June 26-28, 2026 in Redmond, Oregon. 300+ exhibitors, 220+ classes, and show specials with $5,000 off a Sandy Van build and 20% off Rhino-Rack and MAXTRAX. Practical first-timer guide with travel routes, camping, ticket prices, and the booth numbers worth lining up for.
Where is it
Redmond, Oregon. Deschutes County Expo Center. June 26, 27, and 28, 2026. Friday and Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 9 to 3. Opens tomorrow at 9 AM. If you have been on the fence, this is the moment to jump.
I've been to Overland Expo since the early Flagstaff days, and the PNW show in Redmond has quietly become my favorite. The light is different up here in central Oregon. The volunteer energy is different. The rigs show up dirty, not just polished for the judges. And the Cascade Mountains are sitting right there the whole time, like a giant reminder of why we do this.
This is going to be a practical guide. We are going to cover what is new this year, where the real money is in show specials, how to get there without losing a weekend in the car, and the stuff I wish somebody had told me the first time. If you have been on the fence, keep reading.
What's In This Guide
- The Basics - Show Specials Worth Driving For - Title Sponsors and What They're Bringing - The Education Program - Hands-On Training - What's New for 2026 - Getting There - Where to Stay - Tickets, Military Discount, and What to Skip - First-Timer Tips - The Bottom Line
The Basics
Overland Expo PNW 2026 runs June 26 through June 28 at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon. The venue is 340 acres with over 300,000 square feet of event space, and it sits less than a mile from Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM). If you fly, you can be at your hotel with a rental truck in twenty minutes.
The numbers for this year are big. 300+ exhibitors. 220+ classes. 120+ instructors. Nearly 400 session hours. If you are new to all of this, just understand the scale. This is the premier overlanding event in North America, full stop. Last year's PNW show pulled over 16,500 attendees from 48 states and 10 countries. The vendor village alone is a half-mile walk if you hit every aisle.
Show hours are simple. Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM. Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM. Gates open early for campers. If you have never been, plan on two full days minimum. One day is a tease.
The tagline the Overland Expo team uses is "Get Outfitted. Get Trained. Get Inspired. Get Going." That is about right. You will leave with a shopping list, a new skill, and at least three new phone numbers.
Show Specials Worth Driving For
Ha ha, this is the part I have been waiting to write. The Overland Expo team dropped the official PNW show specials list on June 9, and a few of these are not messing around.
Here is the short list of the ones I am watching:
- Rhino-Rack / MAXTRAX / RockyMounts (Booth A430) — 20% off everything. If you have been pricing a roof rack or recovery boards, this is the deal. Both brands in one booth. One stop. - Sandy Vans (Booth A211) — $5,000 off a custom Sandy Van build. That is real money on a real build. - Xventure Trailers (Booth B406) — up to $5,000 off on orders placed before July 10. If you have been eyeing an Xventure, the math just changed. - Otzi Vans (Booth C3) — $10,000 build credit giveaway. The biggest single discount I have seen at an Expo in years. - SPOT, LLC (Booth F501) — free device with activation of SPOT Gen4, SPOT Trace, or SPOT X on a qualifying service plan. If you have been meaning to add a satellite communicator, this is the move. - Carbon Offroad (Booth C11) — 10% off the entire range. Winch mounts, bumpers, sliders. - Adventure Hammock Systems (Booth H70) — 15% off everything. - UCO (Booth A337) — 20% off regular price. Camp lighting, fire starters, the usual UCO lineup. - Campspotter (Booth A425) — 50% off the Pro subscription. If you use onX or Gaia, run Campspotter alongside it. Worth it. - Coastline Vans (Booth A517) — $1,000 off a Cosy Road Van deposit. - Hiatus Campers (Booth F302) — $1,000 off a window bundle. - VMACS (Booth F405) — $100 off for the Expo.
Two site-wide 20% deals in the same show is unusual. Rhino-Rack / MAXTRAX / RockyMounts and UCO are both at 20% off. If you have been holding off on a roof rack, recovery boards, or camp lighting, that is your sign.
A few quick rules of thumb when you are shopping the floor:
1. Bring a list before you go. Decide what you actually need before you walk in. The deals are real but the impulse buys are also real. 2. Ask about bundle pricing. A lot of vendors will throw in a free accessory if you ask, especially on bigger-ticket items. 3. Most booths will ship. You are not hauling a roof rack home in your suitcase. Ask about freight. 4. Bring a tape measure. I cannot tell you how many people buy something at Expo and find out it does not fit when they get home.
Title Sponsors and What They're Bringing
There are eleven title sponsors anchoring the show this year. That is a lot of muscle. Here is who they are and what to actually look for when you stop by.
Toyota will have the latest trucks and SUVs on display, including the off-road trims. Toyota has been a heavy Expo supporter for years and the booth is always worth a walkthrough. If you are cross-shopping a 4Runner, Tacoma, Land Cruiser, or the new gas/hybrid variants, this is your chance to sit in all of them in one afternoon.
Subaru is back with Camp Subaru LIVE! on Saturday afternoon at Booth FG7 — live music, snacks, and drinks from beer sponsor pFriem Family Brewers. They are also running the Subaru Loves Pets adoption event all weekend at the booth. You may walk out with a new trail dog. You have been warned.
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) is the title sponsor anchor this year. AEV builds the kind of Wrangler and Ram trucks you drool over on Instagram. If you are considering a major build, the AEV crew is the kind of people you want to spend 30 minutes talking to.
Dometic makes the powered coolers, portable batteries, and camp furniture that have become standard issue in most overland rigs. The new CFX5 coolers are noticeably more efficient than the older generation. If you have been running a CFX3, go look at the new ones in person.
Expion360 is in the power storage space — lithium batteries built for off-grid use. They just went public (Nasdaq: XPON) and they are pushing hard into the overland market. Worth a stop if you are planning a big electrical upgrade.
Four Wheel Campers makes the pop-up truck campers you see bolted onto every other Tacoma at the show. They are at Booth FG17 with trail-ready inspiration in tow. If you have ever considered going from a rooftop tent to a hard-sided camper, this is your stop.
Overland Vehicle Systems does awnings, recovery gear, and rooftop tents at price points that usually beat the imported competitors. They run immersive demos at the booth, so plan time to actually watch one.
Pelican Products makes the cargo cases and gear protection that every overlander ends up buying eventually. Go poke one. They are tougher than they look on the website.
RVs of America (ROA) builds RVs specifically for off-grid and rough-road use. If the Class B van life is calling you, stop here.
Wanderbox is the expedition-ready camper brand that has been quietly growing. They make composite-paneled campers that are light enough for a midsize truck.
Ford Tremor / Ready Set Adventure Tour rounds out the title sponsors with the Tremor badge trucks on display.
You will also see Hankook Tire sponsoring the Bivvy rest areas, MAXXIS Tires sponsoring the Women Who Wander networking event on Friday night, Rucker Knives running the Backcountry and Culinary Pavilion, and Guild Outfitters hosting the Saturday happy hour. OGO Compost / Configure Brands takes the Friday happy hour.
If you want to keep track of all of it in one place, the PNW Sponsors & Exhibitors page is the easiest list.
The Education Program
The class catalog is the part most first-timers underweight. You walk in, you see 300 booths, and the show floor eats your whole day. Then you realize the woman next to you spent the morning learning how to set up a recovery with a winch and soft shackles, and she is going home with more new skill than you are with new gear.
This year's PNW has more than 220 unique classes across 10 education areas, taught by 120+ instructors, totaling nearly 400 session hours. The four main program areas are:
- Backcountry and Culinary Pavilion (sponsored by Rucker Knives) — cooking demos, knife skills, camp cuisine - Storytelling Pavilion — slideshows and trip reports from around the world - Overland Essentials Area — fundamentals like tire repair, navigation, and recovery - Hands-On Pavilion — exactly what it sounds like
The class schedule is on the Overland Expo app. Download it for iOS or Android before you leave home. You can build a personal schedule and the app will tell you where to walk. Pre-planning your classes saves you from wandering around the venue trying to find a workshop that started ten minutes ago.
The Expo team also partnered with onX Offroad for venue navigation. If you do not already have onX Offroad on your phone, you will want it. There is a subscription discount available at the show.
