10 Epic Mountain Roads in Southern Norway – Drive Into the Sky

There’s something about the mountain roads in Norway that makes you forget time. This guide highlights 10 of the most scenic mountain roads in Southern Norway – with links to detailed guides, photos and practical tips for each route.

A road trip in Norway is never ordinary – valleys transform into serpentine climbs, glaciers surprise you at every turn, and sheep remind you who really rules the road. The mountain passes of Southern Norway – known as fjelloverganger – are not just ways to get from A to B. They are journeys in themselves, filled with wild landscapes, cultural treasures, and countless places to stop and breathe in the view.

Here are ten of my favorite mountain roads in Southern Norway. Each one is different, each one unforgettable. These mountain roads connect some of the most spectacular regions in Southern Norway, including Ryfylke, Hardanger, Jotunheimen and the fjord areas.

Driving from fjord to the top of the mountains in less than an hour on the Snow Road (Aurland).

The 10 Mountain Roads in This Guide

Here’s a quick overview of all 10 mountain roads in Norway featured in this article. Each one offers a different driving experience – from dramatic climbs to quiet high mountain landscapes.

Some are famous. Others are hidden roads few travelers ever discover. You’ll also find links to detailed guides, photos and tips for each road.

Aurlandsfjellet – The Snow Road (Lærdal ↔ Aurland)
Suleskarveien Mountain Road (Dalen ↔ Suleskar)
Hardangervidda Mountain Road (Geilo ↔ Eidsfjord)
Haukelifjell Mountain Road (Vinje ↔ Røldal)
Panoramaveien Mountain Road (Valdres ↔ Hemsedal)
Hemsedalsfjellet Mountain Road (Hemsedal ↔ Borgund)
Valdresflye High Mountain Road (Beitostølen ↔ Vågåmo)
Gamle Strynefjellsveien (Grotli ↔ Videsæter)
Sognefjellet Mountain Road (Lom ↔ Gaupne)
Dovrefjell (Dombås ↔ Hjerkinn)

These routes are perfect for anyone planning a road trip in Norway, whether you’re traveling by car or motorhome. They are spread across Southern Norway, from the fjords to the high mountain plateaus.

Valdresflye looks stunning dressed in autumn colors.

1. Aurlandsfjellet – “The Snow Road”

Aurlandsfjellet, also known as the Snow Road, is part of the Norwegian Scenic Routes.

Instead of rushing through the world’s longest road tunnel (Lærdalstunnelen), take the old road over Aurlandsfjellet – the Snow Road. This 48-kilometer stretch is pure drama, climbing from fjordside villages up to a barren plateau where snow lingers year-round.

The contrast is striking: lush green valleys at the bottom, white-capped plateaus at the top, and finally the descent into Aurlandsvangen with fjord views that take your breath away. Stegastein viewpoint, a platform suspended 650 meters above Aurlandsfjord, is the crown jewel.

This isn’t a road you drive fast. It’s one you savor, stopping again and again just because every curve demands another photo.

Road Facts – Aurlandsfjellet (Snow Road)

Length: ~48 km
Start / End: Lærdalsøyri ↔ Aurlandsvangen
Highest Point: 1306 m
Season: June – October (closed in winter). Stegastein is open year-round.
Toll: No
Type of road: Narrow paved road with sharp curves, challenging for large motorhomes.

Stegastein viewpoint – a glass platform floating over Aurlandsfjord.

2. Suleskarveien Mountain Road

Suleskarveien is the highest mountain pass in Southern Norway, linking Dalen in Telemark with Sirdal in Rogaland via Valle in Setesdal. It feels remote and untamed, with wild moorlands, waterfalls like Edlandsfossen, and the occasional herd of sheep blocking your way.

In early summer, snowbanks tower along the roadside; in autumn, the moors glow in fiery colors. It’s an adventurous shortcut – or a slow detour worth every kilometer.

