Where To Stay In Norway For A Road Trip: Best Bases And Overnight Stops

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Where to stay in Norway depends less on finding the prettiest hotel and more on making sure your route actually works.

Norway is huge, the driving days can be long, and a badly placed overnight stop can turn a scenic road trip into a tiring one.

For a Norway road trip, we would choose accommodation based on route flow, parking, location, kitchen facilities and what you want to do the next morning.

That might mean staying centrally in Oslo, Bergen or Stavanger so you can explore without using the car.

It might mean choosing a practical fjord base near Flåm, Geiranger, Loen or Olden so you are not adding extra driving at the start or end of the day.

And sometimes, it means booking somewhere simple because it breaks up the route perfectly.

We spent 3 weeks road tripping through Norway, staying in cities, fjord areas, apartments, hotels and practical overnight stops.

For some of the bigger city stops, we have separate accommodation guides too, because choosing where to stay in Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund or Trondheim with a car needs a little more thought.

Below, we explain the main places we would consider staying in Norway for a road trip, what each base works best for, and how to avoid awkward overnight stops that make the next day harder than it needs to be.

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Quick Answer: Where Should You Stay In Norway?

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What To Look For When Choosing Accommodation In Norway

Choosing where to stay in Norway is not just about picking the nicest-looking place.

On a road trip, your accommodation can change how the whole day feels.

Before booking, we would think about these 5 things.

Route Flow

Start with the route, then choose accommodation around it.

A stay might look perfect on its own, but if it adds an awkward detour or leaves you with a very long drive the next morning, it may not be the best choice.

For us, the best Norway road trip stays were the ones that made the next day easier.

That is why turning a dream Norway trip into a workable plan needs to happen before you start booking random hotels simply because they look appealing.

Once the main route is clear, you can choose overnight stops that break up the driving sensibly and place you near whatever you want to do the next morning.

If your route includes any of the Norwegian Scenic Routes, check the official route pages before booking accommodation so you can see how the driving sections fit together.

Parking

Parking matters more than you might expect, especially in cities and smaller fjord villages.

In Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger, we would either stay somewhere central and leave the car parked, or choose accommodation with clear parking nearby.

In smaller places, check whether parking is included, paid, limited or a short walk away.

It also helps to understand what to expect from parking and road charges in Norway, because several smaller daily charges can make a seemingly cheaper stay less good value.

We would check the accommodation listing carefully and contact the property when the parking arrangements were unclear.

Location

In cities, location is usually about walking and public transport.

In fjord and mountain areas, location is more about road access and what you want to do first the next morning.

For example, staying near Flåm, Aurland or Lærdal can make a fjord cruise, Stegastein viewpoint or onward scenic drive much easier.

Kitchen Facilities

Norway can be expensive for eating out, especially on a longer road trip.

We found it useful to mix hotels with apartments or self-catering stays, so we could make simple breakfasts, pack snacks and cook the occasional evening meal.

You do not need a kitchen every night, but having one in the right place can make the trip feel easier.

It can also help balance how pricey accommodation and driving are in Norway, particularly when you are travelling for 2 or 3 weeks and paying for several overnight stops.

We would prioritise kitchen facilities on longer stays, after expensive city stops or in places where there were limited choices for eating out.

Check-In Times

Some road trip days can stretch longer than expected.

Ferries, roadworks, weather, viewpoints and supermarket stops all add time.

Before booking small guesthouses, apartments or remote stays, check the latest check-in time and whether self check-in is available.

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Best Places To Stay In Norway For A Road Trip

The best places to stay in Norway will depend on your route, but these are the bases we would consider for a first road trip.

Some are places to explore properly. Others are practical overnight stops that help the route work.

Place/Base	Best For	Suggested Nights	Road Trip Note
Oslo	Arrival, departure and city sightseeing	1-3	Best at the start or end of a road trip. Stay central and avoid using the car for sightseeing.
Stavanger	Lysefjord, Preikestolen and southern fjord routes	1-2	A useful base before heading north towards Hardanger or Bergen.
Hardanger / Odda / Tyssedal	Waterfalls, fjord roads and breaking up the route	1	Works well as a practical overnight stop between Stavanger and Bergen.
Bergen	Bryggen, Mount Fløyen and western Norway	1-3	A strong city base for fjord routes. Stay central or near easy public transport.
Flåm / Aurland / Lærdal	Fjord cruises, Flåm Railway, Stegastein and route flow	1-2	Best for classic fjord scenery and breaking up the journey towards Geiranger or Loen.
Loen / Olden	Briksdalsbreen, Lovatnet, Loen Skylift and glaciers	1-2	A great base for glacier and fjord scenery, but allow enough time because it is not quick to reach.
Geiranger	Geirangerfjord, viewpoints and the scenic ferry	1-2	Book early in summer. It is worth staying overnight rather than treating it as a rushed stop.
Ålesund	Art Nouveau streets, islands and routes further north	1-2	Best for longer road trips or routes continuing towards the Atlantic Ocean Road.
Trondheim	Longer Norway routes and a northern city stop	1-2	Worth adding on a 3-week route, but not essential for a first short itinerary.
Lillehammer / Otta / Gudbrandsdalen	Breaking up the return drive to Oslo	1	Choose this for route flow rather than as a major sightseeing base.

