
Tales from the Trail: Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Scenic Byway
Eva Rupert takes the Ultimate Overland Motorcycle, a Yamaha Ténéré 700, from Arizona to Oregon and discovers the formula for a perfect adventure ride along the way.
Overland Expo WEST is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, an area full of mountain trails, unmatched scenery, and fascinating history.
MAY 14-16, 2027
FT. TUTHILL COUNTY PARK // FLAGSTAFF, AZ, USA
FRI 9-5 | SAT 9-5 | SUN 9-3
This historic property is just minutes from downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, the gateway to the Grand Canyon and Four Corners region. Fort Tuthill is Coconino County’s fairgrounds, with easy paved access just off Interstate 17 and across from the international airport; buildings and ramadas; organized campground for 1000 units plus adjacent unlimited Coconino National Forest dry camping; and best of all, all-weather access with pine trees throughout. The site also has an adventure ropes course and miles of mountain bike trails. We will run a free shuttle to and from parking and hotels in southern Flagstaff throughout the weekend.
Your Overland Expo West adventure kicks off the moment you hit the road. With Hipcamp, explore unique camping spots that make every step of the journey memorable.

Eva Rupert takes the Ultimate Overland Motorcycle, a Yamaha Ténéré 700, from Arizona to Oregon and discovers the formula for a perfect adventure ride along the way.

If you’re headed to Overland Expo West from Southern California, it’s always a good idea to

Crown King Road and Senator Highway in north-central Arizona is a reminder that this state has

