Adventure vans have moved well beyond the simple camper vans in which your parents grew up camping. Today, the segment includes everything from simple work vans that double as weekend rigs to fully customized builds designed to carry specific gear and specialized overland camping equipment far beyond the usual weekend getaway. That range was on display at the first stop of the 2026 Adventure Van Expo tour during the last weekend of May in San Juan Capistrano, California. The show opened its season with a weekend centered on custom vans, outdoor gear, builders, owners, and the growing community around vehicle-based adventure.
It’s worth noting that these vans are not trying to replace Jeeps, Broncos, Toyotas, full-size trucks, or purpose-built crawlers. Instead, they offer yet another way to explore. Many are built to handle dirt roads, remote campsites, rough access routes, and long stretches of highway while still providing a comfortable place to sleep once the driving is done. All-wheel-drive platforms, lifted suspensions, all-terrain tires, recovery gear, roof racks, auxiliary lighting, solar power, onboard batteries, water systems, and modular interiors are all part of the modern adventure van scene.
The San Juan Capistrano event kicked off the 2026 season with Campervan HQ and Roamlab X hosting a strong first stop that featured more than 110 vendors from across the country. Along with the latest vans, gear, accessories, and conversion ideas, the show also included a Vanlife Trader Roundup for people looking to sell their rigs. A new 2026 layout placed booths and products along the upper strip, while food trucks and a beer garden in the corral below gave attendees a place to take a break and hang. The event also carried a local benefit angle, with admission proceeds supporting the San Juan Capistrano Rotary and its community programs.
Adventure Van Expo’s strength is that it gives visitors a chance to experience these vehicles in person. For those considering a van or wanting to see a bunch of awesome adventure vans in one place, the Adventure Van Expo is a must-attend event. Photos can show the outside of a build, but walking through a van, checking the sleeping space, seeing how storage is arranged, and talking with the owner, builder, or vendor representative tells a much fuller story. The series highlights professional conversions, DIY builds, vehicles for sale, accessory companies, off-road camping rigs, trailers, live music, food, and on-site camping at select stops.
After San Juan Capistrano, the 2026 tour continues with Hood River, Oregon, on June 20-21; Winter Park, Colorado, on July 11-12; Bozeman, Montana, on August 15-16; Enumclaw, Washington, on August 22-23; and North Lake Tahoe, California, on September 12-13. Each location gives the series a different outdoor backdrop, from the Pacific Northwest to the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada.
One big takeaway is that the Adventure Van Expo is for anyone who camps, road-trips, wheels, hauls gear, or wants to snag some ideas from the modern adventure van world. Whether someone is shopping for a finished van, gathering DIY ideas, comparing products, or simply curious about how the vanlife scene can better their off-road experience, the show offers an accessible look at one of the perpetually growing corners of the outdoor and off-road world. Beware, though—you may find yourself plotting a van build by the end, and this ain’t a cheap sport.
Enjoy our gallery of more than 100 event photos.
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