A Road Sign Norway Guide for Campervans

Posted Jul 07, 2025

Overview of a Norwegian road in winter with the surrounding snow-covered landscape and several yellow and blue traffic signs.

blog author By Johanna Hansen shield verification Verified Expert

So, you're thinking of coming to Norway. But while you're here, you're most likely going to rent a car or campervan, for that matter. Being aware of what Norway's road signs mean is going to be crucial while you're here.

But there is a little good news coming your way. Because most Norwegian road signs follow international standards. There are only a few quirky ones that really stand out from the crowd. Think of signs like elk warning signs, toll checkpoints, and slippery road markers.

Here's a full breakdown of what you can expect when driving your camper rental in Norway, from our road signs and what they mean.

Warning Signs

As in most other countries you have traveled to, most warning road signs in Norway have a triangled shape with a red border, white background, as well as a black symbol of some sort. Unless it is a temporary sign, then the background will be yellow instead (do keep that in mind.) These signs are meant to tell if there is something ahead that you should watch out for.

Sign Description	Meaning
Rail crossing with 1 railway	Single railway crossing ahead. Be alert for trains.
Rail crossing with more than 1 railway	Multiple train tracks. Cross only when it's safe.
Railroad crossing with barriers	Train crossing ahead with safety barriers.
Railroad crossing without barriers	Train crossing ahead, no barriers present. Use extra caution.
Crossing for trams	Watch out for trams or rail vehicles.
Warning for traffic lights	Traffic signals ahead. Prepare to stop.
Movable bridge ahead	Bridge may open for boats. Expect delays.
Roundabout ahead	Circular intersection coming up. Yield on entry.
Uncontrolled crossroad ahead	No signs or signals. Yield to vehicles from the right.
Crossroad with side roads	Side roads enter from left and right. Check both sides.
Give way to all traffic	You must yield to all vehicles.
Norwegian stop sign	Full stop required before proceeding.
Road narrows (general)	Road becomes narrower ahead. Prepare to slow down.
Road narrows on left	Left lane or side is narrowing. Keep right.
Road narrows on right	Right lane or side is narrowing. Keep left.
Two-way traffic ahead	Road changes from one-way to two-way. Stay alert.
Road bends to the right	Curve to the right coming up. Slow down and stay in lane.
Road bends to the left	Curve to the left coming up. Adjust speed accordingly.
Steep ascent ahead	Uphill grade ahead. Use appropriate gear.
Steep descent ahead	Downhill slope ahead. Check your brakes.
Slippery road surface ahead	Reduced traction possible. Slow down.
Loose chippings ahead	Gravel or loose stones. Risk of skidding or damage.
Poor road surface ahead	Uneven or damaged road. Drive with caution.
Speed bumps in road	Speed-reducing bumps ahead. Slow down.
Roadworks ahead	Construction work in progress.
Heavy crosswinds area	Strong lateral winds possible. Keep firm grip on steering.
Tunnel warning	Tunnel entrance ahead. Switch on headlights.
Quayside or riverbank ahead	No barriers ahead. Risk of falling into water.
Low-flying aircraft warning	Aircraft noise or sudden appearance overhead.
Soft verge warning	Road edge may collapse. Stay centered on road.
Warning for accidents	High accident area or recent crash. Stay alert.
Warning for traffic jams	Congestion ahead. Be prepared to slow or stop.
Pedestrian crossing ahead	Watch for people crossing. Reduce speed.
Children nearby	School or playground zone. Expect kids in the area.
Warning for skiers	Possible skiers crossing. Common in winter zones.
Warning for cyclists	Bicycles may enter or cross the road. Share the road.
Warning for equestrians	Horse riders ahead. Drive calmly.
Moose Crossing	Hotspot for Moose to cross. Be alert.
Reindeer on road	Watch for reindeer in the area. Seasonal migration zones.
Deer crossing	Wild deer may cross the road. Stay cautious.
Cattle crossing	Livestock crossing area. Slow down and watch for farmers.

Priority Signs

Priority Norwegian road signs usually tell you who gets to go first. You can easily identify them by their diamond-shaped, inverted triangles or octagons. These signs are to manage traffic flow, especially at intersections, single-lane tunnels, or narrow rural roads where one vehicle must give way.

Collage of different priority signs that can be found on Norwegian roads with their distinctive diamond shape and yellow color.

Sign Description	Meaning
Priority road ahead	You're on a main road. You have the right of way.
Priority road ends	Priority status ends. Yield at upcoming intersections.
Give way to all traffic	Yield to vehicles from all directions.
Give way to oncoming traffic (road narrows)	Let oncoming cars pass before proceeding.
Priority over oncoming traffic (road narrows)	You have the right of way when the road narrows.
Roundabout ahead	Circular intersection is coming. Prepare to yield.
Direction of traffic on roundabout	Arrows indicate required circulation direction in roundabout.
Uncontrolled crossroad ahead	No signs or signals. Yield to the vehicle on your right.
Crossroad with side roads (T- or X-junction)	Side roads connect ahead. Expect cross traffic.

