Overland Expos, Events, Groups, and Rallies 2024
Arguably one of the best parts of overlanding is the cultural engagement and community that surrounds overland travel. There’s no better way to get outfitted, inspired, and educated about overland travel than to get plugged into some of the numerous overland expos, events, groups, and rallies that are out there.
This detailed account of overland groups, overland rallies, and overland expos will help you select, connect, and engage with the overlanding community in whatever way you’re able.
Overland Expos & Events
Overland expos and similar overland events are a great way to learn about the overlanding community, and get familiar with overland gear while meeting with the manufactures face-to-face. Plus they also provide an opportunity for classes and training on a variety of overlanding skills.
American Adventurist - Desert Rendezvous
When: February 22-25 2024
Where: Quartzite, Arizona (Specific Location TBD)
Website: https://www.americanadventurist.com/
The American Adventurist Desert Rendezvous is a smaller, more relaxed annual overland event. The gathering includes a potluck overland cooking competition and trail runs, and while vendors are present, this is a non-commercial event intended to be more relaxed than other overland expos.
Southeast Adventure Vehicle Expo (Formerly Southeast Overland & Off Road Expo)
When: March 1-3 2024
Where: The F.I.R.M - Starke, FL
Website: https://thesaveexpo.com
The Southeast Adventure Vehicle Expo (formerly known as the Southeast Overland and Off-Road Expo) is a three day event with everything you’d hope for in an overlanding expo: multi-day on-site camping, educational classes and seminars, an off-road driving course, vendor exhibits, overland vehicle displays, prize raffles, and food trucks!
California Overland Adventure and PowerSport Expo
When: March 16-17 2024
Where: The Fairplex - Pomona, CA
Website: https://caoverlandadv.com
The California Overland Adventure & PowerSport Show is a two day event with everything from vendor exhibits, overland vehicle displays, prize raffles, and of course delicious food! This even is not just limited to overlanding vehicles and gear, it also showcases a variety of marine, RV, and adventure motorcycles as well.
MOORE Expo
When: April 19-20 2024
Where: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds – Springfield, Missouri
Website: https://www.mooreexpo.com
The MOORE Expo (Midwest Overlanding and Off-Road Expo) is a two day indoor overland expo including courses and seminars that cover a variety of topics including overland navigation, radio communications, first-aid & trauma kits, recovery techniques, and much...moore. 😉
Overland Expo West
When: May 17-19 2024
Where: Fort Tuthill County Park – Flagstaff, Arizona
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/west
This was the first overland expo we attended as a family, and it’s definitely one of our favorite overland events! Overland Expo West consists of a three day event that hosts a myriad of overland rigs and adventure vehicles to ogle over, off-road driving and training courses, motorcycle demo rides, a multitude of educational classes, incredible food, and screenings of inspirational overland films. If you can only make one overland expo - this is the one!
Outside Adventure Expo
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically third weekend in June)
Where: Snowbasin Resort - Huntsville, Utah
Website: https://outsideadventureexpo.com/
Run by the same producers of the popular Overland Expo series, Lodestone Events, the Outside Adventure Expo will include classes and round-table series on overlanding and adventure travel, camping, off-roading, and hosts a variety of outdoor gear vendors from the mountain biking, hiking, paddle sports, climbing and overland equipment markets.
Overland Expo Pacific Northwest
When: June 28-30 2024
Where: Deschutes County Expo Center – Bend (Redmond), Oregon
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/pacific-northwest/
A brand new addition to the Overland Expo Series, the Overland Expo Pacific Northwest kicked off it’s first event in 2022 and is hosted in Redmond, Oregon. The three day event includes over 300 hrs of educational seminars, off-road courses, and events plus over 300 overland equipment and gear vendors, as well as inspirational round-tables with adventure travel experts. Plus an overland film festival!
Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival
When: August 8-11 2024
Where: Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Website: http://www.overlandfestival.com
The Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival is a popular overland expo produced by Mainline Overland, a renowned off-road and expedition vehicle outfitter in the overland community. MAOF features off-road driving courses, vendor sponsored giveaways, classes, and events with a family-friendly atmosphere.
Overland Expo Mountain West
When: August 23-25 2024
Where: The Ranch – Loveland, Colorado
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/mtn-west
A relatively new addition to the Overland Expo Series, the Overland Expo Mountain West is hosted in Loveland, Colorado, and the three day event includes a wide variety of educational seminars, off-road courses, overland equipment and gear vendors, as well as inspirational round-tables with adventure travel experts.
Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo
When: August 30-September 2 2024
Where: Medicine Lodge Rodeo Grounds – Alberta, Canada
Website: https://www.aoaexpo.com
The Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo is Alberta’s premier overland event and expo. This three day event includes a wide variety of educational seminars hosted by experienced overlanders, off-road recovery courses, trail runs, overland equipment and gear vendors, delicious food trucks, a drive-in movie, and more!
Overland of America Expo
When: September 13-15 2024
Where: Mid America Outdoors – Jay, Oklahoma
Website: https://www.overlandofamerica.com
Overland of America is a brand new family-friendly overlanding event and expo hosted at the 1600 acre MidAmerica Outdoors facility in Jay, Oklahoma. The event space includes private trails, on-site lodging, full hook-up, and primitive campsites with access to free laundry and shower facilities, pools, a lazy river - plus an arcade, splash pad, and playground area for the kiddos! The three day expo includes a wide variety of educational courses and programs hosted by experienced overlanders, hands-on product demos from overland equipment and gear vendors, delicious food, as well as overland gear raffles and giveaways throughout the event.
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
When: September 12-15 2024
Where: Trails End Campground - Copper Harbor, Michigan U.P.
Website: https://keweenawoverlandadventureretreat.com/
While KOAR is more of a basecamp style overland event, there is no shortage of trails and things to explore throughout the Michigan U.P on your way to or from the expo. The event includes 4 days of camping on the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior, with access to hiking, mountain biking, and paddling throughout the historic Copper Harbor area.
Teton Overland Show
When: September 13-15 2024
Where: The Waterfront at Snake River Landing - Idaho Falls, ID
Website: https://tetonoverlandshow.com
The Teton Overland Show is an immersive overland event with on-site camping, trail runs, product demonstrations, classes, vendors, and prize raffles. The event takes place along the beautiful Snake River, and there’s easily accessible BLM/Forest service camping nearby if the on-site camping isn’t your scene.
Moab Overland Experience
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically the last weekend in September)
Where: Moab, UT
Website: https://moaboverlandexperience.com
The Moab Overland Experience expo includes over 50 adventure-centric vendors, classes, and 4 days of camping. There’s with something for everyone, including off road vans, adventure bikes, and overland vehicles of all kinds.
Off-Road Expo (California)
When: September 28-29 2024
Where: Fairplex – Pomona, California
Website: https://www.offroadexpo.com/
This off-road expo hosts some of the most revered parts, equipment, and gear manufacturers in the off-road and overland markets. The expo also features experts from the overlanding, off-road racing, and rock crawling communities.
Overland Expo East
When: October 4-6 2024
Where: Infinity Downs – Arrington, Virginia
Website: https://www.overlandexpo.com/east
The east coast counterpart of the Overland Expo Series, Overland Expo East also consists of a three day event that hosts a wide array of overland rigs and adventure vehicles to drool over, off-road driving and training courses, motorcycle demo rides, several educational classes, expert roundtables, and screenings of inspirational overland films. If you’re in the eastern U.S. this expo is one you don’t want to miss.
The Pilgrimage Overland Event
When: October 3-6 2024
Where: South Royalton, Vermont
Website: https://the-pilgrimage.com/
The Pilgrimage Overland Event is a three day gathering of overlanding and off-road enthusiasts. The event includes dispersed camping, self-guided trail runs, overland vendor exhibits, classes, and delicious local Vermont food.
Texas Avid Outdoors Fall Expo (a.k.a. The Texas Overland Expo)
When: October 4-6 2024
Where: Oxford Ranch Campground - Llano, Texas
Website: http://www.texasavidoutdoors.com
The T.A.O. Fall Expo is a popular overland exposition in Texas and is hosted to inspire and encourage attendees to explore the outdoors with a mix of gear and equipment vendors, as well as classes and presentations covering a wide variety of activities, overlanding, and outdoor adventure sports topics.
Off-Road Expo (Arizona)
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically the second weekend in October)
Where: Phoenix Raceway – Avondale, Arizona
Website: https://www.offroadexpo.com/
This overlanding expo is the sister event to the Pomona Off-Road Expo and brings together some of the most revered parts, equipment, and gear manufacturers in the off-road and overland markets. The expo also features experts from the overlanding, off-road racing, and rock crawling communities.
