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.
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.
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.
Karlstad is the perfect base for exploring the region by motorhome or campervan. Here are our 6 must-see getaways
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Discover step by step how we work. We accompany you at every stage of the rental process, both owners and travellers.
Discover
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
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
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
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!
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.
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.
5 stars all around. Aritz was very accommodating during the entire process with great communication when a question came up. The van was amazing and we/the kids had an amazing adventure thanks in big part to Aritz. Highly recommend if you are looking for a camper van around Barcelona.
Overall, our trip experience was excellent—so much so that we are certain all our future vacations will involve a motorhome. However, we did encounter issues with the motorhome we rented. Had the owner, Jorge, not been such a decent and honest person, we would have faced a major disappointment that could have ruined the entire trip; YESCAPA FAILED to provide support when needed or assist in finding an alternative, leaving Jorge and me to handle the situation on our own (as he is a private owner rather than a professional rental company). Ultimately, we had to settle for a replacement motorhome that was a significant downgrade. Yet, Jorge’s genuine commitment to helping quickly and fairly—along with the pleasant and honest rental company that provided the replacement (and from whom I will certainly rent next time)—helped us swallow the bitter pill and still enjoy the trip. There are many great overnight parking spots; some appear only in dedicated apps while others are found on Google Maps. It is worth doing thorough research, as good overnight locations are key to the success of a trip lasting more than seven nights.
The Hosts Jose and Sulkis are very available and so very kind. Thank you again for a great stay in Spain.
Tomasz to bardzo miły gość. Komunikatywny i pozytywny. Cieszymy się, że mogliśmy pokazać jak wygląda podróżowanie kamperem po tak pięknych rejonach Hiszpanii. Zapraszamy Tomasza kolejnym razem do naszego kampera.
This was our first time using Yescapa for our once in a lifetime camper van 83 day 10,000km European journey. The camper was basically brand new and super clean and excellent vehicle for narrow streets. Our experience using the app was easy and flawless. The owner was very nice and went out of his way to make the experience perfect!
Awesome guest! Thanks for booking with us & we hope to see you again in the future!
