Ride, Camp, Repeat: The Best Mountain Bike Festivals in the USA (Van Life Ready)

Monica Ganas
🚵♀️ Mountain Bike Festivals That Belong on Your 2025 Adventure Calendar
If you’re living the van life or traveling with bikes in your camper, these mountain bike festivals are the perfect mix of community, challenge, and stunning terrain. From the red rocks of Sedona to the forests of Wisconsin, each event offers a unique ride—and an unforgettable road trip.
Whether you’re racing, demoing new gear, or just soaking in the scene, bring your bike storage dialed in with Bike-Hook’s compact solutions designed specifically for vans like the RAM ProMaster, Ford Transit, Sprinter, and more.
📅 Featured Mountain Bike Festivals in 2025
Sedona Mountain Bike Festival
📍 Sedona, Arizona | March 14–16
Kick off the riding season with red rock views, vendor expos, demo bikes, and miles of epic singletrack. Van camping options and shuttle-access rides make this a must-attend for any rider with a mobile lifestyle.
🛠️ Pro Tip: Use Bike-Hook’s wall-mounted vertical hooks outside on your van door your van to save floor space in small builds.
Sea Otter Classic
📍 Monterey, California | April 10–13
The biggest name in North American cycling events. Whether you ride XC, enduro, or downhill, Sea Otter has it all—races, expos, kids zones, and industry showcases. A great place to test bikes or show off your rig.
🚐 Van Life Tip: Camp at the fairgrounds and keep your bikes secure overnight with a fork mount system by Bike-Hook.
Fruita Fat Tire Festival
📍 Fruita, Colorado | May 2–4
Endless slickrock and desert singletrack meet laid-back vibes. Fruita’s legendary trails and riverside camping make it ideal for mountain bikers with a dirtbag spirit (and a well-organized van).
🔧 Must-have: A sliding bike tray or ceiling rack to keep your bikes out of the elements between rides. Shop van-compatible bike storage from Bike-Hook.
Bentonville Bike Festival
📍 Bentonville, Arkansas | May 23–25
A fast-growing hub for mountain biking in the U.S., Bentonville blends art, tech, and trail in one town. The festival includes street sprints, jump jams, and group rides across Oz Trail's top-notch network.
Canaan MTB Festival
📍 Davis, West Virginia | June 12–15
A grassroots event with rugged Appalachian trails, campfire hangouts, and a big focus on community and conservation. Perfect for east coast riders who like things raw and rowdy.
⛺ Storage hack: Mount a ceiling hook in your van garage area to keep muddy tires off the bed.
Chequamegon MTB Festival
📍 Cable, Wisconsin | September 19
This classic midwest race through the Northwoods draws thousands of riders, from first-timers to elites. Camping and van-friendly parking nearby make it a great fall destination.
🧼 Road trip ready: Clean your bikes after muddy races with these bike cleaning tips, then store them vertically with minimal mess.
🏕️ Van Life Tips for Festival Riders
Mountain bike festivals are often multi-day affairs. Here’s how to keep your bikes and your camper setup dialed in between rides:
🚐 Pack Smart with Bike-Hook:
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Rear door Mounted Bike Hooks: Vertical and options for any van layout
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Fork Mount Systems: Ideal for rigidity and ease of use
👉 Explore all van-compatible bike mounts here
🧭 Planning Your Festival Route
Turn these events into a full-blown road trip. Build a route between festivals, and use apps like iOverlander or Campendium to find van-friendly camping spots.
🛣️ Festival Itinerary Idea:
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March – Sedona, AZ
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April – Sea Otter, CA
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May – Fruita, CO
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June – Canaan, WV
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September – Chequamegon, WI
Mix riding with national park visits, small-town cafes, and roadside bike shops. And make sure your bike storage system can keep up with the miles.
🔗 More Helpful Resources
✅ Final Thoughts
From Sedona's red rocks to Wisconsin’s forested trails, mountain bike festivals are the ultimate way to combine cycling, travel, and van life. With the right gear—and the right storage system from Bike-Hook—you’ll be ready for any ride, any road, and any adventure.
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