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Looking for an overland rally or event near you? This is a round up of all the 2021 overland expos, rallies and events going on in the United States and Canada. Be sure to read up on each event in detail to make sure you know what to expect.
Thank you to Storyteller Overland for sponsoring this post so it can be an ad free experience for our readers.
2021 Overland Expos & Rallies
All the expos and rallies are listed in chronological order. If you want to get an idea of what to expect at one of the large overland expos watch this video from Overland Expo East.
February 11-14 Truck Camper Adventure Rally
Location: Quartzsite, Arizona
This four day gathering of overland truck campers in the desert will be followed by a three day El Camino Del Diablo overland trip.
Website: https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/
February 13-14 MOORE Expo
Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds – Springfield, Missouri
The Midwest Overlanding and Off-Road Expo includes two days of courses and seminars that range from overland navigation and radio communication to trauma kits and recovery techniques.
Website: https://mooreexpo.com
February 18-21 Mojave Road Overland Tour (Canceled)
Location: Mojave Road, California
Four day Mojave Road tour with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. “The iconic Mojave Road is an overlanding adventure you simply must do at least once in your life.” Join fellow Four Wheel Camper owners on this tour through Mojave National Preserve.
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
March 19-21 Sprinter Overland Trip – Death Valley
Location: Death Valley, California
This three day overland trip for Mercedes Sprinter vans is put on by Brian Lau of @more.van.ever on Instagram. The cost is $350 per vehicle with two adults and will include a guided tour, six catered gourmet meals, off-road recovery and saftey clinic along with a professional photographer and swag from sponsors.
Website: https://instagram.com/more.van.ever
March 26-28 Southeast Overland & Off-Road Expo
Location: Dade City, Florida
This three day overland and off-road expo is taking place at Pasco County Fair Association in Dade City, Florida. There will be event camping as well as instruction seminars including wilderness first aid, overlanding with a trailer, and traveling with pets.
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southeast-overland-offroad-expo
April 23-25 Spring Overland Challenge
Location: Uwharrie, NC
A three day overland challenge on the East Coast consisting of 25 teams utilizing the Uwharrie National Forest OHV trail system. “The Overland Challenge will make you fight man, machine and nature in an epic 3 day adventure designed to push you further, harder and educate you for all of your Overland Adventures!”
Website: https://www.southernxpeditions.com/overland-challenge
April 30-May 2 Smoky Mountain Overland Rally
Location: Cosby, Tennesse
SMORally is a three day overland rally in Tennessee with classes and trail rides. This year, the organizers are introducing a new section all about van life.
Website: https://www.smorally.com
May 14-16 Big Iron Overland Rally
Location: West Mineral, Kansas
Big Iron is a three day weekend overland rally taking place in West Mineral, Kansas. From the organizers of MOORE, this rally will include camping, live music, vehicle awards, and even a self-guided tour of Big Brutus a.k.a. Bucyrus-Erie model 1850-B electric shovel.
May 18-21 Parashant National Monument
Location: Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
Four day overlanding tour through Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. The tour starts and ends in St. George, Utah.
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/course-and-tour-schedule
May 27-30 The Applegate-Lassen Trail Overland Tour
Location: The Applegate-Lassen Trail
This overlanding tour offered by ORSA “travels through the Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada, ending near California.” Included is a stop at Black Rock Playa where the well known Burning Man event takes place.
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/course-and-tour-schedule
June 9-15 Baja California Guided Tour (Summer)
Location: Baja California, Mexico
This one week introductory tour of Baja California with Off Road Safety Academy will explore the Sea of Cortez side as well as the Pacific side. Areas visited include San Felipe, Bahia San Luis Gonzaga, and Bahia de los Angeles, Guerrero Negro, and Ensenada.
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
June 11-13 FWC Owner’s Rally & Campout
Location: Lake Tahoe, California
A well known pop-up camper manufacturer in the overland community, Four Wheel Campers will be hosting their annual Northern California rally on a private ranch this year.
Website: https://fourwheelcampers.com/events/
June 19-20 Adventure Van Expo Oregon
Location: Hood River Fairgrounds – Hood River, Oregon
The Adventure Van Expo series is mostly focused around overland travel in adventure vans, but there will be plenty of overland gear to check out and overland rigs to tour. Keep scrolling to see dates for additional locations throughout the summer.
June 25-27 Outside Adventure Expo
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Lodestone Events, producers of the Overland Expo series will be putting on the first annual Outside Adventure Expo at Utah State Fairpark. This event will include an education series around camping, off-roading and outdoor adventures.
Website: https://outsideadventureexpo.com/
TBA BC Overland Rally
Location: Whistler Olympic Park – Whistler, British Colombia
BCOR is a popular overland event in British Colombia, Canada that draws a big crowd every summer. Enjoy camping, learning and community building at this overland rally.
Website: http://www.bcoverlandrally.com
July 31-August 1 Adventure Van Expo Utah
Location: Cache County Fairgrounds – Logan, Utah
TBA Rocky Mountain Overland Rally
Location: Colorado
Website: https://rockymountainoverlandrally.com
Part of the WA and BC overland rally series, this one is in Colorado.
August 10-12 Rimrocker Trail Overland Tour
Location: Montrose, Colorado to Moab, Utah
This three night Rimrocker trail starts in Montrose, Colorado and ends in Moab, Utah. “On this tour, you will be immersed in natural beauty as the trail guides them through a landscape of redrock canyons, winding rivers, desert vistas and alpine forests.”
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
TBA Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival
Location: Pennsylvania
MAOF is a popular overland event presented by Mainline Overland, a well established off-road and expedition vehicle outfitter. The overland festival will feature courses, giveaways and events for the whole family.
Website: http://www.overlandfestival.com
TBA Scottsdale Off-Road Expo
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale – Scottsdale, Arizona
This off-road expo in Arizona will bring together an array of manufacturers in the off-road and overlanding space.
Website: https://www.offroadexpo.com/
August 21-22 Adventure Van Expo Colorado
Location: Dillon, Colorado
Website: https://www.adventurevanexpo.com/
August 27-29 Overland Expo Mountain West
Location: The Ranch – Loveland, Colorado
Part of the popular Overland Expo series, the Mountain West version will be taking place in Loveland, Colorado. The three day event will be packed with seminars, off-road courses, vendors, and inspiration.
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/mtnwest
September 2-6 Descend on Bend
Location: Oregon Outback 43.3937281,-121.2112945
This five days and four nights gathering for overlanders, nomads and van lifers is taking place Labor Day weekend near Bend, Oregon. Tickets include camping on private land, activities such as morning yoga, workshops, and live music.
Website: https://www.descendonbend.com/
September 4-5 Adventure Van Expo Oregon
Location: Deschutes Fair And Expo Center – Bend, Oregon
Website: https://www.adventurevanexpo.com/bend
September 18-19 Adventure Van Expo California
Location: Homewood Ski Resort – Lake Tahoe, California
September 24-26 Overland Expo West
Location: Ft. Tuthill County Park – Flagstaff, Arizona
One of our favorite overland events in the U.S. Overland Expo West is a three day event that will offer countless number of overland rigs on display including flatbed truck campers and adventure vans. When you’re not busy looking at adventure vehicles, you can take an off-road driving course, go for a motorcycle demo ride, attend one of many classes or watch an overland film for inspiration.
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/west
TBA Northwest Overland Rally
Location: Leavenworth, Washington
It doesn’t matter what type of adventure rig you have, all you have to do is show up and enjoy all that the NW Overland Rally has to offer. There will be welcome cocktails and wine tasting to advanced driving course taught by certified 4WD instructors.
Website: http://www.nwoverlandrally.com/
September 16-19 Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
Location: Michigan
KOAR is a basecamp style overland event that includes 4 days of camping, hiking, biking and paddling in Copper Country.
TBA Panhandle Overland Rally
Location: Bonners Ferry, Idaho
We attended the inaugural Panhandle Overland Rally in 2020 and it did not disappoint. For anyone looking for a fun, community driven overland rally in the Pacific Northwest, definitely check out this overland rally in Idaho. Expect wheeling, live music, raffles and a good time.
TBA Texas Avid Outdoors Fall Expo
Location: Texas
This popular outdoors expo in Texas is also known as the Texas Overland Expo. The organizers have been putting on this even to courage attendees to get off the highway and explore the outdoors.
Website: http://www.texasavidoutdoors.com
TBA Pomona Off-Road Expo
Location: Fairplex – Pomona, California
This off-road expo in California will bring together an array of manufacturers in the off-road and overlanding space.
