Taking a Motorhome to Sweden by Ferry

The shortest direct connection to Sweden, run by TT-Line and Stena Line. The crossing takes around six hours, and you don't need a cabin during the day. That makes this route the usual budget entry point for motorhomes. On TT-Line, the camper package cuts the length surcharge by up to 50 percent, which pays off especially for long vehicles.

Overnight to Skåne: Travemünde - Trelleborg

TT-Line sails from Travemünde to Trelleborg in seven to nine hours, both by day and by night. On night departures a cabin is compulsory, but in exchange you save a hotel night and arrive in southern Sweden rested the next morning.

Plenty of headroom: Travemünde - Malmö

Finnlines takes around nine hours to Malmö and, at 4.4 metres, allows the most vehicle height of any direct route. This is the connection for tall motorhomes and roof fittings that would hit the height limit elsewhere. Sailings run mostly in the evening and at night, when a cabin is included - and with a pet on board, it's compulsory anyway.

Arrive rested on the west coast: Kiel - Gothenburg

Stena Line's overnight ferry is the longest crossing at around 14.5 hours, and the only one with a cabin compulsory throughout: the vehicle deck stays closed for the whole crossing. In return, you save around 500 kilometres of driving compared with the route via Trelleborg and arrive straight into Gothenburg in the morning. For western and central Sweden, and onward travel north, this is the most relaxed option.

Via Denmark: Puttgarden - Rødby and Rostock - Gedser

Scandlines crosses the Fehmarn Belt in 45 minutes. From Rødby, the route continues through Zealand and over the Öresund Bridge, around two and a half hours in total to southern Sweden. There are no cabins on this route, and the ferry runs every half hour during the day. Pure ferry costs are low, but the bridge toll adds to the total.

If your route already takes you through the eastern side of Germany, the longer ferry from Rostock is often the more convenient choice, since it saves around two hours of driving through Denmark:

Both options are booked as a combined ticket, ferry and bridge in one step. Whether that works out cheaper than two separate bookings is shown on the prices page.

Travelling with a dog adds pet cabins and entry rules to the mix. Details are in the guide Taking a Dog to Sweden.

Vehicle dimensions and booking

Booking is done online with the ferry operator. The vehicle's dimensions determine the price, so they need to be stated precisely.

Getting your dimensions right

Motorhomes are grouped into length categories. The usual limits:

• Length: 10 to 12 metres can be booked online. Longer vehicles and trailer combinations usually go through the freight department by phone.
• Height: 4.0 metres with Stena Line, up to 4.4 metres with Finnlines. Roof fittings count.
• Width: 2.55 to 2.6 metres.

State the total length including any add-ons: bike racks, rear garages and tow bars all count. Even a few centimetres' difference can cause problems at check-in.

Fare tiers

Most operators offer three fare tiers:

• Economy or Special: the cheapest fare. Rebooking for a fee, no cancellation.
• Flexi or Smart: free rebooking, cancellation for a small fee.
• Premium: free cancellation up to shortly before departure.

What each tier costs per route, and how much the June-to-August peak season pushes prices up, is on the prices page.

Preparing your motorhome

On the direct ferries, the vehicle deck is closed during the crossing. Anything you need on board has to come out of the motorhome beforehand.

What to pack for the crossing

• Overnight things and a wash bag for night crossings
• ID or passport, booking confirmation and valuables
• Chargers, electronic devices and medication

Gas cylinders and cooling

For safety reasons, gas cylinders must be fully turned off before boarding. The gas locker stays unlocked so crew can check it. A security seal is applied at check-in.

Since the fridge doesn't run on gas, a simple strategy helps: set it to maximum output 24 hours before departure and let cooling packs freeze solid. Pack them into the fridge compartment just before boarding. Some ferries offer power sockets on the vehicle deck.

Before you leave the vehicle deck

Secure loose items inside the vehicle, as the ship will be moving. And take a photo of your parking spot on the vehicle deck: the markings next to doors and lifts help you find it again.

Driving a motorhome in Sweden

Wild camping and pitches

Sweden's right to roam (Allemansrätt) does not apply to motor vehicles. Generally, one night is allowed in public car parks and rest areas, as long as you don't set up camp: no tables, no chairs, no awning out. Suitable spots are easier to find in the sparsely populated north; on Gotland, wild camping is banned outright. The network of motorhome pitches (Ställplats) and campsites is dense and well equipped.

Tolls and road rules

Sweden has no general motorway toll. Only Stockholm and Gothenburg apply an electronic congestion tax (Trängselskatt): your number plate is read automatically and the invoice follows later via Epass24. It applies on weekdays from 6:00 to 18:29 and runs from 9 to 45 SEK depending on the time of day (as of 2026). Weekends, public holidays and the whole of July are free of charge.

From 1 December to 31 March, winter tyres are required whenever conditions are wintry: at least 3 mm tread up to 3.5 tonnes, 5 mm above that. Often overlooked: trailers over 750 kg also need winter tyres with the alpine symbol (3PMSF). A snow shovel must also be carried during this period.

Gas cylinders on the road

Foreign grey gas cylinders can't be exchanged in Sweden, but they can be refilled at LPG specialists, provided the cylinder's inspection is no more than ten years old. Alternatively, take a Swedish rental cylinder with a Euro adapter set, which many petrol stations will exchange. Filling stations are scarce in the north, so plan your supply ahead of time.