Eureka Springs Jeep Jam 2026

Once a year, more than a thousand rigs roll into Eureka Springs and turn a quiet Ozark town into the off-road capital of the central United States. Jeep Jam is loud, muddy, and one of the best long weekends on the calendar, and the couples who come for it want a real recovery base at night, not a chain hotel parking lot.

When & where

Dates: September 10–13, 2026 (Thursday through Sunday).
Headquarters: Pine Mountain Village, just outside historic downtown Eureka Springs.
Trails: A mix of guided runs and open trail systems across the Ozarks, most rated mid-difficulty, with rocky climbs, creek crossings, and overlooks that earn the drive.

What actually happens across the four days

• Thursday. Registration opens at Pine Mountain Village. Early arrivals run a warm-up trail and meet the crews they'll ride with the rest of the weekend.
• Friday. Guided trail runs all day. Vendor row at HQ. Downtown cruise in the evening, historic Spring Street fills with rigs end to end.
• Saturday. The biggest day. Multiple trail groups go out at sunrise. Show & Shine takes over downtown in the afternoon, judged builds, custom rigs, the whole community in one place.
• Sunday. A morning trail run for the diehards, then teardown and the long drive home.

Why the Ozarks are worth the haul

The Ozark trail system is one of the better-kept secrets in American off-roading. You get the technical climbs of the Rockies in places, the creek crossings and root sections of the Appalachians in others, and far less crowding than either. Most of the Jeep Jam routes sit within an hour of town, which means more time on the trail and less time on the interstate.

What to pack

• Recovery gear, straps, shackles, a winch if you have one. The trails earn their reputation.
• Two pairs of boots. One pair will be soaked by Friday afternoon.
• A change of clothes in a dry bag, kept in the rig.
• Layers, September mornings in the Ozarks can start at 55°F and finish at 85°F.
• A second cooler. The one at HQ won't be enough.

Where to stay, the recovery question

Most of the rooms in town during Jeep Jam weekend book six to nine months out. The chain options near HQ fill first. The relaxed boutique options five minutes out fill last and book up by July.

Forest Springs Resort is a boutique resort on ten acres of Ozark woodland, five minutes from downtown. We have private parking with room for a long-wheelbase rig and a trailer, a hose at the side of the property for washing mud off boots, and a sauna and cold plunge waiting at the end of the day: the recovery loop that actually does something for sore shoulders and a stiff back after eight hours of crawling. Pet-friendly if you brought the dog.

A two-couple plan for the weekend

Arrive Thursday afternoon. Check in, drop the gear, drive five minutes into downtown for dinner at one of the local restaurants. Friday and Saturday on the trails, back to the resort by six, sauna and cold plunge before changing for dinner. Sunday morning a slow coffee on the deck, one last run if you have it in you, then home.