American Adventurist - Appalachian Rendezvous
When: 2024 Dates TBD
Where: North Carolina
Website: https://www.americanadventurist.com/ (must be a registered forum member for details)
The American Adventurist Appalachian Rendezvous is a small, limited-capacity annual overland event. The gathering includes a potluck overland cooking competition and trail runs, and while vendors are usually present, this is a non-commercial event intended to be more relaxed than a typical overland expo.
Rendezvous in the Ozarks
When: October 10-12 2024
Where: Mulberry Mountain Lodge - Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Website: https://www.naturalstateoverland.org
Rendezvous in the Ozarks is a three day overland expo that takes place in the beautiful Ozark National Forest. There are a variety of overland-centric classes, overlanding vehicle and equipment vendors, and guided trail rides for all skill levels offering a chance to hone your off-road driving abilities while surrounded with other experienced overlanders. We attended Rendezvous in 2020 and had a great time!
American Adventurist - Mountain Rendezvous
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically the third weekend in October)
Where: Camp Tahquitz, California
Website: https://www.americanadventurist.com/
The American Adventurist Mountain Rendezvous is a smaller, limited-capacity annual overland event. The gathering includes a potluck overland cooking competition and trail runs, and while vendors are present, this is a non-commercial event intended to be more laid back than other overland expos.
Overland the Red
When: October 17-20 2024
Where: Daniel Boone National Forest - Red River Gorge, KY
Website: https://northologyadventures.com/overland-the-red
Overland the Red is an Overland basecamp event hosted in the beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest and offers a taste of everything the Red River Gorge has to offer with beautiful fall foliage, camping, prize raffles, off road trail rides, hiking, and much more.
SEMA Show
When: November 5-8 2024
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center - Las Vedgas, NV
Website: https://www.semashow.com
While not a traditional overland expo, the SEMA Show is an incredible trade-show event that each year features more and more overland-centric exhibitors and some of the latest innovations in overland vehicles. Because it’s a trade-show event, it’s not open to the general public, but if you’re in the automotive or overland retail industry this is an incredible opportunity to network with others in the overlanding industry.
NITTO A2Z Overland Camp and Expo
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically third weekend in December)
Where: Bullhead City, AZ
Website: https://www.a2zoverland.com
This three day family-friendly overlanding expo event is hosted by Nitto Tires, with free parking and admission! It includes camping (must pay and register) along the beautiful Colorado River, a multitude of overland gear and equipment vendors, a group poker run, and more.
Overland Rallies
Overland Rallies differ from Expos in that they typically involve more active engagement and hands-on training. Often an overland rally consists of more rigorous or challenging driving conditions intended to hone your off-road driving abilities and help you become aware of you and your overland vehicle’s strengths and limitations.
Truck Camper Adventure Rally
When: February 14-18 2024
Where: BLM Roadrunner Wash Area - Quartzsite, Arizona
Website: https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/
Truck Camper Adventure Rally is a four day rally consisting primarily of overland truck campers of all shapes and sizes, and takes place in the desert outside Quartzsite, AZ. It culminates in a three day overland trip over El Camino Del Diablo traversing some of the most remote and arid terrain in the Sonoran Desert.
Express Rally Adventure Series (Overland Death Valley)
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically second weekend of February)
Where: Death Valley, CA & NV
Website: http://www.expressrally.com/
A three day guided all-inclusive overland rally featuring a mixture of technical and scenic trails including Lippincott Pass, Titus Canyon, Ubehebe Crater, Tea Kettle Junction and numerous other trails in the Alabama Hills & Mojave Desert. Registration fees include campsites, meals, and media coverage so all you have to worry about is getting your rig to the event.
Express Rally Adventure Series (Moab)
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically third weekend of August)
Where: Moab, UT
Website: http://www.expressrally.com/
A three day guided all-inclusive overland rally featuring a mixture of technical and scenic trails including Shafer Trail, Chicken Corners, Gemini Bridges, Hurrah Pass, and other trails in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Registration fees include campsites, meals, and media coverage so all you have to worry about is getting your rig to the event.
Express Rally Adventure Series (Baja)
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically third week in March)
Where: Baja California, MX
Website: http://www.expressrally.com/
An epic 11 day guided all-inclusive overland rally adventure, covering 1,300 miles of Baja’s beaches, deserts, and mountains from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean. Following a pre-planned route featuring a mixture of technical, scenic, and iconic trails - 75% off-pavement.