Website: https://www.offroadexpo.com/
TBA Off-Grid Expo
Location: Colorado
This three day expo features innovative products in the outdoor industry along with live music, expert talks and a weekend of camping at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
Website: https://offgridexpo.com
October 2-3 Adventure Van Expo Tennessee
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
October 8-10 Overland Expo East
Location: Infinity Downs – Arrington, Virginia
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/east
October 17-18 Adventure Van Expo Big Bear
Location: Big Bear Lake, California
October 14-16 Rendezvous in the Ozarks
Location: Ozark National Forest – Arkansa
Join overland travel enthusiasts in the Ozarks for three days of adventure and camping in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansa.
Website: https://www.naturalstateoverland.org
October Red Clay Rally
Location: Lexington, KY to Johnson City, TN
This is a three day, 600 mile overland rally with one goal: finish.
Website: https://www.redclayrally.com
TBA Roof Top Tent Rally
Location: James River State Park – Gladstone, Virginia
This will be the 5th Annual RTTR organized by the folks over at Blue Ridge Overland Gear. This is a family-friendly event with access to fishing, kayaking, hiking and mountain biking. A roof top tent is not required to attend this overland rally.
Website: https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/pages/roof-top-tent-rally
October 28-31 Death Valley National Park Tour
Location: Death Valley National Park
Four day Death Valley National Park tour with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. “This tour visits Saline Valley, Hunter Mountain, Hidden Valley, Tea Kettle Junction, Racetrack, Ubehebe Crater, and portions of Panamint Valley.”
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
November 2-5 SEMA Show – Overland Experience
Location: Las Vegas, NV
While overland adventure travel is not the focus at SEMA, there is a dedicated area hosted by the folks that put on the Overland Expo series. Attend seminars on overland travel and check out some adventure rigs.
Website: https://www.semashow.com
November 5-7 Fall Overland Challenge
Location: Uwharrie, NC
A three day overland challenge on the East Coast consisting of 25 teams utilizing the Uwharrie National Forest OHV trail system.
Website: https://www.southernxpeditions.com/overland-challenge
November 11-14 San Rafael Swell
Location: Utah
Three night Southeastern Utah off-road adventure tour with Bob Wohlers and other FWC truck camper owners. “The Swell is located about 20 miles west of Green River and 150 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah…The area’s slot canyons, mesas, pinnacles, and arches are testament to the sculpting powers of wind and water.”
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
December 6-12 Baja California Tour (Winter)
Location: Baja California, Mexico
This one week introductory tour of Baja California with Off Road Safety Academy will explore the Sea of Cortez side as well as the Pacific side. Areas visited include San Felipe, Bahia San Luis Gonzaga, and Bahia de los Angeles, Guerrero Negro, and Ensenada.
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
Why Attend an Overland Event?
- Learn something new. There is a wealth of knowledge at these events so get ready to soak up a lot of information. Whether it’s chatting with a fellow attendee or meeting a factory representative that makes one of your overland components, there is quite a bit you can learn at these events.
- Tour overland vehicles. Maybe you’re in the market for a rig or looking to upgrade your own, there are always plenty of rigs to check out at an overland event.
- Find cool gear. From window covering and coffee to lithium batteries and electric scooters, there is never a shortage of cool gear at these overland events. Sometimes the vendors run a show special so you can get a great deal on gear.
- Connect with awesome folks. The overland community is made up of some pretty terrific human beings. So get ready to make a friend or two or ten.
Know of more overland events or rallies that should be included on this list? Leave a comment below.
You need to host a Overland Expo in the deep South like Biloxi MS / Mobile AL or Now Orleans LA. We like to overland down here.
Do you two have any plans to attend an overland expo this year? The new one – Mountain West – is in Loveland, CO end of August.
You guys are fantastic. My wife and I have been glued to our computer investigating vehicles and camping life; we love your videos, so informative but fun to watch. But in all your videos not once have I ever seen a package of Oreo cookies or Chips Ahoy. Don’t you ever once want to sink your teeth into a big fat juicy burger or hot dog? Keep up the great work–we love ya.
Hey Tom & Kathy, thank you for the kind words. We do love to indulge and you can get a glimpse of that in our New Orleans travel roundup.