Lapland by Camper: A Magical Arctic Road Trip (14-21 days)
Evelina Hjortskog
09.07.2024
∼ 15 min. read
Lapland is a region in northern Europe that spans across the northernmost parts of Norway, Finland, and Sweden. It is renowned for its vast wilderness and breathtaking natural beauty, with high mountains and deep valleys. It is also home to the indigenous Sami culture and the Northern Lights. The region, mainly located north of the Arctic Circle, is home to the Midnight Sun in the summer and the Polar Nights in the winter. It is one of those places on earth that are so rare and naturally beautiful that a trip to this area will leave you with memories for a lifetime. The best way to visit Lapland, given its vast distances, is by campervan. In this article, we outline the best itinerary for exploring this magical landscape.
This route will take you from the Swedish parts of Lapland, through Finland and passing over to the Norwegian part of Lapland. You can do the road trip in any way you wish, but we can ensure that by following this route, you will get a unique experience that will leave you with lasting memories. The route can be completed in 14 days, but if you'd like to stay for 21 days, we’ve got you covered too!
If you are starting your road trip from our Stockholm office, make sure to add a few days to the itinerary to drive up north and back down.
.jpg)
Image by Katja Kristoferson/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se
Day 1-3: Swedish Lapland
Days 1: Arrive in Kiruna
We will start this magical road trip in Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden and home to the famous Icehotel. If you feel like splurging and spending one night away from the campervan, this is a unique experience worth exploring. The prices for the Icehotel tend to be high, but luckily, you can visit the hotel even if you aren’t spending the night there. The Icehotel can be visited year-round. Kiruna is also famous for having the largest iron ore mines in the world, which you can tour if you are brave enough. These mines are so crucial to the country and the city that they are currently relocating the entire town to ensure continued mining operations.
Kiruna is a lovely and laid-back city, and while you’re there, it's worth taking a stroll through its city center.
Spend the night in one of the many nearby campsites, or you could free camp outside of town.
Distance Stockholm to Kiruna: Approximately 1.200 km
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 14h. We recommend that you plan at least 2-3 days for the way up
Day 2: Kiruna → Abisko National Park
On the second day, you can start the day with a beautiful scenic drive through the Arctic wilderness toward Abisko. Abisko is known as one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights during the winter. However, it is also an amazing destination for the summer. There are many beautiful hiking trails in Abisko, and breathtaking mountain views will surround you as you go for a hike around the Abisko Canyon or walk a part of the Kungsleden Trail. You are also right next to the beautiful lake Torneträsk, which is well worth a visit, either during your drive or while in Abisko.
You can stay overnight in one of the campsites nearby.
Distance: Approximately 94 km (58 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 1h 15 min
Day 3: Abisko → Laponia World Heritage Area via Gällivare
On day three, we recommend getting up for an early start, as you will have plenty to explore on this day. From Abisko, we are heading south and into the Laponia area. The Laponia is a World Heritage Area, which means it’s considered to be of 'Outstanding Universal Value'. Since Laponia isn’t a destination per se, but rather a sparsely populated nature area with old-growth forests, glaciers, mountains and enormous wetlands spread over 9,400 square kilometres, you will need to decide which parts of it to explore or drive through. 95% of Laponia is protected as national parks or nature reserves. If you feel like visiting a national park while in this area, you have four to choose from: Sarek, Muddus/Muttos, Stora Sjöfallet/Stuor Muorkke Park, and Padjelanta/Badjelánnda.
This day will be fully covered by exploring vast alpine scenery and lush, thick forests.
For the evening, you can find campgrounds in Gällivare or Porjus or wild camp nearby.
Distance to Gällivare: Approximately 215 km (133.5 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 2h 50 min
Distance to Porjus: 260 km (161.5 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 3h 20 min
Photo by Janosch Diggelmann on Unsplash
Days 4–7: Finnish Lapland
Day 4: Laponia → Hetta (Enontekiö)
Please note that when you cross the border into Finland, you enter a different time zone and need to adjust your clock by one hour.