SMORR to MOORE Overland Rally
When: April 19-20 2024
Where: MOORE Expo, Springfield, MO | Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch, Seymour, MO
Website: https://www.mooreexpo.com/
The SMORR to MOORE Overland Rally is an approximately four hour overland rally between the MOORE Expo and Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch that traverses some of the most scenic public roads and trails in southern Missouri. You can choose to start at either end of the route, and registrants get preferred parking at the MOORE expo event. Participants can submit their rallybooks at the end of their run for a chance to win sponsored prizes too!
Express Rally Adventure Series (Overland Ozarks)
When: May 3-5 2024
Where: Ozark National Forest - Arkansas
Website: http://www.expressrally.com/
A three day guided all-inclusive overland rally through the Ozark National Forest, with a route featuring a mixture of technical and scenic trails. Registration fees include campsites, meals, some SWAG, and media coverage.
The Overland Challenge
When: 2024 Dates Pending (typically the last weekend in April)
Where: Uwharrie National Forest - Uwharrie, North Carolina
Website: https://www.southernxpeditions.com/overland-challenge
The Overland Challenge is a three day teams-based (2-4 vehicles/team) overland rally hosted by Southern Xpeditions that takes place in the Uwharrie National Forest OHV Trail System as well as several Expert Training Facilities in the surrounding area. The rally includes 3 nights of camping, all required public land permits, a sponsored meal, and all required printed maps. Plus, all profits from the event go to charity!
Northwest Overland Rally
When: June 21-23 2024
Location: Plain, Washington
Website: https://www.overlandadventurerallies.com/
The three day NWOR is a bit of a hybrid of overland expo & overland rally. It consists of camping, expert led overland classes (including everything from photography workshops to trail spotting, welding, and repairs), volunteer guided scenic trail runs, as well as on-site technical 4WD course training, vendor sponsored games and cocktails, and even wine tasting! This family-friendly event really has something for everyone.
BC Overland Rally
When: July 11-13 2024
Where: Merritt, British Columbia
Website: https://www.overlandadventurerallies.com/
The BCOR is a sister event to the NWOR in the U.S. The rally takes place in beautiful British Columbia, Canada over the course of three days. It consists of camping, expert led overland classes (including everything from photography workshops to trail spotting, welding, and repairs), guided trail runs for a wide variety of skill levels, as well as on-site technical course training.
Express Rally Adventure Series (Overland New Mexico)
When: 2024 Dates Pending
Where: Carson National Forest - New Mexico
Website: http://www.expressrally.com/
A three day guided all-inclusive overland rally beginning and ending in the Carson National Forest, with a pre-planned route through the Taos Mountains that is both technical and scenic, and registration fees include campsites, meals, and media coverage.
Express Rally Adventure Series (Overland Colorado)
When: 2024 Dates Pending (typically the last weekend in August)
Where: Silver Jack Reservoir - Colorado
Website: http://www.expressrally.com/
A three day guided all-inclusive overland rally beginning and ending at the Silver Jack Reservoir near Ouray, CO. The rally includes a pre-planned route through Engineer Pass, Imogene Pass, Black Bear Pass, Ophir Pass, Yankee Boy Basin, and Poughkeepsie Gulch that is both technical and scenic, and registration fees include campsites, meals, and media coverage.
New England Overland Rally
When: 2024 Dates Pending (typically the first weekend in September)
Location: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park - Thompson, CT
Website: https://www.neoverlandrally.com
The two day New England Overland Rally is a bit of a hybrid between an overlanding expo and overland rally. It includes camping, live music, expert led overland classes (including off road driving and CPR and wilderness first aid), as well as an on-site technical 4WD course. This family-friendly event is one of the best in the Northeast.
Red Clay Rally
When: September 13-15 2024 (registration closes earlier)
Where: Lexington, KY to Johnson City, TN
Website: https://www.redclayrally.com
This is an intensive three day overland rally, spanning nearly 600 miles through Appalachia's mixed on-road, off-road, and technical trails - with one goal: finish. The Red Clay Rally is a real-deal overland rally in which self-sufficiency, self-awareness, driving skills, and your vehicle (and your own) limitations are put to the test.
Panhandle Overland Rally
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically the last weekend in September)
Where: Baldy Mountain - Sandpoint, Idaho
Website: http://www.panhandleoverlandrally.com/
The Panhandle Overland Rally in northern Idaho offers miles of self-guided trails as well as a technical course. With a beer garden, overland vehicle contests, raffles/prizes, live music, and a stellar community, this overland rally is one of the best in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re planning a trip to this rally, be sure to scope out some of the Idaho's natural hot springs along the way!
