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
Why is this @kchilites engineer smiling? Besides having happy employees, they’ve been putting smiles 😎 on vehicles for over five decades.
For this year, they have something more to smile about - their newest product reveal: PLATFORM ONE™ Roof Rack. See it in person at their booth at Overland Expo West and one of their awesome employees will be happy to help.
@scoutcampers is a Title Sponsor of Overland Expo West 2025, and they’re bringing the full lineup to Flagstaff 🛻🌲
Built for four-season travel and off-grid exploration, Scout’s lightweight, modular truck campers are designed to keep it simple without sacrificing capability. Whether you`re curious about their latest pop-up innovations, want to tour the hardwall Olympic or Kenai, or just looking to chat with the team that builds them - you won’t want to miss their booth.
Stop by to explore the campers in person, ask questions, and see how Scout Campers is redefining the truck camper experience with smart design and rugged capability.
📍Catch them at Overland Expo West, May 16-18 in Flagstaff, AZ and per their motto - get ready to #CampSimple.
Get ready to #CreateYourAdventure with @Fieldvans at Overland Expo West! 🚐
This is your chance to check out the latest builds, featuring exciting upgrades to their most popular designs. Get answers to all your overlanding questions from their expert team, including insights from the one and only Alan Feld.
From 2-3 PM, join the First Aid Training session by Mana Group Training Solutions. You`ll learn essential medical skills for handling trauma and injuries while overlanding.
Stick around afterward for live music and hang out with the Field Van crew on Saturday night!
You`ll find them at their annual Field of Dreams camp area, alongside many of their customers, all weekend long. 🤙
Off-Road Travel TV is the only weekly cable television show devoted to the off-road adventure travel and the overland lifestyle. Each week the @offroadtraveltv crew takes viewers to spectacular off-road locations and shows them the latest gear and accessories that make the modern off-road / overland travel lifestyle so popular and appealing.
📺 Off-Road Travel TV can be seen every Sunday at 9:30am on RACER TV!
Overland Expo West May 16-18 is the one place you can join thousands of other passionate enthusiasts to see all the latest gear, learn new skills, meet new friends and be inspired by hundreds of new ideas and creative ways to make your travels more enjoyable.
🔥 Be sure to stop by and see the Off-Road Travel TV project Toyota Tundra in the Creator Area and the project Toyota 4Runner in the Goose Gear booth. Don’t miss it!
Lexus is once again bringing uncompromising performance to Overland Expo West—and they’re bringing Kurt and Jackson along for the ride with their always-in-demand overlanding workshops. They’ll be at Booth Q25, which will also feature the LX and GX with Lexus AAP Accessories on display.
🌟 Don’t miss your chance to receive the collectible LX 700h Overtrail patch!
👉 @lexususa
Get ready for an epic weekend at Overland Expo West May 16-18 in Flagstaff, AZ — 400+ vendors, 175+ expert-led classes & demos, incredible adventure ready vehicles and gear, happy hours, parties, family friendly activities, and the BEST community of overlanders around. 🙌🔥
Want the full experience? Camp with us! 🌄 Wake up to mountain air, make new friends at camp, and enjoy easy access to all the fun and adventure all weekend long.
🎟️ Grab your tickets at the link in bio and start planning your adventure! Prices go up 5/4 so snag `em now.
REDARC, the mobile power and brake controller specialists, are excited to be a sponsor at Overland Expo West! Join them at Booth #Q15 and discover how @redarc_electronics cutting-edge products are powering the next generation of overlanding adventures.
⛰️ From their advanced brake controllers to their reliable 12V power solutions, they have everything you need to enhance your journey off the grid.
⚡ Don’t miss their exclusive educational sessions all weekend, where their experts will share essential insights on 12V power needs, ensuring your rig is ready for anything.
Whether you`re new to overlanding or a seasoned pro, they will help you make the most of your outdoor experience. Stop by, chat with the team, and level up your overlanding setup with REDARC at Overland Expo West! 🌲
Not that you needed any convincing 😉 But just in case you don`t know how awesome camping at Overland Expo West is, here`s why it`s a must:
🏕️ Enjoy easy access to all the action—from sunrise coffee walks to sunset parties, the vendors, film festival, raffle, happy hours, and more
🙌 The overlanding community is one-of-a-kind—you’re bound to make new friends (or find your next expedition partner!)
🚐 Some of the coolest rigs are in the campgrounds - be sure to wander and get inspired!
✨ Keep the good times rolling after the vendor areas close and have easy access to your home base when you`re ready to call it a night
🌲 Set up camp in the beautiful pine forests of Flagstaff and enjoy the perfect combo of nature + adventure
What`s your favorite part of camping at West? Tag your camping crew and let us know if you`re coming! 👇
🎟️ Get your camping passes if you haven’t already and start planning your adventure! Prices go up 5/4.
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.