Camper and RV rental — Karlstad

Find a wide selection of campervans and motorhomes for hire in Karlstad and the surrounding area. Discover unique vehicles offered by private owners — from compact campervans for 2, perfect for couples, to spacious 6-berth motorhomes, ideal for families. Flexible booking, competitive prices and insurance included.

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Why choose Karlstad for your road trip

Karlstad — a city worth exploring

Karlstad sits where the Klarälven river meets Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake, and has been known as the 'City of Sunshine' since a local waitress named Eva was celebrated in the 1800s for her radiant smile — a spirit the city still carries today. Stroll along the Östra Bron, one of Sweden's longest stone arch bridges with twelve arches spanning the river, then visit Värmlands Museum to explore regional art and cultural history. Families enjoy Mariebergsskogen, a large nature park with a children's zoo, mini-golf and woodland trails right in the city centre. For a dose of creativity, Sandgrund Lars Lerin houses an impressive collection of watercolour works by one of Sweden's most acclaimed contemporary artists. Karlstad also makes a brilliant base for wider exploration: Sunne, gateway to the Fryken lakes, lies just 60 km north, while the Norwegian border town of Charlottenberg with its popular outlet shopping is roughly 75 km west. The landscape around Karlstad is gentle and campervan-friendly, with wide roads winding through forests and along lakeshores — ideal for relaxed driving. Hiring a motorhome through Yescapa connects you directly with local owners who know the best lakeside spots and scenic routes. With a campervan from a nearby host, you can set your own pace and discover Värmland's open spaces without the constraints of fixed accommodation.

Best time to visit

Karlstad comes alive from June to August, when long daylight hours and warm temperatures make lakeside camping a joy. The annual Putte i Parken music festival in July draws crowds to Mariebergsskogen for free open-air concerts — a great reason to plan your trip around midsummer. Autumn brings golden forests and quieter campsites, perfect for a peaceful campervan getaway. Winter visitors can enjoy the Karlstad Christmas market in December. Booking a motorhome through Yescapa during spring or early autumn often means more choice and flexible pricing from local owners. For summer, we recommend reserving your hire early to secure the best vehicle for your plans.

Top getaways from Karlstad

Karlstad is the perfect base for exploring the region by motorhome or campervan. Here are our 6 must-see getaways

Karlstad to Charlottenberg

65km west 1–3 days

Just 65 km west of Karlstad, Charlottenberg sits right on the Norwegian border. Stop along the way at Glaskogen Nature Reserve with its 80-plus lakes and well-marked trails. Charlottenberg offers a large shopping centre and a convenient campervan overnight area near the town centre.

Karlstad to Sunne

85km north 2–4 days

Around 85 km north of Karlstad, Sunne sits on Lake Fryken in the heart of Selma Lagerlöf country. Visit Mårbacka, her birthplace and museum, then take a ride on the vintage steamship Freja af Fryken. The roads along the lake are wide and offer several motorhome-friendly parking areas.

Karlstad to Örebro

140km east 3–5 days

Örebro lies roughly 140 km east of Karlstad and impresses with its castle on an island in the Svartån river. Along the way, stop in Kristinehamn to see the famous Picasso sculpture on the Vänern shore. In Örebro, explore Stadsparken and the open-air museum Wadköping. Campsites are available on the outskirts of the city.

Karlstad to Sälen

180km northwest 3–6 days

Around 180 km north-west of Karlstad, Sälen is one of Sweden's most popular ski resorts and the starting point of the Vasaloppet. In summer, hiking trails through the fell landscape and mountain-biking routes take over. En route, stop at Torsby and its Finnskogscentrum. Roads are well maintained, and Sälen has several campsites with campervan pitches.

Karlstad to Gothenburg

250km south 4–7 days

Gothenburg lies around 250 km south of Karlstad and is Sweden's second-largest city. Follow the E45 through the forests of Dalsland and stop at Trollhättan Falls along the way. In Gothenburg, enjoy the Liseberg amusement park, the Universeum science centre and the Lilla Bommen harbour area. Motorhome parking is available on the outskirts, such as at Lilleby.

Karlstad to Stockholm

310km southeast 5–8 days

Stockholm lies roughly 310 km south-east of Karlstad and is easily reached via the E18. Along the way, stop in Västerås on Lake Mälaren to visit its cathedral and the Vallby open-air museum. In Stockholm, the Vasa Museum, the old town Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace await. Campsites such as Bredäng Camping offer good public-transport links to the city centre.

Rent a campervan on Yescapa: how does it work?

Discover step by step how we work. We accompany you at every stage of the rental process, both owners and travellers.

Discover

Find the perfect vehicle

Find for a leisure vehicle near you or a destination idea according to your planned route, then specify the pick-up and return dates. The perfect vehicle for your road trip holiday is waiting for you!