Road Facts – Suleskarveien

Length: ~133 km
Start / End: Dalen ↔ Sirdal via Valle
Highest Point: 1050 m
Season: May – October (closed in winter)
Toll: No
Type of road: Narrow paved road with passing places. Can be difficult for large motorhomes.

Wild and remote – Suleskarveien, the highest mountain pass in Southern Norway.

3. Hardangervidda Mountain Road

Hardangervidda is unlike other mountain passes. Here, you’re not climbing over mountains – you’re already on the plateau. Vast, flat, and windswept, the scenery is wide open, dotted with fishing lakes and reindeer grazing in the distance.

The drama builds at the western edge, where the road drops suddenly into Måbødalen valley and delivers you straight to Vøringsfossen, Norway’s most famous waterfall.

Road Facts – Hardangervidda (Rv7)

Length: ~67 km across the plateau
Start / End: Geilo ↔ Eidfjord
Highest Point: ~1250 m
Season: Open year-round (temporary closures in winter storms)
Toll: No
Type of road: Good paved road, wide and suitable for all types of vehicles.

Endless horizons on Norway’s largest mountain plateau.

4. Haukelifjell Mountain Road

Haukelifjell is one of Norway’s main east-west connections. Rugged, dramatic, and unpredictable, this mountain stretch has a personality of its own. Sun, snow, and rain can all happen in a single hour.

Midway across, Haukeliseter Mountain Lodge invites you in with hearty mountain food and legendary cinnamon buns – the perfect pause before tackling more curves and climbs.

Want to see more? Read the full story and photos from the drive.

Road Facts – Haukelifjell (E134)

Length: ~67 km mountain section
Start / End: Røldal ↔ Edland (Telemark)
Highest Point: ~1085 m
Season: Open year-round (occasional closures in winter storms)
Toll: No
Type of road: Wide paved road, but with steep sections and demanding conditions in winter.

Rugged weather and raw landscapes at Haukelifjell.

5. Panoramaveien Mountain Road (Valdres ↔ Hemsedal)

A quieter, less-known gem, Panoramaveien lives up to its name. The road meanders across moorlands with open views of Hemsedal’s peaks. Much of it is gravel, but it’s wide enough for cars – and you’ll likely share it only with sheep and the occasional hiker.

It feels like a balcony above the valleys, far from tourist crowds.

Take a closer look – read more from our drive across Panoramaveien in Valdres.

Road Facts – Panoramaveien

Length: ~36 km
Start / End: Fagernes (Valdres) ↔ Hemsedal
Highest Point: ~1130 m
Season: Open late spring to autumn (closed in winter)
Toll: Yes (toll road)
Road Standard: Gravel road, wide enough for cars and motorhomes. Not suitable for buses.

A hidden gem: gravel roads with panoramic views towards Hemsedal.

6. Hemsedalsfjellet Mountain Road

Hemsedalsfjellet is a road that combines mountain scenery with cultural treasures. Start with Gol stave church, continue past waterfalls like Rjukandefossen, and end at Borgund stave church – Norway’s best preserved.

It’s not the most dramatic mountain road, but it’s rich in history, easy to drive, and beautiful in its own quiet way.

Road Facts – Hemsedalsfjellet (Rv52)

Length: ~90 km
Start / End: Gol ↔ Borlaug (near Lærdal)
Highest Point: ~1130 m
Season: Open year-round
Toll: No
Type of road: Wide paved road, good condition, suitable for all types of vehicles.

Mountain scenery and wide-open views along Hemsedalsfjellet.

7. Valdresflye High Mountain Road

Valdresflye is a must-drive for first-time visitors. The road begins in Beitostølen, passes the pyramid-like Bitihorn, skirts the waters of Bygdin, and climbs to a high plateau with endless views.

Highlights include turquoise Gjende and the famous Besseggen ridge, best admired from the roadside. Even in rain or fog, the scenery has a grandeur that never fails.