Prohibitory Signs

Prohibitory road sings in Norway tend to be circular with red borders. They are meant to tell you what not to do. This includes everything like no entry, overtaking as well as speed limits and restrictions such as weight, height, or type of vehicle.

Collage of prohibition traffic signs found on Norwegian roads.

Sign Description	Meaning
Entry not allowed / forbidden	No vehicles may enter from this direction.
Entry not allowed (checkpoint)	Restricted access ahead. Usually a border or toll point.
No entry (one-way traffic)	One-way street. Do not enter from this side.
Give way to oncoming traffic	Oncoming vehicles have the right of way.
Speed limit	Maximum speed allowed.
Speed limit ends	End of the previous speed restriction.
Begin of zone with speed limit	Area-wide speed restriction begins.
End of zone with speed limit	Area-wide speed restriction ends.
Overtaking not allowed	Passing other vehicles is prohibited.
Overtaking prohibited for trucks	Trucks may not overtake here.
End of overtaking prohibition	Overtaking is now permitted again.
End of overtaking prohibition for trucks	Trucks may now overtake again.
No turning / u-turn allowed	U-turns are not permitted.
Turning left prohibited	No left turns allowed at the junction.
Turning right prohibited	No right turns allowed at the junction.
No parking	Parking is not allowed.
Stopping and parking forbidden	No stopping or parking at any time.
Begin of no parking zone	No parking zone starts here.
End of no parking zone	No parking zone ends.
Vehicles over weight limit prohibited	Vehicles heavier than shown are not allowed.
Trucks heavier than indicated prohibited	Only applies to trucks. Check weight limit.
Trucks with trailer heavier than indicated prohibited	Combined weight of truck and trailer restricted.
Vehicles over axle weight limit prohibited	Axle load exceeds allowed limit. Forbidden.
Vehicles wider than indicated prohibited	Too-wide vehicles are not allowed.
Vehicles longer than indicated prohibited	Vehicles exceeding length limit not allowed.
Height restriction ahead	Vehicles taller than indicated are not permitted.
Lorries / Trucks forbidden	All heavy trucks are prohibited.
Tractors prohibited	No farm vehicles allowed on this road.
Motorcycles and cars prohibited	Both cars and motorcycles are not allowed.
Motorcycles prohibited	Two-wheel motor vehicles are forbidden.
Cyclists not permitted	Bicycles not allowed on this road.
Pedestrians not permitted	No foot traffic allowed.
Pedestrians and cyclists prohibited	Neither walkers nor cyclists may use this road.
Equestrians prohibited	Horse riders not allowed.
Vehicles with dangerous goods prohibited	Hazardous cargo not permitted on this road.

Mandatory Signs

Mandatory Norwegian signs have a blue background with white symbols. Mandatory signs are exactly what the name suggests. They tell you what you must do. Let's say, for example, what direction you should follow when entering a roundabout or when you should be using snow chains during winter. You will most likely spot them often on mountain roads, ferry crossings, or places with strict weather safety rules.

Mandatory signs in Norway with their characteristic round shape, blue background color, and white icons.

Sign Description	Meaning
Ahead only	Continue straight ahead. No turns allowed.
Turning right compulsory	Right turn is mandatory at the intersection.
Left turn mandatory	You must turn left at the junction.
Driving straight ahead or turning left mandatory	You can either go straight or turn left only.
Driving straight ahead or turning right mandatory	You can either go straight or turn right only.
Turning left or right mandatory	You must turn either left or right. No straight through.
Pass on right only	You must pass the obstacle or divider on the right side.
Passing left compulsory	You must pass the obstacle or divider on the left side
Direction of traffic on roundabout	You must drive in the indicated direction inside the roundabout.

Informative Signs

Informative Norwegian road signs are often square in shape with white or blue backgrounds and white or black symbols inside. Their purpose is to help you rather than to regulate. These signs indicate things like distance, tunnels, speed cameras, types of roads, and other general information that will help you understand what's coming up ahead.

Collage of informative road signs in a square shape with a blue background and white icons.

