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 6-8, 2023
OAK RIDGE ESTATE
ARRINGTON, VIRGINIA
FRI 8-5, SAT 8-5, SUN 8-3
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
Have you ever traveled to Baja?🏝️
In the latest episode of Overland Essentials, Editor-in-Chief of @thejournaloflosttime, @josiahq, goes over a few important things to prepare for when traveling to Baja. He also notes a few things that may catch you off guard while in Mexico.
Tap the link in our bio to check out the entire episode on YouTube!🔗
#overlandexpo #overlandessentials #journaloflosttime #baja #bajamexico
Justin Dowey’s trip to the 1995 Australian Safari Rally sparked a love for adventure and the need for gear that could withstand the toughest environments.🏕️
After a 12-year career in manufacturing, retail, and wholesale in the 4x4 and camping market, @23zerousa was born.
Tap the link in our bio to check out the latest Industry Spotlight feature with 23Zero!🔗
#23zero #expeditionsuperstore #overlandexpo #overlandgear #overland
The biggest Overland Expo West ever!🧭
West 2023 had over 30,000 attendees, making it officially the largest Overland Expo on record. West also featured 417 exhibitors, 136 presenters and trainers, & over 500 session-hours of education!
Big shoutout to our incredible community for showing out and making Overland Expo an experience of a lifetime for all!🫶
Check the link in our bio for the full recap & highlights of the event!🔗
#overland #overlandexpo #overlandexpowest #overlandexpowest2023 #expowest
@methodracewheels Bead Grip technology is the perfect companion for your next adventure. This patented technology integrates special grooves to engage the tire bead for a stronger hold under extreme side load and lower air pressures so you can air down with confidence on the trail.💪
Method has several wheel styles and finishes available with Bead Grip technology, like the 704 Heavy Duty wheel.
👉️Hit the link in bio to learn more about Method`s Bead Grip technology!
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#methodracewheels #lighterstrongerfaster #offroadwheels #beadgrip #overland
The 2024 Jeep Wrangler specs & details are here! Well, mostly…
Carmaker Stellantis has revealed a list of changes and upgrades to this iconic off-roader, and Nick & Rick with the Overland Expo Compass team are here to break them down and provide their initial thoughts.
What do you think of the changes to the all-new Wrangler lineup?
Link in our bio or go to YouTube to watch the new episode of Overland News!🔗
#overland #jeepwrangler #overlandnews #overlandexpo #overlanding
@kakadu_usa is an Australian brand with over 80 years of heritage in creating innovative and reliable outdoor products. Inspired by the challenging terrain of Australia’s Kakadu National Park, the brand offers a range of overlanding equipment designed to withstand the toughest conditions.
Kakadu’s range encompasses all the gear necessary for adventure, including the Outback Shower, Ozpig, swag tents, and sleep accessories.
Link in our bio to learn more!
#kakaduUSA #proudlyaustralian #overlanding #overlandexpo #overland
We’re excited to premiere Season 3 of Why We Roam with @peterholcombe and @holcombe.kathy 🛞
🚐💨 Starting in 2014, the Holcombes sold their home and moved their family and photography business into a 170 sq ft @winnebagorvs View for a year-long trip. They had no idea how much it would change everything!
Tap the link in our bio or head over to YouTube to watch the full-length episode, presented by @winnebagorvs and sponsored by @optimabatteries!🔗
#overlandexpo #whyweroam #overlanding #overland #winnebago
We’re excited to present the 2023 Ultimate Overland Motorcycle Build — the 2023 Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro🏍️
Working with partner brands, we outfitted the Ultimate Motorcycle with the latest and greatest adventure moto gear, embodying our vision of the ultimate overland motorcycle.
HUGE shoutout to our build partners:
@bridgestonetires
@denali_electronics
@helinox
@moskomoto
@optimabatteries
@outback_motortek
@rammounts
@redverz
@tacomoto.co
@triumphamerica
Tap the link in our bio to learn more about the Triumph on our website.🔗
#overlandexpo #overlandexpowest #ultimatemoto #2023ultimatemoto #triumphtiger1200
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.