Fjords on wheels: planning the perfect campervan trip
Discover the magic of the fjords like never before – by campervan!
Norway is absolutely amazing! It stretches an incredible 1,750 km from north to south, and almost every bend in the coastline is a stunning fjord. With a campervan, the world is your oyster! You can stop by the water at sunrise or spend the night under the northern lights without having to book hotels months in advance. And there's more! A well-developed network of campsites, free toilets and showers at petrol stations, and from 2023, drinking water fountains will be available on many routes, even in remote valleys.
🚐 Choose a "home on wheels" for your route
| Type | Length / seats | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camper van (VW California, Mercedes Marco Polo) |
5–5.3 m / 2+2 | Easy to park, cheaper ferries/tolls (cat. 1) | Low ceiling, few bathrooms | Couples, minimalists |
| Class C / Semi-integrated | 6–7 m / 4–5 | Shower, toilet, full kitchen | Extra ferry fees >6m | Families, fjord trips |
| Alcove | 7.5 m / 5–6 | Separate beds, luggage space | High fuel use, ferry +20% | Long family holidays |
| 4×4 Camper / Overlander | 5–6 m / 2–3 | Off-road access, wild camping | 20–30% more expensive | Adventurers, anglers |
The allemannsretten rule and where you can actually stay overnight
Allemannsretten, or "everyman's right", is an incredible opportunity to spend a night under the stars in nature! To make the most of this amazing experience, just follow these simple rules:
- Amazingly, it's just 150 metres from the nearest residential building!
- What an amazing opportunity! This is unfenced private land, and there are no arable fields.
- A camper van is an amazing way to see the world! It's got the same "tent" status, but with one condition: you don't roll out the awning, furniture or set up camp.
🏕️ When is it better to choose camping?
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| You need a 230 V connection to recharge your batteries | Wild spot = no power outlets |
| Need a shower/laundry facilities after trekking | 30–50 NOK/shower at the campsite |
| Empty toilet cassette | Free dump stations only at petrol stations E6/E39 |
| Geiranger, Flåm, Lofoten in July | No overnight stays "outside". Fine up to 3,000 NOK |
Camping costs: 250–400 NOK per spot + electricity. Autumn/winter: 20–40% discount.
🔌 Infrastructure by location
| What you need | Where to find | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | Shell / Circle K (bobil pump) | 0–10 NOK / 100 litres |
| Dump station ("Gråvann/Septik") | Petrol stations, NAF car parks, most campsites | usually free |
| LPG / propane | YX Gas, LPG Norge; iOverlander map | refuelling ~35 NOK/kg |
| Electric RV plug 16 A | Camping, Marina Gjestehavn, some Vegvesen car parks | 50–70 NOK/night |
| Wi-Fi | 4G/5G throughout E6, Circle K cafés | free Wi-Fi on the Open_NAF network |
Eco-friendly life hacks
- Grey water = not under the wheels. Only drain grey water at designated hatches (RV+hose icon).
- Compostable cassette bags reduce odour and chemical consumption.
- Bio-tablets instead of formaldehyde — do not kill bacteria in treatment plants.
- Rechargeable Brita Go filter — fewer plastic bottles.
- Norwegian-style waste sorting:
○ Grønn — organic, Blå — plastic/metal, Hvit — mixed.
○ Returnable containers (Pant) — 1–3 NOK/bottle, machines available at any COOP/REMA1000.
💰 How much does it cost: a weekly budget example (2 people, July)
| Item | Amount (NOK) |
|---|---|
| Camper van rental | 10,500 |
| Fuel (1,500 km, diesel 21 NOK/l) | 2,650 |
| Camping (4 nights × 320 NOK) | 1,280 |
| Wild camping (3 nights) | 0 |
| Hellesylt ↔ Geiranger ferry | 600 |
| Toll roads | 48 |
| Food & gas | 1,900 |
| Total | 17,450 NOK ≈ €1,645 |
🏕️ Best campsites with a view of the fjord
| Region | Campsite | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Geirangerfjord | Geiranger Camping | Wake up with a view of the Seven Sisters waterfall |
| Sognefjord | Gudvangen Camping | Right at the pier in Nærøyfjord, trekking to Viking Valley |
| Hardanger | Odda Camping | Base for hiking to Trolltunga |
| Lofoten | Ramberg Gjestegård | White beach, sunset over the ocean |
| Lysefjord | Preikestolen Campsite | Shuttle to Preikestolen trail every 30 minutes |
📱 Apps for RV travellers
| Function | App |
|---|---|
| Parking, dump, water | Park4Night, iOverlander |
| Tolls and cameras | Vegvesen Trafikk |
| Weather & Northern Lights | Yr.no, My Aurora |
| EV camper charging | PlugShare, Mer Norway |
| Cheap diesel fuel | DrivstoffApp |
Example of a 10-day "Fjord Ring" route
- Oslo → Geilo (300 km) — overnight wild camping at Lake Ustedalsfjorden.
- Geilo → Hardangervidda (Rv7) — Vøringsfossen waterfall, overnight stay at Odda Camping.
- Day trip to Trolltunga.
- Hardanger → Bergen (E16) — market square, overnight stay at Bergen Camping Park.
- Bergen → Sognefjord — Kaupanger → Gudvangen ferry, overnight stay in front of Viking Valley.
- Flåm railway without a car; evening wild camping at the Stegastein viewing platform.
- Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route → Grotli; wild camping overnight at Lake Oppstrynsvatnet.
- Morning on the Eagle Road, ferry from Hellesylt to Geiranger, Geiranger Camping.
- Trollstigen and Atlantic Road; overnight stay at Atlanterhavsveien Camping.
- Long drive back to Oslo on the E6 (560 km) with an overnight wild stop in Lillehammer.
Ready to go checklist
- Great news – the campervan is booked and unlimited mileage is included!
- You'll be able to access offline maps from Google Maps and Park4Night!
- We are delighted to offer two gas cylinders or an adapter for Norwegian valves.
- You'll definitely need chains or winter tyres if you're planning to go between October and April!
- We are thrilled to present our incredible Powerbank with a staggering 20,000 mAh and a 12 V cable compatible with your laptop!
- Brilliant! We can separate the rubbish for the nearest pant machine!
- Great news! The camper's number has now been entered in the AutoPASS app.
A camper van is the perfect way to turn a trip through Norway into an exciting, unscheduled adventure! Imagine waking up to the breathtaking view of the Geirangerfjord one day, and the soothing sound of a waterfall in Hardangervidda the next. The most important thing is to show respect for nature, to dispose of your wastewater properly and to leave the parking spot as clean as you found it. Hey, if you're thinking of hitting the road in your motorhome, make sure you follow allemannsretten, keep a stash of fuel and hot coffee in your car, and you'll be all set to explore the stunning fjords. God tur og kos deg!