Camping in Norway: Experience Culture and Nature Together

Known for its sparkling fjords, majestic mountain ranges, and expansive forests, Norway’s awe-inspiring landscape beckons to nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. For me, it was love at first sight on my initial visit more than a decade ago. While the natural beauty lured me, the culture of this magical land enticed me even more.

The Freedom to Roam

In the 1850s, Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen described the value of spending time in nature for spiritual and physical well-being as friluftsliv (pronounced free-lofts-live), which translates as free air life.

The 1957 Outdoor Recreation Act provides residents of all Scandinavian countries with the freedom to roam—a concept that dovetails nicely with the concept of friluftsliv. This right to roam, known as allemannsretten, comes with simple rules: respect nature, wildlife, and inhabitants, and leave no trace.

Want to park a campervan, pitch a tent, or sleep under the stars? Go for it; just make sure you keep at least 500 feet away from the nearest inhabited building. If you want to spend a second night, seek permission from the landowner. This brilliant legislative act affords everyone an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without disturbing others or impacting the environment and encourages the exploration of Norway’s vast wilderness areas, allowing for camping, hiking, and berry picking. It really is that simple.

Norway’s Camping Culture

Deeply rooted in Norway’s culture, camping is a favorite pastime of many Norwegians. The Scandinavian right to public access law allows adventurers to camp almost anywhere in the country, including in national parks, as long as the aforementioned rules are observed. These sensible guidelines reflect Norway’s commitment to sustainable outdoor living by encouraging exploration of the vast outdoor landscape while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.

Embracing Friluftsliv

Embracing the friluftsliv culture along with the right to roam, my husband, Greg and I recently chose Norway for our first international camping adventure. Camping comes in many forms in Norway. From adventure-seekers who prefer to sleep under a blanket of stars to campers who prefer the comforts of an RV and everything in between.

Desiring some creature comforts without the burden of navigating a large RV, we chose a campervan from roadsurfer. Compact, comfortable, and stocked with the amenities we enjoy, the roadsurfer provided us with a home away from home as we ventured through one of our favorite places on earth.

After an overnight flight from New York to Oslo, we spent our first night in an airport hotel. Fully rested and ready to camp, we picked up our roadsurfer van the next morning and embarked on our adventure.

Picking up our campervan at roadsurfer was simple and seamless. An employee introduced us to our campervan, explaining all of its many features. We had plenty of storage space, a mini kitchen with gas burners, a small-sized refrigerator, and a small bathroom with a hose for showering. A double bed at the back provided lodging for two. There was also lodging space in a pop-up space if needed.

What I enjoy most about a campervan from roadsurfer is the ease of handling on the road. It’s just the right size to maneuver around twisting, turning guardrail-free roads without fear. Of course, I prefer to let Greg do the driving while I snap photos every five seconds along the route!

Where to Camp in Norway

Norway boasts numerous camping options. For budget-conscious campers, wild camping is an excellent choice. Thanks to the previously mentioned 1957 Outdoor Recreation Act, campers can pitch a tent, camp in the car, or park a campervan or RV anywhere as long as the rules are observed. Note: To avoid harming the forest, don’t camp in a young or regenerating forest.

For those seeking more amenities, many campgrounds have facilities like showers, toilets, and electricity. Some also offer cabins for rent. For our adventure, we chose a variety of campgrounds, from farms to oceanside campgrounds to an urban hotel campsite. Each experience brought a unique perspective to camping in Norway.

The Experience of Camping in Norway

Our initial camping experience in Norway yielded memories to last a lifetime. Leaving Oslo behind we ventured into the mountains to Gol, Norway. We spent our first night at Tubbenhaugen campground. Opened in 1954, this quiet family-owned campground not only affords beautiful views of the surrounding mountains but also the opportunity for donkey walks with one of the four-legged family members. Norwegian history comes to life nearby in the town of Gol where we viewed our first stave church—a traditional Norwegian architectural style.

Further along in our journey, we camped in the Trolltunga Campground, located between the national parks of Hardangervidda and Folgefonna. Situated in the town of Odda, the campground’s surrounding natural landscape included a peaceful lake, snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, and a glacier just a few miles from the campsite.

We discovered another favorite camping spot along the shoreline of the Norwegian Sea in Bud, Norway. Bud Camping featured great pitches for caravans, most with their own wooden platform, and plentiful amenities. As avid hikers, we were especially impressed with the trails alongside the sea where waves continuously crashed over the rocks.

Camping in the off-season brought us the peaceful experience we hoped for as we immersed ourselves in Norway’s cultural treasures.

About roadsurfer

For our adventure, we chose to rent from German-based roadsurfer—a company started by a group of childhood friends with a passion for camping. Their goal was to make the process of renting a campervan seamless and simple, and they succeeded. Europe has benefited from the roadsurfer experience since 2016. The company recently expanded to western destinations in the United States and Canada. Norway locations include Oslo and Bergen.

Is Norway’s Camping Culture on Your List for 2025?

Spending time in nature yields numerous benefits. It improves our cognitive function, our mood, and our emotional well-being. Norway’s camping culture and free-to-roam mindset make it an ideal place to experience these benefits, surrounded by an undeniably grand landscape. I highly recommend adding this experience to your 2025 travels!

 

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