Camping holidays in Norway have traditionally been a summer pleasure and the vast majority of people actually visit the camp-sites in the summer month. But many camp-sites are open in the winter, and a growing number of campers wish to camp all year round.

Caravans are now so well insulated that the cold is no longer a problem in the winter months, and many of the camp-sites which are open in the winter have heated cabins.

So you can go camping in the winter months, either in your own caravan or a rented cabin. Cabins can be rented for the number of nights you require, provided you book in advance.

Which facilities, activities, etc, the camp-sites offer in winter, vary a great deal. It is always a good idea to call the camp-site you wish to visit to ask about which facilities, activities, etc., the site offers in winter.

Driving in Winter:

• According to the Norwegian traffic regulations, vehicles must not be used unless they have sufficient road grip for the road surface. During the winter, you must drive with winter tyres with or without studs. All-year tyres can also be used.
  Use of studded tyres is allowed from 1st November to 15th April. In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark studded tyres are allowed during the period  15th October to 1st May. Studded tyres may also be used outside these periods if the weather and road surface conditions make it necessary.

• There must be a minimum of 3.0 mm tread on winter tyres.

• If studded tyres are fitted to a car weighing under 3.5 tonnes, they must be fitted to all four wheels.

• Vehicles with a permitted total weight of 3.5 tonnes or more, must carry snow chains if ice or snow is expected on the road. These snow chains must fit the vehicle's wheels.

• Those who plan to drive by car over the mountains in the winter, would be well advised to check that the mountain pass is open. Some of the high mountain roads are closed for a period during the winter, the duration depending on the weather condition.
  You can obtain this information from the Roads Information Service on telephone 175 (+47 81 54 89 91).

• When going over mountain passes there are often very long downhill stretches. To avoid that brakes overheat, drive in a low gear. This means you will not have to brake so hard, and that brakes will not heat up so quickly.
  When driving up steep slopes the car is required to work hard. Keep an eye on the car's temperaturegauge, because the car can quickly overheat.

For more information:

Statens vegvesen, Vegdirektoratet

Postboks 8142 Dep.

N-0033 Oslo

Besøksadresse: Brynsengfaret 6A, 0667 Oslo

Telefon   : (+47) 22 07 35 00

Telefaks : (+47) 22 07 37 68

Internett : www.vegvesen.no

E-post: firmapost@vegvesen.no

and

NAF

Postboks 6682 Etterstad

0609 Oslo

Besøksadresse: Østensjøveien 14

Telefon   : (+47) 22 34 14 00

Telefaks : (+47) 22 33 13 72

Internett : www.naf.no

E-post: medlemsservice@naf.no

Useful links:

• Falck Norge AS

• Norges Automobilforbund (NAF)

• Statens Vegvesen

• Veg- og Trafikkinformasjon fra Statens Vegvesen

• Viking Redningstjeneste

• Norwegian Tourist Board