What does a road trip with rooftop tent cost? Route, review and tips for compact travel

Camping Ratgeber:

What does a road trip with rooftop tent cost? Route, costs & tips

Before going on a trip, it is wise to keep a certain budget in mind.
Many novice campers underestimate the costs involved in a road trip.
Fuel, food and drink is significantly more expensive in Scandinavia than here.
Anyone planning a trip south will save on these kinds of costs.
In doing so, however, you have to take into account a large number of people who want a place by the sun in high season.
That means it can be more difficult to spontaneously plan a road trip there.
At some campsites, spots are booked months in advance.
In this article, you can use an example to see what you need to budget for food and drink, lodging and fuel. [lwptoc] Anna and Mario decided over the summer to take a scenic trip.
Their dream was to travel to Norway and explore the entire country.
And what better way to do that than through a road trip?
The two rented a rooftop tent and documented their entire trip.
All the expenses they incurred, they discuss in the video.
Be taken on a 16-day journey through the mountains and along the fjords of Norway.
And pay attention to the tips & tricks they give you!
Norway Roadtrip:

16-day road trip through Norway
Summer August to September
Scandinavian adventure with rooftop tent

Travel distance: 4,500 km from Denmark to Norway

In total, they covered a distance of 4,500 km.
“Frederickshafen” and “Göteburg” were set as starting points, because from here the ferry from Denmark to Sweden starts.
From there they drove to Oslo to continue via the Atlantic route.
Mario and Anna mainly visited the western part of the country; from Trollstigen, Geirangen via Preikestolen to Kjerag and Kristiansand they saw almost everything.
The entire route:

4,500 kilometers traveled
From Denmark via Sweden to Norway
From Oslo to the Atlantic route
Trollstigen, Geirangen via Preikestolen to Kjerag and Kristiansand

Video: rooftop tent road trip

In the following video, Mario and Anna talk about their trip to Scandinavia.
They give you not only a glimpse of the beautiful nature in Norway and Sweden, but also details about costs and the route they took.
After 4,500 kilometers, both have a lot to tell.
It is worthwhile for anyone going to Scandinavia for the first time to watch the video.
The video is in German.
Turn on the subtitles in Youtube for a Dutch translation.
If you are a first-time camper and would like more information about camping with a rooftop tent, please contact CAMPWERK Netherlands or read the following article on starting camping (in German).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHHgfPrYaqA

Cost: ferry, Ikamper, fuel & groceries

All those planning a road trip through Norway should expect high prices, especially for alcohol, fuel and meat.
Mario and Anna were traveling in the Mercedes C Class (2017) of Mario’s stepfather.
This has an average fuel consumption of 6.3 liters/100km, for which they paid a total of 387 Euro for Diesel.
To travel between the islands, much of the budget was spent on ferry crossings.
In total they paid 237 Euro for the crossings including domestic trips and round trip.

Travel cost: 848.50 Euro p.p.

One time they were lucky.
In Norway on toll roads the license plate is photographed and the bill is sent home.
After six months still nothing arrived, but this would have cost about 50-100 Euro.
The rooftop tent would have cost new 4,380 Euro, however, they rented it for 16 days for 484 Euro.
The rooftop tent, measuring 2.10 m* 2.18 m, weighs 70 kg and thus fits most passenger cars.
In addition, they paid 261 Euro for food & drinks and 71 Euro for other expenses.
In total that means 1,697 Euro for everything, making a total of 848.50 Euro per person.

For all crossings: 237 Euros
Outward crossing: 81 Euro
Crossing back: 89 Euro
Automatic toll: 50-100 Euro
Mercedes C Class 2017 = average consumption of 6.3 liters Diesel: 387 Euros
Roof tent Ikamper new price: 4,380 Euro
Rent for 16 days: 484 Euros
Groceries: 261 Euros
Other expenses: 71 Euro (parking fees, etc.)
Camping equipment purchased: 52 Euros
Total cost 1697 Euro = 848.50 per person

Wild camping or camping?

This question regarding overnight stays is often asked on a road trip.
With the Ikamper rooftop tent, you basically have the ability to spend the night anywhere.
However, it is more a question of whether it is allowed in the country or area where you are traveling.
In Norway there is a minimum distance of 100 meters from other plots.
Camping plots cost between 15-28 Euro per night for 2 people with rooftop tent.
In total they paid 205 Euro, but spent much of the second half of their trip outdoors.
Camping has the advantage of being able to take a shower.
However, parking lots in Norway have good sanitary facilities.
In conclusion:

Parking lots = good sanitation facilities
Campgrounds = only to shower
100 m from a property plot is the rule
Overnight cost for 2 people with rooftop tent = 205 Euros
Per night 15-28 Euro with shower

Tips & tricks for your road trip

With such a trip, it is important to plan the route for the most part, but without losing sight of spontaneity.
You have to keep in mind, that in Norway for a similar distance you would travel in the Netherlands or Belgium, you need twice as much time.
What you don’t have to worry about is the maximum roof load of the car.
Even though this is 75 kg in many cases, you have to remember that this refers to the dynamic roof load.
So when the car is moving and not in idle.
In standstill, the roof of the car can handle much more weight.
So no worries when sleeping in the roof tent on the car.
Also very useful is the app “Park4night,” which lists parking and camping spots everywhere with reviews.
It is free and also offers photos of the spots.