Truckin’ Through Summer: Sites to See

Summer is here, and for many of us that means carving out some time where work takes a backseat to a little travel and adventure. You’ve worked all year, it’s time to see a few things other than a cubicle, home office, or jobsite.

As an automotive enthusiast, if you don’t have any firm plans yet, may we suggest a few of our own?

We’ve covered great destinations across the continental US and Canada in our Best Of series, but we have a few more places and events we’d like to add—especially if you’re a truck lover. Here are five places you should consider for that next weekend (or full week…) getaway.

White Sands National Park

We briefly mentioned White Sands in our Best of the Southwest post, but it deserves more than a quick shout-out. This gem of New Mexico is known for its 275 sq. miles of gypsum sand dunes—the largest such in the world.

We’ll be honest, you certainly don’t need a well-equipped vehicle to tackle the popular Dunes Drive through the park. You won’t even need a 4×4—as the picture of the Mustang on the NPS website illustrates. But it’s just such a surreal place to drive through, especially for an East Coast boy like me.

We think of sand as a familiar golden yellow from trips to the beach and childhood playgrounds. But as the name states, at White Sands the gypsum sand is as white as you’ll ever see. Remember those baggy near-white pleated khakis you used to wear to church?—it’s like that.

Along your 16-mile round trip you’ll find exhibits, trails, and picnic stops to pull over and visit. Just make sure the Drive is open before visiting, as tests at the nearby missile range occasionally cease its operation.

Carlisle Truck Nationals

Carlisle may be smack dab in the middle of central Pennsylvania’s Amish country, but you won’t find no horse and buggies at the Truck National event. For any truck enthusiast in the Northeast from August 5-7, 2022, you’ll certainly want to pay the paltry $15 for a ticket.

Touted as one of the largest and most action-packed truck events in the world, the Carlisle Truck Nationals has something for everybody. Whether you’re looking to participate in an event or judging, or just want to browse the incredible rides, the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds has it all.

Head on over to the website to see a full rundown of events, including Judged Truck and Big Rig Shows, Monster Trucks, Tractor Displays, Moto Freestyle, and the ever-popular Burnout Contest. And even if you or a family member isn’t an auto fanatic, the food and vendor choices will leave everyone happy.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is known for a lot of things—harboring the lowest elevation point in North America, holding some of the hottest temperatures on earth (rivaling even the Middle East and The Sahara), and being the billed birthplace of a certain WWE legend. Other than fans of that last one, it doesn’t sound like a nurturing area for a family vacation. But for all its extremes, Death Valley is a beautiful destination with a diverse and thriving area for nature and landscapes.

There’s snow in the winter and fields of flowers in the summer, but for us wheelers it holds an even better feature. Despite 93% of the park’s 3.4 million acres being occupied by inaccessible wilderness, the park still has more miles of road than any other national park—1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads to explore!

Death Valley trails, while perhaps not the most difficult available, can eat you alive if you’re not adequately prepared. For those thrill-seekers seeking a good challenge for themselves, their vehicle, and their AC system, Death Valley beckons.

Windrock Park, TN

Ever have one of those nights where you wake-up at 1 AM in a cold sweat desperately in need of a good muddy trail? You could see your doctor, or self-prescribe a trip to Windrock Park in Oliver Springs, TN.

They’ve got more than 73,000 acres and 300 miles of trails ready to be explored—24/7/365. Yep, they’re always open! Everything from a nice scenic gravel road to a boulder and cliff-laden terror you’ll be telling your grandkids about 50 years from now.

To get even more American, Windrock Park has a full-service shooting range for when you’re all wheeled out. Bring your own firearms or check out the extensive collection they have to offer at the park—including a .50 cal! Windrock Park also features a ton of beginner and expert downhill mountain bike trails for when you’re looking for a bit of physical fitness.

Rest your head at night in one of Windrock Park’s cabins, yurts, or camping/RV sites. And if you’re lucky enough to have yourself a fiancé who’s into the dirt life as well, Windrock Park does weddings; you may now winch the bride!

Overland Expo

If you’re into any kind of adventuring or have even a passing interest in the outdoors, you owe it to yourself to take a day or two and attend one of the four North American Overland Expos. The WEST and PNW events have already taken place, but the MTN WEST (Loveland, CO) and EAST (Arrington, VA) are still to come in 2022.

The Expo is by far the premier overlanding event series on earth. With over 200 exhibitors ranging from travel, camping, motorcycle and more, there’s a little something for everyone.

On-site camping makes this a fitting and convenient way to take in all the Overland Expo has to offer. Perhaps the most valuable thing to take back from the event comes in the way of information from one of the 175+ classes, demos, and activities taught by the world’s foremost experts in overlanding, camping, survival, and travel.

Some of the fun includes Ride and Drive events, beginner motorcycle classes, and a showcase and DIY vehicle area.

Taking place August 26-28, the Mountain West edition invades The Ranch on the Larimer County Fairgrounds. The East show takes place in the historic Oak Ridge Estate October 7-9.

Keep Covered with BAK Truck Bed Covers

Whether you decide to take our recommendations and visit some of the above destinations, find your own spots, or spend that time to take care of a few much-needed house projects, chances are you’ll be enlisting the help of your truck. And whether it’s for tools, materials, or luggage, the bed of your truck is bound to get heaps of usage this summer. While having a big receptacle in which to put all your stuff is great, leaving it open and unsecure is a unique pickup problem that needs addressing. But no worries, because BAK has your back.

BAK’s lineup of premium hard folding, rolling, and retractable truck bed covers are known across the truck market for their perfect fit, high-end materials, and extreme durability. BAK knows that every truck owner wants a little something different from their cover. That’s why the company developed the BAKFlip and Revolver series of tonneaus.

The BAKFlip tri-fold is a sturdy solution to give owners easy access to a little or the entirety of their bed. The Revolver lineup is a gorgeous hard rolling tonneau that sits low and accommodates anything below and on top of it. Each tonneau comes in several different flavors and finishes to complement whatever look you and your truck are going for. Whether the trail takes you to the campsite or the jobsite, BAK covers have your back covered.