Looking for guys trip ideas that combine the outdoors, good food, local drinks and a little friendly competition? Prince Edward County, Virginia, makes an easy fall getaway with fishing, golf, college game days, hiking and biking, live music and plenty of places to settle in around a fire pit. Make Farmville and Prince Edward County your home base for a guys weekend in Central Virginia.
Why Plan a Guys Weekend in Prince Edward County?
- Fish for bass at Sandy River Reservoir or Briery Creek Lake.
- Play a round of golf at The Manor Golf Club.
- Catch college sports at Hampden-Sydney College or Longwood University.
- Hike or bike the High Bridge Trail.
- Sample local bourbon, craft beer and cocktails.
- Catch live music and explore downtown Farmville.
- Stay in a geodesic dome, cabin, vacation rental or hotel.
Friday: Cast, Sip and Settle in
Check In: Find Your Home Base
Coming soon: Camp Yellow Cardinal will offer unique geodesic dome glamping. This retreat on 25 wooded acres will feature six spaced-out geodesic dome tents, each with a king bed, private hot tub and your own fire pit. We can’t wait! In the meantime, look for a cabin or vacation rental on Airbnb or VRBO, or grab a hotel in Farmville within easy reach of downtown restaurants and bars.
Get Outside: Experience the Best Bass Fishing in Virginia
Prince Edward County boasts some of the best bass fishing spots in Virginia. Start your weekend at Sandy River Reservoir, a 740-acre lake known for bass, catfish and panfish. A boat ramp and accessible fishing pier make it easy to get out on the water or fish from shore. Briery Creek Lake is known for trophy bass, while Twin Lakes State Park offers relaxed fishing on two lakes stocked with bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish. Not an angler? Grab a kayak and get out on the water instead.
Raise a Glass: Try Local Brews and Spirits (with a Side of History)
Ease into the evening at Sandy River Distillery, pouring bourbon, gin and vodka from a rebuilt 1840s log cabin. For beer drinkers, Three Roads Brewing has been Farmville’s home base for craft beer since 2016. Prefer cocktails? Charley’s Waterfront Café serves them on the deck of a converted pre-Civil War tobacco warehouse overlooking the Appomattox River.
Dig In: Grab Dinner in Farmville
In the mood for chips and salsa? Bandidos Tacos & Cantina draws a lively downtown crowd with fresh salsa and margaritas. How about a great burger? Head to Macado’s, known for its towering sandwiches. If a perfectly cooked steak is more your style, Savour offers a more elevated option.
Saturday: Tee Time & Tailgate
Wake Up: Start the Day With Coffee and Golf
Start your morning at Effingham’s for a hot latte before heading to The Manor Golf Club. The Manor will test your game with the Bermuda fairways stretching from 5,367 to over 7,200 yards. Warm up on the practice facilities, book a private lesson with the on-staff pros or ask about military and first responder discounts before teeing off.
Game Day: Cheer for Your Team
Head to a football game at Hampden-Sydney College to cheer on the Tigers and take in the game-day atmosphere. Alumni-hosted grilling and tailgates bring fans together before kickoff with activity around the Kirby Field House and Founders lots. Check the HSC football schedule before your trip. If your dates don’t line up with a home football game, Longwood men’s basketball tips off in November at Willet Hall. (The Lancers have made the NCAA tournament twice in the last four years!)
Live Music and Nightlife: Wind Down
Keep the night going at North Street Press Club. Its globally inspired menu ranges from wok-sautéed Pad Thai to a Korean pork belly and a standout chicken Caesar sandwich. Grab a drink from the bar and stay for the live music, or head to Sandy River Distillery for a round of Sandy River’s 1840 bourbon by the fire pit.
Sunday: Hit the Trail Before Heading Home
Experience High Bridge: Get Some Fresh Air
Stretch your legs with a walk or bike ride along the High Bridge Trail, a 32.2-mile former rail line that’s now a National Recreation Trail. The High Bridge spans nearly half a mile and rises 125 feet above the Appomattox River. Built in 1854 and rebuilt in 1914, it played a pivotal role during Lee’s retreat in the final days of the Civil War and now is on the National Register of Historic Places. Interested in more history? Stop by Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park, the site of one of the final major battles of the Civil War in Virginia.
One More Stop: Enjoy a Diner Breakfast and Disc Golf
Grab a late breakfast at Walker’s Diner. Then squeeze in one more activity before heading home. Hampden-Sydney College’s Tadpole Holes is a technical 18-hole disc golf course that draws players from around the Southeast. The course winds through the woods around the college’s High Adventure Course, practice fields and Tadpole Hole Lake.
More Guys Trip Ideas for Your Weekend
Have more time to fill? Build your own Prince Edward County guys’ weekend around what your group likes to do most. Spend more time fishing, add another trail or outdoor adventure, explore downtown Farmville or check the local calendar for live music, college sports and seasonal events.
The best part: you don’t have to fit everything into one trip.
FAQs: Planning a Guys Trip to Prince Edward County
Still have questions about planning your guys weekend? Start here.
What are some good fall guys weekend ideas in Prince Edward County?
Build your weekend around what your group likes to do. In Prince Edward County, you can fish at Sandy River Reservoir, play a round at The Manor Golf Club, hike or bike the High Bridge Trail, catch a Hampden-Sydney football game and spend an evening exploring Farmville’s restaurants, local drinks and live music.
How many days should you plan for a weekend getaway in Prince Edward County?
Two to three days gives you plenty of time to explore. Spend Friday evening in Farmville, make Saturday your main day for golf, fishing or college sports, then fit in a hike, bike ride, disc golf or late breakfast before heading home Sunday.
What makes Prince Edward County a good guys weekend destination?
Prince Edward County combines outdoor recreation, college sports, local food and drinks and downtown entertainment in one easy weekend. With Farmville as your home base, you can spend less time getting from place to place and more time enjoying the trip.
Where can a group stay near Farmville, VA?
Stay close to downtown Farmville at a local hotel, or book a cabin or vacation rental for more room to spread out. Coming soon: Camp Yellow Cardinal will add another option with six geodesic domes on 25 wooded acres, each with a king bed, private hot tub and fire pit.