A Plateau Run, A Reality Check, and a Better Way to Travel
This trip wasn’t just about getting to an event. It turned into a full weekend run across the Cumberland Plateau—Lawrenceburg to McMinnville, into Petros, then looping back west. A mix of pavement, backroads, camp setups, and one or two lessons you only learn by actually getting out there.
Friday: Easing Into the Plateau
The drive out of Lawrenceburg is simple—east on 64 through Pulaski, then north toward McMinnville. Nothing technical, just a steady climb into better scenery.
I made a stop at Rock Island State Park, which I’d recommend to anyone running this route.
Most folks hit the overlook and move on. I went down.
And I’ll tell you—it’s not a casual stroll.
- Wet
- Steep
- Slick in spots
But when you get down to the rocks at the river’s edge, it opens up into a full-on natural playground. Fast-moving water, boulders, spray in the air—it feels raw and alive.
Not a place for kids.
But absolutely worth the effort if you’re comfortable picking your way down.
Camp 1: Hipcamp Reality
Friday night was a Hipcamp spot outside Spencer.
On paper—great.
In reality—mostly great.
The site itself was more limited than I expected. Quiet area, easy setup. But there were dogs somewhere down the road that barked… and barked… and kept barking until around midnight.
That’s part of it.
Hipcamp is a roll of the dice. Sometimes you get a perfect backcountry feel. Sometimes you get a reminder that you’re still on someone else’s land. For overlanders who sleep in their rigs, be sure you ask your host if there are level spots for you to park and camp from your vehicle BEFORE booking. Not all hosts understand our needs and offer their properties for walk-in primitive style campers only. I was able to find a level spot in the gravel driveway of the property up by the road. Ok for $20 I guess.
Saturday Morning: The Plan That Didn’t Happen
Saturday was supposed to start with a run through Catoosa WMA and the Nemo Tunnel.
Except—tunnel access has been closed to vehicles since 2024!
That one slipped through the cracks in planning, and it’s a good reminder: Always verify access.
Especially with WMAs and legacy trail features. I dug around online and details were sketchy at best. Plus – Google Gemini suggested it as I was planning the itinerary so I assumed she knew. Not the case.
The upside? It didn’t cost much time. Petros is close enough that the day stayed intact.
The Event: Southeastern Overland – Petros, TN
The event sits just outside Windrock Park, and you can feel that influence right away. This is real terrain, real rigs, real users. I didn’t plan to camp so a one-day pass was plenty for me to get in, access all I cared to see, (vendors, trainings, etc.) including a walk through the campground to mingle a bit with fellow travelers.
The Rigs: Gladiators Showed Up
One thing that jumped out immediately—Jeep Gladiators had a strong presence.
I’d estimate 10–15% of the rigs were JT platforms, which is a big number when you step back and think about the broader overland market.
That says a few things:
- The Gladiator is firmly established in this space
- It’s not just a “Jeep guy” vehicle anymore—it’s a legitimate overland platform
- People are actually using them, not just building them
And it makes sense.
The bed.
The wheelbase.
The balance between daily driver and trail rig.
It fits the Southeast / Appalachian style of overlanding really well.
About the Organizer
The Southeastern Overland Camping Event is hosted by Tennessee Overlander, (Darren & Morgan) a grassroots community built around connecting overlanders across the region. Their focus is simple—bring people together, share knowledge, and create opportunities to get out and use your rig the way it was intended.
Unlike larger, commercialized events, Tennessee Overlander leans into a more authentic approach. Their gatherings prioritize community over production, encouraging everything from first-time campers to seasoned drivers to show up, learn something new, and contribute to the culture.
If you’re looking to stay connected to upcoming events or get plugged into the Southeast overlanding scene, you can learn more www.tntoverlander.com
Camp 2: As Simple As It Gets
Saturday night was another Hipcamp—this one in Oliver Springs.
Completely different experience.
An open field on someone’s property.
No frills. No crowd. No noise.
Just space.
Honestly, it might’ve been the better of the two.
It reinforced something I’ve been circling for a while:
You don’t need a perfect campsite. You need a usable one.
The Big Lesson: I’m Carrying Too Much
This was the part of the trip that stuck with me the most.
Running solo, I realized something pretty quickly:
I am way over-kitted.
Not a little.
Way.
When I look at what I actually used vs. what I carried:
- About 10–15 items are truly essential
- Another handful are “nice to have”
- And the rest? Dead weight
Stuff I’ve packed “just in case”… and never touched.
That adds up:
- Weight
- Space
- Setup time
- Decision fatigue
I’ll be working on cutting my kit in half moving forward.
Cleaner rig. Faster setup. More focus on the experience instead of the gear.
Sunday: The Quiet Ride Back
Sunday morning was simple.
A few gravel stretches, some forest canopy, and then picking up Hwy 30 west back across the plateau.
No rush. No agenda.
Just driving.
And honestly, that’s where the Southeast shines.
You don’t need a named trail or a mapped route to have a good day out here. There are miles of connected roads that give you the same feeling—just without the crowd or the pressure.
This is a strong—and important—addition. It gives the piece teeth without turning it into a rant. The key is to keep it measured, observational, and constructive, not territorial.
Here’s a section you can drop in (I’d place it right after “The Vibe” or before “Lessons Learned”):
A Note on UTVs, Access, and the Future of the Trail
There’s something I’ve been wrestling with, and this weekend brought it into clearer focus.
The UTV crowd is a community of its own—and to be fair, it’s one of the fastest-growing segments in off-roading right now. Most OHV parks are leaning into it, and I understand why.
It brings people.
It brings revenue.
It keeps parks open.
But it also changes the experience.
At this event, a large group of UTVs rolled in—likely coming over from Windrock Park—and while they were there to enjoy the same space, it highlighted the contrast.
Overlanding is a different flavor.
- Slower
- Quieter
- More camp-centered
- More focused on travel than adrenaline
And with the growth of UTV traffic, I’m starting to feel the friction.
More traffic.
More noise.
More pressure on land access.
And in some cases, closures that affect everyone—regardless of how responsibly they travel.
To be clear—this isn’t about exclusion.
There’s room for all of it.
But there’s also a growing need for:
- Defined use areas
- Better trail stewardship across all user groups
- And honest conversations about impact
Because if we don’t get that balance right, we risk losing access altogether.
Gear Note: 26QT Fridge + Power Setup (Field Tested)
One piece of kit that absolutely earned its keep on this trip was my 26QT plug-in fridge from EUHOMY.
Paired with my EcoFlow Delta 3 1500, it performed exactly how you want gear to perform out in the field—quiet, consistent, and zero drama.
- Held temp without fluctuation
- No ice, no water mess, no repacking
- Drew minimal power over the course of the trip
- Just worked
For a solo weekend like this, it changes the game a bit.
Instead of managing a cooler, you’re just… living out of a fridge.
Cold drinks stay cold.
Food stays dry.
And your setup gets simpler.
This ties directly into something I realized on this trip:
The goal isn’t more gear—it’s better gear.
The fridge made the cut.
A lot of other stuff didn’t.
Final Thoughts
This weekend wasn’t perfect.
- A planned feature was closed
- One campsite had its quirks
- I brought too much gear
And it was still a great trip.
Because that’s how this works.
You adjust.
You learn.
You refine.
The Southeastern Overland Camping Event is worth your time—not because it’s polished, but because it’s real.
And if you’re running a Gladiator, you’ll feel right at home.
Here’s to the road unpaved! – Doug
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