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.
Guide toFlagstaff, AZ
Overland Expo WEST is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, an area full of mountain trails, unmatched scenery, and fascinating history.
MAY 16-18, 2025
FT. TUTHILL COUNTY PARK // FLAGSTAFF, AZ, USA
FRI 8-5 | SAT 8-5 | SUN 9-3
ABOUT THE VENUE
FORT TUTHILL
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.
DRIVING TIMES TO FLAGSTAFF:
- Los Angeles via I-15 to I-40: 7 hrs
- Denver via I-25 to I-40: 11 hrs
- Salt Lake City via I-15 to I-40: 8 hrs
- Albuquerque via I-40: 4.5 hrs
- Phoenix via I-17: 2 hrs
OVERLAND ROUTES & RESOURCES
Trips & Trails: Copper Bottom Pass & El Paso Pipeline Road
If you’re headed to Overland Expo West from Southern California, it’s always a good idea to
Trips & Trails: Crown King Road and Senator Highway in Arizona
Crown King Road and Senator Highway in north-central Arizona is a reminder that this state has
Trips & Trails: The Cinder Hills of Northern Arizona
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?
OVERLAND ROUTE GUIDES
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
ACCOMODATIONS
HOTELS AROUND FLAGSTAFF
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 Flagstaff.
RV PARKS IN THE FLAGSTAFF AREA:
- Woody Mountain
- Kit Carson
- Happy Jack (Mormon Lake area)
- Lake Mary RV Park & Store (Mormon Lake area)
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
CAMPING
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.
FOOD & DRINK
MACY'S COFFEE
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.
CRIOLLO
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.
DIABLO BURGER
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.
CAMPUS COFFEE BEAN
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.
THE GALAXY DINER
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.
FLAGSTAFF BREWING COMPANY
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).
THINGS TO DO
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.
TRAILS
- Cinder Hills OHV Area — 13,500 acre OHV area. There is both open riding and miles of single-track trails. Dispersed camping is allowed but there are no facilities such as water or restrooms. Map and info here: Arizona OHV Trails and Maps
- Arizona Trail — Mountain biking, hiking, horseback — Mormon Lake section (passes through the event site)
HISTORIC SITES
- Historic trading posts: Blending the old world with the new, the Navajo Nation has preserved some of the old west with Trading Posts that are still in business today. Many of these are located in the original buildings from the late 1800s
- Historic Route 66: Since 1926, driving down Route 66 has been the experience of a lifetime
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!
@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.
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.
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!
🌲 The Overland Expo West map is live! 🌲 Swipe for a sneak peek, then hit the link in bio for a larger viewing experience 👀
Check it out to see:
◾Where all the education sessions and demos will be 🧭
◾Your favorite brands and gear stops 🛠
◾Food trucks, bars, films, happy hours, and more 🌮 🍻🎬
◾Camping zones for those with camping passes 🏕️ 🚐
And so much more!
Overland Expo West is our largest event of the year—with more vehicles, gear, education sessions, and fun than you can possibly experience in just one day.
⏳ The countdown is on – it’s less than 3 weeks away! Haven’t locked in your tickets yet? Do it before prices go up at the end of next week 🎟️
PS: Stay tuned – the official Overland Expo event app drops with West info soon, including an interactive version of this map and everything you need to know.
Will we see you at West?
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! 👀
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
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.
THE WORLD IS OUT THERE GO SEE IT!
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ.