Overland Expo WEST 2017
ORS Staff
UPDATED: Overland Expo returns to the Grand Canyon state May 12 – 14, 2017 for its twelfth show at a brand new venue: the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds, just a few minutes south of Flagstaff off Interstate 17.
During the weekend over 10,000 people from around the globe will arrive at the Coconino County owned property, whose grounds include a historic Army fort. Surrounded by tall ponderosa pines, the venue offers all-weather access with plenty of pavement and parking, grandstands, a large stage and pavilion, a large building for our theater / social hours, and an organized campground with room for 1000 units, as well as access to unlimited camping in adjacent Coconino National Forest at 7,800 feet. In addition, there are dozens of miles of mountain biking trails and an adventure course right in the venue.
Highlights:
- Our most dynamic and centrally located Camel Trophy Expedition Skills Area yet.
- A challenging driving course hosted by Land Rover.
- Tire testing track by BFGoodrich.
- Flagstaff food trucks and hosted happy hours.
- Free shuttle service to and from surrounding forest camping and Flagstaff hotels.
Overlanding is exploring the world by self-guided means, in your own vehicle or on your own motorcycle. The journey is the purpose in overlanding. The most cost-effective way to overland is to camp along the way, though many people alternate camping with hotels, hostels, or couch-surfing.
Overland Expo 2017 WEST will feature the same dynamic event experience with a blend of professional trade show and educational opportunities that have made Overland Expo the most popular overlanding show in the Western Hemisphere, and most unique in the world. Its sister show, Overland Expo EAST, is held each October in North Carolina.
This year BF Goodrich tires and Four Wheel Campers, along with Land Rover, 7P International, RawHyde Adventures, and BMW motorcycles, are the top sponsors, hosting an array of activities ranging from a custom instructional driving course built and staffed by the world-famous Land Rover driver team and an “Adventure Motorcycle Village” with a teaching arena and riding course.
Our 2016 WEST show grew by a whopping 40% and so we expect another bump this year. Numbers in 2016:
- 255 exhibitors, authors, videographers and VIP travelers / feature vehicles
- 190 classes, programs, films, demos
- 462 session-hours of programming
- 160 presenters, instructors, and VIPs
- 95 staff & volunteers
- 10,000+ total people on site from around the world during the weekend
- 550 participants were Overland Experience package attendees
- Attendees came from as far away as Australia, Denmark, Argentina, China, and South Africa
- Many U.S. states and nearly all Canadian provinces were represented
Exhibitors this year will include Four Wheel Campers, BFGoodrich Tires, Sportsmobile, ARB-USA, Global Xpedition Vehicles, EarthRoamer, American Expedition Vehicles, Jeep and RAM, Equipt Expedition Outfitters, AT Overland, Overland Journal, OutdoorX4, American Adventurist, as well as dealers representing BMW, KTM, Triumph, Kawasaki, Honda, and Ural—250+ makers of equipment, camping gear, vehicles, as well as providers of services and travel resources and authors and filmmakers.
Overland Expo is an annual event, founded in Arizona in 2009, that brings together overlanding enthusiasts and the rapidly growing industry that serves them. This three-day weekend is designed to educate and inspire people to get out and explore their world—there are hundreds of session-hours of classes, workshops, and roundtable programs for four-wheel-drive and adventure motorcycle enthusiasts; a large trade exposition with exhibitors, vendors, authors, and filmmakers; and evening inspirational programs and music.
What is overlanding?
It’s not “wheeling” or about conquering obstacles with a vehicle or bike; it’s about using four-wheel-drives or adventure motorcycles to explore and camp—whether 100 miles or 10,000 miles from home, on pavement, backroads, or highly technical terrain. Overlanding is attracting adventurous young families, Baby Boomer retirees, and people of wide-ranging demographics.
What is Overland Expo?
Overland Expo is the largest gathering in North America of expedition equipment manufacturers and enthusiasts with the sole purpose of learning and sharing about this growing new activity and market in North America.
