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
Tacoma Lifestyle is a proud sponsor of Overland Expo West this year in Flagstaff Arizona! Swing by their booth to score exclusive patches and stickers while supplies last from @TacomaLifestyle, @4RunnerLifestyle, and @TundraLifestyle
Utah Based & Known as the biggest and best online destinations for everything Overland related to the Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra, these brands bring the gear, the community, and the lifestyle together like no one else.
Don’t miss out and be sure to stop in and check them out!
@papagovans is rolling into Overland Expo West as a Title Sponsor, bringing serious adventure-ready builds to Booth Q57. Founded by off-road enthusiasts with backgrounds in mechanical engineering and design, Papago builds aren’t just beautiful—they’re engineered for performance in the field.
Unlike mass-produced vans, every Papago build is shaped by the person who’ll actually be living in it. These rigs aren’t built for the masses, they’re built for you. Every detail is dialed with real-world use in mind, blending functional innovation with no-compromise capability.
This year, they’re showcasing their most ambitious builds yet, crafted for those who value substance over hype. If you’re an overlander looking beyond the standard #vanlife aesthetic, this is the booth you don’t want to miss.
Stop by the @toyotires booth (#Q70) in the quad at Overland Expo West for free giveaways, to test your skills on their R/C Crawler course, and to check out the new Open Country R/T Pro!
Be sure to follow @TeamToyoUSA for live updates from the event.
Follow along as @nomad_rvs builds RVs in real time!
🛠️ With videos uploaded daily, they bring you along for every step of the build process. They are RVIA certified and the quality shows.
👉 Head over to their booth during Overland Expo West located at P5. You can see their most popular model - The Euphoria - and their widely anticipated Euphoria XL Twin Bed built on the 170" Mercedes AWD Chassis!
🌲 The Overland Expo West map is live! 🌲 Swipe for a sneak peek, then hit the link in bio for a larger viewing experience 👀
Check it out to see:
◾Where all the education sessions and demos will be 🧭
◾Your favorite brands and gear stops 🛠
◾Food trucks, bars, films, happy hours, and more 🌮 🍻🎬
◾Camping zones for those with camping passes 🏕️ 🚐
And so much more!
Overland Expo West is our largest event of the year—with more vehicles, gear, education sessions, and fun than you can possibly experience in just one day.
⏳ The countdown is on – it’s less than 3 weeks away! Haven’t locked in your tickets yet? Do it before prices go up at the end of next week 🎟️
PS: Stay tuned – the official Overland Expo event app drops with West info soon, including an interactive version of this map and everything you need to know.
Will we see you at West?
The Ultimate Overland Motorcycle is back for 2025—built in partnership with the @overlandexpofoundation and an all-star lineup of visionary brands. 🛠️🏍️🔥
This year’s build pushes the limits of adventure-ready design—and you won’t believe what we’ve got in store.
Keep your eyes out for the full reveal on May 1! 👀
We’ve been hard at work building something epic – the 2025 Ultimate Overland Vehicle is almost ready to roll 🛻💨
Any guesses to what it is?
Built in collaboration with the @overlandexpofoundation, @aevconversions, @tinyrigco, and an array of incredible build partners, this year’s rig is a beast on its own and is outfitted with the best in the industry.
📅 Full reveal drops May 1 — don’t miss it.
#OverlandExpo #overlandvehicle #offroadvehicle #offroadtruck #offroadcamper #camperbuild #truckcamper #overlandcamper
OVR is headed to Overland Expo West! As an official media partner, @ovrmag is proud to be part of the ultimate gathering for overlanders, explorers, and gear lovers alike. Whether you`re a seasoned trail veteran or just starting your adventure journey, swing by the OVR booth to say hello, check out our latest gear picks, and meet the team behind your favorite adventure mag.
🎁 Special Offer for Attendees: Visit the OVR booth during the show and receive one-year FREE Digital Access to OVR’s full library of past and current issues—packed with vehicle features, gear reviews, travel guides, and more.
Let’s talk builds, trails, and all things overlanding—don’t miss it! We’ll see you at Overland Expo West | May 17–19 | Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ.
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.