Overland Expo 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Events

What Is Overland Expo?

Overland Expo is the largest overlanding event series in North America. Founded in 2009 by Roseann and Jonathan Hanson in Prescott, Arizona, the first event attracted just 900 people. It has since grown into a five-event national series drawing a combined 77,000+ attendees per year, now owned by Emerald Expositions.

The events combine hands-on classes, vendor expos, vehicle showcases, demo drives, and on-site camping. For preppers, Overland Expo is a goldmine — nearly every category of preparedness gear (shelter, water, power, communication, navigation, vehicle recovery, and food) is represented by the companies that build the best versions of it.

2026 Complete Event Schedule

| Event | Dates | Location | Exhibitors |

|-------|-------|----------|------------|

| SoCal | March 14–15, 2026 | OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA | 360+ brands |

| West | May 15–17, 2026 | Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ | 400+ exhibitors |

| PNW | June 26–28, 2026 | Deschutes County Expo Center, Redmond, OR | 300+ exhibitors |

| Mountain West | August 21–23, 2026 | The Ranch Events Complex, Loveland, CO | 300+ exhibitors |

| East | October 23–25, 2026 | Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, VA | 300+ exhibitors |

All five 2026 events are confirmed and tickets are on sale now.

Overland Expo West — The Flagship

Dates: May 15–17, 2026

Location: Fort Tuthill County Park — Flagstaff, Arizona

Attendance: 28,000–30,000+ (the largest of all events)

At 7,000 feet elevation in the Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff offers perfect early-summer weather and immediate access to incredible trails. Attendees often extend their trip to explore Sedona, the Mogollon Rim, or Route 66 backroads.

• 400+ exhibitors across every overlanding category
• 175+ classes ranging from beginner ("Overlanding 101") to advanced ("Advanced Winching," "Expedition Medical")
• Ultimate Overland Vehicle Build — a dream rig built and revealed each year
• Demo drives — test new vehicles on actual off-road courses
• Camping on-site — primitive camping Thursday through Monday
• New product launches — many companies debut products at West

West draws attendees from all 50 states, with 41% being first-time attendees in 2025.

Overland Expo East

Dates: October 23–25, 2026

Location: Oak Ridge Estate — Arrington, Virginia (4,800 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains)

Attendance: 14,000+

The Blue Ridge Mountains provide stunning fall foliage and excellent trails. The George Washington National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway are right there. East attracts a different crowd — more East Coast overlanders, more van-lifers, and a stronger focus on expedition travel.

• 300+ exhibitors — slightly smaller but equally curated
• 175+ classes with the same world-class instruction
• Fall weather — cooler temps, beautiful scenery, great camping
• Tighter community feel — easier to connect with vendors and instructors

Overland Expo PNW (Pacific Northwest)

Dates: June 26–28, 2026

Location: Deschutes County Expo Center — Redmond, Oregon (20 minutes north of Bend)

Attendance: 12,000–15,000

The PNW event has a unique feature: vehicle-based hands-on experiences including Overland Expo Training courses and a Trail Course Experience (only available at PNW). Full exhibitor floor with 300+ vendors, 150+ classes, camping, and community events. Perfect proximity to the Cascade Range and Oregon backcountry.

Overland Expo Mountain West

Dates: August 21–23, 2026

Location: The Ranch Events Complex — Loveland, Colorado (40 miles north of Denver)

Attendance: 18,000+

Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. 300+ exhibitors, 175+ classes, vehicle showcase, and on-site camping. The Embassy Suites hotel is on-site for those who prefer indoor accommodations. This event has been growing rapidly — 18,000+ attendees in 2025.

Overland Expo SoCal

Dates: March 14–15, 2026 (2-day event)

Location: OC Fair & Event Center — Costa Mesa, California

Attendance: 19,000+ (debut year 2025)

The newest addition to the lineup (debuted 2025) and it immediately became one of the largest. 360+ brands and special programming including the Backcountry & Culinary Pavilion, Overland Essentials Area, The Learning Lab, and the Women Who Wander Pavilion. Two days instead of three, but packed with content.

