Guide ToTHE COSTA MESA REGION

MARCH 14-15, 2026
OC FAIR & EVENT CENTER // COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
SAT 9-5 | SUN 9-4

ABOUT THE VENUE

OC FAIR & EVENT CENTER

The OC Fair & Event Center is at the heart of Costa Mesa’s vibrant year-round events calendar, hosting more than 150 events and attracting more than 2 million visitors annually.  The center is home to Centennial Farm, Pacific Amphitheatre and one of the largest fairs in the United States, the OC Fair.

DRIVING TIMES TO Costa Mesa:

Photo by: OC Fair & Events Center

OVERLAND ROUTES & RESOURCES

Trips & Trails: Movie Road, Alabama Hills

You’ve seen the Alabama Hills many times before in movies, TV, and on the ‘gram, but maybe you’ve never experienced it from the driver’s seat?

Located off picturesque Highway 395 on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Lone Pine, Movie Road encompasses viewpoints of high desert and Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States within its 24 beautiful miles.

Trips &Trails: The Lost Coast – Usal Road

There isn’t a trip that is more uniquely Northern California than the Lost Coast, a collection of mostly dirt roads that starts at Highway 1 between Westport and Leggett and traverses CA State Land Trust lands and Sinkyone Wilderness State Park which includes a collection of beautiful hikes, beach access, and (paid) camping at Usal Beach.

Trips &Trails: Bodie Ghost Town

If you haven’t explored U.S. Route 395 through California, you have no idea what you’re missing. I can honestly say that from Socal to Norcal it is an adventurer’s paradise with trails, experiences, lakes, camping, and hiking to appease anyone’s wanderlust.

Trips & Trails: Mojave Road

The Mojave Road is a trail ideal for overlanders looking to cut their teeth on a long but moderately difficult trail. Due to extreme temperatures in the region, Springtime is the ideal time to plan this trip.

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?

Backcountry Discovery Routes

ACCOMODATIONS

HOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS

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.

NEARBY RV PARKS

We do not allow motorhomes / RVs to camp on-site. It’s best to book a real RV park near Costa Mesa, CA.

RV PARKS IN THE COSTA MESA AREA:

Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.

Camping

In order to keep our culture of off-the-beaten-path travel alive and well, all on-site camping is restricted to motorcycles, tents, overland vehicles, and small overland trailers ONLY.

CAMPGROUNDS IN THE AREA:

CAMPGROUND SEARCH OPTIONS:

NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS

The Cleveland National Forest offers several campgrounds, click HERE for a list of campgrounds.

Fly & Ride

Where to rent motorcycles?

Although motorcycle rentals are not available locally in Costa Mesa, you can fly to the surrounding areas and rent adventure motorcycles at: 

For the best route suggestions, check out this list from Indian Motorcycle of Orange County!

CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW #OVERLANDEXPO

Tacoma Lifestyle is a proud sponsor of Overland Expo West this year in Flagstaff Arizona! Swing by their booth to score exclusive patches and stickers while supplies last from @TacomaLifestyle, @4RunnerLifestyle, and @TundraLifestyle

Utah Based & Known as the biggest and best online destinations for everything Overland related to the Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra, these brands bring the gear, the community, and the lifestyle together like no one else.

Don’t miss out and be sure to stop in and check them out!
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@papagovans is rolling into Overland Expo West as a Title Sponsor, bringing serious adventure-ready builds to Booth Q57. Founded by off-road enthusiasts with backgrounds in mechanical engineering and design, Papago builds aren’t just beautiful—they’re engineered for performance in the field.

Unlike mass-produced vans, every Papago build is shaped by the person who’ll actually be living in it. These rigs aren’t built for the masses, they’re built for you. Every detail is dialed with real-world use in mind, blending functional innovation with no-compromise capability.

This year, they’re showcasing their most ambitious builds yet, crafted for those who value substance over hype. If you’re an overlander looking beyond the standard #vanlife aesthetic, this is the booth you don’t want to miss.
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Stop by the @toyotires booth (#Q70) in the quad at Overland Expo West for free giveaways, to test your skills on their R/C Crawler course, and to check out the new Open Country R/T Pro!

Be sure to follow @TeamToyoUSA for live updates from the event.
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Follow along as @nomad_rvs builds RVs in real time!

🛠️ With videos uploaded daily, they bring you along for every step of the build process. They are RVIA certified and the quality shows.

👉 Head over to their booth during Overland Expo West located at P5. You can see their most popular model - The Euphoria - and their widely anticipated Euphoria XL Twin Bed built on the 170" Mercedes AWD Chassis!
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The Ultimate Overland Motorcycle is back for 2025—built in partnership with the @overlandexpofoundation and an all-star lineup of visionary brands. 🛠️🏍️🔥 

This year’s build pushes the limits of adventure-ready design—and you won’t believe what we’ve got in store.  

Keep your eyes out for the full reveal on May 1! 👀
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We’ve been hard at work building something epic – the 2025 Ultimate Overland Vehicle is almost ready to roll  🛻💨 
  
Any guesses to what it is? 
  
Built in collaboration with the @overlandexpofoundation, @aevconversions, @tinyrigco, and an array of incredible build partners, this year’s rig is a beast on its own and is outfitted with the best in the industry. 
  
📅  Full reveal drops May 1 — don’t miss it. 
  
#OverlandExpo #overlandvehicle #offroadvehicle #offroadtruck #offroadcamper #camperbuild #truckcamper #overlandcamper
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OVR is headed to Overland Expo West! As an official media partner, @ovrmag is proud to be part of the ultimate gathering for overlanders, explorers, and gear lovers alike. Whether you`re a seasoned trail veteran or just starting your adventure journey, swing by the OVR booth to say hello, check out our latest gear picks, and meet the team behind your favorite adventure mag.

🎁 Special Offer for Attendees: Visit the OVR booth during the show and receive one-year FREE Digital Access to OVR’s full library of past and current issues—packed with vehicle features, gear reviews, travel guides, and more.

Let’s talk builds, trails, and all things overlanding—don’t miss it! We’ll see you at Overland Expo West | May 17–19 | Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ.
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THE WORLD IS OUT THERE GO SEE IT!

Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo SoCal in Costa Mesa, CA.