📷 Photo by Rino Falstad on UnsplashSouthern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen
Norway’s southern tip, the North Sea road through Egersund and the cliff above Lysefjord.
- Distance
- 282 km (175 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 53 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 5
- Countries
- Norway
- Updated
- June 4, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 282 km (175 mi) with 5 stops, from Kristiansand to Preikestolen. About 3 h 53 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Norway
Route description
From Kristiansand follow the E39 west through Mandal, then turn off towards the coast for Lindesnes Lighthouse, at the southernmost point of mainland Norway. The headland has the oldest lighthouse in the country and bunkers from the Second World War.
Continue on the E39 to Flekkefjord and switch to road 44 along the North Sea coast, a slower, winding road through bare rocky hills to Egersund, a small town of white wooden houses. North of Egersund the landscape flattens into the farmland and long sandy beaches of Jæren.
Stavanger has a well-preserved quarter of white wooden houses by the harbour and a museum of the Norwegian oil industry. From here the Ryfylke tunnel runs under the fjord towards Jørpeland and the start of the Preikestolen trail.
The hike to Preikestolen takes about four hours there and back, with rocky, uneven sections, and the car park is busy in summer, so start early. Norwegian roads and tunnels have automatic tolls registered by number plate, and the best season for the hike is from late spring to early autumn.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Kristiansand
Norway - 273 km
Lindesnes Lighthouse
ViewsLindesnes, NorwayNorway’s southernmost mainland point and oldest lighthouse, with bunkers from the Second World War.
- 3101 km
Egersund
Norway - 475 km
Stavanger
Norway - 533 km
Preikestolen
NatureJørpeland, NorwayA flat rock platform 604 m above the Lysefjord, about four hours there and back on foot.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Kristiansand → Lindesnes Lighthouse · 73 km · 1 h 01 minOvernight nearby, for example: Lomsesanden Familiecamping (18 km); Båly bobilparkering (9 km).
- Day 2: Lindesnes Lighthouse → Egersund · 101 km · 1 h 23 minOvernight nearby, for example: Steinsnes Naf Camping (3 km); Ogna camping (16 km).
- Day 3: Egersund → Preikestolen · 107 km · 1 h 29 minOn the way: Stavanger.Overnight nearby, for example: Preikestolen Camping (6 km); Landa Park (10 km).
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Norway: Electronic tolls by number plate. Automatic toll roads and toll rings; many routes include car ferries. Motorway limit for cars: 110 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Southern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen?
3-day road trip of about 282 km (175 mi) with 5 stops, from Kristiansand to Preikestolen. About 3 h 53 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Southern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 53 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Southern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen start and end?
It starts in Kristiansand and ends in Preikestolen.
Which countries does Southern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen pass through?
Norway.
Where can you camp along Southern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen?
OpenStreetMap lists 59 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Hamre Familiecamping, Isefjærleiren and Åros Feriesenter.
When is the best time for Southern Norway: Kristiansand to Preikestolen?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
