Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to hire in Finland, listed by private owners and local hire businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for campervan hire in Europe, then book online with insurance included.
Campervan hire in Finland is a quiet, spacious way to see lakes, forest and Lapland, with empty roads and no tolls. Plan on roughly €55–€180 a night (about €400–€1,250 a week), most of it in the June to August season. The best months are June to August, when the days are longest and the north has midnight sun. The right to roam is generous, but it covers tents and walkers, not driving off the road, and a van is treated as a vehicle.
Finland quick facts
| Typical hire price | About €55–€180 a night, €400–€1,250 a week (peak is June to August) |
|---|---|
| Best months | June to August for midnight sun and the warmest weather; late August to October for autumn colour; winter only if the van is equipped for it |
| Drive on the | Right |
| Licence | UK licences are recognised; no IDP needed with a UK photocard |
| Tolls and vignettes | None: Finland has no toll roads or toll bridges |
| Low-emission zones | No national low-emission zone or visitor sticker scheme; follow any local signs in city centres |
| Overnight rules | Jokamiehenoikeus covers temporary camping on foot, not driving off-road; vans stay on roads, in car parks and on campsites |
Where you can stay overnight
Finland has a wide spread of campsites and caravan areas, many with electricity, water and waste disposal and often by a lake or beach. Several national parks and nature areas also list caravan or campervan spaces. There is no aire-style national network, so a quick search of campsites near your overnight stop is part of daily planning.
Jokamiehenoikeus (everyone's right) and vehicles
The Ministry of the Environment says everyone may stay or set up camp temporarily in areas where access is otherwise allowed, at a reasonable distance from homes. The same page says you may not drive a motor vehicle off the road without the landowner's permission, and may not light a campfire without it. Metsähallitus, which manages state land, repeats those two limits and adds that camping can be restricted or banned in protected areas, and in national parks it is only allowed at designated sites.
The official pages describe the right in terms of tents and walking, and none gives a motorhome a general right to stop anywhere. What that means in practice:
- Do not drive onto forest tracks, meadows or beaches. Off-road driving needs the landowner's permission.
- Overnight parking in a van is a matter of the Road Traffic Act and local signs. The Ruka-Kuusamo tourism site says that parking, and sleeping in the vehicle, is allowed where traffic signs do not prohibit it and the vehicle does not obstruct the road, and that one or two days is generally considered reasonable. This comes from a tourism source rather than the ministry, so treat it as guidance, not a legal right.
- Do not light a campfire or use a disposable grill without the landowner's permission, and keep the stop low-key: park, sleep and move on.
- In national parks and nature reserves, park only in official parking areas.
- Use a campsite when you need to empty waste or want a pitch near a town.
For a hire van the safe approach is campsites most nights and a signed, legal car park or rest area only now and then.
Driving it in a campervan
Tolls. Finland has no toll roads or toll bridges. Visit Finland says roads are funded through taxation. You still pay for fuel, ferries to the islands and any city parking, but not for motorways.
Speed limits. Limits are 30–50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h on rural roads, according to Visit Finland, and motorways are 120 km/h in summer and 100 km/h in winter. Speed cameras are used. Headlights must be on at all times. The alcohol limit is 0.05%. Read the Visit Finland driving guide for the rest. Check your hire agreement for any lower limit that applies to a heavy motorhome.
Wildlife. Elk and reindeer are a real hazard on Finnish roads. If reindeer are on the road in Lapland, Visit Finland's advice is to slow to a stop and let them move on in their own time.
Winter tyres and winter driving
The winter tyre law applies from 1 November to 31 March, whenever the weather or road surface requires them, according to the Finnish police. It covers passenger cars and vans, and the police judge whether conditions needed them: if it is slippery you must not drive on summer tyres, and checks led to 75 fines and 36 traffic penalty fees between November and January in one winter. The minimum tread depth is 3.0 mm. Traficom adds that non-studded winter tyres must carry the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol from the start of December. Ask the hire company what is fitted before you book a winter trip, and whether the van is insulated and has a heater that works at minus 20 degrees. Rovaniemi winters run at minus 10 to minus 20 °C, and Lapland can reach minus 30, according to Visit Finland.
Midnight sun and long nights
June and July bring the light nights of the midnight sun across Finland, according to Visit Finland's climate guide. North of the Arctic Circle the sun does not set at all for a period: in Rovaniemi from about 6 June to 7 July, and for longer further north. July is the warmest month; Visit Finland gives about 20 °C for Helsinki and 18.5 °C for Rovaniemi. The flip side is kaamos, the polar night, when the sun does not rise at all in the far north, around Utsjoki, from late November to mid-January.
New to a big van? See how to drive a campervan for the first time.
Licence, insurance and entry
Finland recognises UK licences, and the UK government says you do not need an IDP with a UK photocard licence. Finland is in the EU and the Schengen area, so UK passports need to be under 10 years old and valid for three months after you leave, with up to 90 days in any 180. Hire insurance is included in a booking; see the insurance guide. A GHIC card covers state healthcare in the EU.
Route ideas
- Helsinki, the south coast and Porvoo, 4–5 days. Easy driving, coastal campsites and a day in the capital by tram or ferry.
- Lakeland loop, 7–10 days. From Helsinki to Tampere, Savonlinna and Kuopio through Finland's lakes. Best June to August.
- Oulu to Rovaniemi and Lapland, 10–14 days. Long, empty roads, national parks and the Arctic Circle. September brings autumn colours.
- Finland and Norway, 14 days or more. Continue north to the Arctic coast, then see Norway for its different overnight rules.
When to go and booking tips
Book summer hire early, since the season is short. June and July have the midnight sun; August has darker nights again, and September is good for walking and colour. Winter hire is for experienced winter drivers who want northern lights, and needs a van with proper heating. Check mileage, a second driver and the excess, and read the cost guide. Before travelling look at the documents guide. Dog owners can see the dog-friendly page.
Where to pick up
Pick-ups are usually in the Helsinki area, with some further north. Search with your dates to see what is listed, and compare it with options on the wider Europe hub.
Finland campervan FAQs
Can I wild camp in a campervan in Finland?
Not under everyone's right. That covers tents on foot, and the ministry says you may not drive off-road without permission. A van can stay where parking is allowed and signs do not forbid it, but check local rules and use campsites most nights.
Are there tolls in Finland?
No. There are no toll roads or toll bridges.
Do I need winter tyres?
From 1 November to 31 March, when weather or road conditions need them, yes. The minimum tread is 3.0 mm.
When is the midnight sun?
June and July bring light nights across the country. North of the Arctic Circle the sun does not set for a period around midsummer: in Rovaniemi from about 6 June to 7 July.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Not with a UK photocard licence, according to the UK government.
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