Norway by Scenic Road

34.1 Norway's 18 Scenic Routes

Norway's 18 National Scenic Routes are specially selected roads through landscapes of exceptional natural quality.

Together, the routes cover approximately 2,240 kilometres, from Jæren in southwestern Norway to Varanger in the far northeast. The programme combines nature, road design, architecture, art, viewpoints and rest areas.

The important idea is: the journey itself is the attraction.

A Scenic Route is not necessarily the fastest way between two cities. These roads are designed to encourage travellers to slow down, stop, photograph, walk and experience the landscape.

34.2 The 18 Routes at a Glance

Current official route information confirms these lengths and route characteristics.

34.3 Jæren — 130 km

• Route: Bore → Flekkefjord. Jæren is one of the most accessible Scenic Routes from Stavanger.
• Expect: long beaches, sand dunes, farmland, lighthouses, fishing communities, North Sea landscapes.
• Important stops include: Borestranda, Orrestranda, Kvassheim, Brusand, Ogna, Sogndalstrand, Hellestø.
• Best for: 1–2 days.

This is an excellent introduction to Norwegian road trips because it combines coastline and countryside without requiring high mountain driving.

34.4 Ryfylke — 260 km

Ryfylke connects the Stavanger region with fjords, mountains and the interior.

The official route runs between Oanes and Håra and includes two ferry crossings.

Highlights include: Lysefjord, Preikestolen region, Årdal, Hjelmeland, Jørpeland, Sauda, Røldal.

Best for: 2–3 days.

Ryfylke works particularly well when combined with Stavanger and Preikestolen.

34.5 Hardanger — 158 km

Hardanger is divided into several Scenic Route sections.

The landscape combines: fjords, waterfalls, fruit orchards, mountains, glaciers, historic villages.

Major experiences include: Steinsdalsfossen, Hardangerfjord, Lofthus, Kinsarvik, Odda, Låtefossen.

The official Scenic Route consists of four sections totalling 158 km, with two ferries.

Best for: 2–4 days.

34.6 Hardangervidda — 67 km

Eidfjord → Haugastøl. Hardangervidda crosses one of Europe's largest mountain plateaus.

The route rises from fjord country towards high mountain terrain and reaches approximately 1,250 metres above sea level.

Highlights: Vøringsfossen, Måbødalen, Hardangervidda, mountain viewpoints, high plateau landscapes.

Best for: 1–2 days.

Weather and road conditions can change rapidly at high altitude.

34.7 Aurlandsfjellet — 47 km

Aurlandsfjellet is often called the Snow Road.

It crosses a barren mountain landscape between Aurlandsvangen « Lærdalsøyri.

The highest point is approximately 1,308 metres.

The route is particularly photogenic because the landscape changes dramatically between fjord level and the high mountain plateau.

Combine with: Flåm, Aurland, Stegastein, Lærdal, Sognefjord.

34.8 Sognefjellet — 108 km

Sognefjellet is one of Norway's great mountain drives.

Lom → Gaupne. The route reaches approximately 1,434 metres, making it Norway's highest mountain-pass road.

Highlights: Lom, Jotunheimen, Sognefjellshytta, Mefjellet, Sognefjord.

Best for: 1–2 days. Always check seasonal opening before travelling.

34.9 Gaularfjellet — 114 km

Gaularfjellet is quieter than some of Norway's better-known mountain roads.

The route combines: waterfalls, rivers, forest, fjords, mountain roads.

It is particularly suitable for travellers who want scenery without concentrating entirely on the country's busiest destinations.

Best for: 1–2 days.

34.10 Valdresflye — 49 km

Valdresflye provides access to the eastern side of Jotunheimen.

The route reaches approximately 1,389 metres.

Highlights: mountain plateau, Jotunheimen views, mountain farms, Gjende, hiking access.

Combine with: Besseggen, Jotunheimen, Lom, Rondane.

34.11 Rondane — 75 km

Rondane Scenic Route travels through landscapes associated with Norway's first national park.

