Tales from the Trail: Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Scenic Byway
Eva Rupert takes the Ultimate Overland Motorcycle, a Yamaha Ténéré 700, from Arizona to Oregon and discovers the formula for a perfect adventure ride along the way.
Guide toFlagstaff, AZ
Overland Expo WEST is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, an area full of mountain trails, unmatched scenery, and fascinating history.
MAY 15-17, 2026
FT. TUTHILL COUNTY PARK // FLAGSTAFF, AZ, USA
FRI 8-5 | SAT 8-5 | SUN 9-3
ABOUT THE VENUE
FORT TUTHILL
This historic property is just minutes from downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, the gateway to the Grand Canyon and Four Corners region. Fort Tuthill is Coconino County’s fairgrounds, with easy paved access just off Interstate 17 and across from the international airport; buildings and ramadas; organized campground for 1000 units plus adjacent unlimited Coconino National Forest dry camping; and best of all, all-weather access with pine trees throughout. The site also has an adventure ropes course and miles of mountain bike trails. We will run a free shuttle to and from parking and hotels in southern Flagstaff throughout the weekend.
DRIVING TIMES TO FLAGSTAFF:
- Los Angeles via I-15 to I-40: 7 hrs
- Denver via I-25 to I-40: 11 hrs
- Salt Lake City via I-15 to I-40: 8 hrs
- Albuquerque via I-40: 4.5 hrs
- Phoenix via I-17: 2 hrs
OVERLAND ROUTES & RESOURCES
Trips & Trails: Copper Bottom Pass & El Paso Pipeline Road
If you’re headed to Overland Expo West from Southern California, it’s always a good idea to
Trips & Trails: Crown King Road and Senator Highway in Arizona
Crown King Road and Senator Highway in north-central Arizona is a reminder that this state has
Trips & Trails: The Cinder Hills of Northern Arizona
If you’ve ever wanted to overland on the moon, this is as close you can get. The Cinder Hills OHV Area resembles the moon’s surface, partially because NASA pockmarked a portion of the Cinder Lakes area to match the Apollo landing sites with a series of controlled explosions in 1967.
Looking for more ways to connect with others? Join one of the many overland groups traveling together before or after the show.
Expedition Portal | American Adventurist | ADVrider | Overland Bound
Looking for a scenic route that uses dirt, gravel, and paved roads to wind through remote parts of the region?
OVERLAND ROUTE GUIDES
Plan an exploratory trip with friends before or after the event. The trails are suitable for an adventure motorcycle or 4WD vehicle.
The Coconino National Forest Service has additional maps you can download: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coconino/maps-pubs
ACCOMODATIONS
HOTELS AROUND FLAGSTAFF
ADDITIONAL HOTEL SEARCH OPTIONS:
EXPO HOUSING SERVICES
WARNING: This is not a legitimate company. If you are contacted by them, do not use their services.
NEARBY RV PARKS
We do not allow motorhomes / RVs to camp on-site. It’s best to book a real RV park near Flagstaff.
RV PARKS IN THE FLAGSTAFF AREA:
- Woody Mountain
- Kit Carson
- Happy Jack (Mormon Lake area)
- Lake Mary RV Park & Store (Mormon Lake area)
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
CAMPING
Camp at the Fort Tuthill’s premier 413-acre regional park, nestled in the cool Ponderosa pine forest 3 miles south of Flagstaff. Camping areas include RV and tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, nearby portable toilets, and water spigots. Reservations begin in December.
NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS
Nearly the entire Coconino National forest has backcountry camping along most Forest Roads.
DISPERSED CAMPING
For those who prefer more solitude, dispersed camping is also allowed in Coconino National Forest. For a detailed guide to regulations and suggested sites, see: Dispersed camping.
FOOD & DRINK
MACY'S COFFEE
It’s impossible to imagine Flagstaff without Macy’s, the hippie-esque coffee shop on Beaver Street just south of the railroad tracks. It feels like it’s been there forever, although it only opened in 1980. The triple latte is practically breakfast on its own—but don’t cheat yourself of their waffles, biscuits and gravy, or even the homemade granola.
CRIOLLO
You can’t go wrong with a selection here. The ingredients are all sourced as locally as possible, including Arizona beef. Unlike many restaurants that do dinner well but fall down on dessert, Criollo keeps up the momentum all the way through. There isn’t a better restaurant in the state, counting quality, imagination, service, and price.
DIABLO BURGER
In Heritage Square, serve up outstanding burgers, fries, and brews; meats and many ingredients are entirely local to northern Arizona, and entirely addictive. Arrive hungry.
CAMPUS COFFEE BEAN
Despite its location in a strip mall, the Campus Coffee Bean is another favorite, with easier parking than Macy’s and more room for larger groups. In addition to breakfast, they offer a full lunch menu. If you think you’re a hard-core coffee drinker, try the Hammerhead—three shots of espresso in a full cup of regular coffee.
THE GALAXY DINER
Imagine the perfect diner to front historic Route 66, and you get the Galaxy. The waitresses don’t ride roller skates, but that’s about the only period trick missing here. And it’s not just a re-creation—the Galaxy has been around since the 1950s.
FLAGSTAFF BREWING COMPANY
The Flagstaff Brewing Company opened in 1994 in a 19th-century building right off Highway 66, is a low-key favorite and also the place to sample High Spirits’ amazing single malt, Arizona whisky (finished in mesquite-smoked barrels).
THINGS TO DO
There are several fine destinations for a pre- or post-Expo tour of northern Arizona and adjacent states: Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Wupatki, Sunset Crater, Chaco Canyon, Moab, historic Navajo trading posts, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef, historic Route 66, Sedona, Glen Canyon, Meteor Crater . . . trust us, you won’t run out of possibilities.
TRAILS
- Cinder Hills OHV Area — 13,500 acre OHV area. There is both open riding and miles of single-track trails. Dispersed camping is allowed but there are no facilities such as water or restrooms. Map and info here: Arizona OHV Trails and Maps
- Arizona Trail — Mountain biking, hiking, horseback — Mormon Lake section (passes through the event site)
HISTORIC SITES
- Historic trading posts: Blending the old world with the new, the Navajo Nation has preserved some of the old west with Trading Posts that are still in business today. Many of these are located in the original buildings from the late 1800s
- Historic Route 66: Since 1926, driving down Route 66 has been the experience of a lifetime
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW #OVERLANDEXPO
Take a tour of National Geographic photographer Mylo Fowler’s overland ready Rivian outfitted for camping and off-grid travel in all seasons.
Mylo blends adventure with purpose, using his vehicle for his photography work and to support and uplift Native American communities through powerful storytelling and humanitarian work. You’ll often find him rescuing people and their vehicles from sticky situations as well.
👉 See the full tour and learn more about his work on Overland Expo’s YouTube channel (🔗 in bio).
Huge thanks to @OffroadMylo for taking the time to connect with us at Overland Expo SoCal!
🎥 @yapping_about_cars
#overlandexpo #overlandexposocal #overlandcommunity #rivian #rivianr1t @rivianofficial
Whether deep in the forest or parked under desert stars, stay connected with @homefi.info’s multicarrier Portable Wireless 4G Hotspot. The best part? It fits in the palm of your hand and brings Wi-Fi wherever your rig takes you. From uploading epic views to checking trail maps, it’s adventure-ready internet that moves when you do.
From the front lines of a war zone to the forefront of overland innovation, the story behind James Baroud is pretty incredible ✨
Swipe through for quick highlights, then head to The Compass on overlandexpo.com (link in bio) to read the full story. It will surprise you and will make you want to learn more about their rooftop tents if you`re not already familiar with them ⛺
📷 @jamesbaroud
Let’s hear it for the dogs of Overland Expo West! Ok, the last one’s not a dog but he made the cut 😂🐶
Did you bring your pup? Let us know and tag them if they’re on Instagram!
The next chance to get all the pups together is Overland Expo PNW coming up fast June 27-29 in Redmond, Oregon. Join us for a good time! 🥳
Meet Chad & Rose (@two.wheels_three.sheets ) - a seriously epic couple who left it all behind to ride through the Americas on two wheels. 🏍️
🌎 From crossing the heart of the Amazon Jungle, cruising the Trans-Amazonica Highway, to boat-hopping rivers, their journey is pure inspiration.
👉 Head to the Overland Expo YouTube channel (🔗 in bio) to hear the full story and get a tour of their motorcycle travel setup built for extended off-road adventures.
🙌 Catch them (and more legends) at a future Overland Expo event (PNW is coming up June 27-29!)
👥 Tag a friend who needs to see this!
Huge thanks to @two.wheels_three.sheets for sharing their incredible story with us!
#OverlandExpo #AdventureMotorcycle #MotoTravel #Overlanding #CoupleGoals #ExploreMore #ReelAdventure #MotoLife #adventurecouple #motoadventure
Overland Expo PNW is less than a month away, and we couldn`t be more excited to bring you an unforgettable weekend of adventure, education, rigs, gear, and community 🎉
Get ready to explore the best brands in overlanding, gear up with the latest innovations, score deals, and connect with the adventure community 🌲⚙️🙌
Head to the link in bio for the full scoop and be sure to join us for an epic weekend June 27-29 in Redmond, OR!
Will you be there? Who are you most excited to see?
🎟️ Don`t miss out, grab your tickets by 6/1 to save!
Just a handful of the epic rigs we saw at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ this year 🤩🔥👌
What’s your favorite? Which ones did we miss?
We’ve got some roundups from West coming to The Compass at overlandexpo.com soon. In the meantime, we’re already gearing up for our next event!
🌲 Overland Expo PNW is coming to Redmond, OR June 27-29. This is one of our favorites - don’t miss it! Save on tickets through 6/1 - get ‘em now 🔥
We hope to see you there!
Overland Expo West 2025 is a wrap - what an epic weekend with the best overlanding community on the planet!
🙌 A big thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors, instructors, staff, and everyone who came out!
👇 Were you there? What was your favorite part?
📺 Watch the full recap video on YouTube (link in bio) and keep an eye out for more from the event.
🌄 Overland Expo PNW is next – June 27-29 in Redmond, Oregon - we hope to see you there!
🎥 @brooks_roe
THE WORLD IS OUT THERE GO SEE IT!
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ.