Sweden is usually pitched as a Lapland or Stockholm country, yet the most relaxed campervan trip on Sweden’s west coast sits only an hour or two north of Gothenburg. This is Bohuslän: bare granite islands, red fishing cottages, harbours full of prawn boats and a coastline that rewards slow driving.

We have driven in Sweden and the neighbouring Nordic countries and know how different the rhythm is from Norway or Iceland, but for this route we have leaned on the CampervanPlanet Sweden listing and our own Nordic experience. If you are new to hiring a van, our campervan rental guide explains the basics.

The route: Gothenburg to Strömstad

The listing’s headline route runs north from Gothenburg through the Bohuslän archipelago to Strömstad near the Norwegian border, about 290 km in 4–5 days. It is rated easy and fine for a normal 2WD van, and the best months are May and September. You can drive it in half a day on the main road, but that is missing the point: the best of Bohuslän is on the small roads and islands off it.

A sensible plan is to spend a night on the island of Marstrand or around Kungälv, a day around Orust and Tjörn, a night on the northern coast near Smögen and Fjällbacka, and a final stretch to Strömstad. Many of the road links between the islands are by bridge, which makes a van trip very simple compared with archipelagos that need long ferries. Check the current ferry arrangements for any island you want to reach, since timetables and fees can change.

What to see on the way

The Bohuslän coast is famous for three things: seafood, granite and Bronze Age rock carvings. The shellfish season is part of the draw, and harbour-side prawn sandwiches and oyster tastings are a regular holiday ritual here. Fishing villages such as Smögen, with its wooden boardwalk, and Fjällbacka are the postcard stops and are very busy in July.

Near Tanum the rock carvings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with ships, animals and figures carved into smooth granite thousands of years ago. At Strömstad you can take a boat to the Koster islands, Sweden’s westernmost inhabited islands, which are largely car-free and good for cycling and kayaking.

Distances are short, so leave time. The best days are not the ones with the most kilometres, but the ones with a swim off the rocks, a long fika stop and a late dinner at a harbour.

Pick-up, prices and seasons

The Sweden campervan page lists five pick-up locations: Stockholm, Gothenburg Airport, Uppsala, Malmö and Kiruna Airport. For this route Gothenburg Airport is the obvious start, though you could also start in Malmö and drive up the coast, as the Malmö campervan hire page shows. A one-way rental between Swedish cities is often possible, but check the fee at booking.

The prices we saw: campervan rental in Sweden from about €70 a day, a typical €148 a day in May and September, about €242 a day in July and August, and €141 in the November to March low season. The west coast is a summer destination, so winter prices are of academic interest: days are short and the weather is cold and wet.

The Swedish coast gets busy in July, when Swedes take their own holidays. May, June and September give the best balance of light, calm and price.

Camping: stopovers, campsites and Everyman’s Right

Sweden has a famous right to roam, allemansrätten, which lets you walk, swim and camp in a tent almost anywhere in the countryside. The important detail for van travellers is that it does not extend to driving off the road and parking a motorhome wherever you like. Think of it as a right for tents and people, not for vehicles.

What you use instead are campsites and ställplatser, Sweden’s motorhome stopovers. A pitch at a graded campsite in high season typically runs SEK 200–500 (about €18–45) per night, sometimes with electricity metered on top, while ställplatser are usually cheaper. Many are in harbours, which is perfect for this coast. Our guide to wild camping rules in Sweden explains in more detail what you can and cannot do.

Book harbour stopovers ahead in July, since the best spots fill by mid-afternoon.

Driving in Sweden: what to know

Sweden is an easy country to drive in. Speed limits follow a clear pattern: 50 km/h in towns (often 30 near schools), 70 to 90 km/h on rural roads and 100 to 110 km/h on motorways, with a few upgraded stretches at 120 km/h. Speed cameras are common and fines are heavy. Headlights should be on at all times, and winter tyres are required in winter conditions.

There are very few tolls. The page notes that the only major bridge toll is the Öresund Bridge to Denmark, about SEK 510 or €45 per car crossing, and that the Svinesund Bridge to Norway has been toll-free since 2021. Some cities use congestion charges, so ask the rental company how it handles them.

If you want to combine this route with the capital, our Stockholm campervan guide covers the east, and the Stockholm pick-up page shows the vans there.

Extending the trip into Norway or Denmark

Because Strömstad is on the Norwegian border, many travellers continue to Oslo, which is about two hours further. The border crossing at Svinesund is toll-free, but check your rental contract about taking the van abroad and whether insurance still applies. In the other direction, you can add Denmark via the Öresund Bridge from Malmö.

A good rule is to plan one country well rather than three badly. The Bohuslän coast alone is worth 4–5 days, and adding a night in Gothenburg for the harbour, markets and the Haga district makes a complete week.

Booking tips

Compare vans for your dates, check the kilometre allowance (this route is short, but extensions add up), and look at what is included for kitchen and bedding. Check one-way fees if you plan to start and end in different cities. In July and August book at least a few months ahead.

If you book through our links, you also get our reader coupon: HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off at checkout. A booking made within 30 days of your click is credited to us, which keeps this site going.