Are you currently trying to plan the perfect Norway road trip itinerary? No need to look any further! Cause if you love spending time outdoors then this is the perfect Norway road trip for you!
From discovering the Norwegian fjords, exploring the most beautiful National Parks, searching for wildlife and getting soaked next to waterfalls. This Norway road trip itinerary is for those who love to explore the more of the beaten path places.
In my opinion, t’s the perfect combination of the more popular touristic places and some true hidden gems that took a lot of planning and searching to find.
Get ready to discover some of the most beautiful places in Norway and some insane Norway hiking adventures.
The Ultimate 2 Week Norway Road Trip Itinerary Perfect For The Outdoor Lover
To be completely honest, this trip to Norway was one of the hardest trips I ever had to plan. I didn’t have a clue about the logistics and what traveling through Norway would be like.
I knew we would have to take a couple of ferries at one point and I was so nervous about getting everything organized and planned as efficiently as possible.
I didn’t have a clue about their timetables and what a self-drive trip through Norway would actually look like.
Plus, it wasn’t easy to find all of the details in a single post. That’s why I tried to create an article that includes all of the details that you need to know to plan the perfect Norway road trip itinerary.
🚗 Why you should go on a road trip through Norway
Embarking on a self-drive trip through Norway is a fantastic way to see all of the glorious places this Scandinavian country has to offer. And no, public transportation really isn’t an option for this itinerary. That way of travel is only ideal if you want to stick to visiting the cities in Norway. But if you want to venture off into the countryside you’ll need to either hire a car or a camper to explore the country.
Luckily driving in Norway is an amazing experience! And it’s also the most budget friendly way to discover the country. Not just because public transportation in Norway is expensive but also because you won’t be able to get to the more remote places where you can usually find cheaper accommodations.
So by renting a car or a camper you actually save on both transportation and accommodation.
Road trips are all about the flexibility and allow you to stop anywhere that you want. And I promise you that you’ll want to do that in Norway!
Another big plus? You can chase the good weather! Halfway our trip we turned our itinerary a little upside down cause there would be 4 days of sun so it would be perfect for hiking! This is something you can’t do if for instance all of your hotels are booked up front. During trips like these I don’t really care about the accommodation. If there’s a hot shower I am already happy.
Plus since we were traveling with a camper we were even more flexible! We would just pick out a camp site at the last minute and drive there.
We did our road trip through Norway with a camper van and I would do so again in a heartbeat. We chose a camper van from WeCamp and absolutely loved it! It was very spacious and comfortable and it truly felt like our home away from home during these 2 weeks. Not to forget, I had some of my best nights’ sleep on that bed!
Some strange and interesting facts about Norway
- The world’s longest road tunnel is in Norway and measures 24.5 km!
- Norway has a land border with Russia. The Storskog crossing on the E105 highway is the northernmost road border crossing in Europe.
- Norway introduced salmon sushi to Japan.
- There are two versions of the Norwegian language.
- Europe’s biggest herd of wild reindeer lives here.
- Norway supplies London with a Christmas tree every year.
🛣Getting into Norway
The easiest and fastest way to get into Norway is to go by plane. Traveling to Norway has never been easier. There are a lot of direct flights from many cities around the world.
There are direct flights to Norway from both coasts of the continental US and many destinations in Europe. When traveling from Australia or New Zealand, you’ll need to transit through Asia, the Middle East, or Europe.
Oslo Airport is Norway’s main hub, with scheduled flights to and from more than 100 international destinations. Oslo is also the main domestic hub from which it is easy to fly to your final destination in Norway.
There are also many other international and domestic connections to Bergen, Kristiansand, Sandefjord, Stavanger, Tromsø and Trondheim.
We chose to fly to and from Oslo since we only had 2 weeks to travel and we wanted the be thorough and not just rush from one place to the other.
If you have more than 2 weeks you could easily include a part of Northern Norway in your itinerary as well. Otherwise I would stick to Central Norway, just like we did.
From Oslo Airport you can reach Oslo city centre in 20 minutes with the Flytoget Airport Express train. Express buses and local trains are also available.
