10 Outdoor Events Worth Road Tripping to this Spring (2022)
If you’ve been catching cabin fever this winter, a road trip to a festival might be just what the doctor ordered. After all, nothing soothes the soul like the open road. Factor in good friends, food, music, and the great outdoors—what’s not to love?
Whether you’re looking for a traditional music festival, a celebration of all things off-road, or a sport-specific shindig, we’ve got you covered with 10 festivals worth road-tripping to this spring, from California and Colorado to North Carolina. And yes, when we say these road trips are worth it, we’re factoring in the sky-high gas prices. In fact, you’ll find a Luno booth at several of these festivals, so we might just see you there!
Sea Otter Classic
April 7-10 | Monterey, California
Learn More
Here’s a riddle for you: What has eight wheels and should be in Monterey this April?
Answer: Your road trip rig—with two bikes on the rack.
Bad jokes aside, Monterey hosts the world-famous Sea Otter Classic—North America’s premier celebration of bikes—each spring. Attend the four-day festival and you’ll find everything from group rides and races to bike demos and food trucks. Whether you’re a road cycling veteran or just dipping your toes into mountain biking, put Sea Otter on your calendar for a wheel good time.
Ogden Climbing Festival
April 8-10 | Ogden, Utah
Learn More
Ask any climber and they’ll tell you that Utah’s home to two things: world-class climbing and extreme temperatures. Climbers of all creeds have always flocked to Utah in springtime to enjoy its noteworthy, lower-elevation crags before the heat sends them seeking shade, higher elevations, or friendlier latitudes. The Ogden Climbing Fest, hosted by Weber State University and open to the public, is perfectly timed for climbers looking to enjoy the Beehive State’s renowned routes and climbing culture. The event consists of climbing competitions, clinics, and more. Our advice? Swing by for the weekend, then extend your road trip and check out some of Utah’s classic desert climbing zones: Moab, Indian Creek, Zion, and Saint George, to name but a few.
Tuck Fest
April 29-May 1 | Charlotte, North Carolina
Learn More
Tuck Fest might as well be renamed Huck Fest—this is a celebration of sending it. The multi-day fest takes place at the U.S. National Whitewater Center on the banks of the Catawba River, and water is a central theme of the festivities. We’re talking SUP Yoga, rafting 101 sessions, deep water soloing competitions, kayak races, you name it. For the landlubbers, there are obstacle courses, trail races, acro yoga, live music galore, and much, much more.
Adventure Van Expo
April 30-May 1 | San Juan Capistrano, California
Learn More
Whether you’re a longtime vanlifer or simply van curious, Adventure Van Expo is a celebration of life on the road that you don’t want to miss. The ever-expanding tour has a whopping eight stops this year and kicks off this spring in Southern California. Swing by San Juan Capistrano to check out custom-built Sprinters and off-road rigs, meet van builders, and shop for gear. Factor in live music, food trucks, a raffle, and clinics on everything from safety to solar power and it’s no surprise why Adventure Van Expo is a hub for van dwellers and road trippers alike.
Can’t make the April stop in SoCal? Adventure Van Expo has seven more stops scheduled in 2022, including a few more in The Golden State:
- Placerville, CA, on June 4-5
- Hood River, OR, on June 25-26
- Eagle, CO, on July 16-17
- Bend, OR, on Sept 3-4
- Lake Tahoe, CA, on September 17-18
- Chattanooga, TN, on October 1-2
- Big Bear, CA, on October 15-16
Check the full schedule and learn more here.
Overland Expo West 2022
May 20-22 | Flagstaff, Arizona
Learn More
Overland Expo has grown into one of the biggest celebrations of off-roading, overlanding, and vanlifing in the world. Now a series of four events, Overland Expo kicks off its 2022 campaign with a May stop in Flagstaff, Arizona. Participants can camp in spectacular pine forests, explore exhibits from 400+ overland outfitters, demo motorcycles, and join group off-road rides. Not only that, but the Expo also places emphasis on education: attendees can take classes on everything from how to make espresso on the road to self-defense and overlanding on a budget. Of course, there are also the obligatory happy hours, film fests, and raffles.
Can’t make Overland Expo in Arizona? The tour hits the PNW on July 8-10, Colorado on August 26-28, and Virginia on October 7-9. Check out the full schedule here.
Descend on Lost Sierra
May 20-23 | California’s Lost Sierra
Learn More
Descend On Lost Sierra glibly advertises “luxury amenities” which include “porta-potties, hand washing stations, and relatively level ground to park your rig.” We’re sold—what else do you need? Tickets to the four-day, off-the-grid extravaganza also include camping access to private land, live music, a daily maker’s market, and morning yoga classes. Best of all, however, might be enjoying espresso and affogato from Autobahn Coffee—a road-tripping coffeehouse based out of a 1972 Westfalia.
