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 4-6, 2024
OAK RIDGE ESTATE
ARRINGTON, VIRGINIA
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
The all-new HELLA Blade 6” driving lamp leaves absolutely nothing in the dark, so you can start your next off-road adventure with total confidence.🙌
The 6” Blade illuminates an incredible 8,500 lumens with its 6 high-output LED modules. Its first-to-market innovative position light design can be shown in white or amber, and the contour stone shield emanates the translucent @hella.usa logo while the position light remains visible.
Learn more at the link in our bio!🔗
#OverlandExpo #Jeep #Hella #OffRoad
INEOS Grenadier will be sponsoring a Ride and Drive experience at Overland Expo West with the highly anticipated 4x4 for enthusiasts and adventurers alike to get up close with the rugged capabilities, robust engineering, and off-road prowess of the vehicle.🛞
“Grenadiers and Quartermasters are the perfect combination of rugged and refined, so they can cope with the toughest off-road conditions and still be a great drive on the highway,” - Greg Clark, Executive Vice-President, INEOS Automotive.
In 2017, INEOS Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for an uncompromising 4X4 engineered for modern day compliance and reliability. INEOS Automotive Limited was formed to bring the vision to reality with a fresh perspective of 4X4 development and manufacturing.
Tap the link in our bio to read more about the @ineos_grenadier Ride and Drive at West!🔗
#INEOS #ineosgrenadier #rideanddrive #OverlandExpo #OverlandExpoWest
Sleeping on the trail in style🏕️
After a long day on the trail, nothing beats a peaceful night of sleep at camp. Luckily, overlanders and adventure travelers have a range of sleeping options to choose from!
Whether you’re on a tight budget or seeking luxurious comfort, we’ve got you covered in our latest Gear Showcase—tap the link in our bio to read and learn more!🔗
#OverlandExpo #sleepinginstyle #sleepingonthetrail #GearShowcase
Wildsam Magazine is the magazine of the open road, dedicated to road trips, outdoor pursuits and the vehicles that get you out there. With a reverence for the lesser-known locations and memorable characters of the open road, each issue of Wildsam Magazine features deeply researched road trip routes, expert vehicle reviews and insights from people living the lifestyle.
The @wildsam booth at Overland Expo West will feature free copies of the magazine as well as a selection of Field Guides to a variety of US locations. There will also be a vehicle on-display from The Ember Overland Series and curated outdoor and vehicle gear from our partners in the Wildsam marketplace. Stop by and dream up your next adventure.
Get your tickets today—link in our bio.🔗
#Wildsam #OverlandExpo #OverlandExpoWest
Training is at the core of Overland Expo🧭
To bring the core principle’s of our world-class training program to a wider audience, Overland Expo Training is now available to ANY attendee in a one-day format at PNW June 28-30 in Redmond, Oregon.
Tap the link in our bio to learn more and buy your Training pass today.🔗
📸 @whosjohnallen
#OverlandExpo #overlandexpotraining #OverlandExpoPNW
Blackseries is brewing up something exciting for Overland Expo West 2024! Amidst the bustling chaos of life, you can take solace in the serene embrace of nature.
Whether you are traveling solo or with family and friends, disconnect from the noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the great outdoors. Don’t just imagine the future, step into it at the @blackseries.us booth.
Link in our bio to get your tickets to West.🔗
•
•
•
•
•
#blackseries #overlandexpo #overland #overlanding #overlandexpowest
Keeping lights on and handheld devices charged is challenging on your vehicle’s battery. Enter the DuraLite Portable Solar Kit from @gopowersolar!
It’s light as a feather, tough as the trails we tread. Keeping your battery charged, fueled by the power of the sun, the base kit can expand to 300 watts of portable power generation. Picture this: unfolding it at dawn, soaking up that solar juice, and voila! Phones charged, music playing, and stories flowing.
Link in our bio to learn more.🔗
•
•
•
•
•
#gopowersolar #gopower #dometic #overlandexpo #overlanding #offroad #overland
Join us May 17-19 for our first event of the year at Overland Expo West and be sure to check out the exclusive Overland Expo gear and merchandise for 2024!👕🧭
Each Overland Expo will feature unique graphics only available at that event, along with branded items accessible across all four events.
Click the link in our bio for a glimpse of the latest gear!🔗
#overlandexpo #overlandexpogear
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.