We picked up our camper from WeCamp in Oslo and from there we started our self-drive journey through the spectacular landscapes of Norway.
🚘 How to get around Norway with a camper
If there’s one country that’s perfect for exploring with a camper it’s Norway! There’s a ton of campsites to choose from and at times wild camping is even allowed.
The rules for wild camping?
- You’re not allowed to go off-roading.
- You can’t park on private property.
- There will be clear signs visible if you’re not allowed to camp at public parking spaces
During our 2 week road trip through Norway with WeCamp we chose for a variety of options. We camped at beautiful camp sites, or on an open space right next to a beautiful lake. But sometimes we also went for a roadside parking lot with a public toilet.
Norway offers a large number of scenic drives and 18 of them have been named Norwegian Scenic Routes. Common for all these routes is their picturesque scenery, award-winning architecture, and tourist-friendly infrastructures such as rest stops and viewpoints.
Are there road tolls in Norway?
Yes there are! There are many toll stations in Norway, and almost all of them are automatic. All drivers, regardless of nationality, have to pay Norwegian road tolls.
If you want to avoid road tolls you can do so by checking out the different route options on Google Maps. You won’t always be able to avoid it but sometimes you can choose to take a different route to get to your end destination.
If you rent a car or a camper in Norway it will be registered with the NPRA. It’s like your rental has a unique code that gets scanned and the amount of toll due will get added to your end bill when you turn in your rental.
A good tip is to keep track on how much toll you will have to pay at the end of your trip so you won’t have to face any unpleasant surprises.
If you’re self-driving into Norway with your own vehicle you also have to register it from beforehand and you can do so here.
What if I have to take a ferry?
Norway is a coastal nation, and ferries and boats are among their most important modes of transportation. In Fjord Norway travelers often have to rely on ferries and express boats for transportation. Choosing a ferry can often dramatically shorten the length of your trip.
Paying for your ferry ride happens in the same way as paying for a toll road. They’ll scan the NPRA code and the price of the ferry gets added to your end bill.
The easiest way to find out which ferry you have to take is to check your route on Google Maps and check under details which ferry you have to take. You can check the timetable on the fjord1 website. With most fjords there will be a ferry every half hour, especially during high season. But still, if you’re visiting in July or August, chances are very high that there will be a line to board the ferry. Make sure to get there in time to avoid long queues.
The Ultimate 2 Week Norway Road Trip Itinerary
DAY 1 – Arrive in Oslo & pick up camper
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – As much as possible
After landing in Oslo it’s time to pick up your camper!From Oslo Airport you can reach Oslo city centre in 20 minutes with the Flytoget Airport Express train. Express buses and local trains are also available.
We went with WeCamp and absolutely loved it! It was very spacious and comfortable and it truly felt like our home away from home during these 2 weeks. Not to forget, I had some of my best nights’ sleep on that bed!
After picking up some groceries nearby we decided to start driving as far as we could that evening. Otherwise the total driving time for the next day would be 8,5 hours and that’s just a little too much for my taste.
After 6 hours we decided to park and crawled into bed, ready to tackle the next day!
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
If you’re traveling with a camper you can simply camp at one of the parking lots next to the highway. You won’t find a shower here but in most cases there will be a public toilet.
🏨 HOTELS
- Thon Hotel Norge – A modern hotel in the heart of Kristiansand. The perfect place to relax after arriving in Norway
- Villa Villekulla – Nordic fairytale vibes in a cute villa in Kristiansand.
DAY 2 – Preikestolen
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 2.5 HOURS
STOP 1 – MÅNAFOSSEN
Månafossen is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Southern Norway and with its 90 meters in free fall the tallest waterfall in the county of Rogaland.
This is a great 1km hike if you’re feeling a little adventurous but you don’t want to do a lot of hiking! The trail starts at Eikeskog where you start by climbing up a stone stairway. After that the climb becomes very steep but for most parts there are chains so you can pull yourself up.
In the Summer months you can also go for a swim here.
STOP 2 – PREIKESTOLEN
Preikestolen is one of the most popular hikes in entire Norway and honestly rightfully so. The hike itself goes up through a forest and over boulders but the views that you get in return are out of this world.
The hike up and down to Preikestolen is 7.8km in total and starts at the main parking lot. First you’ll walk up through a forest but after the first kilometer you’ll encounter a more boulder like landscape. The hike up can be strenuous at times so if you have trekking poles with you I highly recommend bringing them.
Now, if you are prone to vertigo or have a fear of heights this hike might not be the best idea for you. Not because of the hiking trail itself but because of its end destination. The Preikestolen is a 600 meter high cliff rock with a full on vertical drop on all sides.
Once you’re up there it’s important to be very careful and mindful of where you’re going.
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
The closest camping site to Preikestolen is Preikestolen camping AS where it’s not possible to make a reservation in advance. For night of camping you’ll pay 220 NOK.
🏨 HOTELS
- Lilland Brewery Hotel – A cute boutique hotel with the option to go glamping
- Sjøberg Ferie og Hotell – For a truly unique stay at the island of Rennesøy with a view over the fjords.
DAY 3 – Waterfalls Galore
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 7.5 HOURS
STOP 1 – LATEFOSSEN
The twin waterfall Låtefossen is a truly unique place to see in Norway. Located within the Odda valley you can spot this beautiful waterfall right next to the road.
There’s a parking lot (and even a toilet) located right behind the waterfall and you can even walk down to see it more closely.
STOP 2 – BONDHUSDALEN
Bondhusdalen is one of the most beautiful lakes in central Norway and not too far from Odda. So if you’re hiking the Trolltunga trail it would be a shame to not hop over and through the glacier to Bondhusdalen.
You’ll need to calculate around 2 to 3 hours for your visit but all of this depends on the weather. During our visit the weather was pretty gloomy but even then the water was looking bright turquoise. You can only image that when the glistens on it and you can see the mountains in the background that this place is absolutely fantastic!
STOP 3 – FUREBERGFOSSEN
Furebergfossen is one of the more unique places to visit in Norway. This multi tier waterfall is not too far from Bondhusdalen and can be found right next to the road.
There’s a small parking lot right in front of it but it can only hold a couple of cars.
But even if you don’t make a stop here it’s a spectacular place in Norway to drive by .
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
The Trolltunga Camping is only 10 minutes driving from P1 Tyssedal and the most logical place to stay before starting your hike to Trolltunga tomorrow morning.
🏨 HOTELS
- Vikinghaug – Wake up with a view over a lake, a waterfall, a glacier and a fjord!
- Trolltunga Hotel – Spend the night as close as possible to the start of the Trolltunga hike.
DAY 4 – Trolltunga Hike
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 1 HOUR
Trolltunga is one of Norway’s most popular hikes and with good reason! On this spectacular hiking trail you’ll walk above the Hardangerfjord and your end destination is the world famous troll’s tongue, otherwise known as Trolltunga.
The total hiking time is either 20km or 28km depending on where you start.
If the Trolltunga hike is on your bucket list I highly recommend ready my full guide below cause the logistics aren’t that easy.
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
If you’re traveling with a camper or an RV there’s a beautiful campsite 45 minutes driving from P1 in Tyssedal. It’s called Ringøy Gard Camping and you’ll park right next to the water of the Hardangerfjord.
This is the ideal camping spot especially after coming back from your hike. There are pick nick tables right by the waterfront where you can enjoy a well deserved beer and cook some food.
🏨 HOTELS
- Hotel Ullensvang – Situated along Hardanger Fjord, this waterfront hotel offers views of Folgefonna Glacier.
- Eidfjord Fjell & Fjord Hotel – Wake up with a view over the stunning Hardanger Fjord.
DAY 5 – More Waterfalls
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 7 HOURS 50 MINUTES
STOP 1 – VORINGFOSSEN
There are hundreds of waterfalls in Norway but not many of them can compete with the power of Vøringfossen. In my personal opinion, I thought this was one of the most beautiful places in Norway and it’s pretty easy to reach as well!
There’s a big parking lot not too far from the entrance and from there it’s only a short walk to the waterfall. They’ve build steel staircases and bridges that go over the waterfall. The view from up here is absolutely magnificent and I highly recommend walking the entire trail around for the best experience and the best views.
STOP 2 – RJUKANDEFOSS
Rjukandefoss is one of the best places to visit in central Norway and the perfect place to stop if you’re making your way up to Jotunheimen National Park!
There’s a small car park on the side of the road and the short trail through the woods will lead you to the waterfall in no time. There’s also a suspension bridge which makes it possible to view the waterfall from both sides of the river.
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
If you’re traveling with a camper van you can either spend the night at the Besseggen Fjellpark AS, the Bessheim Fjellstue og Hytter or go wild camping at one of the rest stops close by.
Their facilities are clean and the camp site itself is beautifully located and only 2 minutes driving from the ferry.
🏨 HOTELS
- Bessheim Fjellstue – Stay at a beautiful cottages with a view over the lake and only 5.5km from the Gjendesheim ferry!
- Radisson Blu Resort – Your best choice if you’re looking for a more luxurious stay after all of that hiking.
DAY 6 – Besseggen Ridge Hike
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 15 MINUTES
The Besseggen Hike is considered one of the must-complete hikes by Norwegians and it is said that once you conquer this ridge you can call yourself a ‘serious hiker’. An estimated 60.000 people walk the Besseggen ridge every year.
The Besseggen Hiking Trail is a point to point hike which starts in Memurubu and ends in Gjendesheim. But to get to Memurubu you’ll first need to take a ferry from Gjendesheim.
DAY 7 – Knøtshoe Hike
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 2.5 HOURS
The Knutshøe Hiking Trail is also located in Jotunheimen National Park but is often overshadowed by the immensely popular Besseggen Ridge Hike. But if you have more than one day at the Jotunheimen National Park you should definitely hike this beautiful trail!
I consider the Knutshøe Hiking Trail as one of the most beautiful hikes in Norway and to top it of it’s also a fun and rather adventurous one!
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
The closest campsite to the musk ox trail head is the Magalaupe Camping in Oppdal. From here it’s only 5 minutes driving to the parking lot and you’re good to go and spot some musk oxen!
🏨 HOTELS
- Oppdal Turisthotell – One of the best hotels to stay at when visiting Dovrefjell National Park
- Quality Hotel Skifer – Wake up with a view over the beautiful Dovrefjell mountains!
DAY 8 – Spotting wildlife & Innerdalen
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 3 HOURS
STOP 1 – DOVREFJELL NATIONAL PARK
One of the absolute highlights from our road trip in Norway was seeing a musk ox with our very own eyes at Dovrefjell National Park!
Dovrefjell National Park is the only place in Norway, and one of few places in the world, where you can experience the majestic musk ox. The musk ox is a truly historic mammal and is one of the oldest mammals to walk our planet. Dating back to about 187,000 to 129,000 years ago, muskoxen are known as the shaggy survivors of the Ice Age.
STOP 2 – INNERDALEN
I have honestly no idea if out of all of the valleys in Norway, Innerdalen is actually the most beautiful one. That would require me to visit all of them and there simply isn’t enough time. But every other travel website claimed that it’s the most beautiful one so let’s just leave it at that.
It’s a short but steep hike to this valley and from there you can choose to go on even more adventurous hikes. If that’s not your cup of tea you can also enjoy some waffles and a hot drink at the cosy hut in the heart of the valley.
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
The area around Åndalsnes is filled with stunning camp sites and we had the pleasure to stay at two of them! We stayed at the Åndalsnes Camping & Motell and the Trollveggen Camping. Out of these two the Trollveggen Camping is definitely the most scenic one! Here you’ll set camp right next to the impressive Troll Wall. And yes, we did see our camp site all the way down in the valley when we reached the Stabbeskaret viewpoint!
Another camping option is the Trollstigen Camping and Gjestegård, it’s located only 15 minutes driving from the bus station in Åndalsnes and has been named one of the best and most beautiful camp sites in entire Norway. Unfortunately I only found out about it after our visit to the area. Otherwise you can bet that I would have spent a night here as well!
