In Norway, Oslo, the country’s capital, and Stavanger are not 200 miles apart, but getting from one city to another by land takes much longer than expected. Traveling between Oslo and Stavanger isn’t exactly a direct shot. There are four different travel options with pros and cons to consider.
By air
This is definitely the fastest option. You can travel from Oslo to Stavanger or from Stavanger back to Oslo with a direct 50 minute flight. The airlines serving the popular Oslo-Stavanger route are typically Norwegian, SAS and Wideroe with regular flights. When booked in advance, a one-way trip is not extremely expensive, and Norwegian Air is often the cheapest option. Pros and cons? It’s quick and painless, but it’s also one of the more expensive options.
By train
If you want to relax and have a beautiful view along the southern coast of Norway, use the train from Oslo to Stavanger. The bad news is that the train from Oslo to Stavanger takes about eight hours. But if you have time for a scenic trip and you buy Minipris (Norwegian) tickets in advance, the one-way ticket should be cheaper than the airfare. You can make advance train reservations for this and other Norwegian routes with Rail Europe.
By car
Driving is the flexibility option. If you are renting a car in Oslo (or Stavanger) and want to drive the 300 miles (500 kilometers) to the other city, know that there are two options that include motorways and a longer one that does not. Either way the whole tour will take a whole day so expect to be on the road for a while. You can also consider the time of year to drive safely. In winter, for example, road conditions can be bad thanks to snow and ice.
- The fastest option (nine hours) from Oslo to Stavanger is to take the E18 and then turn onto roads 41 and 42 west. From Stavanger to Oslo, first follow Highway 42, Highway 41 and then E18 East.
- The inland route takes a little longer (nine and a half hours). From Oslo to Stavanger, use the E134, then highway 37, join the E134 again and take the E39 for the last leg to Stavanger. From Stavanger to Oslo, just reverse the route.
- If you want to avoid the toll roads between Oslo and Stavanger, follow the second route described, but (coming from Oslo) turn onto Highway 13 in a southwesterly direction towards Stavanger. From Stavanger to Oslo, head northeast on Highway 13 first and meet the E134 later. This takes about 10 hours.
By bus
Nor-Way Bussekspress and Lavprisekspressen operate buses between Oslo and Stavanger. It’s a long 10 hour drive. The bus between Oslo and Stavanger costs roughly the same as the train, which is faster, more punctual and more comfortable. So although you can take the bus, it is not the optimal option.
