Vegfar
Atlantic Ocean Road
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Atlantic Ocean Road

Hustadvika, Møre og Romsdal · Atlanterhavsvegen

Photo: Arno van den Tillaart / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Length
36 km
Drive time
1 h
Season
Year-round
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Between Bud and Kårvåg the road leaps across a low archipelago on a chain of eight bridges, the most famous being the curling Storseisundet bridge that appears, from the right angle, to launch into the sky. On calm days it is serene; when Atlantic storms roll in, waves break over the carriageway and crowds gather to watch. Rest areas and fishing spots line the route and the surrounding shallows are rich with seals and seabirds.

CoastArchitectureExposed / weatherEasy driving

Highlights

  • Storseisundet Bridge

    architecture

    The signature cantilever bridge whose curve hides the far side until you crest it.

  • Eldhusøya

    architecture

    An islet with a looping walkway and café that floats above the heather.

    Design / art: Ghilardi + Hellsten Architects

Common questions

Where is the Atlantic Ocean Road?
It is in Møre og Romsdal in northwest Norway, running between Kårvåg on the island of Averøya and Vevang on the mainland. It forms part of County Road 64, roughly half an hour west of Kristiansund.
What is the Atlantic Ocean Road called in Norwegian?
Atlanterhavsvegen in Nynorsk and Atlanterhavsveien in Bokmål. You will see both spellings on signs and maps, and English sources also shorten it to the Atlantic Road. They all mean the same stretch of County Road 64.
How long is the Atlantic Ocean Road?
The bridge section itself is 8.3 km, about 5.2 miles, and takes only 15 minutes to cross without stopping. The signposted National Tourist Route around it, from Bud to Kårvåg, runs about 36 km and is worth a full hour or more once you stop at the viewpoints.
Is there a toll on the Atlantic Ocean Road?
No. The road opened on 7 July 1989 having cost 122 million kroner, a quarter of it funded by tolls. The debt was cleared early and the toll was removed in June 1999, so the drive has been free ever since.
How many bridges are on the Atlantic Ocean Road?
Eight. The famous one is Storseisundet Bridge, which curves so sharply that from the right angle the far side disappears and the road looks like it launches into the sky.
When was the Atlantic Ocean Road built?
It opened on 7 July 1989. Building it was brutal: the area was hit by twelve hurricanes during construction.
Why is the Atlantic Ocean Road famous?
The Norwegian construction industry named it Construction of the Century in 2005, and The Guardian called it the world's best road trip in 2006. It is protected as a cultural heritage site, is classified as a National Tourist Route, and more than ten carmakers have shot television commercials along it.
How do you get to the Atlantic Ocean Road?
The signposted scenic route runs between Kårvåg on Averøya and the village of Bud, along County Road 64. Coming from Kristiansund you take the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel, opened in December 2009, which passes under the fjord to Averøya. Together the tunnel and the road form a fixed link between Kristiansund and Molde, so the drive works as a day trip from either town. The Kårvåg end sits at 63.0116 north, 7.4250 east and the Bud end at 62.9073 north, 6.9142 east.
Where should you stop along the Atlantic Ocean Road?
Norwegian Scenic Routes signposts seven rest areas and viewpoints: Kjeksa, Askevågen, Farstadsanden, Hågå, Myrbærholmbrua, Eldhusøya and Geitøya. Askevågen has a pier looking straight out over Hustadvika, and the raised walkway on Eldhusøya is a circular route built to be accessible to everyone.
What is the Atlantic Ocean Road like to drive?
Narrower than the photographs suggest. The carriageway is 6.5 metres wide with a maximum gradient of eight percent, and the whole route sits between sea level and roughly 30 metres above it, which is exactly why you feel so close to the water. It is open all year, though in heavy weather waves break over the carriageway and the road can be closed briefly for safety.
Can you cycle the Atlantic Ocean Road?
Yes, and it is signposted. The route forms part of National Cycle Route 1 along the Norwegian coast, which between Bergen and Nordkapp also carries EuroVelo 1, the Atlantic Coast Route. Watch for strong crosswinds on the bridges, and expect a fair amount of traffic in high season.
What else is there to do around the Atlantic Ocean Road?
Fishing from the Myrbærholm Bridge, where the scenic route reckons a catch is almost guaranteed. A coastal path runs through Farstadsanden and Vevang, and from Bud you can walk past the Ergan Coastal Fort out towards the open sea. Boats to the island of Grip, 14 km northwest of Kristiansund, take about an hour.