🏨 HOTELS
- Grand Hotel – by Classic Norway Hotels – A stunning hotel in the heart of Romsdalseggen and offers a panoramic view over the Romsdalfjord.
- Garasjeleilighet – A wonderful appartement that comes with a private sauna.
DAY 9 – Romsdalseggen Ridge Hike
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 20 MINUTES
The Romsdalseggen Ridge Hike in Åndalsnes is one of the most impressive hiking trails in entire Norway! But out of all of the hikes that I did in Norway it was also the most difficult one. There’s a steep ascend over boulders, an exposed part where you have to hold onto chains to cross over and one of the hardest descends.
But I promise you, it’s all worth it once you reach the top! The next kilometers you’ll spend hiking along the ridge line which means you’ll have impressive mountain views on both sides.
The Romsdalseggen Ridge Hiking Trail is a point to point hike, just like that other wonderful hike in Norway the Besseggen Ridge Trail. But in contrary to that one there’s only one way to complete this hike and that’s from Venjesdalsetra, a car park in Vengedalen, to Åndalsnes.
There’s a dedicated Romsdalseggen bus that will take you to the car park in Vengedalen. This bus leaves from the bus station in Åndalsnes and will drop you off at Venjesdalsetra. It costs 200NOK per person and you can park your car or camper van at the long term parking lot in Åndalsnes.
DAY 10 – Troll Wall
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 4 HOURS
Today we’ll need to take a ferry from Liabygda to Stranda. There’s usually a new ferry every 30 minutes and the ride itself takes about 13 minutes.
STOP 1 – STABBESKARET
Hiking up to the Troll Wall viewpoint was one of my favorite things to do in Norway. The hike itself is rather adventurous with a lot of climbing over boulders but the view, THE VIEW!
The final viewpoint is located at the vertical cliff of the Trollveggen wall. So once you’re up there it’s a steep drop down into the Romsdalen valley. Make sure to be very careful around the edges and take care if you have a fear of heights. The view is however absolutely amazing and totally worth the trouble of the hike.
📖 MAKES SURE TO READ MY FULL GUIDE ON THE TROLL WALL HIKE INCLUDING A LOT MORE DETAILS AND PHOTOS!
STOP 2 – TROLLSTIGEN
The best part of visiting this beautiful place in Norway? The winding road leading up to it! Especially if you’re coming from Åndalsnes!
The Trollstigen road is world famous serpentine road due to the fact that it creeps up the mountain in incredible loops and to top it off there’s a giant waterfall at each side.
At the top of the road you’ll find the Trollstigen visitor centre where you can park your car. In true Norwegian fashion you’ll also find a fabulous viewing platform here. The wind up there can be absolute mayhem but you’ll get a spectacular birds eye view over the serpentine road.
STOP 3 – LITLEFJELLET
Litlefjellet is one of those places in Norway that seems to keep on flying under the radar. But doesn’t this sound perfect? A short (but steep) hike up followed by one of the most stunning views in the entire area of Romsdal.
From Litlefjellet you’ll have a direct view over the impressive Trollveggen mountain range and if you’re up for it this is one of the most beautiful places in Norway to go wild camping!
WHERE TO STAY
🏕 CAMPING
Since we were traveling with a camper van we chose to stay at the nearest camp site. And as luck would have it it was literally around the corner of the starting point of the Mount Saksa hike. The camp site is called Urke Camping and comes with free hot water when showering. And I tell you, that’s not that common in Norway. A lot of times you’ll have to pay extra if you want to take a hot shower instead of an ice cold one!
🏨 HOTELS
If camping is not your jam you can take a look at these hotels in Øye. All of them are within short driving distance of the Mount Saksa hike.
Another option is to stay in the town of Sæbo, but do know that you’ll then have to take a ferry to Urke to start your hike.
DAY 11 – Sunmøre Alps
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 20 MINUTES
STOP 1 – MOUNT SAKSA
If there’s one place that you can’t miss if you absolutely love hiking it’s the Sunmøre Alps in Western Norway. And you want to know the best part? This area in Norway is still relatively unknown!
