Southern Norway: The Ultimate Campervan Road Trip Guide
We often get asked what to see in Southern Norway, which routes to take from Oslo to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), or where to head for a relaxed Wohnmobil-Roadtrip exploring the country’s best-kept secrets. While many travellers rush north, Sørlandet and the inland valleys offer a concentration of natural diversity unlike anywhere else. It’s time to skip the social media hype around Lofoten and uncover the authentic hidden gems of Norway in the south instead.
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Telemark Region
Telemark is often called “Norway in miniature.” While it may lack the country’s famous fjords, the region more than makes up for it with deep valleys, enigmatic lakes, a rugged coastline, and wild mountain landscapes that inspire awe.
If you’re looking for Norway’s hidden gems—places still under the radar—or dreaming of a slow, peaceful campervan road trip, Telemark should be at the top of your list.
Outdoor Highlights
Telemark Canal, Hamaren Activity Park, Dalen, Giants Kettle, Gaustatoppen
Historical highlights
Heddal Stave Church, Rjukan Hydropower Museum
Top 3 saunas
Soria Moria, Gaustablikk, Outdoorsauna Eggedal
The Giants’ Kettles (Jettegrytene) in Nissedal
Summer in Telemark can get surprisingly hot, making Jettegrytenne (the Giant’s Kettle) in Nissedal the perfect escape for those living in Southern Norway.
This natural water park invites you to slide down smooth, polished rock slabs, leap into deep potholes, and swim in crystal-clear pools—fun for the whole family. Remember to bring plenty of drinking water and food.
🚐 Campervan Tip: You can spend the night nearby following Norway’s wild camping rules.
Hamaren Activity Park - The Architecture of the Trees
🌲 Dreaming of walking in the treetops? Hamaren Activity Park, located in Fyresdal—uniquely designed by the Danish architectural studio EFFEKT—offers an experience accessible to everyone. It’s a masterclass in blending modern design with intact Norwegian nature.
Pack some snacks and set off on a 3.5 km stroll, surrounded by pristine Norwegian nature every step of the way. Start from the rocky seacoast and make your way up high to the tree-tops.
The Historic Telemark Canal
The Telemark Canal, a 105 km waterway, connects Skien to Dalen, lifting boats 72 meters through 18 historic lock chambers.
Even if you aren’t cruising, parking your van near the locks to watch the manual operation is a fascinating (and free!) afternoon activity.
🛥️ The best locks: The biggest lock is in Vrangfoss, where five consecutive locks raise vessels an astonishing 27 metres. Lunde Locks feature a restaurant, Lunde Slusekro, where you can watch the canal operation while enjoying your meal.
Soria Moria Sauna in Dalen
As true sauna enthusiasts, we highly recommend booking a session at the municipally run Soria Moria Sauna. Beautifully set on the shores of Lake Bandak, its design reflects the shapes and rhythms of the surrounding landscape.
While you’re in the area, don’t miss a visit to Rui Farm, where you can learn the moving story of the two sisters who devoted their lives to the land.
♨️ For more saunas, check our list of Die 10 besten Saunen in Norwegen.
Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum
The Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum is an industrial museum located in the Vemork hydro-power station at Rjukan, Norway.
During the Second World War, Vemork became the scene of one of the war’s most important acts of sabotage, as Norwegian resistance fighters prevented Nazi Germany from developing nuclear weapons by targeting the heavy water produced at the site.
Let the interactive exhibition in this museum draw you into the exciting history.
👉 Tip: Watch The Heavy Water War series on Netflix
Gaustatoppen: The 360-Degree View
Telemark’s iconic and highest mountain, Gaustatoppen, rises 1,883 meters above sea level. On a clear day, you can see one-sixth of Norway.
It attracts hikers and non-hikers alike, offering 360 degree view from the top, enhanced by a fresh waffle from the tourist cabin.
🛤️ The “Secret” Lift: If you aren’t up for the hike, take the Gaustabanen—a unique railway hidden inside the mountain, originally built for military purposes.
♨️ A session in the hot sauna, lying on lake Kvitåvatn (Gaustablikk Mountain Resort), can be a nice way to finish your active day.
Heddal Stave Church
Heddal Stave Church, the largest of Norway’s 28 well-preserved stave churches, dates back to the 13th century. Walk around the church and admire its remarkable wooden craftsmanship.
🛖 Just a few minutes’ walk away, you’ll find Heddal Bygdetun, a traditional open-air museum showcasing life long before Norway discovered oil.
Lysefjorden
The Lysefjord is home to icons like Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) Und Kjerag, but most tourists miss the best parts because they stay on the main trails. As a campervan traveller, you have the freedom to see the “other” Lysefjord.
We’re stepping off the beaten path. Rather than re-treading the same granite trails as the crowds, we’re going deeper. From abandoned industrial hamlets to the world’s longest wooden staircase, here are the hidden gems of the Lysefjord that the tour buses usually miss.
💡 Navigating the winding roads along the fjords is an experience in itself, but it does require some local knowledge—be sure to read our essential guide to driving in Norway to master the narrow roads, tunnels, ferries, and mountain passes like a pro.
Outdoor Highlights
Kjerag, Pulpit Rock, Lysevegen, ferry, Flørli 4444, DNT Nye Skåpet
Top 3 saunas
Sirdal Helga Sauna, Lysefjorden Sauna, DNT Nye Skåpet
Road Fv4224 - Lysevegen
For you, driving a campervan from the Telemark region, the road Fv4224 becomes especially scenic in several places.
While the dramatic 27 hairpin bends descending toward the fjord are the most famous stretch, the rest of the route winds through largely untouched nature, making it particularly special just after it reopens in May (perhaps the best time to visit Norway).
Closed and left uncleared throughout winter, the road reveals towering snowbanks once reopened — driving between towering 3-meter snow walls in late spring is a surreal experience for most travellers.
✅ The official road reopening date and time can be found on Vegvessen, road administration.
The Lysebotn–Forsand Ferry: A "Secret" Cruise
Don’t drive all the way around! Use the ferry as a shortcut. It’s essentially a 2-hour fjord cruise for a fraction of the price of a tourist boat. You’ll see the Hengjanefossen waterfall dropping 400 metres down from the plateau and the massive cliff faces from the best perspective: the water. Try to spot 4444 wooden stairs leading up the mountain in Flørli.
✅ Secure your campervan spot weeks in advance during July/August!
🎬 Tip: Preikestolen at the Lysefjord was used as a key filming location for one of the most important action scenes in Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Flørli 4444: The World’s Longest Wooden Staircase
Flørli is a tiny roadless village, a perfect place to relax in the middle of Lysefjord. Its 4444 steps leading right up the mountain – the longest wooden stairway in the world– is the main attraction that brings the village back to life during summer.
👣 Getting off the ferry at Flørli is only possible as a pedestrian, without a car.
DNT Nye Skåpet - modern mountain cabin
Speaking of hidden gems, if you want to turn the Flørli hike into an unforgettable experience, continue on to the mountain cabin Nye Skåpet. From Flørli harbour, the hike to this unique accommodation takes around four hours.
This DNT (Norwegian Tourist Association) cabin can also be reached from Forsand by campervan, followed by an easy 1.5-hour walk. Make sure to book your stay enhanced by a sauna session on the DNT website.
The South Coast (Sørlandet)
After the mountains of Telemark and dramatic sights of Lysefjord, head to the “Norwegian Riviera.” This stretch is famous for its wide surfing beaches, white-painted wooden towns, smooth coastal rocks, and the most iconic lighthouse in the country.
Outdoor Highlights
Borestranda, Jæren Scenic Route, Kolbolten hike, Rail Biking Flekkefjordbanen
Historical highlights
Sverd i Fjell, Helleren i Jøssingfjorden, Lindesnes Lighthouse, Arendal, Risør, Kragerø
Top 3 saunas
Skogsbad Høyåsen, Farsund Badehus og Sauna, Blaud Mandal
Sverd i Fjell: A Monument to Viking History
Before you reach the heart of Stavanger, stop at Møllebukta to see the three massive bronze swords, Sverd i Fjell, planted in the rock.
⚔️ History: They commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, where King Harald Fairhair united Norway into one kingdom. It’s a powerful, free landmark with easy parking for campervans.
National Scenic Route Jæren
Der Jæren Scenic Route isn’t about hairpin bends and towering fjords — it’s about open skies, rolling farmland, numerous lighthouses, windswept dunes, and beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Take the small side roads, pause in idyllic Sogndalsstranda, and let the salty air and vast views remind you what freedom in a campervan feels like.
Surfing at Borestranda
With its white sand and consistent swells, Borestranda is a world-class surfing destination. It looks more like the Caribbean than Norway—until you feel the refreshing water temperature.
🪺 This is a nature reserve where many bird species lay their eggs. Flying a drone is therefore forbidden.
Helleren in Jøssingfjord
Discover two iconic 19th-century houses tucked beneath a massive rock overhang. Because of the natural shelter, they’ve stayed dry without a roof for over 100 years!
👀 Kolbolten Hike: Looking for a “mini-Kjerag”? Start hiking from Helleren to a massive boulder wedged in a mountain crevice. A hidden gem hike with far fewer crowds.
Rail Biking: Flekkefjordbanen
Swap your steering wheel for a draisine (rail bike) for a few hours! Pedal a 17km stretch of decommissioned railway through 17 hand-carved tunnels. It’s an easy, family-friendly way to see the Flekkefjord landscape from a perspective that cars can’t reach.
Lindesnes Lighthouse: Norway’s Southernmost point
Drive to the southernmost tip of mainland Norway to experience the raw power of the North Sea – a great alternative to the northernmost tip of Norway, Nordkapp.
Lindesnes Fyr is the oldest lighthouse in Norway. It is a premier sunset spot for campervans, offering panoramic views where the Skagerrak meets the North Sea.
💡 Many adventurers begin their Norge på langs journey, setting out from Norway’s southernmost point to walk, run or bike the entire length of the country northward to North Cape, approximately 2,500–3,000 kilometres.
🍴 Under: Located nearby in Båly, this is Europe’s first underwater restaurant. Even if you aren’t dining, the sight of the concrete structure “sinking” into the icy waters is a must-see architectural marvel.
The White-washed Coastal Villages: Norway’s Most Charming
Sørlandet is dotted with historic seaside villages. For locals, Norwegian Riviera, for campervan travellers, these are perfect spots to park near the harbour and explore on foot.
Sogndalstrand: This is one of Norway’s only villages where the entire town is culturally protected. Famous for fantastic salmon fishing possibilities and its white wooden houses from the 1700s and 1800s.
Grimstad: Immerse yourself in wooden architecture and literary history; Grimstad is where the famous playwright Henrik Ibsen spent his formative years.
♨️ Before arriving in Arendal, take a relaxing break in a fairy-tale sauna, Skogsbad Høyåsen.
Arendal: Take a glass lift from the city centre to Fløyheia for the best view of this charming town.
Kragerø & Risør: Often called the “pearls of the coast,” these towns are famous artist hubs. Wander through narrow alleys and enjoy the vibrant, salty atmosphere of the harbors.
Summary: Your Southern Norway Route
You’ll need at least 10 days to cover the highlights of each region (Telemark, Lysefjord and the South coast). Here is a recommendation on how to divide your trip:
Day 1-4: Telemark
Day 4-7: Lysefjord
Day 7-10: South Coast
Ready to Explore the Hidden Side of Norway?
The best way to experience the “hidden gems” of the south is with the total freedom of a home on wheels. No hotel check-ins, no rigid schedules—just you, the open road, and the next stunning fjord view.