• The route connects: Venabygdsfjellet, Sollia, Enden, Folldal.
• Highlights include: Rondane mountains, Sohlbergplassen, Strømbu, traditional farms, hiking trails.
• Best for: 1–2 days.

Rondane is especially attractive for travellers who want mountain scenery without committing to a long expedition.

34.12 Gamle Strynefjellsvegen — 27 km

This is one of the shortest Scenic Routes but one of the most distinctive.

The historic road runs between Grotli → Videsæter. It reaches approximately 1,139 metres.

The route is characterised by: stone walls, old road engineering, mountain lakes, snow, historic roadside features.

It is best treated as a scenic detour rather than a major transport connection.

34.13 Geiranger–Trollstigen — 104 km

One of Norway's most dramatic Scenic Routes.

The official route runs between Langevatn and Sogge Bridge, with one ferry crossing.

Major highlights: Geirangerfjord, Ørnevegen, Flydalsjuvet, Dalsnibba area, Valldal, Gudbrandsjuvet, Trollstigen.

Important: Trollstigen's road access has been affected by rockfall and safety works. Check the road status immediately before your trip.

Never assume that an iconic mountain road is open simply because it appears on a map.

34.14 Atlanterhavsvegen — 36 km

The Atlantic Road is short but visually spectacular.

Kårvåg → Bud. The route crosses bridges between islands and skerries along the exposed coast.

Major viewpoints include: Storseisundbrua, Eldhusøya, Myrbærholm, Askevågen, Kjeksa, Bud.

The official Scenic Route is 36 km.

Best for: half day to 1 day. It combines particularly well with Kristiansund and Molde.

34.15 Helgelandskysten — 433 km

This is the longest of Norway's 18 Scenic Routes.

Holm → Godøystraumen. The route includes six ferry crossings.

• Major landscapes include: coastal islands, glaciers, mountains, Arctic Circle, fishing villages, beaches.
• Major attractions include: Torghatten, Vega, Seven Sisters, Svartisen, Saltstraumen.
• Recommended time: 5–7 days. Trying to complete this route quickly defeats much of the purpose.

34.16 Lofoten — 230 km

Raftsundet → Å. The Lofoten Scenic Route is approximately 230 km and includes several optional detours.

Detours include: Henningsvær, Nusfjord, Vikten, Unstad, Eggum, Uttakleiv, Grunnfør.

The main E10 route can be driven without using ferries, although ferries provide alternative connections in some places.

Recommended time: 3–5 days.

34.17 Andøya — 58 km

Bjørnskinn → Andenes. Andøya follows exposed Atlantic coastline.

Highlights: Bleik, Bleiksøya, Måtinden, Bukkekjerka, Kleivodden, Andenes, whale watching.

The route is 58 km. Andøya works particularly well with Senja + Vesterålen + Lofoten.

34.18 Senja — 102 km

The Senja Scenic Route follows the island's dramatic western side.

Gryllefjord → Botnhamn. Detours include: Mefjordvær, Husøya.

The route is 102 km.

Highlights: Bergsbotn, Tungeneset, Ersfjordstranda, Segla area, Husøy.

Best for: 2–3 days.

34.19 Havøysund — 67 km

Kokelv → Havøysund. This far-northern route passes through a stark coastal landscape.

The official route is 67 km, reaching approximately 233 metres above sea level.

Highlights: Arctic coastline, mountains, fishing communities, open ocean, Havøysund.

It can be combined with: Alta → Hammerfest → Havøysund → North Cape.

34.20 Varanger — 160 km

Varangerbotn → Hamningberg. Varanger is one of the most unusual Scenic Routes.

The landscape becomes increasingly open and Arctic as the road approaches the Barents Sea.

Highlights: Vadsø, Vardø, Ekkerøy, Hamningberg, Arctic birdlife, Sámi and Kven heritage.

The official route is 160 km.

34.21 How to Choose Your Scenic Route

Instead of asking "Which route is the best?", choose according to your travel style.