On your fourth day, you will make your way across the Finnish border to discover more of Lapland. The best way to go about this will be to cross into Finland via Karesuando or Muonio. While in Hetta, you are right next to Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, which is the third biggest national park in Finland, with plenty of nature at your doorstep to explore.
The beauty of travelling this area with a campervan is that you can camp overnight by Ounasjärvi Lake.
Distance from Gällivare: 270 km (167 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 3h 20 min
Distance from Porjus: 317 km (197 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 3h 50 min
Day 5: Hetta → Levi
Wake up happy by the lake, and after two days of driving long distances, you will now be driving on a shorter, scenic route. The destination today is Levi, which is a popular resort village in Finland. There are plenty of activities to explore while in Levi, in contrast to the other days, which are mostly surrounded by nature. Here, you can go on a cabin lift ride, try fat biking, go on hikes, or enjoy a spa break. If you visit in the winter, you can go skiing, snowmobiling, or ice karting.
Spend the night at the Levi Camper Park or a campsite with full amenities.
Distance: 144 km (197 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 1h 50 min
Credits: Anders Tedeholm/imagebank.sweden.se
Day 6: Levi → Rovaniemi
On your sixth day, you will arrive in a fascinating town, the official home of Santa Claus, and a visit to the Santa Claus Village is a must. While at the Village, you can also cross over the Arctic Circle, which runs through the entire village. If spending six days in the magical Lapland has made you want to get to know the region further, you should pay a visit to the Arktikum Museum to learn more about the area. In Rovaniemi, you can also visit a reindeer farm to spend some time with the beautiful animals that call this area their home.
Spend the night by the Kemijoki River or at a central campsite.
Credits: Amanda Westerbom/imagebank.sweden.se
Distance: 169 km (105 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 1h 55 min
Day 7: Rest or Exploration Day in Rovaniemi
With all the driving and exploring a new area each day, it’s important to schedule a day of rest, or, if you wish, spend it exploring Rovaniemi further. You can use this day to slow down or catch up on supplies. It’s a great place to visit some nice cafés, relax at a spa or go for a nice nature walk before heading deeper into the north. There are some long driving routes ahead, so the rest will be needed.
Photo by Joni Rajala on Unsplash
Day 8: Rovaniemi → Inari
After some well-deserved rest in Rovaniemi, you will start making your way up towards the northernmost parts of Finland. You will make your way to Inari, which is the Sami cultural centre and therefore an excellent location to get an authentic insight into the indigenous people who have called this area home for thousands of years. Here, you can visit the Siida Sámi Museum and Nature Centre.
Spend the night at a stunning lakeside campsite on Lake Inari, which is also perfect for canoeing or stargazing.
Distance: 326 km (202.5 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 3h 50 min
Days 9–13: Norwegian Lapland
Day 9: Inari → Nordkapp
Wake up early in Inari since the next leg of the trip is a long but unforgettable drive into Norway. You will pass through Karasjok and Lakselv on the way to Nordkapp (North Cape), which is the northernmost road-accessible point in Europe. Nordkapp is closer to the North Pole than to Oslo, and it’s one of the best spots in the world to witness the midnight sun; from mid-May to late July, the sun never dips below the horizon.
Spend the night at Nordkapphallen car park or in any of the many nearby campsites.
Distance: 381 km (237 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 5h 20 min
Photo by Hans-Joachim Kaiser on Unsplash
Day 10: Nordkapp → Alta
After having visited this remote part of Norway, it’s time to make your way a bit further down, through a scenic coastal drive south to Alta, which is your next destination. Here, you can visit the Alta Museum and explore prehistoric rock carvings. The Rock Art of Alta is a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring prehistoric rock carvings created by hunter-gatherer societies that date back 7,000 to 2,000 years.
If you'd like, you can also pay a visit to the Northern Lights Cathedral, which features a very creative design.
Spend the night by the fjord or use Alta’s camper stop.
