If you’ve been in the “overlanding” world for more than five minutes, you’ve probably noticed something: most of the glossy photos, influencer videos, and brand campaigns are coming from the Western U.S. Utah. Colorado. Arizona. California. Nevada. The desert Southwest is practically the Hollywood backlot of American 4×4 touring and all flavours of vehicle-based adventure travel.
(Author’s note – Whereas there are distinct differences in 4×4 touring, traditional overlanding, trail riding, and vehicle camping – for the sake of this article we’ll refer to all of it in the greater context of “overlanding,” or better yet “vehicle-based adventure travel,” as this is what the industry and consumer are migrating toward.)
But something significant is happening east of the Mississippi—quietly, steadily, and with a lot of muddy tires.
A real movement is taking shape in the East from the Southeast.
From the foothills of the Smokies to the pine forests of Alabama, from the Blue Ridge mountains to the coastal plains of Florida, the Southeast has become a proving ground for a different flavor of vehicle-based adventure. It’s less cinematic grandeur and more intimate, immersive wildness. Less open desert and more ancient forest. Less #VanLife aesthetic and more honest-to-goodness weekend warrior grit.
And right now, the Southeast might be the most underrated overlanding region in the country.
Let’s look at why—and where this lifestyle is headed next.
The West Still Reigns—But for Predictable Reasons
We’re not pretending the West isn’t built for this. It is.
When you combine:
- Millions of acres of BLM land
- A culture of dispersed camping
- High-altitude passes and desert basins
- Long-distance primitive routes
- Year-round access
…it’s no surprise long-track, vehicle-based adventure travel exploded out West first. Almost every major YouTube channel, Expo event, and gear brand built its identity around the landscapes of Moab, the Rockies, or Death Valley.
This has shaped the perception of what overlanding should look like: open vistas, dust trails, red rock, snow-capped peaks.
But perception is not the full story.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Has Been Busy Building Something Different
The Southeast doesn’t try to be the West—because it can’t, and because it shouldn’t.
Our region offers an entirely different set of strengths:
1. A Massive Population Lives Close to Adventure
Millions of people from Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, and Greenville are within one to four hours of real, wild terrain. Overlanding here doesn’t require a week-long expedition. It requires time off on Friday.
2. Diverse Terrain Packed Into Small Distances
In Appalachia and the Southeastern US, one can travel from:
- Lush hardwood forest
- To bald mountain vistas
- To deep river valleys
- To swamp country
…all in the same long weekend.
And unlike the West, water is everywhere—creeks, lakes, waterfalls, springs, rivers. The Southeast has an intimacy the West can’t replicate.
3. Growing Trail Infrastructure
Between state forests, Wildlife Management Areas, National Forests, and OHV-friendly counties, the Southeast is quietly building a strong foundation for vehicle-based adventure.
Key hubs:
- Bankhead National Forest (AL)
- Talladega National Forest (AL)
- Cherokee National Forest (TN)
- Nantahala National Forest (NC)
- Pisgah National Forest (NC)
- Francis Marion National Forest (SC)
- Chattahoochee-Oconee NF (GA)
- Ocala NF (FL)
Add in Tennessee’s exploding ORV culture, Georgia’s forest roads, and Alabama’s growing number of route creators, and you’ve got a real movement on your hands.
4. A Culture Shift Toward “Micro-Expeditions”
Not everyone can spend 10 days driving Utah’s White Rim Trail. But almost anyone can spend a Saturday night camping off a forest road in North Georgia or Tennessee.
This is where the Southeast shines.
We are building a weekendable overlanding culture.
The Emerging Southeastern Identity
If Western overlanding is about vastness, Southeastern / Appalachian overlanding is about richness.
A. Forest Overland Touring
The Southeast is defined by forests—not sparse, high-desert scrub, but deep, cathedral-like corridors of hardwoods, pines, and mountain laurel. Overlanding here means traveling through narrow, winding roads where the canopy filters the light and visibility shrinks to what’s directly ahead of you. Trails feel intimate and immersive, with switchbacks, rock shelves, and root systems that keep you engaged from start to finish. It’s a style of travel that trades big horizons for close-quarters terrain reading, quiet woods, and the sense that you’re moving through a living, breathing landscape.
B. Water-Centric Travel
Our trips include:
- Creek crossings
- River camps
- Hidden swimming holes
- Lakeside campsites
- Waterfall trailheads
Water is the anchor of Southern overlanding.
