What is Overlanding? I Attend the New 2025 Overland Expo SoCal

Miami Herald

08-04-2025

Let's start by defining the term "overlanding," as it's not quite the same as "camping." I view "camping" as a blanket term: You can camp in a parking lot, on a beach, in a resort-you get the gist. "Overlanding is where you travel to a place off the grid while being entirely self-sufficient. Yes, they intermingle, but the idea behind overlanding is a construct that people visualize differently than camping.
It doesn't mean that you need a rig that costs as much as a house (although that's pretty popular nowadays). You can have a sleeping bag, a backpack, and a bike, and still qualify as an overlander as long as you are off the grid, and, usually, in the wild. If you're in a location where no one can reach you on your cell phone, you're doing it right.
There are five Overland Expos throughout the United States: the West, Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, East, and now Southern California (SoCal). The SoCal event celebrated its inaugural showing at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, from Saturday, March 16th, to Sunday, March 17th, which is a little smaller than other venues.
Despite its smaller size, the Overland Expo SoCal is jam-packed with just about everything outdoor enthusiasts, overlanders, campers, and the curious could want. There are a variety of overlanding workshops covering just about every base. Not only are there overlanding rigs everywhere, but automakers like Subaru and Honda have set up interactive booths as well.
Another way to look at the Overland Expo series is to think of shows like SEMA and CES but for outdoorsy folk. Like the other Overland Expos, this event allowed camping near the exhibition space and hosted over 250 exhibitors with over 100 hours of educational programming. There were a variety of DIY showcases, including camping, survival, culinary, and a multitude of upfitters. That's in conjunction with OEMs like tire, suspension, electronic (batteries, lights, etc.), and automotive exhibitions - among many others. Each day also features large scavenger hunts for the kids. A one-day pass runs $25, and parking is $15 per day. Kids age 14 and under are free with a paying adult.
Prepare for a lot of walking, so bring comfortable shoes, protect your head, and bring something to pack a lot of swag in. It's just like going to the county fair or a large expo. Since a majority of the event is outdoors, it is totally dog-friendly, and Subaru even hosted a puppy adoption event on the premises. Bathroom facilities and seating locations were aplenty, and shade is mostly only available in the large pavilions. There are a few hydration stations with free water at the main gate, but it would be wise to bring your own water bottle and maybe some food. There is an abundant amount of food stations, trucks, and vendors throughout the event. However, their pricing can be steep.
I got a lot of hands-on time with a variety of vendors showing off tons of equipment. There were several RVs on site, including trailers, campers, toppers, and slide-ins, among others. For the most part, these vendors would showcase a slick-looking build displaying their goods, which helps lure in potential customers. There was a ton of free swag, drawings, and games, too. To say that many of the vendors were friendly would be an understatement. The entire vibe was downright pleasant, and people looked like they were genuinely having a great time. It probably helped that the weather was cool, clear, and breezy.
That said, though, Overland Expos are rain-or-shine events, and some take place in muddy or grassy areas. If the rain is harsh, those locations can become rather difficult to walk through. I once saw a journalist lose an entire boot in Flagstaff, AZ, during the Overland Expo West event last year.
The next Overland Expo is Overland Expo West, which is scheduled to take place in Flagstaff, AZ, from May 16th to 18th. The Overland Expo Pacific Northwest is up next in Redmond, OR, from June 27th to 29th, followed by the Overland Expo Mountain West from August 22nd to 24th in Loveland, CO. Finally, the Overland Expo East will take place in Arrington, VA, from October 3rd to 5th.
I expect more Overland Expo events to pop up in the near future. Some insiders hinted that they might open an event in one of the southern states, which makes sense. This would mean there would be an expo every other month. Not that I'm opposed at all, as it's an exciting event and one that I highly recommend.
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