If you’ve ever wanted to overland on the moon, this is as close you can get. The Cinder Hills OHV Area resembles the moon’s surface, partially because NASA pockmarked a portion of the Cinder Lakes area to match the Apollo landing sites with a series of controlled explosions in 1967.
Looking for more ways to connect with others? Join one of the many overland groups traveling together before or after the show.
Expedition Portal | American Adventurist | ADVrider | Overland Bound
Looking for a scenic route that uses dirt, gravel, and paved roads to wind through remote parts of the region?
Plan an exploratory trip with friends before or after the event. The trails are suitable for an adventure motorcycle or 4WD vehicle.
The Coconino National Forest Service has additional maps you can download: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coconino/maps-pubs
ADDITIONAL HOTEL SEARCH OPTIONS:
EXPO HOUSING SERVICES
WARNING: This is not a legitimate company. If you are contacted by them, do not use their services.
We do not allow motorhomes / RVs to camp on-site. It’s best to book a real RV park near Flagstaff.
RV PARKS IN THE FLAGSTAFF AREA:
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
Camp at the Fort Tuthill’s premier 413-acre regional park, nestled in the cool Ponderosa pine forest 3 miles south of Flagstaff. Camping areas include RV and tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, nearby portable toilets, and water spigots. Reservations begin in December.
NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS
Nearly the entire Coconino National forest has backcountry camping along most Forest Roads.
DISPERSED CAMPING
For those who prefer more solitude, dispersed camping is also allowed in Coconino National Forest. For a detailed guide to regulations and suggested sites, see: Dispersed camping.
It’s impossible to imagine Flagstaff without Macy’s, the hippie-esque coffee shop on Beaver Street just south of the railroad tracks. It feels like it’s been there forever, although it only opened in 1980. The triple latte is practically breakfast on its own—but don’t cheat yourself of their waffles, biscuits and gravy, or even the homemade granola.
You can’t go wrong with a selection here. The ingredients are all sourced as locally as possible, including Arizona beef. Unlike many restaurants that do dinner well but fall down on dessert, Criollo keeps up the momentum all the way through. There isn’t a better restaurant in the state, counting quality, imagination, service, and price.
In Heritage Square, serve up outstanding burgers, fries, and brews; meats and many ingredients are entirely local to northern Arizona, and entirely addictive. Arrive hungry.
Despite its location in a strip mall, the Campus Coffee Bean is another favorite, with easier parking than Macy’s and more room for larger groups. In addition to breakfast, they offer a full lunch menu. If you think you’re a hard-core coffee drinker, try the Hammerhead—three shots of espresso in a full cup of regular coffee.
Imagine the perfect diner to front historic Route 66, and you get the Galaxy. The waitresses don’t ride roller skates, but that’s about the only period trick missing here. And it’s not just a re-creation—the Galaxy has been around since the 1950s.
The Flagstaff Brewing Company opened in 1994 in a 19th-century building right off Highway 66, is a low-key favorite and also the place to sample High Spirits’ amazing single malt, Arizona whisky (finished in mesquite-smoked barrels).
There are several fine destinations for a pre- or post-Expo tour of northern Arizona and adjacent states: Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Wupatki, Sunset Crater, Chaco Canyon, Moab, historic Navajo trading posts, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef, historic Route 66, Sedona, Glen Canyon, Meteor Crater . . . trust us, you won’t run out of possibilities.
Ready means never getting stuck for long. 🧭
We`re closing out the 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle series with the gear that keeps you self-reliant when it counts. @FreedomRecoveryGear, @Wilco_Offroad, @onXOffroad, @RotopaXOfficial and @ForrestTool cover every angle: a full recovery kit and traction boards for the tough spots, a sturdy hitchgate for carrying a spare tire, trusted navigation off the grid, water and fuel storage, and a multipurpose tool kit for whatever the trail throws at you.
A build that proves what`s possible when a proven vehicle meets the best in adventure gear.
The 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle heads to the Bring a Trailer auction this fall—and every dollar raised goes straight to the @OverlandExpoFoundation. Stay tuned for details.
#UltimateOverlandVehicle #OverlandExpo #OverlandExpoFoundation #RecoveryGear #TrailReady
@CVTTents is home again. 🏕️
Founder Bobby Culpepper just reacquired Cascadia Vehicle Tents (CVT), and he`s ready to rebuild.
Swipe to learn more. Full interview on The Compass, link in bio.
#TheCompass #CVT #OverlandExpo
Whether you`re just starting out or you`ve logged miles of dirt roads, you`ll fit right in.
Overland Expo East welcomes you with 200+ exhibitors and 260+ classes and activities.
🎟️ Buy tickets before midnight and save. Click the link in bio.
📅 October 23-25, 2026
📍 Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, Virginia
#OverlandExpo #Overlanding #OverlandExpoEast #Outdoors #Virginia
Last year, Overland Expo East brought out some seriously rad rigs.
Now we want to see yours. Comment a photo of your rig and tell us where it’s taken you. 😎
Read more about the Best Rigs of Overland Expo East 2025 on The Compass, link in bio.
Buy tickets and save through Sept. 16.
📍 Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, Virginia
📅 October 23-25, 2026
#OverlandExpoEast #Overlanding #Rigs #BestRigs #Outdoors
The @OverlandExpoFoundation Charity Dinner takes place Thursday, Oct. 22, 6–8 PM at Oak Ridge Estate. Exclusively for East campers and exhibitors, kick off the Overland Expo East weekend with good food, good people and stories worth sticking around for.
Proceeds from the event support @VentureUnknownFoundation, a nonprofit organization committed to protecting our public lands through conservation, restoration, education, and responsible recreation
The Overland Expo Foundation Charity Dinner features:
- @Food_For_Adventures Chef Natty`s Curated Outdoor Dinner
- Overland Expo Foundation Impact Stories
- Community Networking
- 50/50 Charity Raffle
- Support for Outdoor Access & Opportunity
Add-on a dinner ticket to your East camping pass at checkout.
Already got your camping pass? Visit the link in our bio to add-on a dinner ticket and learn more about the dinner!
#OverlandExpoEast #OverlandExpoFoundation #Overlanding
The gear, the rigs, the best community all in one place.
Join us for Overland Expo East, October 23-25, in Arrington, Virginia.
🎟️ Buy tickets before Sept. 17 and save. Link in bio.
📍 Oak Ridge Estate
Describe your ideal camp the way you`d tell a buddy. A quiet spot with room to turn a 25-footer around. @wildroute.ai does the rest.
It reads geospatial data, road conditions, satellite imagery and community reports, then matches results to your length, clearance and drivetrain before you ever head down the road. 🛻
Read more on The Compass, link in bio. 🧭
The details make the difference. 🔧
A well-built rig isn`t just about what`s under it—it`s about what`s on it. @tackform.systems, @NiteIze, @Pelican and @MidlandUSA bring the organization, communication, and protection the 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle needs on every mile. A dash mount that keeps devices in view, a strap system that locks gear down tight, rugged hard storage for the rough stuff, and radios that keep you connected beyond cell coverage.
Smart setups like these turn a loaded truck into an efficient one.
This rig will head to auction on Bring a Trailer this fall, and every dollar raised benefits the @OverlandExpoFoundation.
How do you keep your gear organized on the trail?
#UltimateOverlandVehicle #OverlandExpo #OverlandExpoFoundation #GearManagement #OverlandGear
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ.