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

🌍 Meet the man who’s driven around the world—literally. Bernard Salzmann may be the most well-traveled person we`ve ever met. Raised overlanding across Africa, he has spent his life exploring the globe by vehicle.

Tour his incredible 4x4 Brimont Brutt Land Roamer—an ex-military truck transformed into a go-anywhere home on wheels that has taken him across continents, through remote landscapes, and deep into adventure.

👉 Full video on our YouTube channel (🔗 in bio)

Thank you Bernard for sharing your story with us!

📽️ @brooks_roe
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Overland Expo Mountain West is rolling into Loveland, Colorado, August 22–24 — and you won’t want to miss it.⁠ 🚙🏕️

Here’s what’s in store:
⚙️ 350+ top brands with the latest in overlanding, camping, and outdoor gear
🔥 Exclusive show-only deals and gear specials
🎓 150+ expert-led classes, demos, and programs
🍻 Happy hours, parties, and special events
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly activities, including programming for kids
🏕️ On-site camping for the full weekend experience

🎟️ Tickets are going fast — hit the link in our bio to grab yours and start planning your adventure.

👇 Let us know if we’ll see you there!

🎥 @brooks_roe
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Ever wonder how people actually get into overlanding? Adam and Val of @banthaoverland share their story and why they chose their custom truck camper for life on the road 🛻🌲

From muddy trail mishaps to lessons learned, they keep it real and give practical tips for getting started.

📺 Watch the full video on YouTube (link in bio) and be sure to check them out for resources for on the road 🙌

#Overlanding #TruckCamper #CampingLife #OffGridLiving #OverlandTruck #TruckCamperLife #OverlandRig #OffRoadAdventure #OverlandCouple
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Check out some of the coolest rigs we saw at Overland Expo PNW 🛻✨

👇 Which is your favorite? Which ones did we miss?

There were so many epic vehicles at the event, this is just a handful that caught our eye 🤩

🧭 Hit the link in bio to read more about these picks on The Compass at overlandexpo.com

🏔️ Come to Overland Expo Mtn West next month in Colorado to see all kinds of incredible vehicles and gear in person!
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🐶 Some pups to brighten up your Monday ☀️

We had so much fun getting everyone together for Overland Expo PNW and can’t wait to do it again!

🏔️ Overland Expo Mtn West is coming up next month in Colorado. Get your tickets, plan it into your summer adventures, and bring your pups!
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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.