C. History Everywhere
The Southeast holds:
- Native American trails
- Frontier routes
- Civil War corridors
- Logging roads
- Abandoned towns
Our version of the “Backcountry Discovery Route” is less about altitude and more about legacy.
D. Technical, Muddy, Seasonal Challenges
We get:
- Mud season
- Rutted roads
- Heavy rain
- Humidity
- Fallen trees
- Real weather variability
This builds skill. The Southeast is a crucible for learning.
E. Strong Community Culture
The region is full of:
- Jeep clubs
- Weekend meet-ups
- Coffee-and-rig mornings
- Recovery teams
- Veteran and family-friendly trips
- Regional content creators
And unlike the West, where routes are spread across vast distances, the Southeast’s overland community is close-knit and collaborative.
How Climate Shapes the Overlanding Experience: West vs. Southeast
Climate quietly drives two very different overlanding cultures in the U.S. The West’s arid, predictable weather—long dry seasons, low humidity, and wide-open terrain—naturally supports long-distance, expedition-style travel. Meanwhile, the Southeast’s humid, rain-heavy, storm-driven environment creates an entirely different experience: trails that change with the seasons, mud and water crossings that appear suddenly, and dense vegetation that constantly reclaims forest roads. In the West, the climate rewards planning, mileage, and big vistas. In the Southeast, it demands resilience, adaptability, and real-time problem solving. These environmental realities don’t just influence trail conditions—they shape the identity and expectations of overlanders on each side of the country.
I’ll dig much deeper into the climate angle—past to present—in a full feature post coming soon.
The Shift Is Coming: The East Is the Next Growth Market
Here’s the truth most national brands haven’t caught on to yet:
The Southeast is one of the fastest-growing overlanding regions in America.
Three factors explain this:
1. Accessibility
You can go from driveway to dirt in under an hour in many cities.
2. Affordability
You don’t need a fully built rig to explore the Southeast.
A stock Gladiator Mojave, Wrangler, Tacoma, or 4Runner can run 90% of the routes here.
3. Content Gap
There is a massive vacuum of high-quality Southeastern overland content.
Creators who step in now will define the narrative for years.
This is where GladiatorUp—and others like us—fit in.
What the Southeast Still Needs to Grow
In a recent conversation with BRS Offroad’s Ben Souter, he pointed out something that perfectly captures where we are as a region: the overlanding lifestyle in the Southeast is years behind the West in both scale and participation. Not in passion, not in capability—but in sheer market size and cultural momentum. The West has had decades to build its identity, content ecosystem, and industry infrastructure, while the East is only now stepping into the spotlight. The reasons are layered throughout this article—climate, terrain, history, land access, and visibility—but understanding the gap helps clarify what the Southeast still needs in order to unlock its full potential.
The region is rising, but a few areas need focused development:
A. More Documented Routes
Overlanding requires knowledge, and the Southeast needs more:
- GPX-friendly routes
- Point-to-point corridor options
- Beginner-friendly itineraries
Tracks like the Georgia Traverse and the Florida Adventure Trail are great examples.
B. State-Level Advocacy
We need:
- More dispersed camping access
- Responsible recreation policies
- Sustainable trail maintenance
- Modern ORV management practices
States like Tennessee and Georgia are already moving this direction.
C. Events That Aren’t Just “Jeepfest”
The Southeast could use:
- A Southeastern Overland Expo in TN. (S.A.V.E. is a version for sure.)
- Regional rallies focused on touring and campcraft
- Great Example: Southeast Overland Camping Event
- Skills-focused weekends
We’re close. The community just needs a central organizing force.
The Future: A Southeastern Overlanding Renaissance
The West may always be the spiritual home of American overlanding, but the Southeast is becoming the practical home—where thousands of weekend warriors can actually experience the lifestyle without quitting their jobs or driving 2,000 miles.
This region is:
- Wild
- Accessible
- Culturally rich
- Growing fast
- And shaping its own identity
If you ask me, the next chapter of American overlanding won’t be written in Moab or Baja. It’ll be written in the rolling Appalachians, the deep hollers of Tennessee, the forests of Alabama, and the river valleys of Georgia and the Carolinas.
The Southeast isn’t merely the next frontier…It’s the frontier that’s finally getting the attention it deserves.
Here’s to the road unpaved! – Doug
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