Who are overlanders?
Families are getting into overlanding in growing numbers, as are couples—both working professionals and recently retired ‘boomers.’ Solo travel is also a popular choice for overlanders. Overlanding can be in a six-year-old 4Runner (check out the global travels of LifeRemotely.com); in a sturdy Land Rover fitted with a roof-top tent, fridge, and mobile kitchen (like Graham Jackson and Connie Rodman’s that they drove from London to Cape Town http://www.africaoverland.info); or on a motorbike (Alison DeLapp rode her KLR from Los Angeles to Ushuaia, Argentina http://www.alisonswanderland.com).
Why Overland Expo is unique?
No other event combines intensive education modules with social opportunities to visit with thousands of other enthusiasts and share information and experiences, as well as a wide array of product and service vendors—in a professional trade-show setting—just for overlanding-related activities. Overland Expo was founded by and is owned and run by Roseann & Jonathan Hanson, longtime overlanders who are committed to sharing their passion for travel, exploration, and conservation of the world’s natural and cultural heritage. Proceeds from Overland Expo in part support the sister charity ConserVentures.org.
Who attends?
Nearly half the Overland Experience attendees are women, and dozens of families with children under 12 attend, to learn how they can pack up the kids and take off on extended travel. Our blossoming Kids Adventure Program was founded by and is run by kids; Grace Howard is a high school freshman and our director of kids programming. All the kids classes are taught by kids (or approved by kids).
There are two experience options – WEEKEND PASS or full OVERLAND EXPERIENCE.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Weekend Passes:
PLEASE NOTE: Weekend and day pass holders cannot sign-up for or attend classes. Please register for an Overland Experience package if you wish to attend advanced driving / riding courses, hands-on training workshops or in-depth classes.
Enjoy Overland Expo for the entire weekend–Friday through Sunday. Choose with or without camping:
WEEKEND PASS (no camping) INCLUDES:
- Drive on the Land Rover Overland Driving Skills Course, in a Land Rover test vehicle
- Test drive vehicles with different tires from BFGoodrich
- Test ride a KTM or Ural or other motorcycle
- Access to more than 60+ programs:
- Slideshow & film presentations from around the world
- Travel tips and regional advice at the roundtables
- Vehicle / Moto “show and tell” and Exhibitor demos
- Admittance to the vendor area for all your gear, vehicle, and camping equipment needs
- On-site parking for your vehicle and/or motorcycle
- Does not include camping
- Come to Friday and Saturday evening happy hours (beverages available for purchase)
- Bring your family – kids 17 and under are FREE when accompanied by a parent! For kids attendance, check out our FAQ for more information.
Purchase Weekend Passes online, available February 1 — May 13, 2017, and are unlimited.
Weekend Pass Pricing
FAMILY* WEEKEND PASS — $95 Admits 2 adults*, plus on-site day parking for one vehicle or two motorcycles.
SINGLE WEEKEND PASS — $55 Admits 1 adult, plus on-site day parking for one vehicle or motorcycle.
*A Family Pass is for a couple in single household (i.e. married or domestic partners, NOT brothers, aunts, cousins, etc.), with or without kids. Kids 17 and under are free to Overland Expo, only if accompanied by a parent.
WEEKEND PASS WITH CAMPING:
- In addition to all the Weekend Pass activities (left), you will have access to our on-site free dry-camping areas (in the trees, with access to water / portajohns / camp showers).
- Camping is available between Thursday evening until Monday morning. You are welcome to arrive any day during HQ hours; all sites are on a first-come basis in an open field.
- Campground conditions are rustic; no hookups. Water, showers and porta-toilets are available for use. Please see our FAQ for more details about the campground facilities.
- Includes parking for your vehicle, trailer and/or motorcycles; and tent space.
