
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 15-17, 2026
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.
10 days until Overland Expo West begins, buy your tickets today! ⏳
Saturday, May 16, is a beautiful reminder of what overlanding is all about: caring for the places we love and coming together as a community. Looking for things to do? 😎
🧹 9 AM, May 16 — Join the Trail Cleanup and Kiosk Project supporting Edge of the World access with Tread Lightly!, the Overland Expo Foundation, and Trails Offroad at Forest Road 535 and 89A. Help install a new informational kiosk and take part in a forest service road cleanup to keep our trails beautiful and accessible.
🎟️ 7–9 PM, May 16 — Come together again for the @OverlandExpoFoundation Saturday Night Raffle at the Oasis Bar & Food Court Sponsored by Nexen Tire America, where overlanding brands donate prizes in support of the Foundation’s work. Purchase raffle tickets when you buy your event pass, or in person starting at Thursday night’s Happy Hour. You must be present to win!
📍 Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ
📅 May 15–17, 2026
Tap the link in our bio to buy your tickets!🏕️
#OverlandExpoWest #OverlandExpoFoundation #FlagstaffArizona
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Own the road less traveled!
Catch @ToyotaUSA at Booth A2 to check out the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept SEMA build, Land Cruiser, and the all-new Trailhunter lineup. Talk with their experts, shop official merch, and grab Toyota swag when you complete a quick survey. They’ll also be hosting a Toyota Game Night on Friday, May 15, from 7pm to 9pm in the Toyota booth with fun games for the whole family, complimentary food and refreshments, and your chance to win some amazing prizes!
#LetsGoPlaces #Trailhunter #LandCruiser #4Runner #Tacoma #H2Overlander
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Last call for limited-edition Overland Expo West 2026 pre-order merch! ⏳
Purchase your limited-edition West 2026 merch by Friday, May 8, at 10 AM PT to guarantee your favorites before the pre-order window closes. This deadline applies to pre-order merch only, you can still shop merch onsite at the event, but stock and sizes for limited-edition pre-order items are not guaranteed! 😎🔥
Bonus: All registrations made between Tuesday, May 5, and Friday, May 8, are eligible to win a free merch pack featuring a t-shirt, hat, and patch (a $60 value) 🎁 If the winner already purchased that same merch pack, we’ll refund the cost.
New this year: stop by the Overland Expo West Hat Bar at the Overland Expo Gear Shop in Flagstaff to design your own custom hat! 🤠
📍 May 15–17 | Flagstaff, AZ
#OverlandExpoWest #FlagstaffAZ #Overlanding #OverlandExpoMerch #OverlandExpo
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The 2026 Overland Expo West map is LIVE! 🗺️ Swipe to see the venue footprint of the world`s largest overlanding event.
Start planning your weekend:
📍 Must-see education sessions
🛻 Top brands and gear to explore
🍔 Food, restrooms, and other key spots
🗓️ May 15-17 | Flagstaff, AZ
Download the free Overland Expo app for the full map!
What’s the first stop on your list at Overland Expo West?🔥👀
#OverlandExpoWest #OverlandExpo #Overlanding
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Adventure takes center stage at Overland Expo West — and @evotrexnow arrives as a Title Sponsor. Experience the Evotrex-PG5, the world’s first power-generating RV build to stay off-grid for days even with the A/C running. Featuring up to 270+ kWh of on-demand power, active power assist, and adventure-ready design, the PG5 unlocks a new level of freedom, comfort, and self-sufficiency wherever the journey leads.
May 15-17| Booth# Q27
Get up close with the Evotrex-PG5, meet the team, and explore off-road innovation.
Join us at Overland Expo West—adventure starts here.
#Evotrex #PG5 #RVLife #OverlandExpoWest #RVCommunity #AdventureReady #AZ
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Previews from the garage...
The 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle Build is officially underway.
This is just the beginning—more coming soon. #ultimateoverlandvehicle2026
🤝 @NissanUSA @AllDogsOffroadCoop
📍 Ahead of #OverlandExpoWest 2026
📸 @elite_media
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Get ready for an unforgettable experience packed with exciting moto programming at Overland Expo West! 😎
Don’t miss highlights like the Moto Party & Dinner Raffle, plus inspiring guest speakers sharing real-life moto adventures. From sessions to incredible stories from the road, this is the ultimate celebration of life on two wheels.
📅 May 15–17
📍 Flagstaff, AZ
If you’re a moto rider, drop your build in the comments! 🏍️🔥
#OverlandExpoWest #FlagstaffArizona #Moto #Rigs
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Get ready for Overland Expo West, the largest overlanding event in the world! 🌄
Explore this year’s exciting new offerings, from navigating with the onX Offroad event map to planning your trip with the Hipcamp Adventure Route. Packed with adventure, innovation, and fun, the event also features expanded food options and the Hat Bar for custom gear! 🎩
🎟️ Click the link in bio to buy tickets!
📅 May 15–17 | 📍 Flagstaff, AZ
Visit http://overlandexpo.com/west to view the full event schedule and discover everything new this year!
Which new offering are you most excited for at Overland Expo West? 🤩
#OverlandExpoWest #FlagstaffArizona #Overlanding #AdventureGear
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Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ.