MARCH 14-15, 2026
OC FAIR & EVENT CENTER // COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
SAT 9-5 | SUN 9-4
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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 Costa Mesa, CA.
RV PARKS IN THE COSTA MESA AREA:
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
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.
Work In Progress (WIP) is a Costa Mesa coffee shop that offers some delicious breakfast burritos and sandwiches. The atmosphere is light, bright, airy and inviting. The Rosemary Latte is a crowd pleaser; but the Americano, Cold Brew, Houjicha Latte are stand outs as well.
Sidecar Doughnuts serves specialty handmade doughnuts and coffee out of a small storefront on 17th Street. All of the doughnuts are made daily from scratch. With incredible flavors like birthday cake and lemon poppy seed, these delights move fast.
Folks offers red and white pizzas, which are all 14” and serve 2-3 people. Favorite red pizzas are the margherita, a great vegetarian option, and the fennel sausage with mozzarella, pecorino, parmesan, basil, fennel pollen and garlic oil.
Bear Flag has a vision that supports healthy living, healthy eating, and an active lifestyle. This includes supporting local fisherman, and the US economy.
The G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) of coffee comes straight from the moon. With their own roastery and a series of retail cafes located in Orange County, MoonGoat Coffee is a must-visit for coffee fiends and casual sippers alike.
Eller Bakery uses only the finest heritage grains, which are grains that were grown before the introduction of intensive, scientific plant breeding in the mid-1900s, and ancient grains, which date back to almost 10,000 years ago.
One of Costa Mesa’s oldest restaurants, El Matador has been serving delicious Mexican food in its iconic location since 1966. From taco Tuesday and chile relleno, to house margaritas and huevos rancheros, there’s something for everyone.
Beach Pit BBQ gives guests a real Southern barbecue taste with an intense flavor derived from a special blend of woods, a perfected BBQ sauce, and home-like atmosphere. Enjoy pulled pork, classic beef brisket, St. Louis-style ribs and juicy chicken and turkey..
Not sure what you want to do, but want to know what is available in the area? Travel Costa Mesa offers a treasure trove of tips and advice on how to make the most of your stay near the California coast. Looking to get out and explore a little? Check out Visit Huntington Beach, Visit Newport Beach, and Destination Irvine. You can also take a look at this great article for the 26 Top Things to Do in Orange County.
Popular mountain biking trail suggestions from Visit Laguna Beach!
Bicycle rentals and guides available through The Cyclist in Costa Mesa or demo bikes available through Pro Bike Supply in Newport Beach. MTB Project or Trailforks also have maps and suggestions for great trails in Southern California.
Get lost in the beauty of the Crystal Cove State Park with a great hike! Limitless options are available at Hiking Project.
Plan a hike with a picnic in the Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park. It’s easy to get away from the noise here!
For more options, here is a list of the 12 best hikes in Orange County!
The world-famous South Coast Plaza defines the luxury shopping experience with its extraordinary boutiques, designer shops, personal service and upscale amenities.
The CAMP excels as an innovative retail community designed to offer outdoor and action sports enthusiasts authentic shopping and dining experiences in a natural compound.
The world-famous Newport Beach borders Costa Mesa. Newport Beach consists of more than 8 miles of beach bordering Newport Bay and extending from the Santa Ana River jetty to Crystal Cove State Park.
Known all over the world as Surf City USA® because of its consistent waves chased by surfers, Huntington Beach attracts more than 8 million visitors each year to its world-famous municipal pier.
With many miles of hiking and mountain biking trails leading up to the shoreline, Crystal Cove State Park is not a place you’ll want to miss! While you’re there, be sure to check out the tidepools.
The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is a visual arts museum in Costa Mesa. The museum’s collection has a focus on the art of California from the early 20th century to present.
Nearby, The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is located in Yorba Linda, about 30 minutes away. The museum features nearly 70 major exhibits, including a replica of President Nixon’s Oval Office.
Although motorcycle rentals are not available locally in Costa Mesa, you can fly to the surrounding areas and rent adventure motorcycles at:
Los Angeles, CA – Eagle Rider Rentals & Tours
For the best route suggestions, check out this list from Indian Motorcycle of Orange County!
Take a ride through the Overland Expo West campground - where you’ll find every type of rig you can imagine. This might just be one of the largest gatherings of overlanders, campers, and adventure travelers in the world 🌎
Camping here is about being in the heart of the action where you can meet fellow explorers, swap stories, check out different builds and camp setups, test your own, and fully immerse yourself in the Overland Expo experience ✨
Secure your camping passes and get ready for an unforgettable weekend in the beautiful pines of Flagstaff, AZ. There are only a handful of Premium Camping spots left, so snag yours now! 🌲🏕️
🎟️ Tickets at the link in bio and at overlandexpo.com/west
Tag your crew & start planning your adventure! Who’s in? ⛺👇
Check out these 5 epic rigs from Overland Expo SoCal! 🔥
The event was filled with incredible vehicles, from rugged 4x4 campers and off-grid expedition beasts to unique builds and six figure dream rigs. Come along on a quick tour of 5 incredible vehicles spotted at the event.
📺 Full video on our YouTube channel (link in bio).
Which one is your favorite?👇
Missed Overland Expo SoCal? Join us at Overland Expo West May 16-18! 🏕️🌲
Featured rigs:
@dissentoffroad
@dillon.houck
@thatonegurlstaco
@wheres_the_delica
@1stgearoffroad
📽️ @yapping_about_cars
Off-Road Travel TV is the only weekly cable television show devoted to off-road adventure and the overland lifestyle. The idea came to life at Overland Expo PNW 2022, and today, you can watch Off-Road Travel TV every Sunday morning on MAVTV or the MAVTV GO app.
Learn more about the origins of the show and be sure to check it out! Swipe through for a quick intro and head to the link in bio to read the full story on The Compass.
📷s: @offroadtraveltv
The dogs at Overland Expo SoCal were the real stars of the show 🐶⭐️🛻😂
Thank you to the @oc_fair for working with us to allow dogs at the event, and thank you all for being responsible 🐕🦮🐩🐕🦺
🐶 Did you bring your pup? Let us know and tag them if they’re on Instagram!
Overland Expo SoCal was a blast! Thank YOU for coming out and being part of our very first Southern California event. We had a mind blowing 19,000 people come through over the weekend! 🤯
⬇️ Were you there? What was your favorite part?
Missed it? No worries – we`ve got another event coming up soon. Join us for Overland Expo West May 16-18 in Flagstaff, AZ. This is THE original Overland Expo event and one of our biggest events of the year. Come camp with us for the whole weekend to get the full experience 🏕️🚙✨
📺 Head to our YouTube channel (link in bio) to watch the full recap video.
📽️ @yapping_about_cars
The first Overland Expo SoCal was epic, West is next! 🌲🚐✨
Overland Expo West is the OG event and one of our biggest events of the year. Set in the beautiful pine forests of Flagstaff, AZ, West is the ultimate gathering for overlanders, adventure travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Vendor spaces have been sold out for months and we’ll have 500+ brands on site showcasing cutting-edge vehicles and gear. Trust us – you don’t want to miss this!
🏕️ If you thought SoCal was fun, wait until you experience West. Camping is the best way to get the full experience – there’s more to see and do than can possibly be fit into one day.
🎟️ Get your tickets now and lock in your camping passes to stay in the heart of the action. Don’t wait— premium camping is almost sold out and passes are going fast.
☀️ We’ll be sharing more from SoCal in the coming days, in the meantime, get your West passes and start planning your next adventure!
✉️ Make sure you’re on our email list as well to stay up to date (link in bio).
Overland Expo SoCal has been a blast. Day 1 was awesome and Day 2 is underway! ☀️🚐
🔥 Let us know if you’re here! What’s been your favorite part?
📷 @imandrewjones
The first Overland Expo SoCal is officially kicking off! Gates are open, it’s a beautiful day and we are stoked to have you here 🎉
Drop a 🔥 if you’re here and if you’re not, come on down! We’ve got an epic weekend planned ☀️🌴🛻
🎟️ Tickets at the link in bio
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo SoCal in Costa Mesa, CA.
Photo by Brett Willhelm
