America’s Best Overland Escapes

If you’re ready to start off-road touring, seasoned guidance matters. It’s easy to find at Overland Expos, ideal gathering places to dream big and discover the ideas and equipment to fuel your next journey. At four stops of this cross-country event series (most recently at the 2025 Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, CO, shown below), Hankook Tire shares in the spirit of exploration, offering hands-on driving experiences and connecting with adventurers.

If you didn’t make it to an Overland Expo stop, we’ve captured the best moments from the series in Make Your Escape, plus outlined why (and how) to start overlanding with a trio of featured experts. Benefit from the seasoned advice of Bryan Rogala, Aaron Mulkey, and Erin McGrady, who provide all the inspiration and insight needed to plan your trip, rig your ride, enjoy your camp, and upgrade your tires. Enjoy their top picks here for the country’s premier overlanding destinations, and then go deeper with 100 Tips for Overlanding Far and Wide.

Top Overland Destinations, according to Bryan Rogala

• Silverton, Colorado: The main attraction in this high-country town is the Alpine Loop, an iconic route that runs from Silverton to nearby Ouray. There are plenty of old mining roads begging for exploration in the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, and it’s close to other famous routes like Black Bear Pass.
• Baja, California: A paradise for surfers, bikepackers, and adventure-lovers, Baja is also an overlanding hot spot. Trips can vary in length from a week to several months, but starting in Tecate and following sections of the Baja Divide 4×4 Route is a great starting point.
• Outer Banks, North Carolina: Can’t make it to Baja? You can get a similar beach-driving experience in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, on the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Once you’re done exploring the coast, you can take off on the TransAmerica Trail, which starts near Cape Hatteras and runs all the way to Oregon.

Top Overland Destinations, according to Aaron Mulkey

Off the Beaten Path

Closer to home, I love the Beartooth Mountains and the Big Horn Mountains. Farther afield, anywhere in Alaska and anywhere in the desert! Why? They tap into something deep and timeless. Rugged and remote regions strip everything down to what matters: feeling alive, beauty, survival, and wonder.

Your Backyard

Anything new is an adventure. I see a dirt road, and I just go drive it. Sometimes it’s great, other times not. But then I know. So there’s a case to be made for just going. Go explore. Last week, I found this place I’d never been to called the Grand Canyon of Wyoming, just two hours from my house. It was amazing, and I had no idea.

Top Overland Destinations, according to Erin McGrady

Though quick to point to Deschutes National Forest, Death Valley and Canyonlands national parks, McGrady also advocates for familiar places made new: No need to travel halfway across the country for an off-road trip. Using Gaia GPS, zoom in and out on the Overland layer to find overlooked roads in nearby areas. Or try tackling familiar roads in new conditions. Different weather will change the nature of even the most familiar path.

Overlanding East of the Mississippi

Western states get all the attention when it comes to overlanding, but the country’s eastern half has plenty to offer if you know where to go.

• Cape Lookout: A ferry will drop you on a secluded beach of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The rest of the adventure is up to you.
• North Maine Woods: Find remote—as in “make sure you know what you’re doing” remote—on old logging corridors that can be traveled more by moose than people.
• Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: The Great Lakes provide a gorgeous backdrop for four-season adventuring, especially come winter.
• Blue Ridge province: There’s a reason Overland Expo East is held in Arrington, Virginia. Explore the nearby mountainous belt covered in national forests.
• Daniel Boone National Forest: Eastern Kentucky’s off-road latticework will keep your interests (and rear differential) engaged, especially when fall’s leaves turn.

Read all of Rogala, Mulkey, and McGrady’s overlanding advice and see more videos from this year’s slate of Overland Expo events.

Hankook Tire’s Dynapro is a tire brand designed for SUV/Light Trucks with strong driving and braking performances on all terrains and through every type of weather, including on- and off-road conditions.