• First Norway Road Trip: consider Jæren + Ryfylke + Hardanger.
• Fjords: consider Hardanger + Aurlandsfjellet + Sognefjellet.
• Mountains: consider Valdresflye + Rondane + Sognefjellet.
• Arctic: consider Lofoten + Senja + Andøya + Varanger.
• Coastal Norway: consider Jæren + Atlanterhavsvegen + Helgelandskysten.

34.22 How Many Kilometres Should You Drive?

A common mistake is planning a Norwegian road trip according to distance alone.

A route of 150 km can take much longer than expected because of: ferries, mountain roads, photo stops, slow traffic, tunnels, weather, roadworks, viewpoints, hiking detours.

For Scenic Routes, plan experiences rather than kilometres.

34.23 The Scenic Route Rule

A useful planning rule: 100 km Scenic Route — allow approximately half day to full day. 200 km Scenic Route — allow 1–2 days. 400+ km Scenic Route — allow 3–7 days.

This is not a driving-time calculation. It is a tourism-planning guideline.

34.31 Camping and Motorhomes

Norway is well suited to motorhome travel, but responsible behaviour is essential.

Use: official campsites, designated parking areas, approved waste-dumping stations.

Do not block: passing places, private driveways, emergency access, narrow roads.

Statens vegvesen specifically advises motorhome travellers to use approved waste facilities.

34.32 Photography Strategy

Scenic Routes are designed around viewpoints and rest areas.

A useful photography routine is: drive → stop → walk → photograph → continue.

Do not stop suddenly in the road simply because you see a beautiful view. Use designated parking areas and viewpoints.

34.33 Best Time for Road Trips

May–June — excellent for waterfalls, fresh greenery, snowy mountains, longer daylight. Some high mountain roads may still have seasonal restrictions.

July–August — best for maximum road accessibility, long daylight, hiking, ferries, Northern Norway. Also the busiest period.

September — excellent for autumn colours, lower visitor numbers, photography.

October–April — best for winter landscapes, Northern Lights, snow. But road conditions become much more important.

34.34 Seven-Day Scenic Road Trip

A practical western Norway loop:

• Day 1: Stavanger → Jæren → Stavanger.
• Day 2: Stavanger → Ryfylke.
• Day 3: Ryfylke → Hardanger.
• Day 4: Hardanger → Eidfjord.
• Day 5: Eidfjord → Aurland.
• Day 6: Aurland → Sognefjellet → Lom.
• Day 7: Lom → Jotunheimen → return/continue.

This itinerary is intentionally flexible and should be adjusted according to road conditions and ferry schedules.

34.35 Ten-Day Scenic Road Trip

Days 1–2: Stavanger + Jæren. Days 3–4: Ryfylke. Days 5–6: Hardanger. Day 7: Aurlandsfjellet. Day 8: Sognefjellet. Day 9: Lom + Valdresflye. Day 10: Jotunheimen.

34.36 Fourteen-Day Scenic Road Trip

Days 1–2: Stavanger + Jæren. Days 3–4: Ryfylke. Days 5–6: Hardanger. Day 7: Aurland + Flåm. Day 8: Sognefjellet. Day 9: Jotunheimen. Day 10: Valdresflye. Day 11: Rondane. Day 12: Atlanterhavsvegen. Day 13: Geiranger region. Day 14: Return/continue.

34.37 Twenty-One-Day Grand Road Trip

For a longer Norway road adventure: Stavanger → Jæren → Ryfylke → Hardanger → Aurland → Sognefjellet → Jotunheimen → Rondane → Geiranger → Atlanterhavsvegen → Trondheim → Helgelandskysten → Bodø → Lofoten.

This is a major journey and should not be treated as a race.

The northern sections alone can justify several additional days.

34.38 Arctic Scenic Road Trip

For a northern itinerary: Days 1–3 Bodø + Helgelandskysten. Days 4–6 Lofoten. Days 7–8 Vesterålen. Days 9–10 Senja. Days 11–12 Tromsø. Days 13–14 Alta. Days 15–16 North Cape. Days 17–19 Varanger. Days 20–21 Kirkenes + Sør-Varanger.