Must-See Vendors for Preppers

These companies align directly with preparedness needs:

Shelter & Sleep

• iKamper — Hard-shell rooftop tents (Skycamp 3.0, Rocky)
• Roofnest — Affordable hard-shell RTTs
• 23Zero — Soft-shell tents with dark-room technology
• Alu-Cab — Premium expedition canopies and RTTs

Recovery & Vehicle

• MAXTRAX — Recovery boards
• Warn Industries — Winches, bumpers
• ARB — Air compressors, lockers, fridges, lighting
• Factor 55 — Winch accessories and recovery gear
• Old Man Emu (OME) — Suspension lift kits

Power & Electrical

• Jackery — Portable power stations and solar panels
• EcoFlow — High-capacity power stations
• Goal Zero — Rugged portable power
• Renogy — Solar panels and charge controllers
• Redarc — Dual battery systems and solar regulators

Kitchen & Water

• Dometic — Fridges, coolers, water systems
• Front Runner — Roof racks, water tanks, camp kitchens
• MSR — Water filters and camp stoves
• Jetboil — Ultrafast camp stoves

Communication & Navigation

• Garmin — inReach satellite communicators, GPS units
• Gaia GPS / onX Offroad — Offline trail mapping
• Midland — GMRS radios

Storage & Organization

• Goose Gear — Vehicle storage systems and sleeping platforms
• DECKED — Truck bed drawer systems
• Front Runner — Modular rack accessories and boxes

How Preppers Should Approach Overland Expo

Before the Expo

• Download the event app — Map out which classes and vendors align with your prep goals
• Book classes early — Popular classes (winching, medical, navigation) fill up fast
• Set a budget — Expo deals are real, and impulse buys happen. Decide what you need before you go
• Bring your rig — Drive your actual vehicle so vendors can give specific recommendations

Priority Classes for Preppers

• Expedition Medical / Wilderness First Aid — Critical trauma and medical skills
• Advanced Vehicle Recovery — Winching, extraction, and recovery techniques
• Overland Navigation — Map reading, GPS, route planning without cell service
• Electrical Systems 101/201 — Dual batteries, solar, power management
• Overlanding for Beginners — If you're new, start here
• Water Purification in the Field — Overlaps directly with prepper water preps

At the Expo

• Talk to vendors — Ask what their most popular products are and what's new. Many offer expo-only pricing
• Attend vehicle showcases — Study how experienced builders organize gear and prioritize mods
• Network — Exchange info with other preparedness-minded overlanders. The community is incredibly generous with knowledge
• Take notes — You'll see 500+ booths. Write down what interests you so you can research later

After the Expo

• Follow up on expo deals — Some vendors offer post-expo pricing if you mention you attended
• Sign up for affiliate programs — Many overlanding brands (iKamper, Jackery, EcoFlow, Renogy) offer affiliate programs
• Join overlanding forums — Overland Bound, Expedition Portal, and r/overlanding are great communities
• Plan your first trip — Apply what you learned immediately

Which Overland Expo Should You Attend?

| Event | Best For | When |

|-------|----------|------|

| West (Flagstaff, AZ) | Largest event, new product launches, flagship experience | May |

| SoCal (Costa Mesa, CA) | Quick 2-day event, massive brand presence, SoCal convenience | March |

| PNW (Redmond, OR) | Hands-on trail experience, Pacific NW trails, unique programming | June |

| Mountain West (Loveland, CO) | Rocky Mountain access, growing fast, hotel on-site | August |

| East (Arrington, VA) | Fall foliage, intimate feel, East Coast convenience | October |

If you can only attend one, West is the flagship. If you're East Coast, East saves travel costs and the fall setting is incredible. SoCal is the easiest to attend as a 2-day event.

Title Sponsors & Major Exhibitors

Major OEMs and brands treat Overland Expo as a key consumer touchpoint:

• Toyota USA and Subaru USA — consistent title sponsors
• ARB 4x4 Accessories — compressors, bumpers, lockers, fridges
• Baja Designs — LED lighting
• Dometic — portable fridges and coolers
• INEOS Grenadier — new 4x4 vehicles
• Anker SOLIX — portable power
• Renogy — solar panels
• FOX — suspension systems
• Kumho Tires — all-terrain tires
• Vortex Optics — optics and glass

Planning Your Trip

Tickets & Pricing

| Pass Type | Approx. Price |

|-----------|---------------|

| Day pass (single day) | $40–60 |

| Weekend pass | $90–120 |

| Weekend + vehicle camping (Thu–Mon) | $160–190 |

| Premium weekend + camping | $250+ |

• Ages 14 and under are free with an adult ticket
• All tickets must be purchased online in advance
• Camping passes allow primitive camping Thursday morning through Monday morning

What to Bring

• Your vehicle — drive your actual rig so vendors can give specific recommendations
• Camping gear (it's a camping event — that's half the fun)
• Sun protection (West is in the Arizona sun at 7,000 feet)
• Layers (Flagstaff gets cold at night; Virginia can be chilly in October)
• Cash — some vendors prefer it, and ATMs have long lines
• A notepad or phone for taking notes at classes
• Business cards if you want to network

The Bottom Line

Overland Expo is the single best event a preparedness-minded person can attend. Five events across the country in 2026 means there's one within driving distance no matter where you live. You'll learn more in one weekend — hands-on, in the field, from experts — than months of reading articles online. And you'll come home with a concrete plan to improve your vehicle, your gear, and your skills.