Now that we have a 4×4 truck camper, Joe and I plan to attend more overland expos and rallies in 2020. This is a list of all the overland events and tours I found in the U.S. and Canada.
While did discover quite a few off-road vehicle events, this list will focus on overlanding events including the popular Overland Expo series and Adventure Van Expos.
2020 Overland Expos and Events
The overland events listed below are in chronological order. If you can only attend one event, my recommendation is to check out Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Watch this video to get an idea of what to expect at Overland Expo.
February 15-16 Midwest Overlanding and Off-Road Expo
Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds – Springfield, MO
Website: https://mooreexpo.com
This overland event in Missouri includes two days of courses and seminars that range from overlanding basics to avoiding illegal detention while traveling.
March 7-8 Four Wheeler Adventure Expo
Location: OC Fair & Event Center – Costa Mesa, CA
Website: https://www.fourwheeler.com/adventure-expo/
This adventure expo in Southern California will have gear for off-road enthusiasts, mountain bikers, hikers, rock climbers along with utvs and off-road vehicles.
March 21-22 Four Wheel Campers SoCal Grand Opening (Postponed)
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Website: https://fourwheelcampers.com/events/
A well known pop-up camper manufacturer for the overland community, Four Wheel Campers will be hosting a grand opening event with food and drinks at their new Southern California showroom.
April 18-19 Scottsdale Off-Road Expo (Postponed)
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale – Scottsdale, AZ
Website: https://www.offroadexpo.com/
Presented by Nitto, this expo in Arizona will bring together an array of manufacturers in the off-road overlanding space.
April 24-26 Smoky Mountain Overland Rally
Location: Cosby – TN
Website: https://www.smorally.com
A three day overland rally in Tennessee with classes and trail rides.
April 25-26 Go Camp with Bean Trailer in Moab (Postponed)
Location: Lone Mesa Campground – Moab, UT
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/166563168097741/
This is a two day camping event with dinner, music and fun on the trails.
May 8-10 CTV Family Reunion East Coast
Location: Windrock Park – Oliver Springs, TN
Website: https://cascadiatents.com/events/
Cascadia Vehicle Tents is a well established roof top tent manufacturer with locations in Oregon and Tennessee. They will be hosting the first east coast gathering at Windrock Park this year for overland adventure travelers.
May 16 Overland Expo Virtual
Location: Virtual
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/virtual
With Overland Expo West rescheduled for July, the organizers are putting on a one day free virtual expo to where attendees can watch seminars and even reserve a virtual campsite.
May 19-22 Overlanding Tour – Parashant N.M
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
June 25-28 BC Overland Rally (Canceled)
Location: Whistler Olympic Park – Whistler, BC
Website: http://www.bcoverlandrally.com
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.
July 11-12 RecCon Montana Adventure Van Expo
Location: 32 Campus Dr. Missoula, MT
Website: https://www.adventurevanexpo.com/ and https://www.recconmontana.com
This expo is mostly focused around overland travel in a van, but there will be plenty of overland gear to check out and adventure rigs to tour. This adventure expo series consists of six events throughout the summer in different locations.
July 24-27 Overland Expo West
Location: Ft. Tuthill County Park – Flagstaff, AZ
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/west
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.
July 25-26 Adventure Van Expo Grand Targhee
Location: 3300 Ski Hill Rd, Alta, WY
Website: https://www.adventurevanexpo.com/
July 30-August 2 Rocky Mountain Overland Rally (Canceled)
Location: 850 County Road 49 – Gunnison, CO
Website: https://rockymountainoverlandrally.com
Part of the WA and BC overland rally series, this one is in Colorado.
August 7-9 CTV Family Reunion
Location: Newberry National Volcanic Monument – Bend, OR
Website: https://cascadiatents.com/events/
August 11-14 Rimrocker Trail Tour
Location: Rimrocker Trail
Four day Rimrocker trail tour with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. “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
August 13-16 Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival
Location: Henwood Farm – Huntingdon, PA
Website: http://www.overlandfestival.com
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.
August 15-16 Adventure Van Expo Mt. Hood
Location: 14040 Oregon 35 Mt Hood, OR
August 22-23 Adventure Van Expo Dillon
Location: 201 W Lodgepole Street Dillon, CO
August 28-30 Overland Expo Mountain West
Location: The Ranch – Loveland, CO
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/mtnwest
September 3-6 Northwest Overland Rally (Canceled)
Location: Private Ranch – Leavenworth, WA
Website: http://www.nwoverlandrally.com/
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.
