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The road conditions in Northern Norway are pretty unique and are often very different to the rest of Norway. There are quite long distances between towns and cities in the north, with many small roads often following the fjords along the coast.
The best source of information for the roads and road conditions is through The Norwegian Public Roads Administration's website.
You can also call for an English language version on the following:
From a Norwegian phone: 175
From an international phone: +47 815 48 991
Driving on winter roads
Driving on your own in the winter in search of the Northern Lights has become a more popular way of Northern Lights hunting. In the North of Norway, all cars must have winter tyres fitted from 15 October until 1 May. You always need to drive in accordance with the conditions as the weather and road conditions can change very quickly here.
Tips:
- Keep distances between vehicles a little longer than on clear roads.
- Take corners a little slower.
- Break softer and a little earlier.
- It’s good to have some winter clothing available in the car.
- It’s good to have a small shovel with you in case you get stuck in a snow drift.
- Always check the weather forecast before you drive
Driving in summer
Summer driving is fine here. In early summer (May and early June) some snow showers can still occur on the mountain passes. These usually melt within a few hours but you should be prepared to wait it out. In some areas, there can be a good deal of summer traffic with camper vans and caravans. The roads in the north tend to be quite narrow. Be prepared to share them with pedestrians, cyclists and sometimes animals like reindeer and sheep. Remember to calculate enough driving time. The roads in the north are usually narrow and winding following the fjords, so be sure to make any bypasses on clear routes. Please be patient!
Tips:
- Be careful driving into tunnels on hot sunny days. Reindeer often go into the tunnel entrances to find a cool spot to relax.
- We have 24-hours of daylight in the north from late May until late July. Due to the light people tend to keep driving for longer than normal. Make sure that you rest enough, take breaks and stop to sleep if you are tired.
- When driving off the main roads, drive carefully as after the spring melt there may be some road surface damage that can damage your car.
