Tromsø to Lofoten by Campervan: 5-Day Road Trip

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Small blue fishing boat on a calm fjord below green, jagged mountains in Lofoten — Summer in Lofoten: green peaks, calm water and not a crowd in sight.

Is a Campervan in Norway Really Worth It?

Short answer: Absolutely!

If you enjoy the outdoors, cool and mild summer temps, and 24/7 daylight, then you must put Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands on your bucket list. And the best way to see them? You have to drive.

Trip at a Glance

Length: 5 days on the road
Route: Tromsø to Å, at the very end of the E10 in Lofoten
Wheels: A campervan from Indie Campers, picked up just outside Tromsø
Season: Summer, under the midnight sun
Navigation: Google Maps, plus the Campio and Park4Night apps for campgrounds

Tromsø: The Arctic Gateway

We flew into Tromsø, Norway, well above the Arctic Circle. Tromsø has a population of about 80,000 people, it’s a nature lover’s paradise, and it is quite literally the gateway to the Arctic. There’s an abundance of wildlife, cultural events, excursions, nightlife and shopping, plus either the midnight sun or the northern lights, depending on when you visit.

Colorful stained-glass arch on the Tromsø waterfront under a cloudy sky — Welcome to Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic.

Our visit was in summer, so we enjoyed the midnight sun and really leaned into that midnight daylight, which looked almost like 12 noon. For a truly unforgettable moment, try waking up around 3:30 to 4:00 a.m. to experience the stillness. For a small moment, the clouds lift, the light hits the mountains, and the water turns to glass.

Quick tip: Set up an eSIM before you land so your phone works as your GPS and campground guide from the moment you arrive. I use Airalo for this: they have Norway eSIMs you can install at home and switch on when you land. Just make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible first.

Where to Stay in Tromsø (Near the Historic Downtown)

We spent the night at the lovely Scandic Ishavshotel downtown. Here are three great places to stay near the historic center:

Scandic Ishavshotel: where we stayed, right on the waterfront downtown
Radisson Blu Hotel, Tromsø
Clarion Hotel The Edge

Entrance of the Scandic Ishavshotel in downtown Tromsø — Scandic Ishavshotel, right on the waterfront.

Hotel room at the Scandic Ishavshotel with a window view of the water and mountains — A room with a view of the fjord and mountains.

Want more options? Browse more stays in Tromsø’s city center, or use the map below.

Highlights of Historic Downtown Tromsø

After a full night’s sleep, we took a wonderful walk around Tromsø’s historic center, visiting Tromsø Cathedral and the famous Storgata with its lovely shops and cafés. Don’t miss:

Tromsø Cathedral: not to be confused with the Arctic Cathedral (Tromsdalen Church) across the bridge.
Storgata: the pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, museums, restaurants and bars.
The Polar Museum and the Troll Museum: both are right downtown. We ran out of time on this trip, so they’re at the top of my list for next time!

Bronze statue in front of a church spire in downtown Tromsø — Strolling through historic downtown Tromsø.

3 Great Tromsø Coffee Shops

Risø mat & kaffebar
Tøllefsenhjørnet
Wi-To Café & Bar: a historic spot in the city center

Want a guided adventure? Browse Tromsø summer tours on GetYourGuide, from midnight sun cruises to fjord and boat trips.

Picking Up the Campervan

After our stroll, we grabbed a taxi and headed about 15 minutes out of town to pick up our camper van from Indie Campers. After check-in, a thorough overview of the van, and a quick stop at the Extra grocery store for supplies, we were ready to roll! We set off on an incredible drive spread over five days, with views that quite literally take your breath away.

Rushing green river beside a sunny birch forest in northern Norway — On the road: rushing rivers and birch forest under blue skies.

Purple lupines blooming along a roadside in northern Norway — Summer lupines lined the roadsides.

Campervan Companies in Tromsø

Indie Campers
Arctic Campers
Norway Campers

All three offer clean, modern camper vans and motorhomes in a variety of sizes and amenity levels. I’d already rented from Indie Campers in Iceland, and we got a great price by booking early, so choosing them for this adventure was a no-brainer.

Where Is Lofoten? And What Is There to Do?

Lofoten is an archipelago off the coast of Nordland in northern Norway, well above the Arctic Circle. Its main islands include Austvågøya, Vestvågøya, Flakstadøya and Moskenesøya, with the tiny outer islands of Værøy and Røst beyond. The E10 runs through the islands and ends at the village of Å, and the stretch between Raftsundet and Å is one of Norway’s National Tourist Routes. In Lofoten, the midnight sun season runs from roughly late May to mid-July.

Here’s the funny part: we didn’t do a tremendous amount of research while planning this epic road trip. We booked our camper van about eight months out (for a deal), had a general idea of where we wanted to go (to the end!), and used our phones as a GPS and campground guide.

Good to Know Before You Go

Norway has free-range camping, but if you need services (showers, food, electricity), it really helps to know where those spots are along the way. And don’t let the map fool you: Tromsø to Å is only about 190 miles as the crow flies, but it’s roughly 545 km (about 340 miles) by road, which works out to around 8 hours of pure driving time as you wind up and down the fjords.

We used Google Maps for directions and the Campio and Park4Night apps for campground locations and reviews (in some cases, you can even book the night right in the app).

Lofoten was not overly crowded. We never had a problem getting a spot, and the campgrounds were never full. We appreciated the amenities and services, along with the incredible views.

Sights to See Along the Way

Here are the stops worth making as you work your way west along the E10:

Uttakleiv Beach
Lofotr Viking Museum: at Borg, right on the E10, and an easy stop to add to your route
Mortsund: a peaceful harbor with red fishermen’s cabins
Nusfjord: a beautifully preserved fishing village
Skagsanden Beach: golden sand and glass-like reflections
Hamnøy and Reine, plus the Reinebringen hike if the weather is on your side
Sørvågen
Å: the end of the road (literally)

Old red wooden building with a wooden ramp on a grassy hillside in Lofoten — Old red wooden buildings like this one dot the route.

Hamnøy, Reine and the End of the Road at Å

Our route took us all the way to Å, at the very end of the E10, out near the famous Hamnøy and Reine area. It’s quaint and absolutely pristine, but please use prudence, patience and caution: these very small villages aren’t equipped for an influx of tourism. Parking lots are minimal and fill up with camper vans and rental cars. The best views are on foot, so there’s a lot of pedestrian traffic, and the compact roads have very little shoulder.

Red wooden buildings, an old wooden boat and a picnic table in Å, Lofoten, beneath a mountain — Å: literally the end of the road.

Gravel path between red cabins with blue trim in Å, Lofoten, with a mountain behind — Wandering the paths of Å.

Harbor of red rorbuer and a wooden dock beneath a green mountain in Å, Lofoten — The harbor at Å.

Red rorbuer on stilts beside a seaside walkway in Å, Lofoten — Rorbuer on stilts along the water in Å.

The famous Reinebringen hike, with its view over Reine, was on our list, but the weather just wasn’t on our side. It’s at the top of my list for next time!

Red fishermen's cabins in Hamnøy, Lofoten, beneath a towering granite peak — The classic Hamnøy view.

Boats in Reine harbor surrounded by steep mountain peaks, Lofoten — Reine, a village straight out of a postcard.

Sightseeing options can be found at GetYourGuide:

Browse Lofoten tours on GetYourGuide (kayaking, boat trips and guided hikes).

Lofoten Campgrounds and Our Favorite

Campgrounds ranged in price from about NOK 350–600 (roughly $35–60) per night for spaces with electrical hookups.

Our very favorite campground was Skårungen in Kabelvåg. It had the most amazing views, lovely amenities, and the cleanest facilities of anywhere we stayed. It also has an onsite restaurant and spa. And if you’d like a night off from the van, you can rent an authentic fisherman’s cabin (rorbu) right on the water. Check rates and availability at Skårungen.

Red rorbuer on stilts on both sides of a narrow channel under stormy skies in Lofoten — Rorbuer lining the water, many of which you can book for the night.

Wrapping Up the Trip

Sadly, an unexpected injury cut our trip a little short, but we did manage to see almost everything we had planned.

Village of red rorbuer on stilts with houses on a hill under an overcast sky in Lofoten — A moody last look at Lofoten’s red rorbuer.

The van return was easy, and the Moxy Tromsø by the airport was great. Tromsø has a smaller airport, so for our 6 a.m. departure we could arrive at 4:30 a.m.

Pro Tips

Packing

A campervan doesn’t really have room to open up a clamshell-style suitcase. A soft-sided rolling duffel or a backpack will be far better for getting to your things. This is an organizational nerd’s dream trip: put everything in plastic resealable bags so it’s easy to grab in the shared spaces.

Amazon Basics 35-inch rolling duffel (soft-sided, so it squishes into a campervan)
BAGSMART compression packing cubes
Vacbird travel vacuum bags with rechargeable pump (resealable and see-through, so you can find things fast)

What I’d Splurge On

If I could add one treat to this trip, it would be a night in a waterfront rorbu, one of those traditional fishermen’s cabins sitting right on the water. After a few nights in the van, a real bed, a hot shower and that view would feel like pure luxury. Find rorbu stays around Reine and Hamnøy.

Close-up of a red rorbu on stilts with blue trim above the water in Lofoten — A night in one of these is my dream splurge.

Red cabin with a grass roof under storm clouds and snowy peaks in Lofoten — Cozy cabin weather.

Or, if the weather permits, a midnight sun kayak tour on the Reinefjord, to see Hamnøy and Reine from the water. Browse tours around Reine, including kayaking, on GetYourGuide.

Don’t Forget: Travel Insurance

Our trip was a great reminder that the unexpected happens, so don’t skip travel insurance. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is one option built for travelers, and you can get a quote in a few minutes.

Biggest Surprise

How uncrowded it was for the summer season! It’s so far north that even many Norwegians don’t venture up this far. We met people from all over Europe, many of whom come back to Lofoten year after year. Unlike Alaska or Iceland, with their long lines and bookings made a year ahead, Tromsø and Lofoten were refreshingly free of the heavy summer tourism you see elsewhere.

Another road trip I loved: Springtime in Alaska: A 7-Day Road Trip from Anchorage to Denali

Final Thoughts

Northern Norway was phenomenal, and I hope to return. The beauty is untouched, and I hope over-tourism never spoils this perfect enclave of nature and small villages.

xo, Jennifer

Tromsø to Lofoten by Campervan: A 5-Day Midnight Sun Road Trip