🚐 Motorhomes/vans: where to stay overnight & dispose of waste ♻️

Parking: where it's legal and where it's not

● Allmennrett is not about cars. The right of free access applies to walking, cycling and boating. You cannot drive onto or park on a "wild" site under this right. Off-road motor vehicle traffic in the "utmark" is generally prohibited (motorferdselloven), and on private roads, the owner may restrict traffic and parking. Conclusion: only park on roads and in car parks where it is permitted.

● Rest areas (rasteplass): these are places for drivers to take a break and rest. The standard approach of Vegvesen is to limit parking by time (often to ~24–25 hours, enough for one night), and in popular places, to set shorter limits. "Døgnhvileplass" areas for professionals are not intended for other drivers.

● Cities and municipalities: local authorities may prohibit overnight stays outside specially designated areas and/or direct motorhomes to designated parking areas. In Oslo, there is a direct ban on overnight stays ("overnatting") on streets/squares/in parks within built-up areas; In Bergen, on the other hand, the general city-wide "night-time" restriction for 2024–2025 has been blocked by the supervisory authorities ( ), and the city is developing official motorhome parking areas. Check local websites before travelling.

● National tourist roads (Nasjonale turistveger): in summer 2025, Vegvesen is testing strict time limits in Lofoten and at the Stegastein viewpoint due to chaotic "freak camping". In these areas, assume that overnight stays outside designated areas are not an option.

"No overnight stays": how to read signs and markings

● Official road signs (Skiltforskriften) regulate parking/stopping and may have lower signs with times/days/vehicle types ("passenger cars only", "no parking between 00:00 and 06:00", "except for residents", etc.). If there are time restrictions on the sign/plate, they must be strictly observed.

● "Camping forbudt / No camping". This is not a government road sign, but an informational/private sign. It is often placed on camping sites and coastal locations to prevent people from "taking furniture/tents/awnings". Even if it is not formally a sign from the regulations, Vegvesen uses such messages at facilities in addition to parking limits, and ignoring them is a bad idea.

● Meaning for motorhomes:

○ "Parkering forbudt" — no parking: do not park here during the day or at night.

○ "Tillatt parkering 2 t 08–20" — general rules apply at other times (often you can park at night if there are no other signs/local restrictions).

○ Signs such as "Bobil forbudt"/"No overnight parking" or local police notices clearly prohibit overnight parking. In Oslo, this applies to built-up areas.

Where to find tømmestasjon (black/grey water disposal) and how to use it

● Legal framework: According to § 26 Forurensningsloven, each municipality is obliged to provide the "necessary" facilities for draining waste water from motorhomes/boats (i.e. the availability of infrastructure is the responsibility of the local authorities, but the actual location/seasonality varies).

● Where to find them in practice:

○ Bobilplassen.no — the largest map of waste disposal sites and motorhome sites (some free, some paid).

○ NAF (Norwegian Automobile Club) aggregates information and reminds you that in large cities, overnight stays outside specially designated areas are often prohibited, so use official sites as a guide.

● What to drain and where:

○ Black water/toilet cassette — strictly only at tømmestasjon (or in a dark "chem-WC" drain at campsites/petrol stations). No "rainwater drains", manholes or "in the forest" — this is a violation. (The municipal obligation to accept waste does not mean "permission to dispose of it anywhere".)

○ Grey water (washing/showering) is often exempt in theory if it does not harm the environment, but when travelling, use official facilities at service stations/campsites — this is the right and environmentally friendly thing to do.

● In winter/off-season: some locations are closed; look for alternatives at petrol stations/campsites (they often charge a nominal fee).

Eco-friendly behaviour at parking areas (noise/light/litter)

● Distance between vehicles — keep at least 4 metres (fire safety), especially in "wild" car parks and popular places in Lofoten.

● Silence and light: observe the "night mode" and site rules (usually 23:00–07:00 at NAF campsites). Do not shine spotlights into neighbours' windows/moist areas/the fjord.

● Waste: sort and take it with you — many sites have containers, and return containers using the pant system (see our guide "Sorting and pant"). Do not leave rubbish in nature.

Important information for each destination

Lofoten and "tourist roads"

● There are strict requirements at viewpoints and beaches: respect the "No camping"/"No overnight" signs, do not form a "chain" along narrow roads, keep 4 metres between vehicles and dispose of waste only at stations. In 2025, Vegvesen will introduce pilots with strict time limits at a number of points.

Oslo

● Overnight stays on streets/squares/in parks are prohibited by political decree (§ 2-1). Use campsites/official parking areas around the city.

Bergen

● The city has its own official caravan parks (Mindemyren, Bergenshallen) and periodically opens additional ones. The general "night-time" prohibition rule adopted in 2024 was repealed by the supervisory authority in 2025; refer to municipal sites and signs on site.

How to distinguish "day/night" by signs — mini-reminder

● Look for the lower signs under the parking sign: "09–20" / "00–06", "Man–Fre", "Kun personbil", etc. Time restrictions = no parking during the specified hours (including overnight).

● Signs saying "Camping forbudt" refer to behaviour (camping), but are usually accompanied by time restrictions. Observe both.

This information is for general reference only and does not replace official rules/legal advice. Before staying overnight or draining waste, check the signs on site, municipal websites and current restrictions/pilot schemes (especially on tourist roads/Lofoten).