Norwegian Road Museum

12 km north of Lillehammer, at Fåvang, you’ll find the Norwegian Road Museum (Norsk Vegmuseum). It offers an expansive and surprisingly thrilling journey through the history of how a nation was connected.
This isn’t just a collection of old signs and vehicles. It’s a sprawling complex that brings to life the incredible story of Norway’s roads, the people who built them, and the vehicles that have traveled them. Best of all? Admission is completely free, making it an unmissable stop on your Norwegian bucket list.

The Norwegian Road Museum is actually a massive complex that includes three distinct museums. The Road Museum itself, the Norwegian Vehicle History Museum, and the truly unique Norwegian Rock Blasting Museum. With thousands of square meters of indoor exhibits and a vast open-air museum, you can easily spend a full day exploring and still not see everything.

A Journey Through Time in the Open-Air Museum

Step outside and wander through a large museum park that feels like a trip back in time. The open-air museum, accessible year-round, features a fascinating collection of historic buildings. You can explore a 1950s general store, a coaching inn from the 1700s, a blacksmith and road station from the 1930s. There is even a 1960s campsite complete with a Mobil gas station. During the summer, many of these buildings are brought to life by museum hosts, adding to the immersive experience. For the younger visitors, there are pedal cars to borrow, a playground with horse-drawn coach rides, and farm animals to pet.

Indoor Wonders and Blasting Tunnels

Inside the main building, you’ll discover how the road network developed and the stories of those who built it. The exhibits are interactive and engaging for all — you can even experience what it’s like to blow up a bridge!

A highlight for many is the Norwegian Rock Blasting Museum, located inside a 240-meter-long tunnel. This exhibit offers a fascinating look into Norway’s history of blasting through its famously hard rock, a necessary skill for building roads in this mountainous country.

Car enthusiasts will be captivated by the Norwegian Vehicle History Museum. Opened in 2019, it showcases over 80 historical vehicles. You will find cars and motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles, dating from the early 1900s to the 1990s. Here you can see “Giganten,” a massive six-wheeled car from 1917. You can even learn about the story behind the Norwegian-produced electric car, “Think.”

Use the link above to check opening hours.

In the area

If you are in the Lillehammer region, you should also check out the great out-door museum Maihaugen, Garmo stave church, or the great gravel roads Birkebeinervegen and TET section 1.

YouTube video by Opplevelseskanalen