Curious to see more? Read on and explore the journey across Valdresflye Mountain Road.

Road Facts – Valdresflye (Fv51)

Length: ~49 km
Start / End: Beitostølen ↔ Hindsæter / Gjendesheim
Highest Point: 1389 m
Season: Late april – early November (closed in winter)
Toll: No
Type of road: Wide paved road, good standard, suitable for motorhomes and caravans.

Endless mountain views from Norway’s Valdresflye plateau.

8. Gamle Strynefjellsveien

Driving the Old Strynefjell Road is like traveling through history. Built more than a century ago, this gravel road still has the original hand-built stone guardrails and narrow curves.

The scenery is raw and dramatic, with glaciers above and waterfalls tumbling down as you descend toward the fjords. It’s slow going, but unforgettable.

Road Facts – Gamle Strynefjellsveien (Fv258)

Length: ~27 km
Start / End: Grotli ↔ Videsæter (Stryn side)
Highest Point: ~1139 m
Season: Late May/June – mid-October (closed in winter)
Toll: No
Type of road: Narrow gravel road with passing places. Not recommended for large motorhomes or buses.

The dramatic and scenic descent towards the fjords on Gamle Strynefjellsveien.

9. Sognefjellet Mountain Road

Sognefjellet is the king of Norway’s mountain passes – the highest road in Northern Europe. It takes you through a kingdom of glaciers and towering peaks, including Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind.

From lush Lom valley to ice-covered plateaus and then down to Gaupne by Sognefjord, this road has it all.

Road Facts – Sognefjellet (Rv55)

Length: ~108 km
Start / End: Lom ↔ Gaupne (Sogn)
Highest Point: 1434 m
Season: Late May – early November (closed in winter)
Toll: No
Type of road: Paved, but narrow and winding in sections. Demanding for large motorhomes.

At 1434 m, Sognefjellet is the highest road in Northern Europe.

10. Dovrefjell

The E6 over Dovrefjell may be a main highway, but it’s full of magic. The plateau is vast and moss-covered, framed by peaks like Snøhetta.

A must-stop is Snøhetta Viewpoint, a short, accessible hike to an architectural pavilion with unforgettable views. With luck, you might spot musk ox in the wild.

Road Facts – Dovrefjell (E6)

Length: ~30 km mountain section (Dombås – Hjerkinn)
Start / End: Dombås ↔ Hjerkinn
Highest Point: ~1025 m
Season: Open year-round (occasional winter closures)
Toll: No
Type of road: Main highway (E6) with wide asphalt, good year-round standard.

When the landscape steals the mirror view – driving across Dovrefjell.

Practical Tips for Driving Norway’s Mountain Passes

Check road openings: Many passes are closed in winter. Always confirm before you go.
Weather shifts fast: Bring warm clothes even in July. Fog, sleet, or sunshine can all arrive in minutes.
Tires: If traveling in late September – April, use winter tires.
Drive slow, stop often: These are not transit routes – they are experiences.

This is why you never just drive straight across the mountains in Norway – the viewpoints are part of the journey (Sognefjellet).

Plan Your Road Trip in Norway:

Chasing Horizons and Collecting Memories in Norway

Driving across Norway’s mountain passes is never just about reaching the other side. It’s about slowing down, breathing in the crisp air, and letting the landscapes surprise you at every turn. Each road has its own character – from glacier views to quiet moorlands – and together they reveal a side of Norway you can only truly feel from behind the wheel.

Pack a thermos, bring someone you love to share the view with, and let the road guide you to memories that will stay long after the engine stops.

Happy road tripping in Norway
– Anne Bente

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10 Epic Mountain Roads in Southern Norway – Drive Into the Sky

There’s something about the mountain roads in Norway that makes you forget time. This guide highlights 10 of the most scenic mountain roads in Southern Norway – with links to detailed guides, photos and practical tips for each route.

The 10 Mountain Roads in This Guide