🇳🇴 Cross-border drive · Norway → Sweden 🇸🇪
Driving from Oslo to Uppsala
Road trip guide for the 500km journey from Oslo to Uppsala, covering border crossings, driving habits in Norway and Sweden, and key route highlights.
- Drive time
- 6h 47m
- Distance
- 500 km
- Same day?
- Yes, doable
- under 8 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €66
- petrol · diesel ≈ €61
- Tolls
- Toll-free
- no charges en route
- EV charging
- Unknown
- not yet surveyed
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Alternative
+1h 4m- Distance:
- 533 km (+33 km)
- Duration:
- 7h 52m
Via: E 18; E 20 · E 16 · E 18 · S 716
Avoids motorways
+1h 41m- Distance:
- 518 km (+18 km)
- Duration:
- 8h 29m
Via: E 18 · 55 · E 20 · E 18; 243
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
6h 47m
500 km · €66 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
500 km is far beyond a typical multi-day cycle tour. Try a shorter pair like a day or weekend stage.
No direct service
Our coach data (FlixBus + BlaBlaCar) doesn't list a direct service for this pair. National operators (e.g., National Express in the UK, Eurolines feeders) may still cover it — check their site directly.
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on May 1, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You depart Oslo via the E18 heading east, where the urban sprawl quickly gives way to the dense forests and rolling lake districts that define the borderlands between Norway and Sweden. The transition is subtle, marked mostly by the change in signage style once you cross into Sweden at Ørje. While both nations share a strict zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving and a standard motorway speed limit of 110 km/h, the pace of traffic in Sweden feels slightly more measured, particularly as you transition from the major transit artery of the E18 onto the secondary roads winding toward Uppsala. Keep your headlights on at all times, as this is a legal requirement on both sides of the border.
As you skirt the northern edge of Lake Mälaren, the character of the drive changes from heavy industrial traffic to classic Nordic countryside. The route takes you through the E20 corridors, which are generally well-maintained and free of tolls, unlike some of the bridge crossings you might encounter elsewhere in the region. Be aware that autumn weather can bring sudden low-light conditions and heavy mist off the water, especially near the intersections of Route 55. While the motorway sections are straightforward, the final stretch into Uppsala involves navigating busier regional roads where local tractor traffic and wildlife crossings are common.
Plan your fuel stops before you hit the main junctions around Stockholm if you intend to bypass the city core, as service stations become more sporadic once you pivot north toward your destination. There are no vignettes to purchase for either country, but ensure your vehicle is prepared for variable conditions if you are traveling outside of the summer months, as frost can appear on shaded stretches of road early in the season. The approach to Uppsala is distinct; watch for signs directing you through the ring roads, as the city center is pedestrian-heavy and not designed for easy through-traffic.
Route highlights
- The forested border crossing at Ørje
- The scenic drive along the northern rim of Lake Mälaren
- The approach to Uppsala's historic university district via Route 55
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Long day — start early
Doable in one day but it is a full day behind the wheel. Start before 9am, plan one proper lunch stop, keep the driver rested.
- Distance:
- 500 km
- Duration:
- 6h 47m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Kristinehamn 🇸🇪 se
≈250 km≈ 14.8 km detour from the main route
-
Arboga 🇸🇪 se
≈375 km≈ 8.2 km detour from the main route
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Cross-border drive · NO → SE
You'll leave one country and enter another on this trip. Keep your ID close, even inside Schengen, and check current border-control status before you go.
Long rural stretch on 55
Plan for about 30 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
AutoPASS toll cameras with no booth — register your plate
Must knowEvery Norwegian toll point is an overhead camera, no booths. Foreign plates: either pre-register on epass24.com (the central platform for visitors) or wait for the invoice to reach your home address — typically 3–6 months later, with no late fee for the first 30 days. AutoPASS-certified transponder rented before crossing skips the admin entirely.
Fuel stations
Contactless cards work at virtually every motorway pump
TipMajor brand stations (Shell, Total, BP, Repsol, Cepsa, OMV, Eni, Esso) take Visa and Mastercard contactless without an issue. American Express and Diners are spotty south of the Alps. A €100 pre-authorisation hold is normal — it releases within 5 days. Carry €50 cash for the rare independent station.