Distance: 235 km (146 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 3h 30 min
Day 11: Alta → Tromsø
On your long drive from Alta to Tromsø, you will drive along dramatic, stunning fjords and mountains. Making it worthwhile. Along the way, you should stop at viewpoints, such as the Lyngen Alps. Arriving in Tromsø means coming to the “Paris of the North”, as the city serves as a cultural hub in the Arctic, which is why we recommend spending some time here. Wind down after the long drive and save some exploring for the upcoming days.
Spend the night in one of the many campgrounds in or around Tromsø.
Distance: 379 km (235.5 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 5h 40 min
Photo by Jorn Eriksen on Unsplash
Day 12: Explore Tromsø
With plenty of things to do and explore in Tromsø, it’s the perfect place to take a break from driving. While visiting Tromsø, we recommend riding the Fjellheisen cable car for some stunning panoramic views. You can also go on a whale safari, aurora tour (in the winter), or explore Arctic aquariums or museums.
Tromsø also offers a variety of nice restaurants and a vibrant nightlife, allowing you to treat yourself to a night of good drinks and food.
Spend the night in Tromsø, either in the same camp spot or if you want to go looking for a new place to call home for the night.
Day 13: Rest or Buffer Day
If you are spending 14 days on this trip, it's time to make your way back to drop off your campervan. However, if you wish to continue for another week, then you can either use this day as a rest or buffer day to relax, shop for souvenirs or catch up on missed activities. Alternatively, you can also start to slowly drive towards the next destination, which will be Narvik.
Days 14–21: Optional Extended Loop
Day 14: Tromsø → Narvik
On your drive to Narvik, you will drive through the Ofoten region, which offers dramatic Arctic landscapes. Upon arriving in Narvik, you will have arrived in a town with a history from World War 2. Narvik's significance stemmed from its ice-free port and proximity to the Kiruna and Gällivare iron ore mines in Sweden, which were being exported. If you are interested in history, there is a War museum that you can visit. Narvik is also a perfect town for biking, hiking, or simply enjoying a hot chocolate while overlooking the magnificent fjords.
Spend the night at a campsite near the beautiful Rombaksfjord or Narvik.
Distance: 232 km (144 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 3h 30 min
Day 15: Narvik → Swedish Border (Abisko)
After two weeks on the road, it is time to make your way back into Sweden, and the best way to do so is to cross over via Björnfjell. If you want an optional detour, you can stop by Riksgränsen for hiking or skiing, depending on the season.
Spend the night near Abisko or continue south.
Distance: 79.5 km (49 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 1h 10 min
Photo by Taneli Lahtinen on Unsplash
Day 16: Travel Day or Buffer Day
Use this day for an extra hike, a wildlife safari, or simply as a rest day before continuing your journey a bit further south. If you want to minimise the distance on the next leg, you can start driving south on this day.
Day 17–18: Abisko → Luleå Archipelago
Wake up early and start driving down towards the coastal part of the Swedish Lapland. You will be making your way to Luleå, with potential stops or detours to Boden and Kalix. While in Luleå, be sure to visit Gammelstad Church Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spend the night in a peaceful island campsite in the Luleå archipelago.
Distance: 435 km (270 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 5h 20 min
Credits: Tina Stafrén/imagebank.sweden.se
Day 19–20: Luleå → Inland Nature (Arvidsjaur or Jokkmokk)
On one of the last legs of your trip, we are heading back inland to relax in some beautiful, forested areas before returning your campervan. You can choose to visit either Arvidsjaur or Jokkmokk, or both if you prefer. Both of the towns are small and will give you an excellent opportunity to connect with nature one more time before finishing this magical trip.
Distance to Arvidsjaur: 154 km (95.5 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 1h 50 min
Distance to Jokkmokk: 170 km (105.5 miles)
Approximate driving duration (without stops): 2h
Day 21: Return Camper
If you rented your van from us in Stockholm, you will need to allocate an additional day to drive back and return your van. As you finish up this road trip through a landscape that feels like nothing less than magical, make sure to reflect on your highlights and savour every moment of this once-in-a-lifetime trip!