❄️ Winter Camping Norway 2025: Gear & Heated Sites🏕️

Winter in Norway is the perfect time to get out and explore! There's no need to put your tent away or leave your motorhome in the garage. From mid-November to the end of March, the thermometer often drops to -15 °C, but travellers are rewarded with the incredible sight of the Northern Lights, the peace and quiet of empty trails and discounted camping prices. The right equipment and choice of a heated site will transform the cold season into a comfortable adventure rather than an extreme test.

This guide answers all your questions about winter camping! Learn where to find heated sites, which sleeping bag can withstand the fjord winds, how to connect your motorhome to 230 V without any surprises, and why propane-butane gas stops working at -10 °C. We checked prices with Tromsø Camping, Hemsedal Camping and DNT huts (June 2025) and added some great life hacks to save up to 30%! Save this article: we update it before every winter season, so you can be sure you're getting the latest and greatest!

🏕️ Why choose a campsite that is ready for winter and what are the options?

In winter, it is important to have a heated service block (20–24 °C), CEE 16 A sockets and snow-cleared pitches. The three best options are Tromsø Camping (320 NOK/night, including a shower), Hemsedal Camping (290 NOK) and Sjåk Verma Camping on the E136 (260 NOK). All three are open all year and can be booked online. Heated spots are fully booked 4-6 weeks before Christmas.

What equipment do you need for camping when it's -15 °C?

A tent for all seasons with a windproof frame; replace the pegs with snow "deadmen" (plastic bags filled with snow). You will need a sleeping mat with an R-value of at least 5 (with foam) and a sleeping bag that is rated for -20 °C. You can add a lightweight fleece liner that is rated for +4 °C. The gas is a mixture of isobutane and propane (MSR Winter). Put the burner in an aluminium tray with a candle lantern — this will stop it from going out. Leave warm water in the bottle overnight and put it in your sleeping bag. This will make the inside 3-4 °C warmer.

🏠 Can you tell me if it's possible to rent a heated camping pod or a caravan?

Yes, Tromsø Camping has 20-square-metre Aurora cabins with infrared floor heating. These start at 1,190 Norwegian kroner for two people and include an indoor shower. In Lofoten, Hattvika Lodge rents luxury cabins with fireplaces starting at NOK 1,450. Hemsedal has 12 m² wooden pods. Each pod has a 1000 W heater. A pod costs NOK 890 (about £80) if you book outside of holiday season. Book at least one month in advance: there are only a few vacancies in winter and more and more people want to go because "workation" is becoming more popular.

🔌 How to connect your motorhome to the mains and stay warm?

You will need a 16 A 25 m CEE cable with an overheating indicator, a CEE → Schuko adapter, and a 30 mA RCD tester. Don't try to save money on antifreeze (which must be -40 °C) and liquid gas: an 11 kg propane cylinder will last for 3-4 days of Truma operation at 20 °C inside. At Tromsø Camping, electricity is already included (16 A). At Hemsedal, there is an additional charge of 50 NOK per day. Park your motorhome so that it is facing into the wind and put wheel chocks in place. At night, the ice melts and collapses.

🍲 How can you cook food at -10 °C and keep it warm?

Use a titanium windscreen and an insulating mat under the gas cylinder. Melt snow to make water. Use a large pot and add a pinch of salt to speed up the process. Freeze-dried meals (Real Turmat) save gas, but make sure the water line is at -10 °C, otherwise the porridge will be really solid. In the kitchen, which has heating, the stove and microwave are free to use. You can get frying pans at reception, but there is a 100 NOK deposit. Sweet tea with ginger is the best way to start the day.

🌨 Is it dangerous to spend the night in heavy snowfall?

Keep an eye on the snow level on the roof of your tent and shake it off every 2–3 hours. If the forecast is more than 30 cm/24 hours, ask the administration to move you to the common lounge — lots of campsites (Hemsedal) let you use it for free. Don't put your tent under trees because ice can break branches. If you have a CO alarm in your motorhome, make sure that the air vents are clear — carbon monoxide is more dangerous than the cold.

🎿 What trails and activities are there near winter campsites?

Tromsø — Northern Lights tours (890 NOK), snowmobiles in Rivetn. Hemsedal has 49 km of groomed ski trails. The adult ski pass costs 595 NOK for a day, and children under 7 go free. Gjendesheim (Besseggen) is closed in winter, but Jotunheimen Fondsbu offers snowshoe hikes. In Sørlandet, there is an ice rink on Lake Byglandsfjorden. Download Outtt for family-friendly winter routes up to 8 km.

💧 How do you keep the air in a tent or motorhome moist enough?

Make sure there is air circulation. Open both doors and vents for five minutes, three times a day. This will let any condensation escape without causing heat loss. Use silica gel bags (Biltema 30 NOK) and put wet items in the vestibule. In a motorhome, switch the Truma fan to "recirculation" to reduce the humidity to 55%. Don't hang wet gloves on the walls. Put them over the stove instead. This will stop mould from forming.

🛡️ What insurance and memberships will save you money and keep you safe?

Sign up for DNT Medlemskap (740 NOK/year): You can get 25% off winter cabins and you can get emergency assistance. NAF Camping provides insurance for the trails. For NOK 139 a year, you get towing at −20 °C and access to 290 stations. Travel Insurance Winter (Gjensidige) covers air ambulance evacuation up to 1 million NOK. Plus, members of NAF get NOK 50 off for every night they stay at Hemsedal Camping.

📅 How to book winter camping without spending too much?

Contact them directly and book for a mid-week stay (Tuesday to Thursday) to get a 15% discount. If you have a tent, you can save 50 NOK a day by choosing a site without electricity. Buy the "Winter Pass" package (Hemsedal): For three nights and two Northern Lights tours, the price is 2,590 NOK. This is 400 NOK less than the usual price. Always check if the heated spots or water are turned off. Otherwise, you will have to melt snow.

Winter camping in Norway lets you enjoy the brightest stars, the dance of the Aurora Borealis and the rare silence of tracks without crowds. Choose heated sites, upgrade your equipment to -15 °C, bring a CEE cable and register with NAF or DNT — this will reduce your costs and protect you against winter problems.

Share your "snow life hack" in the comments and check out our Camping Guide for an interactive map of 50 locations for your next adventure!