September 12-13 Adventure Van Expo Big Bear Lake
Location: 630 Bartlett Road Big Bear Lake, CA
September Descend on Bend
Location: Outback Station – La Pine, OR
Website: https://www.descendonbend.com/
Any vehicle you take to go camping is welcome at this leave-no-trace event in Oregon (including bicycles). Show off your cooking skills at the Friday night potluck and get ready to make friends and have a good time.
September 5-6 Adventure Van Expo Lake Tahoe
Location: Sierra at Tahoe – Twin Bridges, CA
Website: https://www.adventurevanexpo.com/lake-tahoe
September 17-20 Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
Location: Trails End Campground Copper – Harbor, MI
Website: https://keweenawoverlandadventureretreat.com
KOAR is a basecamp style overland event that includes camping, hiking, biking and paddling in Copper Country.
September 19 Adventure Travel Expo SW
Location: Sportsmans Warehouse – Albuquerque, NM
Website: https://www.adventuretravelexposw.com
This off-road and overland travel expo started out as a way to connect businesses and consumers together within New Mexico. Expect onsite product demons, training courses, and exhibitions at this event.
September 24-27 Vermont Overland Birdwatching Safari
Location: 419 Baileys Mills Road Reading, VT
Website: https://www.vermontoverland.com/vobs
Birdwatching and overlanding enthusiasts in Vermont can join this event to view their favorite indigenous bird species. There will also be stops at local shops, historic sites, breweries and views of the fall foliage.
October 3-4 Texas Avid Outdoors Fall Expo
Location: Oxford Ranch Campground – Llano, TX
Website: http://www.texasavidoutdoors.com
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.
October 4-6 Off-Grid Expo
Location: Jefferson County Fairgrounds – Golden, CO
Website: https://offgridexpo.com
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.
October 8-11 Mojave Road Tour
Location: Mojave Road
Four day Mojave Road tour with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. “This adventure tour includes 3-nights of remote camping. The tour begins near Laughlin, NV and ends at I-15 west of Las Vegas. Specific sites visited along the route include Fort Piute, various Petroglyphs, Rock Springs, Government Holes, Marl Springs, Soda Lake, and Afton Canyon. Tour concludes at the BLM Afton Canyon Campground near I-15.”
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
October 9-11 Overland Expo East
Location: Infinity Downs – Arrington, VA
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/east
October 15-18 Death Valley National Park Tour
Location: Death Valley National Park
Four day Death Valley National Park tour with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. “Three days and three nights exploring the largest National Park in the lower 48 States. Over 80 percent of this park can’t be seen from the pavement – you have to venture off-road. This tour visits Saline Valley, Hunter Mountain, Hidden Valley, Tea Kettle Junction, Race Track, Ubehebe Crater, and portions of Panamint Valley.”
Website: https://discoveroffroading.com/four-wheel-camper-tours
October 16-18 Red Clay Rally
Location: Lexington, KY to Johnson City, TN
Website: https://www.redclayrally.com
This is a three day, 600 mile overland rally with one goal: finish.
October 16-18 Rendezvous in the Ozarks
Location: Ozark National Forest – AR
Website: https://www.naturalstateoverland.org
Join overland travel enthusiasts in the Ozarks for three days of adventure and camping in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.
October 16-18 Roof Top Tent Rally
Location: James River State Park – Gladstone, VA
Website: https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/pages/roof-top-tent-rally
This will be the 4th 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.
November 3-6 SEMA Show – Overland Experience
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, NV
Website: https://www.semashow.com
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.
November 6-8 Fall Overland Challenge
Location: Uwharrie, NC
Website: https://www.southernxpeditions.com/overland-challenge
A three day overland challenge on the East Coast consisting of 30 teams utilizing the Uwharrie National Forest OHV trail system.
November 8-15 Baja Mexico Tour – Sea of Cortez Adventure
Location: Death Valley National Park
One week Baja tour with Bob of Off Road Safety Academy. “This adventure begins in Calexico, California, then follows an iconic paved and off-road route along the beaches and bays on the Sea of Cortez. Together we will explore San Felipe, Gonzaga Bay, and Bay of Los Angeles.”
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 an overland rally or event that should be included on this list? Leave a comment below.
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.