Sign Description	Meaning
Beginning of a residential area	Entering a residential zone. Expect lower speed limits.
End of the residential area	Leaving a residential zone. Normal rules resume.
Beginning of a pedestrian zone	Area restricted to foot traffic. No vehicles allowed.
End of the pedestrian zone	End of foot traffic area. Vehicles may enter.
Beginning of a parking zone	Designated parking starts here.
End of the parking zone	Parking zone ends. Restrictions may apply beyond this point.
Parking permitted	Parking allowed in this area.
Pedestrian crossing	Pedestrians have right of way at crossing.
Road ahead is a dead end	No through traffic. Turnaround may be needed.
Dead end with pedestrian/cyclist passage	No cars beyond this point, but foot/bike path continues.
Motorway begins	Start of a motorway. Follow motorway rules.
Motorway ends	Leaving motorway. Expect normal traffic conditions.
Begin of an expressway	Entering a limited-access road. Higher speed allowed.
End of the expressway	Exiting expressway. Speed limit may drop.
One-way traffic	Road only allows traffic in one direction.
Two lanes merging	Lanes combine ahead. Merge safely.
End of a lane	Your lane ends soon. Prepare to merge.
Begin of a new lane	A new driving lane begins.
Temporary lane direction change	Watch for altered lane flow ahead.
Lane usage and direction overview	Visual guide showing allowed lane directions.
Roundabout directions info	Indicates how to navigate the roundabout.
Information about the next exit	Shows details of the upcoming exit.

Service Signs

These Norwegian signs and symbols can be divided into two categories. The service signs are usually square with a blue or brown square frame. Service signs with a blue frame points to essential services like gas stations, motorhome waste disposal, first aid, etc. On the other hand if you spot service signs with a brown border then that indicates to cultural or touristic attractions. These signs are really helpful for people with campervans who are driving through remote areas.

Blue Service Signs (Essential Services)

Sign Description	Meaning
Radio	Emergency messages broadcast on local radio.
First Aid	Medical help or first aid station nearby.
Emergency Phone (SOS)	Roadside emergency telephone.
Fire Extinguisher	Location of fire safety equipment.
Workshop	Auto repair or mechanical service available.
EV Charging	Electric vehicle charging station.
Fuel Station	Petrol or diesel available here.
Fuel with LPG	Fuel station offering LPG.
Motorhome Waste Disposal	Dump station for camper waste.
WC	Public restroom facility.
Rest Area	Area to stop and rest.
Rest Area with WC	Rest area including a toilet.
Café	Refreshments, snacks, or drinks available.
Restaurant	Dining facility available.
Campsite	Designated camping area.
Caravan Site	Parking for caravans or campervans.
Cabin Accommodation	Lodging available in cabins.
Camping with Cabins	Combined campsite and cabin area.
Bed and Breakfast	Private accommodation offering breakfast.
Hotel / Accommodation	General lodging facility.
Information Point	Tourist info sign or map available.
Tourist Office	Staffed information center.

Brown Service Signs (Tourist & Cultural Attractions)

General view of a paved Norwegian road near a desert landscape with a sign erected with its distinctive icon indicating the proximity of an area of interest to tourists.

Sign Description	Meaning
Place of Interest	Tourist or cultural attraction nearby.
Museum	Historical or cultural museum.
Scenic Viewpoint	Area with panoramic views.
Monument	Important local landmark or monument.
Nature Reserve	Protected natural area.
Historic Site	Cultural or archaeological site.
Fortress / Castle	Historic military structure.
Swimming	Designated swimming area.
Fishing	Area where fishing is allowed.
Hiking Trail	Start of a walking route.
Skiing / Winter Hike	Winter hiking or ski trail.
Bicycle Route	Path or road suitable for cyclists.
Farm Shop	Fresh local produce
Cultural Experience	Cultural event, heritage site.

Direction Signs

This might sound obvious, but direction signs are there to direct you toward destinations, exits, or route numbers. They also come in different colors. Green is for major highways, blue is for main roads, and yellow indicates local or detour routes. You can spot them by their long, rectangular shape. They will also most likely have arrows, place names, and distance info displayed on them.

Direction and Route Guidance Signs

Sign Description	Meaning
Yellow Direction Signs	Show directions to towns, exits, or local destinations.
Green Route Signs (E-roads)	Mark European highways like E6, E18. Long-distance roads.
Blue Route Signs	Mark national or regional routes.
White Route Numbers	Local road numbers or temporary diversions.
Roundabout Direction Info	Layout and exit direction for upcoming roundabout.
Lane Use Signs	Arrows showing permitted lane movements.
Detour Symbols (Orange/Black)	Temporary routes during road closures or construction. However, you can also receive prior information before starting your road trip thanks to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Bicycle Direction Signs	Direction and distances to cycling routes.
Tourist Attraction Symbol	Cultural or historic point of interest.
Service Route for Trucks	Designated truck-friendly roads.

Transport and Toll Symbols

Overview of a toll road in Norway, with several traffic signs in the background indicating this and other information, such as the price to be paid.

