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
Take a tour of National Geographic photographer Mylo Fowler’s overland ready Rivian outfitted for camping and off-grid travel in all seasons.
Mylo blends adventure with purpose, using his vehicle for his photography work and to support and uplift Native American communities through powerful storytelling and humanitarian work. You’ll often find him rescuing people and their vehicles from sticky situations as well.
👉 See the full tour and learn more about his work on Overland Expo’s YouTube channel (🔗 in bio).
Huge thanks to @OffroadMylo for taking the time to connect with us at Overland Expo SoCal!
🎥 @yapping_about_cars
#overlandexpo #overlandexposocal #overlandcommunity #rivian #rivianr1t @rivianofficial
Whether deep in the forest or parked under desert stars, stay connected with @homefi.info’s multicarrier Portable Wireless 4G Hotspot. The best part? It fits in the palm of your hand and brings Wi-Fi wherever your rig takes you. From uploading epic views to checking trail maps, it’s adventure-ready internet that moves when you do.
From the front lines of a war zone to the forefront of overland innovation, the story behind James Baroud is pretty incredible ✨
Swipe through for quick highlights, then head to The Compass on overlandexpo.com (link in bio) to read the full story. It will surprise you and will make you want to learn more about their rooftop tents if you`re not already familiar with them ⛺
📷 @jamesbaroud
Let’s hear it for the dogs of Overland Expo West! Ok, the last one’s not a dog but he made the cut 😂🐶
Did you bring your pup? Let us know and tag them if they’re on Instagram!
The next chance to get all the pups together is Overland Expo PNW coming up fast June 27-29 in Redmond, Oregon. Join us for a good time! 🥳
Meet Chad & Rose (@two.wheels_three.sheets ) - a seriously epic couple who left it all behind to ride through the Americas on two wheels. 🏍️
🌎 From crossing the heart of the Amazon Jungle, cruising the Trans-Amazonica Highway, to boat-hopping rivers, their journey is pure inspiration.
👉 Head to the Overland Expo YouTube channel (🔗 in bio) to hear the full story and get a tour of their motorcycle travel setup built for extended off-road adventures.
🙌 Catch them (and more legends) at a future Overland Expo event (PNW is coming up June 27-29!)
👥 Tag a friend who needs to see this!
Huge thanks to @two.wheels_three.sheets for sharing their incredible story with us!
#OverlandExpo #AdventureMotorcycle #MotoTravel #Overlanding #CoupleGoals #ExploreMore #ReelAdventure #MotoLife #adventurecouple #motoadventure
Overland Expo PNW is less than a month away, and we couldn`t be more excited to bring you an unforgettable weekend of adventure, education, rigs, gear, and community 🎉
Get ready to explore the best brands in overlanding, gear up with the latest innovations, score deals, and connect with the adventure community 🌲⚙️🙌
Head to the link in bio for the full scoop and be sure to join us for an epic weekend June 27-29 in Redmond, OR!
Will you be there? Who are you most excited to see?
🎟️ Don`t miss out, grab your tickets by 6/1 to save!
Just a handful of the epic rigs we saw at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ this year 🤩🔥👌
What’s your favorite? Which ones did we miss?
We’ve got some roundups from West coming to The Compass at overlandexpo.com soon. In the meantime, we’re already gearing up for our next event!
🌲 Overland Expo PNW is coming to Redmond, OR June 27-29. This is one of our favorites - don’t miss it! Save on tickets through 6/1 - get ‘em now 🔥
We hope to see you there!
Overland Expo West 2025 is a wrap - what an epic weekend with the best overlanding community on the planet!
🙌 A big thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors, instructors, staff, and everyone who came out!
👇 Were you there? What was your favorite part?
📺 Watch the full recap video on YouTube (link in bio) and keep an eye out for more from the event.
🌄 Overland Expo PNW is next – June 27-29 in Redmond, Oregon - we hope to see you there!
🎥 @brooks_roe
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.