Overland Expo EAST 2024 Recap: From Arizona To Virginia & Back

The Overland Expo East in Arrington, Virginia, wrapped up another fantastic year, and we were thrilled to be part of it. This year, our Sales Manager, Mike R., led the charge by hitting the road early, packed up and ready to head east. It was a journey from Arizona to Virginia toward one of the biggest overlanding events on the East Coast.

The Eastward Drive

Mike’s trek across the country began in Arizona and took him through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and finally into Virginia. While the drive out east lacked the dramatic scenery of the western states, it still held its own charm. After getting out of New Mexico, the landscapes flattened, and the views became more uniform until he reached Tennessee. There, he started to see the first hints of fall, with leaves just barely beginning to change color in some areas.

Finding camping spots on the way out east posed its own unique challenges. Unlike the public-land-abundant West, where dispersed camping is plentiful, the route to Virginia offered more limited options. Mike made use of rest stops, the iOverlander spots when available,  and paid campgrounds along the way, which provided necessary breaks but lacked the sense of isolation that overland travel often seeks. Despite the differences, each stop allowed for moments to recharge, and he was able to focus on the journey ahead to Overland Expo East.

Overland Expo East

Arriving at the show grounds in Arrington, Virginia, Mike quickly set up the Tern Overland booth. The venue was packed with over 14,500 attendees, 246 exhibitors, and a wide array of adventurers, all gathering to share their love of overlanding. With participants from 45 states and international visitors from countries like Argentina, Canada, Great Britain, and New Zealand, the global enthusiasm for overlanding was on full display.

Despite the muddy conditions caused by storms in the days leading up to the event, spirits remained high. The expo was a true hub for adventure enthusiasts, offering a staggering 256+ hours of instruction spread across 234 classes, seminars, demos, and activities. Whether you were interested in learning about complicated border crossings, vehicle maintenance, or expedition gear, there was something for everyone, regardless of experience level.

Campers from around the world gathered in the on-site campgrounds, exchanging stories and insights, and enjoying a packed schedule of activities from sunrise to sundown. When night fell, the fun continued with the Overland Expo Film Festival, happy hours, booth parties, and the highly anticipated Overland Expo Foundation charity raffle, which raised over $23k for outdoor education and adventure travel initiatives.

Tern Overland’s booth showcased our Aterra XL Truck camper, drawing visitors eager to check out our innovative products. We were positioned across from Tembo Tusk, whose Skottle cooking demos attracted foot traffic all weekend. Across the expo grounds, industry leaders like Ironman, Crooked Finger Designs, and THULE debuted exciting new products, ranging from 270-degree awnings to bunk-capable cots and all-in-one power solutions for van-lifers.

The recently redesigned DECKED CargoGlide also made its first appearance at Overland Expo, and GP Factor introduced new equipment for the INEOS Grenadier, further highlighting the diversity of overlanding gear available at the event.

Saturday night’s Honda afterparty was another highlight, featuring excellent food, live music, and great company. It was a fantastic opportunity to relax and connect with others after a full day of exploring the expo. Overall, the event was a massive success, demonstrating once again how passionate and engaged the overlanding community is.

Heading Back West: A Team Effort

When the show came to an end, it was time to pack up and hit the road back west. Jocelyn flew in to join Mike for the return leg, turning the journey back into an opportunity to visit some of our OEM partners and customers along the way.

Our first stop was ENRG Vans in Fayetteville, West Virginia, to catch up with their team and take a closer look at some of their recent conversions. ENRG Vans is doing exciting things with van conversions, and we’re proud to partner with them as they create functional, innovative spaces on the Ford Transit platform. They had some fantastic builds underway, and it was great to see our products in action as part of their designs as well as hear some valuable customer feedback. 

Next, we made a stop at Cedar Ridge Campers in Murray, Kentucky, where we were able to check out their impressive line of custom overland style campers. It was fascinating to see how they’re incorporating our components into their builds, and we were grateful for the chance to tour their shop and exchange ideas for future projects.

Camping, Conversations, and Connections

In between customer visits, we camped at a few nice spots along the way. Taking time to camp and enjoy the road is what overlanding is all about, after all. We found ourselves in quiet, remote areas, enjoying the cooler, crispier weather. It was a reminder of why we love doing what we do—bringing products to the market that enable people to explore these beautiful places in comfort and style.

Road life is not all glitz & glamour though, some nights were spent under the bright overhead lights of rest stops, tucked in the corner as far away from the big rigs & other vehicles as we could be. We really got to test out the blackout features of our windows - we were in complete darkness. Now if only we could come up with some sound deadening to block out the rest of the stimuli of a rest stop. Maybe one day!

All in all, the Overland Expo East and the subsequent road trip back west were a tremendous success. From connecting with customers and industry friends at the expo to visiting shops and partners on the way back, it was a journey filled with valuable insights, many conversations, many miles exploring new places, and seeing different landscapes.

We’re grateful for everyone who stopped by our booth at Overland Expo East, and we’re looking forward to more adventures on the road. As always, we remain committed to delivering the best products for your overlanding needs, and we’re excited to keep building connections within this incredible community.

Until next time, happy trails!