If I had to pick three classes for a first-timer, I'd say:
1. A recovery fundamentals class — winches, soft shackles, kinetic ropes, traction boards. The stuff you hope you never need but must know. 2. A navigation class — even if you use onX. The fundamentals matter when the app dies. 3. A trip planning roundtable — the roundtables are where the instructors get real about what works and what does not.
Hands-On Training
If you want real seat time, Overland Expo PNW has the only Trail Course Experience on the 2026 Expo calendar. It is PNW-exclusive this year. You bring your own vehicle, you go out with the Overland Expo Training team, and you work hill climbs, off-camber turns, and technical maneuvers on a real course.
The Trail Course Experience was scheduled to run Friday afternoon. As of this writing, both the Friday Day Pass + Trail Course Experience ($40) and the Weekend Pass + Trail Course Experience ($29) are listed as SOLD OUT on the tickets page. Same for the Thursday Training ($250), Friday 1:1 Training ($350), and Saturday Training. If you are reading this Thursday and you have not already booked training, you are probably not getting in this year.
Lesson learned. Book training the day tickets go on sale. I will say the same thing next year.
For the rest of us, the daily Happy Hours and evening events are also worth your time:
- Friday 5-7 PM — Happy Hour at the Oasis Bar and Food Court (OGO Compost / Configure Brands) - Friday 6-8 PM — Women Who Wander Networking Event in the Education Area (MAXXIS Tires) - Friday 7-9 PM — Toyota Game Night at Booth FG19 with music bingo, prizes, and a complimentary dinner - Friday 7-9 PM — Overland Expo Film Festival at Hiline Home Hall - Saturday 3-5 PM — Camp Subaru LIVE! at Booth FG7 - Saturday 5-7 PM — Happy Hour at Oasis (Guild Outfitters) - Saturday 7-9 PM — Overland Expo Foundation Charity Raffle at Oasis (this one takes the full two hours because there are that many prizes)
The Foundation Raffle proceeds go to the Overland Expo Foundation, which supports charitable work in the overland community. Buy tickets. You will probably win something.
What's New for 2026
A few things are actually new this year beyond the standard lineup.
The Trail Course Experience is PNW-exclusive in 2026. Other Expo events this year have not had it. If you have been wanting hands-on driving instruction and you can make it to Redmond, this is the only shot on the calendar.
More than 220 unique classes. Last year's PNW had fewer than 200. The class catalog is up roughly 10% year over year.
Bigger Bivvy network. The Bivvy rest areas sponsored by Hankook Tire are scattered all over the venue now. Seating, water bottle refills, phone charging, and shade. Use them. Central Oregon in late June will push 80°F during the day.
New exhibitor brands. The new exhibitors list includes names like Campers NW, Intrepid Camp Gear, Polaris, Campervan HQ, iRoam Coaches, PrepWell Always Ready, Canyon Coolers, and more. If you have been waiting for a new van builder or trailer brand to show up at Expo, this is the year.
Getting There
Redmond sits in the middle of Oregon, so depending on where you are coming from, the drive is either short or long. Here are the practical times from the major feeder cities.
| From | Drive Time | Route | |------|------------|-------| | Bend, OR | 21 min | US-97 N | | Portland, OR | 3 hrs | US-26 E | | Seattle, WA | 5 hrs | I-5 S + US-26 E | | Boise, ID | 5 hrs | US-20 W | | Sacramento, CA | 7 hrs | I-5 N + US-97 N | | Salt Lake City, UT | 10 hrs | I-84 W + US-20 W |
If you are flying, Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) has direct flights from DEN, LAX, SFO, SEA, SLC, PDX, SAN, LAS, PHX, BUR, and RNO. Every major rental car company is represented on-site. You can be off the plane and at the venue in twenty minutes.
A couple of practical notes:
- Cell service is unreliable at peak times. The venue is in a coverage dead spot and 16,000+ people all streaming at once does not help. Tell your family you may be hard to reach. - There is no WiFi at the venue. Bring your own hotspot if you need it. - Drones are not allowed — the venue is within a mile of the airport and in a controlled flight zone. - No ATVs, quads, or side-by-sides are allowed in the venue. The exception is handicap placards for low-mobility assistance.