I think if I had to choose my favorite place in Norway out of all of the ones I’ve seen on this road trip it would be this one!
You can find these views by hiking up mount Saksa. It’s a steep and strenuous 6km hike up but the views are so damn worth it!
After a very hard climb up you’ll be greeted by 360° views over the Sunmøre Alps.
📖 MAKE SURE TO READ MY COMPLETE GUIDE ON HIKING MOUNT SAKSA FOR MORE DETAILS!
OTHER POSSIBLE HIKES INSTEAD OF MOUNT SAKSA
- Slogen – 6km
- Dalegubben – 7.1km
STOP 2-CHRISTIAN GARD
This has to be one of the most beautiful swings in Norway! But in all honesty it’s not the easiest to get to! Trandal is a small village in the Sunmøre Alps and can only be reached by ferry or on foot. And I honestly wouldn’t recommend going on foot cause you need to hike across several mountains to get there.
The ferry to Trandal leaves from Sæbo and it’s important that you have a look at their schedule from beforehand. During high season there will be plenty of ferries but for instance in September the last ferry back was already at 7pm. Since we were with a camper we were allowed to park overnight on their parking lot and even use their bathroom facilities.
This swing is located in front of the restaurant Christian Gaard. And while you don’t need to eat here to take a photo at their famous swing. It is however a lovely place to enjoy a meal but do know that the prices are steep. For reference both of us had 1 meal and 3 beers in total and had a bill of €128.
DAY 12 – Sunmøre Alps
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 2 HOURS
STOP 1 – GUNNAR RASA
Good news! There’s not just one beautiful swing in Norway! There are actually three! And two of them can be found on your way up to Gunnar Råsa.
As like with every other hike in Norway it’s a steep climb up and it took us about 1,5 hour to reach the swings!
The trail leading up to Gunnar Råsa starts in Sæbo. Once you get off the ferry turn to the right and drive alongside the water. After a few hundred meters you’ll see a couple of parking spaces and the hiking trail starts right next to these.
STOP 2 – LOEN
Loen is a beautiful town in the commune of Stryn with crystal clear water to admire as far as the eye can see. Here you’ll find old wooden farmhouses, calm waters and majestic mountains. Especially on a clear and sunny day this small town simply had to be part of your Norway road trip itinerary!
THINGS TO DO IN LOEN
- Go for a ride on the brand new Loen cable car.
- Get adventurous and reach the top of Mt. Hoven through a spectacular via ferrata.
- Explore Lodalen Valley
- Go kayaking on Lovatnet lake
- Hike up to the Kjenndalen Glacier
Typical about Norway are its wooden houses where the roof is covered in moss. In central Norway you’re bound to bump into a lot of these so there’s no need to visit these specific ones.
But I did love the spectacular backdrop that they came with! The weather was gloomy and rain was falling but the clouds rising up from the lake added a sense of mystery that!
DAY 13 – Geiranger
TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 7 HOURS
For this last day of our Norway road trip itinerary you can pretty much choose how far you drive back to Oslo after your visit to Geiranger. It all pretty much depends on what time your flight out is.
Geiranger is probably one of the most visited fjords in Norway and maybe it was the gloomy weather we had during most of the day but I was a little underwhelmed by this place. There are some nice viewpoints to be found but for most activities you have to book a fjord cruise.
The entire place honestly feels very touristic and way less authentic but the viewpoint below definitely made up for that!
THINGS TO DO IN GEIRANGER
- Go to the Geiranger Skywalk
- Take a cruise to the Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Take photos at Flydalsjuvet
- Hike to Skageflå
- Follow the Waterfall Walk
DAY 14 – Return Camper & Fly Home
Depending on how far you drove yesterday you’ll have a couple of hours left before reaching Oslo. Our flight only left in the evening so we took our time and even slept in a little!
We simply dropped off our camper at theWeCamp headquarters and took a short taxi ride to the central train station in Oslo.
And again you can take the Flytoget Airport Express train which will take you to the international airport in Oslo in just 20 short minutes.
I hope that you’ll find this Norway road trip itinerary useful and if you have any questions simply drop them in the comment section below!
Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.
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