Vanlife in Sweden and Norway: What the Right of Public Access Means for Campervans

Scandinavia has a reputation as a wild camping paradise for vanlifers. The right of public access, allemansrätten in Sweden and allemannsretten in Norway, lets everyone walk, hike and camp in nature. But many travelers are surprised to learn that these rights were made for people on foot, not for vehicles. Here’s what it actually means when you travel with a campervan or motorhome.

Sweden: allemansrätten and motorhomes

According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket), these are the key rules:

• No driving in nature. It is forbidden to drive a motorhome, caravan or car off-road, and you may not park or set up a motorhome, caravan or car with a roof tent in nature. A landowner cannot give you permission for this either.
• Roads and parking areas follow normal traffic and parking rules. If you want to stay close to a house, always ask the landowner first, even for one night.
• Rest areas (rastplatser): overnight stays are generally limited to 24 hours on weekdays. On weekends and public holidays you may stay until the next weekday, unless a sign says otherwise.
• Private roads: the owner decides whether traffic and parking are allowed.
• Local rules: municipalities can have their own rules for motorhomes at rest areas, so check locally.

A car with a roof tent counts as a vehicle, so the same rules apply.

Norway: allemannsretten and motorhomes

Norway’s right to roam also allows wild camping, but with conditions. When you travel by motorhome or campervan:

• Obey signs that prohibit overnight stays, parking or access.
• Don’t park in passing places along the road. Picnic areas are mainly meant for short stops.
• Stay at least 150 metres from buildings.
• Keep at least four metres between your vehicle and other motorhomes, caravans or tents.
• Never drive off-road, and avoid private property and farmland.
• Take your rubbish with you and use proper toilets and waste stations.

In popular areas, especially in summer, campsites and dedicated motorhome spots are often the best choice.

Tips for both countries

• Look for official spots: ställplats in Sweden and bobilparkering in Norway. They are often well located and cheap.
• Respect fire bans. In Norway lighting fires in or near forests is generally prohibited from 15 April to 15 September. In Sweden fire bans are decided locally and are common in dry summers.
• Empty toilets and grey water only at proper waste stations, never in nature.
• Plan for the busy season. Midsummer and the summer holidays bring a lot of travelers to the most famous places.

In short

The right of public access gives you wonderful freedom in nature, but your van stays on the road. Park where parking is allowed, respect signs, keep your distance from homes and leave every place as you found it. Do that, and Sweden and Norway are some of the most rewarding countries in Europe to explore by van.

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Rules change and local regulations apply. This guide is general information, not legal advice. For Sweden, see Naturvårdsverket’s page on motorhomes and caravans.