If you have time to add a few days on either side of the Expo, central Oregon is one of the best overlanding regions in the lower 48. The Crooked River National Grasslands are 30 minutes from the venue. The Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Scenic Byway is a full day's ride south. The McGrew Trail in southwest Oregon is a wicked test of endurance if you want a real challenge.
Where to Stay
You have three options here: camp on-site, camp off-site, or stay in a hotel. Each has tradeoffs.
On-Site Camping at the Expo
The Deschutes County Expo Center has a rustic, primitive campground in an open field. Festival-style, first-come-first-serve. No hookups. No electricity. No campfires (propane is fine). Quiet generators off by 10 PM. Pets on leash are welcome.
You are allowed to bring ground tents, vehicle camping, Class B camper vans, pop-up and rooftop tents, smaller overland vehicles, and motorcycles. You are not allowed to bring RVs, travel trailers, Class A or Class C motorhomes, or any trailer over 13 feet. If you have a big rig, plan off-site.
Camping check-in opens Thursday morning at 8 AM. Late arrivals get staged for the next morning. All campers must vacate by 11 AM Monday. Showers are limited — bring your own portable shower or wet wipes. There are no water spigots in the camping areas, so bring filled water containers. Potable water is available for personal bottles at the venue, just not for camp tank refills.
Pricing for vehicle + camping packages:
- Vehicle General Admission Weekend Pass + Camping: $192 online, $197 standard. Passenger add-on $105. - Vehicle Premium Weekend Pass + Camping: $292 online, $297 standard. Passenger add-on $205. Premium gets you the hospitality lounge with complimentary coffee and pastries, the closest camping to the entrance, a free first drink at happy hours, a badge, a goody bag, and the Sourcebook Magazine. - Moto General Admission Weekend Pass + Camping: $160 online, $165 standard. Passenger add-on $105.
The festival-style camping is the heart of the Overland Expo experience. Most of the people you meet will be at the campsites after the show floor closes. Bring a chair. Bring a shade structure. Bring more water than you think you need.
Off-Site Camping with Hipcamp
Hipcamp has a curated collection of private camping spots within driving distance of the venue. A few of the featured stays:
- Justesen Ranches in Tygh Valley — family-owned ranch with reservoirs, dark skies, and access to White River Falls State Park - Antelope Basecamp — dry camping, cabins, and RV spaces with partial hookups near the historic town of Antelope - Experience Heaven in La Pine — lakeside with paddleboarding, kayaking, and Mongolian Gers - Sage Ridge — 15 miles from Bend, tent sites and a tipi amid juniper forest
If you want quiet nights and don't want to sleep in a field of 2,000 overlanders, Hipcamp is the move.
Hotels
In Redmond itself, Comfort Suites Redmond and Best Western Plus Rama Inn are the most convenient. Twenty minutes south in Bend, Pronghorn Resort and the Riverhouse on the Deschutes are the nicer options.
Warning: the Overland Expo team flagged a fraudulent "Expo Housing Services" company contacting attendees. It is not real. Book your hotel directly through the hotel or a known travel site like Booking.com, Kayak, or Airbnb. Do not wire money to a third party.
Nearby RV Parks
No on-site RV camping is allowed. If you have a motorhome or big trailer, the closest real RV parks are:
- Crown Villa RV Resort in Bend (Sun Outdoors property) - Cottonwood RV Park - Crooked River Ranch RV Park
The Deschutes National Forest also has dozens of managed campgrounds and allows dispersed camping under the standard regulations. 1.6 million acres of Cascades between Mount Thielsen and Mount Jefferson. You will not run out of places to put a tent.
Tickets
Here is the breakdown on general admission day passes:
- Friday Day Pass: $28 online, $30 standard - Saturday Day Pass: $36 online, $39 standard - Sunday Day Pass: $26 online, $28 standard - Weekend Pass (Fri-Sun, no camping): $85 online, $90 standard
The online discount deadline was June 10. If you are reading this after that, the standard prices apply.
Each pass includes:
- 300+ brands and thousands of products on the show floor - Dozens of on-site show specials - 150+ classes, demos, roundtables, and hands-on experiences - Happy hours, special events, sponsored parties, networking - Chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes at the Foundation Raffle - Free on-site day parking
Military discount: 20% off any pass for active military, veterans, and retirees. You need to fill out the Smartsheet form for approval. They email you a discount code (check spam). Bring your military ID to the gate.
