If you want to explore American history, visiting the East Coast with your motorhome is a top excursion. Virginia was one of the original 13 colonies, and its history predates the Revolutionary War that started the nation. The town of Orange was originally part of Culpeper County. However, the county was divided in 1749, and Orange became the judicial seat of the newly formed Orange County. Fourteen more years would pass before the town was officially incorporated, and many of the 19th-century buildings survived a 1908 fire that burned most of Orange. Orange has two locations on the National Register of Historic Places: the courthouse and St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. This church is where Confederate General Robert E. Lee worshipped in late 1863 and early 1864. Visit the James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage to explore exhibits about the history of Orange County and the Madison family. James Madison helped write the Constitution and served as the 4th President of the United States. While visiting the museum, tour a 1730s Patent House and spend time admiring Madison family artifacts, farm equipment, costumes, and historical documents. During your trip, pull your Class A or Class C camper van up to The Barbeque Exchange in nearby Gordonsville for spare ribs and pork shoulders. Cedar picnic tables with paper roll coverings in a pavilion atmosphere of ceiling fans and barn-board walls offer rustic surroundings. Enjoy dry-cured meats and secret-ingredient rubs on a menu full of meats that are roasted slowly and smoked with hickory. While in Gordonsville, shop at the Cavallo Gallery for jewelry, art, and other artisan crafts. The extensive selection includes carefully curated pieces from green and organic indie artists.
North Carolina lies south of Virginia, and it is where you can find the Croatan National Forest. Located along the Atlantic coast, this destination is a must-see if you enjoy hiking and boating. The Island Creek Forest Walk Trail is great for running, hiking, and birding. Copious amounts of trees shade the trail most of the year, and this pet-friendly spot lets you take your dog off its leash in some areas. The Neusiok Trail is another option and part of the 900 miles of Mountains-to-Sea Trail running from Jockey Ridge State Park to the Great Smoky Mountains. Shallow-bottomed boats can use the Great Lake boat launch all year, and the Catfish Area is a favorite among visitors for fishing, hunting, and water activities. George Washington and Jefferson National Forests cumulatively total over 1.6 million acres close to the state lines separating Virginia from Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Take your RV there for scenic driving, or stop to get in some hiking, biking, and camping. Fishing and paddling are also possible at various locations within the forest. Monongahela National Forest ranges in elevation from below 1,000 feet to over 4,800 feet. This working forest is a source of minerals, water, and timber, but it is also a place for serious recreation. Nearly one million acres have more than 800 miles of trails you can explore on foot, bike, or horseback. Endless bodies of water are your space for tubing and boating.
Annual Orange Street Festival — Enjoy a celebration the locals hold every year for shopping, music, food, and fun. This event happens on the second Saturday of September annually.
Orange Uncorked Wine Festival — Going strong for over 30 years, this festival celebrates wine tastings in front of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. This weekend event happens in early May and brings a new twist to the Montpelier Wine Festival traditions while maintaining the same standards of excellence and enjoyment.
New River Gorge National Parkis a sprawling 70,000-acre recreational area just over 200 miles southeast of Orange. You can get there easily using I-64 and Route 19. The steel arch bridge at this park was the world's longest at one time, and it is still a heavily photographed landmark. Keep your eyes open if you've never seen a peregrine falcon or bald eagle because these beautiful birds call this park home! Some people call the New River the world's second oldest, and it has cut quite a path for itself over the millennia. Hiking trails connect it all, from points on the river where you can go canoeing, kayaking, and boating to mesmerizing overlooks where you can admire lush valleys filled with biodiversity and the remnants of coal mining settlements. Shenandoah National Park is only 45 miles north of Orange, and it is one of the most scenic drives Virginia has to offer. This park starts where the Blue Ridge Parkway ends. You can enter and drive Skyline Drive for 105 miles. This roadway connects scenic overlooks and panoramic views, but there is more to the park than that. Tumbling streams are home to brook trout, and the outcroppings of greenstone, granite, and quartz contrast the diverse species through the thick forest.
Lake Anna State Park is your chance to go swimming! The fishing pond is accessible to children and anyone with disabilities. Get dressed and clean in the bathhouse, or fuel up at the onsite concessions. Boat launch facilities are available to get your own vessel into the water, or you can schedule pontoon boat rides for your travel party. You can also pan for gold, hike, and enjoy a picnic off the water. If you want an unusual overnight experience, reserve one of the four yurts located at the park. Powhatan State Park sits on the James River. Campsites with water and electrical hookups are available for RVs as long as 60 feet. To observe the local wildlife and enjoy some quality time outdoors, hike, or canoe through terrain that ranges from open fields to hardwood forests. Bring your boat along, and use the slide to get in and out of the river. Shenandoah River State Park stretches over five miles of the South Fork of the namesake river. Picnic on the riverside, use the boat launch, go fishing, or take a canoe ride. Enjoy the view from a scenic overlook, or delve into the 1,600 surrounding acres. Over 15 miles of trails allow biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Seasonal guided rides are available.
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is your chance to learn the history of Shenandoah Valley, starting with its initial settlement by Europeans. This park boasts approximately 3,500 acres and includes a National Heritage Area and battlefield. Enjoy the free podcast tour as you visit the Battle of Cedar Creek. Head to Belle Grove to learn about plantation life and see where they ran several mills and a distillery, grew wheat, and raised livestock. Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is 900 miles of hiking, and 137 of them cross Northern Virginia. The trail runs from the Allegheny Highlands of Pennsylvania to the mouth of the Potomac River in Maryland. In addition to hiking, you can also go biking on many parts of this trail, and paddling the Potomac is also an option. Skyline Drive heads up and down the crest of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Fall is a popular time to hit this road, as vibrant foliage in an array of colors appears. It starts at the highest elevations in late September, and the festival of colors continues slowly downhill until mid-November. Spring is another great time to visit, as anything from mountain laurel to blooming azaleas offer another bonanza of beauty and color. Keep your eyes open for wild turkeys, deer, and black bears. Ensure your Orange, Virginia RV rental has a 12'8" maximum clearance, or find another way around Mary's Rock Tunnel between mile markers 32 and 33.
Whether you're driving a fifth-wheel trailer, travel trailer, or toy hauler & popup camper, you will need places to park and set up camp every night. Two great options await you within 20 miles of Orange, Virginia. Small Country Campground can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet long and offers sites with full hookups. They also have a convenience store, three conveniently located bathhouses, and three dump stations that registered guests can use at no charge. Madison Vines RV Resort and Cottages in the nearby town of Madison has a playground, dog park, swimming pool, and a variety of scheduled weekend events, plus a nearby Bavarian restaurant. Both of these locations are close to multiple wineries and cideries. If you need more options, then head 25 miles out for Charlottesville campgrounds such as Pohick Bay Regional Park, AmeriCamps RV Resort, and Misty Mountain Camp Resort.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Orange, VA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Orange?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Orange from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Orange?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