Connecting people

Confirm your booking

Make one or more booking requests for leisure vehicles that have caught your eye and wait for the owners' responses. Once your request has been accepted, all you have to do is confirm your booking.

Pick-up

Go on an adventure

On the pick-up date, collect the vehicle and listen to the valuable advice of the owner for handling it; you are ready hit the road with family, as a couple or with friends.

Return

All good things must come to an end...

Once again, with the owner complete the vehicle condition check and sign the Rental Agreement as well as exchange your travel stories. All you have to do is imagine your next road trip!

Campsites and parkings for recreational vehicles in Karlstad

Recommended campsites

Around Karlstad you will find campsites well equipped for both motorhomes and campervans. Many are located directly on Lake Vänern or on smaller lakes across Värmland, offering pitches with electrical hook-ups, sanitary facilities with showers and toilets, and waste-disposal stations. Whether you prefer a lakeside spot or a forest setting, the selection around Karlstad covers a range of preferences.

  • Bomstadbaden Camping Karlstad (8km southwest)Pitches with electrical hook-ups, sanitary facilities, bathing beach on Lake Vänern, playground, kiosk
  • Skutbergets Camping Karlstad (5km west)Pitches with electricity, showers, toilets, swimming area, nearby hiking trails
  • Swecamp Karlstad Karlstad (3km south)Pitches with electrical hook-ups, sanitary building, waste-disposal station, Wi-Fi, mini-market
  • Ekuddens Camping Kristinehamn (45km east)Pitches on the Vänern shore, electrical hook-ups, showers, toilets, barbecue areas, boat hire
  • Duse Udde Camping Säffle (55km northwest)Pitches with electricity, sanitary facilities, bathing beach, mini-golf, playground, restaurant

Where to park your motorhome

Karlstad offers several parking options suitable for larger vehicles. The city centre operates a pay-and-display system, and maximum parking times vary by zone. For motorhomes, the larger car parks on the outskirts are often free or cheaper. Overnight stays in your vehicle are generally not permitted on public car parks — use designated overnight areas instead.

  • Parkering Stora Torget, Adjacent to the city — Central car park at Karlstad's main square, suitable for shorter stays. Pay-and-display, limited height clearance for larger vehicles.
  • Parkering Sundsta, 2km south — Larger car park south of the centre with ample space for motorhomes. Free at weekends, pay-and-display on weekdays.
  • Parkering Skutberget, 5km west — Large car park at the Skutberget recreation area, ideal for day trips. Free of charge, with plenty of room for larger vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What our users say about our campervans and motorhomes in Karlstad

Zbigniew
4 / 5

The overall experience is positive, with the high point being the owner: very friendly and eager to help The state of the car (btw. we actually got T6 instead of T5 due to some mechanical work) could definitely be better, though: 6 years old tires with almost no tread on the front axle, seemingly beat up suspension with very loose steering, lots of minor things inside either broken or not working Still, if you don't care about that, would recommend :)

Evangelos
5 / 5

We had a fantastic experience renting the campervan from Sergio in Tenerife! The campervan was great – not too big, but spacious enough and perfectly equipped with everything we needed, including a toilet, shower and cooking facilities. It was easy to drive and the perfect size for exploring the island. It came with everything you could possibly need: cooking equipment, plates, cutlery, coffee, washing-up supplies, charging cables and plenty of little storage spaces for our belongings. Everything was provided at no extra cost, so we didn’t need to worry about buying or bringing extra things. Everything worked perfectly, and Sergio was always available and quick to respond whenever we had a question or needed anything. There were absolutely no hidden or extra costs – everything was exactly as agreed, with no surprises. Honestly, renting a campervan was the best way to explore Tenerife, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommended! Thank you, Sergio!

Matej
5 / 5

Hi Hasan, thank you so much for booking our campervan and taking such good care of it. See you next time! Enjoy the rest of your travels! Best, Marta and the team

Eric Hans Ildo
5 / 5

We had a wonderful trip! Jose Maria is super responsive and nice, he thoroughly introduced the van and its features to us, and gave great recommendations. The van is in great shape. I really recommend it. As a matter of fact, I literally recommended Jose Maria and his van to a friend today.

Thomas
4 / 5

Very friendly and helpfull owner. The camper has some miles on it but is still very pleasant to drive and camp with. I generally think the camper could've been cleaner. The cabinets and 'stocking' areas could be cleaned a bit better. Bed and sheets were perfect and fresh! Consider you're length when booking the camper as you sleep in the width of the camper and for tall people , this could be an issue. I'm 1.73m and I could JUST stretch my legs. Overall , a pleasant experience!

Jaggybe
5 / 5

My first campervan experience and it was amazing! You can swim in the sea and hike mauntains within days of eachother. Because of the pickup from the bus station everything went super smooth. Very gratefull!