Children: 14 and under are free with a paying adult.
If you can only do one day, Saturday is the day. That is when the bulk of the demos happen, the Camp Subaru LIVE! event runs in the afternoon, and the Foundation Raffle caps the night. Friday is more relaxed. Sunday is short (closes at 3 PM) and the show floor winds down fast.
First-Timer Tips
A few things I wish someone had told me before my first Expo. Most of these come from the official Newcomer's Guide, but I've added a few of my own.
1. Wear broken-in boots and a hat. You are walking on grass, dirt, and uneven ground for 8+ hours. Daytime temperatures will hit 80°F in the sun. A hat is not optional.
2. Bring a backpack. You will leave with more than you came in with — show specials, vendor swag, brochures, the stickers. A small pack saves your arms.
3. Hydrate like you mean it. Elevation is 3,077 feet. Alcohol hits harder. Sun dehydrates faster. Drink water between every beer. There is potable water at the venue for personal bottles but not for camp tank refills, so bring what you need.
4. Layer up for evenings. Daytime 80°F, nighttime 48°F. That is a 32-degree swing. You will want a fleece or puffy after sunset.
5. Set up camp before you hit the show floor. If you are tent camping on-site, claim your spot Thursday morning as soon as check-in opens at 8 AM. Friends who want to camp together need to arrive together. There is no reserving space in advance.
6. Do not try to see everything. You will fail. Pick three priority vendors, three priority classes, and one priority evening event. Do those well. Wander the rest.
7. Talk to the brand reps. They are at the show because they want to talk to you. If you have a question about fitment on your specific rig, bring a photo on your phone. They will tell you what works.
8. Take photos of the build plates. If you see a rig you love, photograph the spec sheet or build plate. Half the time the builder put the exact components on a card on the windshield.
9. Plan to spend money. Bring cash, bring your credit card, and bring a budget. The deals are real. It is easy to walk out $2,000 lighter and happier.
10. Stay Saturday night. The Foundation Raffle, the Saturday happy hour, the campfire conversations in the campground — that is where you actually meet people. Sunday morning at sunrise with a coffee in the camp chair, listening to other folks talk about their trips, is the real Overland Expo experience.
If you are bringing the family, Subaru Loves Pets is running an adoption event at the Subaru booth all weekend. There is also a family-friendly focus across the show. Kids 14 and under are free with a paying adult.
For the gear-curious reader, our friends over at Whiskey 7 Backroads wrote up the differences between camping, boondocking, and overlanding a few years back. Worth a read before you drive in so the lingo makes sense. And if you are trying to decide whether to go from a rooftop tent to a hard-sided camper like a Four Wheel Campers or Wanderbox, Shane's story about going from a tent to a trailer on his first big Expo trip is required reading. He learned a lot of lessons the hard way. You do not have to.
A few pieces on Whiskey 7 that pair well with this guide if you are planning a PNW trip:
- Campsite Sense by Gary Matos — practical camp etiquette that applies whether you are at the Expo or in the backcountry - Top Reasons to Use a Composting Toilet for Your Camper or RV — relevant if you are sizing an OGO or Nature's Head at the show - An Adventure in Family History — Gary's Echo Park, Utah trip report
The Bottom Line
Overland Expo PNW 2026 is the biggest overlanding gathering on the West Coast this year. June 26-28, Deschutes County Expo Center, Redmond, Oregon. 300+ exhibitors. 220+ classes. 120+ instructors. Show specials with $5,000 off a Sandy Van build and 20% off Rhino-Rack and MAXTRAX in the same room. First Expo? Brush up on your campsite etiquette before you arrive — the show field is its own thing.
If you have been thinking about going, this is the year. Book your camping pass, download the Overland Expo app, and finalize your class schedule today. We have been covering the Expo on Whiskey 7 for years if you want to see what to expect.
If you have been before, you already know. See you on the show floor. And if a Four Wheel Campers or Wanderbox is calling your name after the show, Shane's story about going from tent to trailer is required reading.
About the Author
Steven Marty
My name is Steven Marty, I am a guest contributor to the Whiskey 7 Backroads blog.
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