trips & Trails: Union Springs
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.
Trips & Trails: Fenwick Mines
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.
Trips & Trails: Bald Mountain
If you’re on your way to or from Overland Expo East and decide to seek out a challenging trail, Bald Mountain is where you need to be. It’s located in the Saint Mary’s area of George Washington, and the southern terminus is only 45 minutes from Oak Ridge Estates.
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?
ACCOMODATIONS
HOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS
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.
NEARBY RV PARKS
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.
CAMPING
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.
FOOD & DRINK
RAPUNZEL’S COFFEE & BOOKS
An eclectic arts venue, community space, coffee shop, and used bookstore located in The Packing Shed in historic Rapunzel’s Coffee.
BASIC NECESSITIES
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.
BEAN TREE CAFE
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.
BOOTLEGGERS
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.
THINGS TO DO
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.
NATIONAL PARKS
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!
VINEYARDS & WINERIES
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.
MUSIC
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.
HIKING
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.
BREW RIDGE TRAIL
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.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
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.
HISTORY
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.
FISHING
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.
Fly & Ride
Where to rent motorcycles?
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.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW #OVERLANDEXPO
When adventure calls, you answer. K&N ensures that your rig is ready to take on any challenge nature throws at you. Built to withstand dusty trails and rocky paths, their filtration systems let your engine breathe easy so you can focus on what matters most: enjoying the journey.
Go further, explore more, with @knfilters ⛰️
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#knfilters #adventureawaits #overlandadventure #exploremore
Here’s a roundup of the best Toyotas of 2024 that stole the show at this year’s Overland Expo events 🔥
Which one’s your favorite? Did we miss any? Let us know below 👇
Come to our 2025 events to see more epic, adventure-ready Toyotas and all the gear options to kit them out 🏔️
🎥 @rick_stowe
Featuring:
@simon4runner
@bound.for.nowhere
@explorationquarterly
@peaksuspension
@elevatedoverland
@expion360
@adventurehammocksystems
@msoverland
@sherpaec
@intrepidcampgear
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@toyotausa #Toyota #OverlandExpo #AdventureReady #OverlandVehicles #OverlandTrucks #toyotagram #toyotalife #toyotafreaks #toyotatrucks #toyotalove
ANTISHANTY builds ultralight, fully hard-sided, all-aluminum, four-season adventure dwellings designed to adapt to any outdoor lifestyle.
Each product is built with the team’s hobbies in mind, including off-roading, mountain biking, dirt biking, skiing, hunting, and fishing. No matter the product, you can enjoy breathtaking views and the ultimate indoor-outdoor experience, whether opening the A-frame doors from the lofted queen bed of the AS-1 trailer or opening the three
side doors on the RTD and DWELL SHELL for a 270 degree view. Each product is built to last with no wood or canvas to rot or mold.
DWELL DIFFERENT and enhance your outdoor lifestyle to the fullest with ANTISHANY. Learn more at the link in bio 🏕️
🎥 @antishantyusa
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#antishanty #dwelldifferent #USA #outside #hardsided #modular
Not that you needed any convincing 😉
What’s your favorite part of Overland Expo?
If you’ve never been, be sure to join us for an event (or a few!) in 2025. We’ve got an incredible lineup and our team is working hard behind the scenes planning the best year
yet!
🎟️ Early Bird tickets for all 2025 events are on sale now! Lock in your spot and save before prices go up 12/31 🔥
We can’t wait to see you!
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#overlandexpo #overlandevent #overlandcommunity #overlandrigs #overlandvehicles #overlandgear
Tired of apps that crash before you do? Gaia GPS is built to go the distance, just like you.
Whether you’re tackling epic trails, finding the perfect campsite, or overlanding into uncharted territory, @gaiagps has your back with reliable offline maps, real-time weather, and trip planning tools that won’t quit on you.
🗺️ Subscribe for premium features like pro-level map layers and faster downloads. Say goodbye to “app not responding” and hello to adventures done right.
#gaiagps #adventureoffroad
Ready to make an overlander’s holiday dreams come true? From rugged gear to epic travel essentials, our Holiday Gift Guide has everything the adventurer in your life will love.
Whether they’re hitting the trails or camping under the stars, these picks are sure to fuel their next journey 🌲
🔥 You’ll find exclusive holiday offers in this guide as well, so you can score a gift for your adventure partner (or for yourself 😉) at a discount.
🎁 Check out the guide now and find the perfect gift! (Link in bio)
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#Overlanding #HolidayGiftGuide #AdventureAwaits #GearUp #OverlandLife #OverlandGear
Treat your truck or SUV with the tire it deserves! The Open Country R/T Trail is built for light-truck and SUV owners seeking greater off-road capability than a standard all-terrain tire, without the noise and harshness of a dedicated mud tire.
🎥 @ToyoTires
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#ToyoTires #TeamToyo #TougherTire
As we head into the holiday weekend here in the U.S., we want to say how incredibly grateful we are for YOU. This incredible overlanding and adventure travel community is truly something special.
To our attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, instructors, and event staff - and to everyone who shares our passion for exploring the world on four wheels (or two!) - thank you for making every event an unforgettable adventure.
We hope you enjoy the holiday weekend! Here’s to many more miles and memories together 🏔️
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#OverlandExpo #ThankfulForAdventure #OverlandingCommunity #overlandcommunity #overlandevent #grateful
THE WORLD IS OUT THERE GO SEE IT!
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo East in Arrington, VA.