Big Iron Overland Rally
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically the last weekend in September)
Where: Big Brutus Park - West Mineral, Kansas
Website: http://www.bigironoverlandrally.com/
Presented by the same group that hosts the MOORE Expo, the Big Iron Overland Rally is a family-friendly three day overland camp out, rally, and live-music concert event with overland equipment vendor exhibits, overland vehicle displays and awards, adventure education courses, and raffle prizes. Plus self-guided tours of the infamous 16-story tall Big Brutus, the world’s largest electric steam shovel!
Copperstate Overland Rally
When: October 12-16 2024
Where: Southern Arizona - specific route varies year-to-year
Website: https://mensartscouncil.com/copperstate-overland/
The Copperstate Overland rally is not your typical overland event; it’s an exclusive, fully catered, fully-supported on-road/off-road driving adventure open only to vintage off road vehicles made prior to 1979.
Roof Top Tent Rally
When: 2024 Dates TBD (typically the third weekend in October)
Where: James River State Park – Gladstone, Virginia
Website: https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com/pages/roof-top-tent-rally
The RTTR is put on by the folks at Blue Ridge Overland Gear. While this event bears more semblance to an expo than a traditional overland rally, it still provides a great opportunity to connect with other overlanders. This family-friendly overland event includes three days of live music, overland gear & vendor booths, and camping with access to fishing, paddling, and 20 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. A roof top tent is not required.
Overland Groups
Overland Groups, both online and IRL, are one of the easiest ways to connect with the overland community, and those that contribute are typically eager to share their wealth of knowledge and help when needed.
Overlanding Facebook Groups
There are a huge selection of Facebook groups that cater to nearly every aspect of overlanding and overland travel. Here are a few of the best to get you started:
Overlanding Association - the overlanding association manages multiple overland-specific facebook sub-groups, which are broken into categories based on either geography or topic (such as vehicle shipping, builds, buy & sell, etc.). Note that to join most of these sub-groups you’ll be required to be a member of their broader forum: Overland Sphere
Overlanding USA - this group covers all things overlanding related in the United States
Expedition Overland’s Overland Community - the team at Expedition Overland put together this group for those that are new to overlanding or looking to connect with other travelers
PanAmerican Travelers Association - if you have dreams of traveling the PanAmerican, this overland group is an incredible wealth of knowledge and help
Overland Bound
Overland Bound is the largest membership-based overland group in the world with over 28k members world-wide. For a nominal annual membership fee you get access to their extensive forum (discussed more below), regional facebook groups, member events & rallies, and trip planning software.
Learn more at https://www.overlandbound.com/
Rigs & Coffee
Rigs & Coffee is a group of regional overland vehicle gatherings that occur monthly throughout the United States. These gatherings offer a great opportunity to meet with others in your local overland community, check out some incredible overland vehicles, and have an excellent cup of coffee too!
Learn more at: https://www.rigscoffee.org/events/
Overland Forums
Overlanding forums are another excellent way to engage in the overland community, while offering both an opportunity to give and receive help and information from others who share your passion for overland travel.
Expedition Portal
Established in 2005, the Expedition Portal Forum is THE place to share overlanding build tips, information, help, and adventures with the overland community online.
Lonely Planet
Established in 1996, the Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Forums were one of the longest running forum resources for travel-specific information and community online. While not strictly overland-specific, its archives contained a vast amount of applicable overland travel information. Now, their community has largely moved to their Facebook group, and while the forum is no longer accessible on their site you can still access it’s wealth of knowledge on the Internet Archive backup.
Overland Bound Forum
The Overland Bound Forum is free to all visitors and contains a massive amount of overlanding related information provided by the groups’ members.
Reddit Overlanding Community
The r/overlanding group is a very active online overlanding community with over 160,000 members and a great resource for overlanding information and inspiration
As you can see, whether it’s through an overland expo, event, local group, or even an online forum, there is no shortage of ways to get connected with the overland community.
We cannot stress enough the benefits of engaging with the overland community if you’re interested in overland travel, and hope that this resource provides you with the means to do so more easily.
And If there’s an overlanding expo, event, group, or rally that you’d recommend - and that wasn’t included here - please drop a comment below or email us and let us know!
As always, thanks for reading - and be sure to SUBSCRIBE for future blog updates.
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