Overlanders and motorhome travellers love wild camping. The sense of freedom you get from pulling into a secluded spot by a lake, with the evening sun right in front of you, taking out the chairs and table, settling in comfortably and enjoying a drink before dinner. You don’t get that at an overcrowded campsite, where huge motorhomes, noisy kids and barbecue smoke surround you on all sides.
Wild camping in Norway
How to find the perfect place
The easiest way to find a nice spot is to Google it, or use an app like iOverlander or Camp4night. These apps have quite a few listings in Norway. The downside is that the spots are often occupied. Many foreign motorhome tourists use them.
It’s better to join a Facebook group such as Overlanding Norway and Overland Explorers Community where you can find tips. Many people are reluctant to say where a nice place is, but try sending a PM.
Personally, I’m very cautious about posting places on iOverlander and Camp4night. They tend to be crowded with motorhomes the next time you come back.
Map
I often use norgeskart.no which is a very detailed topographical map for finding places. An important feature of Norgeskart is that it shows road barriers. No overlander likes road barriers. Before I head out, I scrutinize the map for possibilities and take a screenshot or enter them as waypoints in the car’s navigation system. I usually look for side roads without barriers where it seems possible to get down to a lake. It is wise to have several options to choose from. The map does not always match the terrain.
The right to roam
“Everyone has the right to travel through and stay in uncultivated land in Norway. The right of public access is a free shared benefit and part of our cultural heritage. It gives you the right to use uncultivated land, regardless of who owns it.”
For more details, see: the right to roam
Driving off-road
It is not permitted to drive a car off-road in Norway. What counts as off-road can be unclear. If there are some old tyre tracks across a meadow, down to a lake, is it then allowed to drive there? Here, you need to use common sense.
The law states:
“Under Section 2, third paragraph, of the Act, a road in uncultivated land that has not been developed for driving by car is considered uncultivated land. It is irrelevant whether the road is public or private.”
Whether a road has been developed for driving by car must be determined specifically in each individual case. The decisive factor is whether the road has in fact been developed for use by ordinary cars. Tractor roads and the like therefore fall within the scope of the law, even if it is possible to drive on them in, for example, a four-wheel-drive jeep.”
Put simply, this means that you are only allowed to drive where regular cars can drive, and not on a tractor road. However, the rule of “where regular cars can drive” is also somewhat subjective, so use common sense.
See: motorized travel in uncultivated areas
In any case, be considerate. Of course, don’t leave rubbish behind. Dig a hole when you need to go to the toilet. Avoid damaging the grass with deep tyre tracks. Don’t make unnecessary noise.
Sometimes campsites are a good option. There are many small campsites where you feel like you are wild camping, and a hot shower can come in handy.
Wild camping in Europe
The rules vary greatly across Europe.
Sweden and Finland have roughly the same rules as Norway.
England – not permitted.
Germany – not permitted except in designated areas.
France – only permitted on private land with the landowner’s permission.
Spain – not actually legal, but tolerated if you are discreet. Not allowed in national parks.
Romania – permitted.
Poland — if not exactly permitted, then tolerated.
Switzerland – strictly prohibited. Heavy fines.
Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – technically prohibited, but tolerated to a certain extent. Check!
A little anecdote about wild camping in Slovakia
Be a little critical of the places suggested on, for example, iOverlander. Like the spot we found in Slovakia outside a relatively small town. It had a fantastic view, but we were very exposed. There were three of us in cars, and shortly after we had parked, a furious farmer with a dog came over and told us off because he claimed we had littered, which of course we had not. Later that evening, the police came and said we could not stay out on the grass. But fortunately, we were allowed to stay as long as we left early the next morning.
Throughout the night, cars kept arriving. They parked, stayed for half an hour, and then left again. Probably a popular spot for young couples and prostitutes. Several of us had a bad night’s sleep…
So when we wild camp our way through Europe, we always try to find a place where we’re not visible from the road. Especially in Eastern Europe, it’s easy to find places. There are vast forests, and forest roads rarely have barriers.
Use a detailed map. Read here: Navigation Apps.
Read here about driving through Europe beyond the motorways.
All about Norway: Norway
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