This route combines several chapters of the guide into one long Arctic journey.

34.39 Scenic Route Budget

For a two-person road trip, create separate categories: car rental, fuel/charging, tolls, ferries, accommodation (daily × nights), food (daily × travellers), activities (per person), parking, emergency buffer (10–15%). Do not use a single "road-trip price" without accounting for ferries, tolls and accommodation.

34.41 Scenic Route Comparison Tool

For example: Jæren (130 km, coast, 1–2 days), Ryfylke (260 km, fjords/mountains, 2–3 days), Lofoten (230 km, Arctic coast, 3–5 days), Helgelandskysten (433 km, islands/glaciers, 5–7 days), Varanger (160 km, Arctic coast, 2–3 days).

The tool should present facts rather than ranking routes, allowing travellers to choose according to their interests.

34.42 The 10-Point Road Trip Checklist

Check road conditions, check mountain-road status, check ferry schedules, check weather, check fuel/charging, check accommodation, check toll arrangements, check parking, download/offline-save maps, keep an emergency time buffer.

34.43 What to Keep in the Car

Carry: driving licence, vehicle documents, phone, charging cable, power bank, water, snacks, warm jacket, rain jacket, first-aid kit, sunglasses, offline maps, phone holder, camera, emergency contact information.

In winter, carry appropriate winter equipment and follow current road regulations.

34.44 Scenic Route Photography Stops

A good road-trip photography plan includes three types of stops:

• Viewpoint — short stop, panoramic photograph.
• Rest Area — longer stop, food and photography.
• Walking Detour — 30–120 minutes for a deeper landscape experience.

This structure prevents the trip from becoming a continuous sequence of rushed roadside photographs.

34.45 Road-Trip Mistakes to Avoid

• Trying to drive too many kilometres every day. 2. Ignoring ferry schedules. 3. Assuming mountain roads are always open. 4. Booking every night without flexibility. 5. Stopping dangerously for photographs. 6. Underestimating weather. 7. Ignoring charging or fuel gaps. 8. Planning the entire journey around one viewpoint. 9. Travelling without offline navigation. 10. Treating a Scenic Route like a normal highway.

34.46 Check Before You Go

Official Scenic Route status, seasonal road openings, Trollstigen status, Sognefjellet status, Aurlandsfjellet status, Gamle Strynefjellsvegen status, Hardangervidda status, ferry schedules, roadworks, weather, mountain warnings, EV charging, accommodation, parking, toll arrangements.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration continues to add new viewpoints, rest areas and facilities along the Scenic Routes.

Use the latest official route information (nasjonaleturistveger.no) rather than an older printed map.

34.47 Official Scenic Route Resources

The official Norwegian Scenic Routes website provides: route maps, route descriptions, viewpoints, rest areas, travel information, winter information, current development projects, route brochures.

The current official site lists all 18 routes and their route information.

For road conditions, Statens vegvesen provides current traffic and road information.

34.48 Quick Reference

Number of Scenic Routes: 18. Combined official route length: approximately 2,240 km. Southern starting point: Jæren. Northernmost/eastern routes: Havøysund and Varanger. Longest route: Helgelandskysten — 433 km. Shortest route: Gamle Strynefjellsvegen — 27 km. Highest route point listed: Sognefjellet — approximately 1,434 m. Major ferry route: Helgelandskysten — 6 ferries. Best road-trip season: generally May–September. Winter: beautiful but requires significantly more planning.

34.49 Final Takeaway

Norway's Scenic Routes are not simply a list of roads. They are a way of travelling.

The experience comes from combining road + landscape + viewpoint + architecture + culture + time.

For a first road trip, western Norway provides a dense combination of fjords and mountains. For a longer adventure, central Norway adds high mountain roads and national parks. For the ultimate Arctic journey, Lofoten, Senja, Andøya, Varanger and Kirkenes create a completely different landscape.

The most important road-trip principle is simple: do not measure Norway by how many kilometres you can drive. Measure it by how much of the landscape you have time to experience.

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