Overland Expo
Adventure Route.

Overland Expo SoCal

The season opens at the OC Fair & Event Center in Southern California. Load up on gear and connect with fellow overlanders—then point the rig east toward Joshua Tree and beyond.

Joshua Tree National Park

Pinto Basin Road winds through classic Joshua Tree terrain—boulder fields, the famed trees, and quiet dirt roads that reward slow exploration. It’s a high-desert drive made for taking your time.

Enter via the north or west entrance · $30 vehicle fee

Mojave National Preserve

Hole-in-the-Wall is a worthy detour for its volcanic rock formations, the Rings Trail scramble, and dirt roads that connect to Wild Horse Canyon. It’s well off the interstate and deep in open desert.

Water available at visitor center · No entrance fee

Overland Expo WEST

The flagship event at Fort Tuthill County Park is set among ponderosa pines at 7,000 feet, a short drive from canyon country. Look out for hundreds of exhibitors, a full education program, and a campground packed with builds.

Grand Canyon National Park

Take in the South Rim via Desert View Drive, or add extra miles for the quieter North Rim and some of Arizona’s best forest roads.

$35 vehicle fee · Book rim campsites early · North Rim opens mid-May

Craters of the Moon

Miles of jagged basalt, cinder cones, and lava tube caves—this is a genuinely alien landscape on the route through the interior West.

$20 vehicle fee · Loop Road open mid-April through Nov. · Bring a headlamp for the lava tubes

Overland Expo Pacific Northwest

The Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center sets the scene in Central Oregon, where we expect a major PNW turnout, a solid exhibitor floor, and easy access to Oregon’s best overlanding terrain.

Dinosaur National Monument

Carved by the Green and Yampa rivers, this canyon system is sorely underrated. Harpers Corner Road delivers big views, with remote dirt routes extending toward the Uinta Basin.

$25 vehicle fee · Harpers Corner Road is paved · FCFS sites at Echo Park Campground

Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide at more than 12,000 feet, passing elk meadows, alpine tundra, and the dramatic transition from canyon country to the Front Range.

Timed entry permits required in summer · $30 vehicle fee · Trail Ridge Road opens late May

Overland Expo MTN WEST

Take in a full exhibitor show with technical instruction in Colorado’s Front Range—with the Rockies as the backdrop.

New River Gorge National Park

One of the deepest river gorges in the east, this stretch feels surprisingly rugged, with a strong 4WD and outdoor culture to match. Backcountry camping options in the park continue to grow.

No entrance fee · All camping is primitive and free · Fayetteville is a solid basecamp town

Shenandoah National Park

The stretch from Rockfish Gap to Skyline Drive is the classic southern approach, with quiet Appalachian scenery welcoming you on your way to OE East.

$30 vehicle fee · Skyline Drive speed limit is 35 mph · Front-country campsites at Loft Mountain

Overland Expo EAST

The season finale is set at Oak Ridge Estate, one of the most scenic venues on the circuit. Expect a strong crowd of easterners, a ton of exhibitors, and camping surrounded by Blue Ridge views.

The Full Route

There you have it: Five expos connected by a cross-country adventure route covering the best public-land terrain in North America. Run the whole thing or drop in at the stop closest to home.