Sign Description	Meaning
Ferry	Ferry crossing location
Airport	Location of a nearby airport.
Helipad	Helicopter landing site.
Bus Station	Long-distance or regional bus stop.
Train Station	Rail service nearby.
Parking	General parking area.
Parking Garage	Indoor parking facility.
Toll Road (Kr symbol)	Road charges a toll.
Toll Booth (hand and money symbols)	Indicates manual or automatic toll stations.
Toll by Card	Accepts credit/debit card payments.
Toll Booth – Automatic	Automatic toll payment system.
Toll with Camera	ANPR or video tolling system.

Other Services and Facilities

Sign Description	Meaning
Swimming	Public swimming area or facility.
Shopping Cart	Shopping center or retail store.
Church	Nearby place of worship.
Factory	Industrial or business zone.
Fishing / Angling	Permitted fishing area.
Winter Sports	Recreational winter activities in the area.
Golf Course	Golfing facility available.
Cultural Site	Site with cultural or traditional significance.

Supplementary Signs

Supplementary Norway road signs are easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled for them. They're usually placed underneath other signs. They come in the form of a small rectangle and will give you extra info on things such as when a rule applies, which types of vehicles it affects, or how far a restriction goes.

A triangular sign in Norway indicates a downhill by means of the icon of a steep hill with 10%.

Sign Description	Meaning
Distance (100 m)	The rule or restriction applies in 100 meters.
Range (0.2–1.3 km)	The restriction applies over this distance.
Time Limit (08–17, red = weekend)	Valid during listed hours. Red numbers = Sundays/public holidays.
Applies to passenger cars	Restriction applies only to cars.
Applies to trucks	Restriction applies only to lorries/trucks.
Applies to buses	Restriction applies only to buses.
Applies to articulated vehicles	Applies to trucks with trailers.
Applies to caravans	Restriction affects caravans.
Applies to bicycles	Rule applies to cyclists.
Applies to motorcycles	Rule applies to motorbikes.
Applies to disabled vehicles	For vehicles with a disabled permit.
Applies to motorhomes	Only affects campers or RVs.
Exemption: Bus & Taxi	Buses and taxis are not affected by the rule above.
Applies to right turn	Direction-specific sign (here: right).
Speed advisory (e.g., 40 km/h)	Recommended or mandatory speed limit.
Steep hill (10%)	Steep grade. Indicates uphill or downhill.
Steep descent (9%) with gear advice	Downhill slope. Use low gear.
Width restriction (e.g., 3.5 m)	Vehicles wider than this are prohibited.
Applies to agricultural vehicles	Only applies to tractors or similar vehicles.
Accident-prone area	Caution: high accident frequency zone.
Crossroad layout	Clarifies intersection layout.
Stop ahead (150 m)	Stop sign ahead in 150 meters.
Applies to both cycling directions	Rule applies in both directions for cyclists.
Two-way traffic begins	Two-way traffic starts.
One-way traffic begins	One-way traffic starts here.
One-way traffic ends	One-way traffic ends here.
Parking time limit (2 hours)	Max allowed parking duration (blue = paid or regulated).
Time + vehicle type	Restriction applies during stated times and only to specified vehicles.

Marker Signs

Marker signs are the lifesavers of Norwegian road signs. They are not there to regulate traffic but rather to help you stay safe. They're meant to mark road edges, obstacles, bridge widths, tunnel distances, and more. You'll really appreciate their presence, especially when driving through snow, fog, or winding roads.

Sign Description	Meaning
Chevron Board	Indicates a sharp curve
Chevron (V-shape, both sides)	Curve or obstacle in both directions (often central barriers).
Obstacle Marker – Right Side	Marks side edge of an obstacle.
Vertical Marker (Black/Yellow)	Road edge or obstacle
Stripe Barrier Marker	Indicates a physical barrier.
Alternate Black/White Pole	Road edge marker (reflective).
Distance Marker Sign (e.g., 9 km/2 km)	Shows remaining distances for one-way/two-way segments.
Traffic Cone – Broad Reflective Band	Temporary lane control or roadwork area.
Flexible Pole – Narrow Reflective Band	Used in construction zones or temporary detours.

Mastering Norwegian Road Signs Before Hitting the Road

We've covered nearly every Norwegian road sign there is. From the normal to the not-so-normal road signs. With this newfound knowledge, you will be able to navigate just about anywhere now with ease.

Whether you're going into the highlands or sticking to the coastal regions, being road sign-savvy makes a huge difference. If you're planning to explore our beautiful country at your own pace, then why not rent a campervan in Norway through us?

Our booking office is open 24/7, and we're always ready to assist you with anything possible. Hope to see you on the road soon!