Can’t make it to California? Descend also has an event in Bend, Oregon, from August 26 to 29!
River Wondergrass
May 22-September 11 | Jensen, Utah
Learn More
Many bluegrass lovers are familiar with the Winter Wondergrass series, which brings the genre’s finest acts to ski towns in California, Vermont, and Colorado. But few are aware of River Wondergrass, one of the most unique festival series on the planet. River Wondergrass fuses the joys of river rafting with those of live music—groups of 20 guests or less raft downstream for four or five days with renowned bluegrass musicians, who play live shows each night. A little paddling, a little picking—sounds like a dream to us.
GoPro Mountain Games
June 7-12 | Vail, Colorado
Learn More
A celebration of outdoor adventure unlike any other, the GoPro-sponsored Mountain Games are a worthy road trip target, no matter if you’re a competitor on the hunt for hardware or a spectator looking to vacay in Vail. Athletes from a number of disciplines, ranging from mountain bikers to fly fishermen, will want to sign up and compete in events. Spectators, on the other hand, get to watch the show, then find their own groove with yoga classes, hikes, concerts, and more. Our favorite part of the mountain games? That’s easy–the four dog events, which include:
- Dueling Dogs, a canine-on-canine jump and swim race
- Extreme Vertical, a contest to see which pooch can pounce the highest
- Big Air, a self-described “long jump for dogs”
- Speed Retrieve, essentially timed fetch, where the fastest Fido wins
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 16-19 | Telluride, Colorado
Learn More
As sure as the snow melts and the rivers swell each spring, this world-famous festival brings the biggest names in bluegrass to the tiny town of Telluride. Now on its 49th season, Telluride Bluegrass is ultra-popular and far from a secret. Unsurprisingly, Telluride Bluegrass is already completely sold out this year, but you can still find tickets on resellers like StubHub—just expect to pay an arm and a leg for admission.
Broken Arrow Skyrace
June 17-19 | Olympic Valley, California
Learn More
Broken Arrow is famous for its Vertical Kilometer—a race that takes brave competitors from the base of Palisades Tahoe to the top of Headwall, gaining a total of 3135 vertical feet. If the Vertical Kilometer isn’t your cup of electrolytes, Broken Arrow also hosts 11K, 26K, and 52K races, plus a half-mile race for kids. Whether or not you’re competing, there’s a vendor village at the base that’s well worth checking out. Plus, Tahoe’s easy to love in the summer, with astonishing hikes, whitewater rafting that ranges from chill to adrenaline-pumping, scenic tram rides, top-notch restaurants, and more.
Pieces of Must-Have Festival Gear
There are hundreds of festivals worth checking out this spring—these are just a few to get your gears turning. And if you do find yourself festival-bound in the coming months, here are few pieces of Luno gear that will help make your experience much more enjoyable.
Luno Car Air Mattress 2.0
Compatible with hundreds of makes and models, the Luno Car Air Mattress 2.0 transforms everyday hatchbacks and SUVs into comfortable campers. Thanks to an included pump, the durable mattress inflates in minutes—and you’ll fall asleep in minutes, too.
Seatback Organizer 2.0
Organization can be the difference between an awesome and awful road trip. With pockets, pouches, water bottle holders, and more, the intuitive, intelligently designed Seatback Organizer 2.0 is a road tripper’s best friend.
Screens for Car Windows
Sleeping in a car can get muggy, especially in hot, humid weather. Let in the breeze and keep out the bugs with these Screens for Car Windows, which quickly attach to the rear doors thanks to stretchy, resilient elastic bands. Plus, the dark material helps provide shade and protection from UV rays.
Ultimate Bundle
Looking for a plug-and-play car camping setup? Check out our Ultimate Bundle, which includes everything you need to transform your vehicle into a cozy camper. In addition to our ultra-popular, comfortable Air Mattress 2.0, we’ll get you dialed with a Fitted Sheet, Window Screens, Seatback Organizer 2.0, and Car Camping Fan./p>
Don’t be a Stranger!
If you see our booth at a festival, be sure to stop by and introduce yourself–we love connecting with our Luno community around the globe. Of course, if you’re skipping the festival life in favor of off-the-grid solitude and backroads adventures, all power to you. Wherever you roam this spring, we wish you safe travels, and we’re stoked to be along for the ride.