Below, we explain how each base fits into a Norway road trip and when it makes sense to stay there.

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City Accommodation Guides For Norway Road Trippers

City stays in Norway need slightly different thinking from fjord or mountain stops.

In places such as Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund and Trondheim, the best area is not always the one with the cheapest room. You also need to think about parking, whether you can leave the car behind, how easy it is to walk to the main sights, and whether public transport makes staying slightly outside the centre worthwhile.

We have written separate guides for the main Norway city stops we used on our route:

• Where To Stay In Stavanger if you are deciding between the harbour, city centre or a more practical base with a car.
• Where To Stay In Bergen if you are weighing up Bryggen, the city centre, tram access and parking.
• Where To Stay In Ålesund if you want a short road-trip stay where walkability and parking both matter.
• Where To Stay In Trondheim if you are deciding whether to stay central or slightly outside the centre with transport links.

We would still use this post to choose the main overnight stops, then use the individual city guides when you are ready to book specific areas.

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Oslo

Oslo works best as the start or end point for a Norway road trip.

We would stay here for arrival, departure and city sightseeing, rather than using it as a base for the fjords. The best fjord scenery is much further west, so once you are ready for the road trip part, it makes sense to move on.

For a first visit, we would stay centrally, near Oslo Central Station, Bjørvika or somewhere with easy public transport.

That makes it easier to explore the main sights and experiences in Oslo without needing to use the car.

We stayed in an apartment-style stay in Oslo, which worked well because we could walk to plenty of sights, use public transport and avoid dealing with city parking.

We will add a separate Oslo accommodation guide once it is written, as the best choice depends heavily on whether you are arriving by train, flying in, or collecting a rental car after your city stay.

For most Norway road trips, we would collect the rental car on the day you leave Oslo rather than paying for parking while you are sightseeing.

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Stavanger

Stavanger is a useful base if your Norway road trip includes Lysefjord, Preikestolen or the scenic route north towards Hardanger.

It works especially well for the early part of a road trip if you are travelling between southern Norway and the fjord region.

If you want to take a Lysefjord cruise, staying close to Stavanger harbour makes the day much easier.

If you want to hike Preikestolen, you can stay in Stavanger and drive to the trailhead, or choose accommodation closer to the hike if you want an earlier start.

We stayed outside the centre of Stavanger, which worked for us because we had a car and were using it as a practical base.

But if your focus is Stavanger sightseeing or a fjord cruise, we would usually choose somewhere more central or close to the waterfront.

If you are booking accommodation here, it is worth comparing where to stay in Stavanger with a car before deciding whether central convenience or easier road access matters more.

Knowing what to prioritise in Stavanger before or after the fjords will help you decide whether the harbour, city centre or easier road access matters most for your stay.

Stavanger is also a good place to reset before the next scenic driving section, especially if your route continues towards Hardanger, Odda or Bergen.

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Hardanger / Odda / Tyssedal

Hardanger, Odda and Tyssedal work well as practical overnight stops between Stavanger and Bergen.

This area is especially useful if your route includes scenic roads, waterfalls, fjord views or the drive along Route 13.

We stayed in Tyssedal for 1 night, and it worked well as a simple road trip stop rather than a destination we needed to explore for days.

That is exactly the kind of place that can make a Norway itinerary easier.

Instead of pushing all the way from Stavanger to Bergen in 1 long day, staying around Hardanger gives you time to enjoy the route properly.

Odda is the better-known base, especially for Trolltunga, but you do not need to be hiking Trolltunga for this area to make sense.

For a road trip, we would use this stop for waterfalls, fjord roads, self-catering, parking and breaking up the journey.

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Bergen

Bergen is one of the best city bases for a Norway road trip, especially if your route focuses on the western fjords.

It works well as a start or end point, but it is also worth staying for at least 1 full day if you have time.

For a first visit, we would stay centrally if your budget allows, or somewhere with easy tram or bus access into the city.

We stayed outside the centre and used the tram, which worked well because we could avoid driving into Bergen for sightseeing.

Once you are in the centre, you do not need the car for places such as Bryggen, the harbour, the Fish Market, Bergenhus Fortress or the Fløibanen funicular.

Knowing where to stay in Bergen with a car will help you decide whether paying more for a central location is worthwhile or whether easy public transport will work just as well.