- Vehicle restrictions apply: campsites will be limited, and are for motorcycles, tents, overland vehicles, and small overland trailers only. BEFORE PURCHASING, read ALL vehicle restrictions for the campground on our FAQ.
- Weekend & Camping Passes are priced per person, not per vehicle or site.
Purchase Weekend Pass with Camping online, available February 1 — May 13, 2017, or while space lasts. Camping spaces are limited and will likely sell out.
Weekend Pass Pricing
FAMILY* WEEKEND PASS WITH CAMPING — $175 Admits 2 adults*, plus on-site camping for the entire weekend for one vehicle or two motorcycles.
SINGLE WEEKEND PASS WITH CAMPING — $105 Admits 1 adults, plus on-site camping for the entire weekend for one vehicle or motorcycle.
*A Family Pass is for a couple in single household (i.e. married or domestic partners, NOT brothers, aunts, cousins, etc.), with or without kids. Kids 17 and under are free to Overland Expo, only if accompanied by a parent.
Full Overland Experience:
OVERLAND EXPERIENCE PACKAGE INCLUDES :
- Access* to more than 170+ programs:
- Overland driving classes with your vehicle
- Expedition skills-building and recovery courses
- Land Rover Overland Skills Driving Course in your own vehicle or Land Rover test vehicle, as many times as you wish
- Test drive vehicles with different tires from BFGoodrich
- Test ride a KTM or Ural or other motorcycle
- Adventure riding classes with your motorcycle, including the skills challenge course
- Interactive and hands-on training workshops at basic and advanced levels
- Instructional classes about the latest technologies
- Slideshow presentations from around the world
- Travel tips and regional advice at the roundtables
- Vehicle / Moto “show and tell” and Exhibitor demos
- Overland Film Festival in the evening
- Admittance to the vendor area for all your gear, vehicle, and camping equipment needs
- Camping is available between Thursday evening until Monday morning. You are welcome to arrive and check-in any day during HQ hours.
- Sites in the basic on-site campground are included in registration and are on a first-come basis in an open field. [OR for additional purchase, exclusive to Overland Experience registrants, choose optional reserved camping at the Fort Tuthill county campground – SOLD OUT!]
- See our FAQ for camping amenities and vehicle restrictions on trailers and RVs.
- On-site parking for your vehicle and/or motorcycle (for those staying off-site)
- Two Happy Hour tickets for pre-paid beverages; one for each Friday and Saturday evening
- BBQ banquet on Sunday afternoon
- Complimentary attendee bag with materials and gifts
Register now through May 13, 2017, or while available. Overland Experience packages are limited in number will likely sell out.
*Class selection is first come, first served, so the earlier you register, the better chance you have of grabbing a spot in the premium classes!
Full Overland Experience Pricing
SINGLE REGISTRATION – $325
ADMITS ONE ADULT plus one vehicle and/or one motorcycle. (Yes, you can bring both.)
Single registration is for one adult, taking the full suite of classes.
You can add a non-class participant to any package for $55 (see below)
DOUBLE REGISTRATION – $520
ADMITS TWO ADULTS plus one vehicle and/or two motorcycles. (Yes, you can bring both.)
Double registration is for two adults, each taking the full suite of classes.
You can add a non-class participant to any package for $55 (see below)
ADDITIONAL ADULT (NON-CLASS PARTICIPANT) – $55
You can add a non-class participant to any package, which includes: Weekend Pass level attendance (they will not receive a badge and cannot attend classes with you); bbq banquet and happy hour tickets.
Must accompany the purchase of either a SINGLE or DOUBLE Overland Experience registration.
Must arrive in the same vehicle.
MILITARY DISCOUNT
As a way to say thank you, Overland Expo offers a 20% discount on all Weekend and Day Passes for active or recent (within 18 months) military service. Please send us a request by 5pm MST on Thursday, May 7, 2017 to qualify.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
For more information visit https://www.overlandexpo.com/west/
Images courtesy of ConserVentures LLC.