Emergency & breakdown
112 works everywhere in the EU and continental neighbours
TipSingle number for police, ambulance, fire — works from any phone, any network, any country. On motorways, the orange SOS pillars every 2km connect direct to the regional traffic control centre and pinpoint your location. Use them over your phone if you can — it speeds the response.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
E 18 Askimveien257 km
-
E 18; E 20 Arbogavägen127 km
-
E 18; 243 Örebrovägen40 km
-
55 —37 km
-
E 6 Europaveien19 km
-
E 18; E 20; 50 Västerleden7 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 91%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 9%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Challenging
Long day with at least one complicating factor. Split into two days or share the driving.
- Long drive: 6h 47m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: no → se. Keep documents accessible and check border rules.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €66
37.5 L × €1.76 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €61
30 L × €2.05 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €51
88 kWh × €0.59 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇳🇴 Oslo
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
-2°
-7°
|
1°
-6°
|
5°
-3°
|
11°
2°
|
18°
7°
|
20°
12°
|
21°
14°
|
19°
13°
|
17°
10°
|
10°
4°
|
3°
-1°
|
1°
-4°
|
| 100mm | 54mm | 55mm | 73mm | 44mm | 90mm | 157mm | 136mm | 110mm | 76mm | 59mm | 64mm |
hot mild cold
🇸🇪 Uppsala
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0°
-5°
|
1°
-4°
|
6°
-3°
|
10°
0°
|
17°
6°
|
21°
11°
|
22°
13°
|
20°
13°
|
18°
10°
|
10°
4°
|
4°
-1°
|
2°
-3°
|
| 50mm | 33mm | 39mm | 38mm | 31mm | 63mm | 128mm | 84mm | 67mm | 68mm | 51mm | 42mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Uppsala
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
🌧️
6° / 6°
2.1mm
-
Wed 13
🌧️
7° / 5°
67.7mm
-
Thu 14
⛅
14° / 6°
—
-
Fri 15
⛅
17° / 8°
1.8mm
-
Sat 16
⛅
16° / 10°
5mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 30 manoeuvres
- Grensen
- (E 18)
- Operatunnelen / Bjørvikatunnelen (E 18) 0.8 km
- Operatunnelen / Bjørvikatunnelen (E 6) 0.1 km
- Operatunnelen / Svartdalstunnelen (E 6) 1 km
- Europaveien (E 6)
- Europaveien (E 6) 3 km
- Enebakkveien (E 6) 3 km
- Europaveien (E 6) 12 km
- (E 18) 7 km
- Askimveien (E 18)
- Askimveien (E 18) 47 km
- Osloveien (E 18) 16 km
- (E 18)
- (E 18) 103 km
- (E 18)
- (E 18) 84 km
- Kristinehamnsvägen (E 18)
- Örebrovägen (E 18; 243) 0.1 km
- Örebrovägen (E 18; 243)
- Örebrovägen (E 18; 243) 40 km
- Västerleden (E 18; E 20; 50) 7 km
- Västerleden (E 18; E 20) 0.3 km
- Arbogavägen (E 18; E 20) 127 km
- (55) 7 km
- (55)
- (55) 30 km
- Luthagsesplanaden 3 km
- Kungsgatan
- Dragarbrunnsgatan
Frequently asked
Do I need a vignette to drive in Norway or Sweden?
No, neither Norway nor Sweden uses a vignette system for passenger vehicles. However, some specific bridges or urban toll rings in Norway may require electronic registration.
What is the speed limit on motorways between Oslo and Uppsala?
The standard motorway speed limit in both Norway and Sweden is 110 km/h, though you should always monitor local signage for temporary speed reductions near junctions or roadworks.
Are there major differences in driving laws between the two countries?
Both countries drive on the right, enforce a strict blood alcohol limit of 0.2, and require headlights to be illuminated at all times. The driving culture is very similar, though Sweden tends to have more rigorous enforcement of speed cameras.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, EU Weekly Oil Bulletin for cross-border fuel-price bands, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.