Bergen is also a good reset point between bigger driving days.

If your itinerary includes Flåm, Hardanger, Voss, fjord cruises or scenic routes further north, Bergen can help break up the trip without feeling like just a practical stop.

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Flåm / Aurland / Lærdal

Flåm, Aurland and Lærdal are useful bases if your road trip includes classic fjord scenery, the Flåm Railway, a fjord cruise, Stegastein viewpoint or the route towards Geiranger.

This is one of those areas where location can really shape your day.

Flåm is the most convenient if you want to be close to the railway, fjord cruises and visitor facilities.

Aurland is a good option if you want to stay close to the fjord but somewhere a little quieter.

Lærdal can work well if you are continuing onwards and want a practical overnight stop with good road access.

We would not choose this area just because it looks pretty.

Choose it because it fits your timings, your booked activities and the direction you are travelling next.

If you are planning a fjord cruise or the Flåm Railway, check times before booking accommodation so you do not end up staying somewhere awkward for your plans.

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Loen / Olden

Loen and Olden are good bases if you want glacier scenery, fjord views and some of the most dramatic landscapes in western Norway.

This area works especially well if your route includes Briksdalsbreen, Kjenndal Glacier, Lovatnet or Loen Skylift.

We would stay here when you want more than just a quick photo stop.

Loen is useful for Loen Skylift, Lovatnet and fjord views, while Olden is a good base for Briksdalsbreen and nearby glacier trips.

Both can work well, so we would choose based on your main plans and what accommodation is available.

Working out which glacier visit suits your trip best can also help you decide whether Loen or Olden gives you the more practical base.

This area is not quick to reach, so it makes sense to stay overnight rather than trying to squeeze it into a long driving day.

If you only have a short Norway itinerary, choose 1 main experience here rather than trying to do every glacier, lake and viewpoint.

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Geiranger

Geiranger is one of the most memorable places to stay on a Norway road trip, but it works best if you give it enough time.

The village itself is small, so you are not staying here for lots of town sightseeing.

You are staying for Geirangerfjord, the viewpoints, the ferry scenery and the feeling of waking up surrounded by steep mountains and water.

We would stay overnight rather than trying to rush through Geiranger as a quick stop.

That gives you more flexibility for the Hellesylt to Geiranger ferry, Dalsnibba, Flydalsjuvet and the waterfront.

Working out if Geiranger is worth the driving time will also help you decide whether to stay for 1 night, slow the route down for 2 nights or leave it out of a shorter itinerary.

Weather matters here, especially for the higher viewpoints.

If low cloud rolls in, it is useful to have time to adjust your plans rather than paying for a view you cannot see.

Accommodation can be limited and expensive in busy months, so this is one of the places we would book early.

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Ålesund

Ålesund works best if your Norway road trip is continuing further north or you have more than 2 weeks to play with.

It is a beautiful city, especially if you like Art Nouveau architecture, harbour views, islands and coastal scenery.

But for shorter Norway road trips, we would not add Ålesund unless the rest of the route has enough breathing room.

It can work well after Geiranger, especially if you want to continue towards the Atlantic Ocean Road, Molde, Kristiansund or Trondheim.

We stayed in Ålesund on our longer Norway road trip and liked having it as a proper city stop after several fjord and driving days.

For a road trip, we would look for accommodation with parking or easy access to public transport, then explore the centre on foot.

Our guide to where to stay in Ålesund for a road trip goes into the practical trade-off between central walkability, parking and choosing a base for a short stay.

Ålesund is worth visiting, but it should not be squeezed into a 7-day or tight 10-day itinerary just because it looks close on the map.

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Trondheim

Trondheim is a good base for a longer Norway road trip, but we would not treat it as essential for a first short route.

It works best if you are travelling further north, building a 3-week itinerary, or linking together places such as Ålesund, the Atlantic Ocean Road, Dovrefjell or central Norway.

We stayed in Trondheim on our longer Norway road trip and found it useful as a proper city stop after several days of fjords, ferries and scenic driving.

For sightseeing, we would stay centrally if possible, or somewhere with easy bus access into the centre.

Once you arrive, knowing how to make the most of a quick stop in Trondheim will help you fit in Nidaros Cathedral, Gamle Bybro, Bakklandet, Kristiansten Fortress and the riverfront without needing the car.

Once you arrive, knowing where to stay in Trondheim with a car will help you decide whether to stay central, use public transport or choose a practical base outside the busiest areas.

For most first-time 7-day or 10-day Norway itineraries, we would leave Trondheim out and focus on western Norway instead.

It is worth visiting, but only when the route gives it enough space.

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Lillehammer / Otta / Gudbrandsdalen

Lillehammer, Otta and the Gudbrandsdalen valley work best as practical overnight stops on the return towards Oslo.

We would not usually build a first Norway road trip around this area unless you have a specific reason to stay longer.

Instead, it is useful when you need to break up a long drive after visiting Geiranger, Loen, Olden or the fjord region.

Lillehammer gives you more of a town base, while Otta and the wider Gudbrandsdalen area can work well if your route is coming down from the mountains.

These stops make most sense as part of a two-week route starting in Oslo, where the return journey needs breaking up without adding another major sightseeing stop.

This is one of those parts of a Norway road trip where the best accommodation may simply be the place that makes the next day easier.

Look for somewhere with parking, easy road access and a sensible check-in time.

After several busy fjord days, a simple overnight stop can be exactly what you need before returning to Oslo.

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City Stays Vs Fjord Stays In Norway

Where you stay in Norway will feel very different depending on whether you are booking a city base or a fjord base.

In cities such as Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim, we would prioritise location.

You want to be able to walk, use public transport and avoid moving the car every time you want to sightsee.

A central hotel or well-located apartment can make the city part of your trip much easier, even if the room itself is fairly simple.

This is also where the rental car tips that make Norway easier can save you money, because you may not need to collect the car until you are ready to leave the city.

In fjord and mountain areas, we would think less about being “central” and more about road trip practicalities.

That means checking parking, road access, check-in times, kitchen facilities and how far you are from the next morning’s main stop.

A fjord-view hotel can be lovely, but it is not always essential.

Sometimes a simple apartment, cabin or guesthouse in the right location will be more useful than a prettier stay that adds extra driving.

For a Norway road trip, we would mix both.

Use cities for easier sightseeing and reset days, then use smaller fjord bases to make the scenic driving days work.

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Where We Stayed On Our Norway Road Trip

On our 3-week Norway road trip, we mixed apartments, hotels, city stays and practical overnight stops.

That worked well because not every stay needed to do the same job.

Some places were chosen for sightseeing, some for parking, some for kitchen facilities, and others simply because they made the next driving day easier.

Here are a few examples of where we stayed and why those choices worked for our route.

Place	Where We Stayed	Type Of Stay	Why It Worked
Oslo	Bjørvika Apartments, near Oslo Central Station	Apartment	We could walk into the city, use the station easily and cook some meals to save money. Parking was paid, so this worked best before the main road trip started.
Stavanger	Quality Hotel Pond	Hotel	This worked well as a practical base because we had parking and could drive into Stavanger when needed. The rooms were modern & comfortable, and the lobby seating areas were useful for relaxing outside the room.
Tyssedal	Slottet Apartments	Apartment	This was a simple stopover after a long driving day. It was clean, basic and cheap, which was exactly what we needed for 1 night.
Bergen	Apartment on the tram line		Staying outside the centre worked because we had easy tram access into Bergen. The kitchen helped us save on food, and the seating area was useful in the evening.
Ålesund	Thon Hotel Ålesund	Hotel	The central location meant we could walk everywhere, and the bar and restaurant made it feel like a proper city stop. Breakfast was included.
Trondheim	Airbnb	Apartment	The top-floor apartment gave us a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, free parking and a lounge area. It also had a great bakery about a 5-minute walk away.
Lillehammer	Home Hotel Hammer	Hotel	This was a strong return stop because it was on the main street, had free parking and included afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast.

For the bigger city stops, our separate guides to where to stay in Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund and Trondheim go into more detail on areas, parking, walkability and whether it is worth staying central or slightly outside the centre.

The Bjørvika apartment worked particularly well because Oslo was more than a 1-night arrival stop for us.

Seeing what a three-day stay in Oslo could look like can help you decide whether it is worth paying for a central apartment, choosing somewhere near the station or delaying car collection until you leave the city.

These were not all “dream hotel” stays, and that is the point.

On a Norway road trip, the best accommodation is often the place that solves a practical problem.

For us, that meant mixing comfortable city hotels, self-catering apartments, easy parking and simple overnight stops so the route felt smoother day by day.

We also stayed at Park Inn by Radisson Oslo Airport the night before our flight home.

This was not part of the scenic road trip route, but it worked well as a practical airport stop because we had an early flight the next morning.

If your return flight is early, staying at or near Oslo Airport can be much easier than spending the final night in the city and worrying about traffic, trains or returning the rental car.

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FAQs About Where To Stay In Norway

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Planning Your Norway Route

Once you know which bases suit your plans, the next step is deciding how many overnight stops you can fit in without making the route feel rushed.

Working out how to choose between 7, 10 and 14 days in Norway will help you decide whether to focus on Bergen and the fjords, add Oslo and Stavanger, or allow more time for Geiranger, Loen and the journey back east.

From there, you can choose the itinerary that best matches the time you have available.

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