Finland Campervan Hire

Finland’s vast and beautiful wilderness is celebrated in its 41 National Parks, ranging from lagoon-filled wetlands like Kolovesi, Linnansaari, and Pyhä-Häkki to the craggy hills of Pallas-Yllästunturi and Urho Kekkonen. Fans of coastal hikes should head directly to the Archipelago and Ekenäs Archipelago National Parks, while those staying close to Helsinki get to explore the nearby Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi National Parks.

Located close to Helsinki, Nuuksio National Park is the perfect Finnish storybook destination, with densely-packed conifers surrounding peaceful lakes. In the summer, those brave enough can swim in the water, while the whole park gets layered in snow during the winter. Unless you can handle a night of wild camping, the closest campsite to Nuuksio is Rastila Camping, found in our list of “Top 10 Campervan-friendly Campsites” below.

Repovesi is a hilly park in the heart of Finland’s inland lagoons. Gentle shady trails that wind up the shallow peaks provide scenic views of the lakes below, and suspension bridges hang between cliff faces. Camping Purho is the best campsite near Repovesi and a stay at this campsite starts at £23 per day, electricity included. The camp offers services such as laundry, showers, kitchens, and a sauna, or you can buy a fishing licence at the camp office for £5.30 and try your luck at catching rainbow trout from the nearby lake.

The rocky archipelagos and grassy shoreline of the Bothnian Sea National Park provide a pristine stretch of walking paths through wild bluffs with panoramic views. This coastal park is a hotspot for local and migratory birds, including rare species like the Black-crowned Night Heron and the Hawk Owl. Perched on the sandy shores near Pori, the Yyteri Resort & Camping offers pitches with electric connections on the sand, grass, or waterfront, starting from £19 a night. It wouldn’t be resort camping without amenities. Yyteri has a range of activities, including two saunas, a summer store and restaurant, mini golf, a kid's playground, bike rentals, and cooking and laundry facilities.

Many Finnish photographers agree that the most captivating natural shots can be found at the Koli National Park. Here, steadfast stone mountains rise over vast inland lakes dotted with tiny islands while the path behind you leads towards a lush fir forest. It’s easy to take in the view and embrace the whispers of nature, imagining that you’ve travelled back a few thousand years. Paalasmaan is a rustic campsite on an island in one of Koli’s lakes that offers hot showers, two saunas, and a summer kitchen and café alongside boat and canoe rentals. A night on the enchanting island goes for £31, including electricity access.

The Hossa National Park, in central Finland, is where shallow, pine-shaded lakes meet rocky, fir-forested hills, and suspension bridges guide your way along hiking trails between the park's varied environments. Hossa is known for its ancient art—the Värikallio Rock Paintings—a series of Stone Age-era drawings on a cliff face. In the centre of Hossa Park lies Camping Hossan Lumo, a country campsite that offers electric pitches for £27 a day, with access to a sanitary building. In the summer months, guests can use the lakeside beach and sauna while younger travellers enjoy the playground, and a light meal can be found at the summer café and mini market.

Pyhä-Luosto is a spectacular highland park with miles of walking trails roaming boulder-covered hills and creekside woods. Pyhä-Luosto is home to Scandinavian wildlife, including bears, mooses, reindeer, otters, and foxes, although you won’t see much of them outside of the summer months. Camping Nilimella, this tranquil Laplandian campsite, is conveniently located near the park and the road to the north. The camp has a summer kiosk, a riverside restaurant, a bathing beach, and saunas. A service building containing kitchens, laundry facilities and showers is open to guests who stay at the Nilimella overnight for £26.

Lemmenjoki is Finland's largest national park, covering a frosty expanse in northern Lapland. The park stretches on forever, with trees, mountains, lakes, and plains, an unspoiled wilderness for intrepid adventurers to uncover. While there, you can get a feel for the indigenous Sami culture in any of the area’s villages and participate in Lemmenjoki traditions like husky sledding or gold-digging. Valkeaporo Campsite is a campervan haven this far north, operating from June to September and with only ten spaces with electricity, it’s best to book in advance. Amenities include an outdoor kitchen, saunas, and a traditional wooden “Kammi” hut with a fire pit, all for the low nightly cost of £26.

A few more stunning places to visit include the craggy Urhu Kekkonen and Pallas-Yllästunturi National Parks in northern Finland, the idyllic lake-filled parks of central Finland like Rokua and Salamajärvi, and the southern grassy plains of Torronsuo and Valkmusa. Finland also has some protected marine areas like the Archipelago, Ekenäs Archipelago, and Perämeri National Parks that are best explored by rented boat.

In Finland, there are no entry fees for the national parks. However, some national parks may have facilities such as parking lots, museums, exhibits, activities, or guided tours that charge a small fee. This amount varies depending on the park and the service provided.

It's always a good idea to check the website of the specific national park you want to visit for more information on any fees or permits required if you plan on doing any activities other than hiking.