How do I plan a road trip in Norway, and how many days do I need?
Driving times, scenic routes, ferries and road closures to plan around.
Short answer
There is no fixed number of days, but Visit Norway advises focusing on one region, and the drive from Oslo to Nordkapp alone takes at least 3–4 days. Plan by driving time rather than distance, since ferries, mountain passes and winding roads make journeys longer than expected.
Why
- Visit Norway puts the drive from Oslo to Nordkapp at almost 2,000 km and at least 3–4 days.
- Driving from Kristiansand in the south to Hammerfest in the north takes about 30 hours, according to Visit Norway.
- There are 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes, from Varanger in the north to Jæren in the south, and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration is responsible for them.
Details
Many scenic roads close in winter, and some do not open again until May or June. Popular car ferries can be full in summer, so book the busiest crossings in advance. Each morning, check closures and mountain passes in the Vegvesen trafikk app or at vegvesen.no/trafikk.
Tip
Choose a few overnight bases in one region and leave spare time for ferries and stops, rather than trying to cover as many kilometres as possible.
What may differ
In winter, closed mountain passes and convoy driving behind an escort vehicle can change both the route and the time it takes.
People also ask
- How many days do you need for a road trip in Norway?
- What is a good Norway road trip itinerary?
Sources
- Visit Norway: Travelling by carChecked at:
- Visit Norway: Round tripsChecked at:
- Visit Norway: Must-know before you driveChecked at:
- Norwegian Scenic RoutesChecked at:
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Drive safely in NorwayChecked at:
Information checked on 15 October 2026.
Top 3 road trip routes in NorwayRelated questions
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Are Norway's mountain roads open in May, or is it too early for a road trip?
Some seasonal mountain roads in Norway are open by May, but others, such as Trollstigen and Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, have opened as late as June in previous years.
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Has Norway banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars?
No, Norway has not banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, but it has a political goal that all new passenger cars should be zero-emission by 2025.
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Can other electric cars use Tesla Superchargers in Norway?
Yes, most Tesla Supercharger stations in Norway are now open to other electric cars with a CCS charging port, and you start and pay for charging in the Tesla app.
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Can I get E5 or 98 octane petrol in Norway?
Yes, you can still buy 98 octane petrol labelled 98 E5 in several places in Norway, but every pump marked 95 now sells E10 with up to 10 percent ethanol.