Overland Expo PNW 2026: Gear, Classes, Rigs, and Community in Redmond, Oregon

Overland Expo PNW 2026, now in its fifth year, returned to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon, June 26–28, drawing more than 16,000 attendees from 41 states.

The annual overlanding event 2026 showcased everything enthusiasts expect from the Overland Expo series: innovative overlanding gear, educational training, inspiring vehicle builds, and one of the strongest overland communities in the Pacific Northwest.

Despite cold, windy, and occasionally wet weather, attendees arrived ready to get equipped, educated, inspired, and connect with fellow travelers.

Overlanding Gear and Exhibitors at Expo PNW 2026

There were 295 vendors ready to sell wares, showcase campervans, and exhibit overland builds. From OEMs like Ford, Subaru, and Toyota to builders like American Expedition Vehicles and smaller mom-and-pop companies, there was something for every four- and two-wheel adventurer.

While most major product debuts took place in May at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, those who missed that event still had the opportunity to experience many of the latest products firsthand at Expo PNW.

Whether you were shopping for winches, roof racks, storage solutions, camp kitchens, portable refrigerators, recovery gear, or other overlanding gear, Expo PNW offered plenty to see, compare, and purchase.

But vendors and gear are only part of what makes Overland Expo PNW special.

Overlanding Education: Classes, Instructors, and Training

Education has long been a pillar of the Overland Expo series. At Expo PNW this year, there were 56 instructors and trainers, 212 classroom sessions, and 221 hours of educational programming.

Fellow OVR Feature Editor Mercedes Lilienthal and I were both official Overland Expo instructors. We presented sessions covering traveling through the Nordic and Baltic countries during the Baltic Sea Circle Rally, tackling the TransAmerica Trail in a four-wheeled vehicle, and exploring Europe and Iceland.

Other instructors led topics ranging from hands-on off-road driving instruction and travel-focused roundtable discussions to destination presentations and vehicle preparation seminars.

The off-road education and overlanding classes remain the lifeblood of the Overland Expo series, giving attendees practical knowledge they can immediately apply to their own adventures.

Inside the Overland Expo Classroom: What We Taught

This was Mercedes’ and my first year serving as instructors at Overland Expo PNW, although we’ve taught at many other overland rallies over the years.

Overland Expo instructors inspired us to travel farther and pursue bigger adventures, so having the opportunity to give back to the same community felt especially rewarding.

We also taught six classes in the Subaru of America booth—two each day. One presentation focused on “How to Live Successfully Out of Your Subaru,” while the other covered “How to Prepare Your Subaru for Arctic Travel.”

For the first class, we shared our experience living out of our 2025 Crosstrek Wilderness for 29 days while completing the TransAmerica Trail.

The Arctic presentation drew from our Alcan 5000 Rally experience, along with previous travels above the Arctic Circle in Norway, Finland, Canada, and Alaska in a variety of vehicles.

Mercedes and I also joined OVR Publisher Mark Han for a fireside chat at the Hankook Dynapro booth. During the Q&A session, we discussed how we became involved in overlanding and shared stories from some of our favorite adventures.

Opportunities like these might just inspire the next generation of travelers, and that’s incredibly rewarding.

Overland Vehicle Builds and Rigs on Display

There is never a shortage of incredible vehicles at any Overland Expo event. Pickups, SUVs, vans, campers, crossovers, motorcycles, and expedition trucks filled the fairgrounds, offering endless inspiration for every style of traveler.

Everything from compact crossover-based adventure rigs to full-size expedition trucks, camper vans, and purpose-built motorcycles reflected the diversity of today’s overland vehicle builds.

Factory-backed OEM displays shared space with highly customized DIY projects, giving attendees plenty of inspiration whether they were planning their first weekend escape or a round-the-world vehicle-based travel adventure.

There was also the DIY Showcase, highlighting attendees’ custom-built projects. From massive expedition campers to compact 1980s vans and legendary vehicles like Patty Upton’s Sand Ship Discovery Jeep CJ, which has traveled extensively around the globe, the display demonstrated the creativity and passion found throughout the overlanding community.

The Overland Community: What Makes Expo PNW Special

As impressive as the gear is, as capable as the vehicles are, and as informative as the instructors can be, it’s the overland community that truly makes Overland Expo PNW special.

Sharing travel stories, discussing lessons learned on the trail, and relaxing around a campfire with fellow adventurers is what makes these gatherings memorable.

It’s nearly impossible to attend Expo PNW without meeting fascinating people. Some become sources of inspiration, while others become lifelong friends. Both have happened to us over the years, and this year’s event introduced us to even more great people.

In addition to informal conversations around camp, attendees gathered for organized networking events such as the Women Who Wander Networking Event, which created a welcoming space for female overlanders to connect.

The Overland Expo Film Festival, happy hours, live music, and evening entertainment gave attendees even more opportunities to exchange stories and build lasting friendships.

Several exhibitors also hosted dedicated community camps. Hankook Dynapro Camp, Subaru Base Camp, and Hipcamp all created spaces where their communities could gather throughout the weekend. Live music, DJs, and special events made these camps popular gathering places after the day’s activities.

Even in the general campground, the welcoming Redmond, Oregon overlanding atmosphere quickly became apparent. Set on a well-manicured lawn rather than dusty fairgrounds, it was easy to strike up conversations with neighboring campers, share meals, exchange travel tips, and talk late into the evening about future adventures.

As the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” So, most of us donned down jackets, hats and gloves (in late June in the Pacific Northwest) and took in all that Overland Expo PNW had. And despite it feeling more like an Iceland summer than Oregon, it was a great show. 

If you missed Overland Expo PNW 2026, be sure to follow OVR for continuing coverage of the Overland Expo series, the latest overlanding gear, destination features, and vehicle builds from events throughout North America.

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