Camping at Overland Expo is the best way to experience the event and truly get the most out of the weekend. But don’t just take our word for it! Check out our Top 9 reasons why you should be camping at Overland Expo West 2025!
1. Close to all of the action
Camping at Overland Expo allows you to stay close to all of the action throughout the weekend. You can browse the vendors, drop off your gear haul at camp, head back out for a class, swing back to camp to grab a few layers, and then take your pick of after-hours. There is so much happening and so much to see at Overland Expo. Having a base camp nearby makes it easy to take it all in without feeling rushed. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reasons you should camp at Overland Expo.
2. Fast friends
From setup, until it’s time to say goodbye, everywhere you go in the campground, you’ll hear laughter and lively conversation. Throughout the day, friends, new and old, gather for meals and drinks. The overland community is a fantastic one filled with passionate individuals, and they’re always happy to meet their camp neighbors, no matter if that’s deep in the backcountry or the camping area. It’s not uncommon to find groups of campers that have become great friends. These crews often return to Overland Expo year after year to camp together.
3. Your next journey might just start in camp
We hear plenty of stories of friends meeting and camping at Overland Expo, but on some occasions that’s just the first step. Sometimes, your camp neighbors become your expedition partners. We know for a fact that at least one expedition to Alaska started amongst camper at Overland Expo. If you don’t find some travel partners, you will surely find inspiration. All of your camp neighbors, instructors, and exhibitors are great sources of inspiration for journeys near and far.
4. After hours events
When the sun goes down and the exhibitors close for the day, the action at Overland Expo is far from over. Each event is a bit different, but you can expect film festivals, booth parties, the Overland Expo Foundation Raffle, and much more in the evenings. Camping allows you to stay close to the action, literally, so you can take in everything the weekend has to offer, no matter the time of day.
5. Find inspiration for your build
One of the best parts of Overland Expo is the rigs, but don’t think the exhibitor aisles are where you’ll find all the coolest overland builds. Some of the most purpose-built and unique vehicles can be found in the campground. The best part is that the owner is always happy to chat about what and why they’ve chosen a particular mod.
6. It’s tough to beat camping in Northern Arizona
If this is your first trip to Northern Arizona, then you’re in for a treat. It’s tough to think of a better environment for camping than Flagstaff in May. Cool nights, warm days, and practically zero humidity are a winning combination. Add in the fact that camping at Overland Expo West is scattered throughout the large pines that dot Fort Tuthill, and you’ll see why this camping is far from what you might think of when you consider it’s the largest gathering of overlanders in the country.
7. First to get coffee
Whether you make coffee at your campsite or wait to grab a cup with your favorite expo barista, nothing beats wandering around in the early sunlight with a mug of hot coffee to check out all the exhibitors. You know what they say, “But first: coffee.”
8. Short commute to Overland Expo
Even the best hotel spots will have some commute. You can beat the traffic and use that time for morning stretches or take an extra lap of the event to come up with a perfect game plan for making it to all the training, education presentations, and films.
9. The best way to experience Overland Expo
While this might seem a bit redundant, camping truly is the best way to experience Overland Expo. You’re guaranteed to meet some fantastic people, you’ll enjoy the convenience of having your camp nearby, and it allows you to soak in all that Overland Expo has to offer without rushing throughout your day. Once you camp for the weekend there’s a great chance you’ll join the host of overlanders that come back year after year and even hit different events throughout the year because they enjoy it so much.
