The Best Ways to Connect with Other Overlanders in the Community
Overlanding might seem like an activity that loners and soloists would enjoy. While this is certainly true, most overlanders are also interested in getting to know other like-minded adventurers. These connections can happen online, at events, at campsites, and on the open road.
As a result, the overland community hosts a wide array of events, activities, and online gathering places to keep community-minded overlanders well-informed and able to make quick connections with like-minded travelers.
Here, we’ll explore the various options available for overlanders looking to connect with other overlanders online, in person, on the trail and beyond.
You’ll want to keep this post chock-full of websites, forums, social media groups, and other ways to connect with your fellow overlanders for future reference.
What Is Overlanding?
According to the top publisher in the overland space, Overland Journal:
“Overlanding describes self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal. Typically, but not exclusively, accommodated by mechanized off-highway capable transport (from bicycles to trucks) where the principal form of lodging is camping; often lasting for extended lengths of time (months to years) and often spanning international boundaries. While expedition is defined as a journey with a purpose, overlanding sees the journey as the purpose.”
Overlanding sets itself apart from four-wheeling, camping, and similar activities with the emphasis that the journey is just as, and many times more, important than the destination. If you end up with a flat tire and jury-rig some way to keep from calling for help, that’s part of the journey. If you end up with a flat tire and have to call AAA, that’s still part of the adventure. The overlanding mindset is centered around enjoying the experience itself, not just achieving a specific goal or getting to a specific destination.
Where to Find Other Overlanding Enthusiasts
There are many ways to get involved with other overlanders and become a part of the growing community.
Overland Clubs & Groups
Overlanding clubs are some of the simplest ways to get involved with the greater community. Most overland groups have an online presence, but many focus on local or regional gatherings, events, and other activities that bring like-minded and/or geographically related overlanders together.
Here are some of the larger regional and national clubs specific to the United States.
- Overlanding Association
- Overland Bound
- Northwest Overland
If you are looking for something closer to your area, simply Googling “overlanding <my city here>” is likely to point you in the direction of more local and regional groups. If you’re having trouble finding any, gradually widen your search to include nearby towns and cities and any area or regional names/nicknames. If there’s a website or social media account or group, Google can probably find it.
Overland Forums
Online Forums give a discussion element to the overland community with frameworks for conversations on just about anything overlanding-related. Some of the top forums can be found here:
- Expedition Portal
- 4WD Talk Forum
- Overland Sphere Forum
Overland Events
The ever-growing list of overland events across the country — and world — have become the leading meeting place for both the overland community and industry. Here we’ve listed some of the top events, but there are sure to be other local events near you, no matter where you live.
- Overland Expo: West, East, Mtn West, PNW
- Abenteuer Allrad
- Overland Adventure Rallies: NWOR, BCOR
- Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival
- Teton Overland Show
- MOORE Expo
- Panhandle Overland Rally
Where to Find Other Overlanding Enthusiasts: Social Media
Everyone has their limits on social media these days, overlanders notwithstanding, it is, however; a fantastic place to connect with the overland community, including local groups, area events, international overlanding organizations and groups, and much more.
Platforms
Some of the best platforms to find overlanding groups and resources are the very same ones you might turn to every day for news, friends & family information, and beyond. Your overlanding group is there waiting for you. Use common hashtags along with regions or locations to find helpful posts and information:
- Hashtags
Hashtags are the best way to find what you’re looking for on social media. For the uninitiated, hashtags look like #hashtag and are a way of grouping information that are all related to a specific word, like #overlander or #overlanding. When you create your own posts, make them easy for others to find by using hashtags.
Local Overlanding Business’ Content
Most local overlanding businesses these days are on social media, and they probably have their fingers on the pulse of area and regional events involving your favorite activity and theirs.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a great way to meet people, organize trips, get in on adventures, or host events. Any group that you create can be as large or small as you’d like, from creating trips with your close friends to organizing international events for the greater overland community.
Here are a few of our favorite FB overland groups to get you started:
- PanAmerican Travelers Association
- Overland Canada
- Overlanding Europe
- Australian Overlander Community
- Overlanding Africa
- Overland to Asia
- Overlanding Asia
- Women Overlanding The World
Join The XGRiD Campers Community Today!
The wide variety of overland trailers you’ll find at XGRiD Campers are perfect for hooking up to your vehicle and heading out on an overland adventure, or even to an event to connect with the overland community. Don’t know where to start? Stay up to date on local Las Vegas events, the latest and greatest in gear, and the rest of the overlanding community with XGRiD.
Now get out there and adventure! If you have any questions, just give us a call.