Planning a Motorcycle Trip in Norway: Scenic Routes, Pass Dates, Tolls and Paperwork

Norway is built for a summer motorcycle trip: it has 18 designated scenic routes along fjords, coasts and mountains, and road tolls are not collected from motorcycles at its automatic toll stations. The catch is the calendar. Mountain roads such as Trollstigen have opened as late as 12 June in past years and closed as early as 5 October, so a trip planned for June to September avoids most closures.

Part of our motorcycle touring destinations series. For how Norway fits into a wider European tour, see our guide to motorcycle touring in Europe.

Key takeaways- Norway's 18 scenic routes are chosen as alternatives to the main roads. They make the easiest backbone for a route plan.- High mountain roads close in winter. Check each road's opening status before you book.- Motorcycles pay no road tolls at automatic toll stations.- A US licence can normally be used for three months from arrival.- Norway is in the Schengen area, so the 90-days-in-180 rule applies.

Is Norway good for motorcycle touring?

Yes, if you like slow, scenic riding more than fast miles. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration picked 18 roads for their landscapes and built viewpoints, rest areas and art along them. Many of these routes include ferry crossings and steep, tight climbs. Those are part of the appeal, but they slow your daily distance.

Two things work against you: short seasons on the high roads, and heavy summer traffic on the best-known routes. The scenic routes agency suggests early June or September to avoid the busiest weeks on Geiranger-Trollstigen.

When to ride: season and pass openings

Snow decides your dates on the mountain roads. These are the past opening and closing dates published for each route:

A reference source puts Trollstigen's normal season at mid-May to October. Treat all of these as history, not a promise for next year. Check the route's page on Norwegian Scenic Routes before you lock in dates.

If you go north of the Arctic Circle, the light changes your plans too. Cities such as Tromsø have midnight sun from late May to mid-July, so you can ride late without riding in the dark.

Routes to build a trip around

Mile figures are our conversions. Trollstigen climbs at about 10%, and vehicles over 12.4 m long are banned. Traffic on the route is heavy in high season.

Going to the North Cape

The E69 ends at the North Cape on Magerøya, the northernmost point in Europe you can reach by road. A northern trip can combine it with Lofoten, which you reach by ferry from Bodø or by staying on the E10. We have not sourced riding days or distances for a full south-to-north route. Plan them with a mapping tool and add time for ferries.

Tolls and ferries

All toll stations in Norway are automated, and according to AutoPASS, road tolls are not collected from motorcycles and mopeds passing them. That answers one of the most common questions about riding here: on a motorcycle, you don't pay road tolls at those stations.

Ferries are a separate matter. AutoPASS, the national system, also collects ferry tolls, and the scenic routes use ferries such as Eidsdal to Linge and Bodø to Moskenes. We have not found a source for motorcycle ferry fares. Budget for them, and check each ferry's timetable on the scenic route pages before you set a daily plan.

Paperwork for US riders

Your licence

Statens vegvesen, Norway's road authority, says a non-EU/EEA licence can normally be used for three months from arrival. You also need an international driving licence if your licence has no photo, is not in the Latin alphabet, or uses categories that differ from the Geneva or Vienna Conventions. If you are not sure your US motorcycle endorsement matches those categories, carry an International Driving Permit as well. AAA issues them to US licence holders for $20, no more than six months before the start date.

Entry rules

Norway is one of the four non-EU countries in the Schengen area. Visitors are usually allowed 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole area, so days spent in Sweden or Denmark on the way count too. The EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the external borders and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. The Europe touring guide linked above covers the wider European rules.

Speed limits

The general limits are 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas and 80 km/h (50 mph) elsewhere, and they are not usually signposted. Signposted limits go up to 110 km/h (68 mph) on motorways. The road authority's own speed page was not available when we checked, so follow the signs.

Rent or ship a bike?

We have not compared rental companies, shipping or tour prices for Norway, and ranking tour pages don't publish comparable figures. Get dated quotes before you decide. If a guided tour suits you better, our guide on how to choose a motorcycle adventure tour explains what to ask.

What to wear for Norway

A day can start on a fjord at sea level and cross a pass at 1,434 m. Pack for cold and rain at the top, even in July. Wear a warm mid-layer, a rain shell, two pairs of gloves and something to stop wind at the neck. Our guide to riding a motorcycle in the rain covers wet roads and visibility.

A jacket with vents and removable sleeves helps on days that swing from cold passes to warm valleys. Leather Collection's motorcycle touring jackets come in hand-stitched cowhide with vents, reflective piping or zip-off sleeves. See our motorcycle trip packing list for the rest.

Other northern trips to compare

For more midnight-sun riding with longer distances, see planning a motorcycle trip in Alaska. Iceland and Scotland are covered in planning a motorcycle trip in Iceland and planning a motorcycle trip in Scotland.

FAQ

Do motorbikes pay tolls in Norway?

Not at automatic road toll stations. Norway's AutoPASS system says road tolls are not collected for motorcycles and mopeds. Ferries are a separate cost.

Can you ride a motorcycle in Norway with a US license?

Normally yes, for three months from arrival. Carry an International Driving Permit if your licence categories differ from the international ones.

When is the best time for a motorcycle trip to Norway?

June to September. Mountain roads such as Trollstigen have opened as late as 12 June and closed as early as 5 October, and the scenic routes agency suggests early June or September for lighter traffic on Geiranger-Trollstigen.