Why this road
The fastest road from Molde to Kristiansund stays inland and skips the Atlantic Ocean Road completely. Going via Bud adds less than an hour and gives you the whole coast: low skerries, fishing harbours and the open sea, before the road starts hopping from islet to islet on its eight bridges. The curved Storseisundet bridge, which looks as if it ends in mid-air, is the photo everybody knows.
The route
- AMolde
Leave the town along the Romsdalsfjord, with the long row of peaks across the water behind you.
- 1Bud
An old fishing village right on the open sea. Walk up to the Ergan coastal fort above the harbour for the view over Hustadvika.
- 2Vevang
Low, bare coast and scattered houses, just before the Atlantic Ocean Road begins.
- 3Storseisundet Bridge
The longest and highest bridge on the road, with its famous bend. Drive it slowly, and stop at Eldhusøya just before it for the best look.
- 4Kårvåg
You are on Averøy now. Shortly after, the road dives into the subsea tunnel towards Kristiansund.
- BKristiansund
The town sits on several islands around its harbour. Small passenger ferries cross between the islands in the centre.
Stops worth it
Twenty minutes for the harbour and the old coastal fort on the hill above it, with a wide view out to sea.
A small island just before the Storseisundet bridge with a car park, a café and a walkway around the rocks. The best place to look back at the bridges.
Light and the best time
The road runs along a coast that faces north-west, so the sea lies to your left heading towards Bud and to your left again on the bridges. On summer evenings the sun sets late and far in the north-west over the open sea: the bridges are backlit and the water glows. Drive it in the late afternoon and evening, and in June and July you have warm light until well after 10 pm. For front-lit photos of the Storseisundet bridge, come in the morning instead.
May to September is the main season, with long days and the most cafés open. The road is open all year: in autumn and winter storms the waves break over the bridges, which draws its own visitors, but drive carefully then. Summer afternoons bring campers and tour buses, evenings are much quieter.
By vehicle
Short but unique: the bridges and curves come one after another. Expect wind, sometimes very strong gusts on the bridges.
Lovely on a calm evening. Take a jacket, the sea air is cool even in July.
Easy driving on good roads, no passes. Good for families.
Fine for campers and very popular with them. The car parks at Eldhusøya and by the bridges fill up in summer, so arrive early or late.
Good to know
The subsea tunnel to Kristiansund has been toll-free since 2020, but Norway collects tolls on other roads automatically by number plate, so check before you go. The road is open all year but can close briefly in severe storms. Fuel up in Molde or Kristiansund, stations along the coast are few. Do not stop on the bridges, use the marked car parks.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How long is the Atlantic Ocean Road?
The famous section is about eight kilometres long with eight bridges. The whole drive from Molde via Bud to Kristiansund takes about 2 hours without stops.
Is the Atlantic Ocean Road open all year?
Yes. It can close briefly in severe storms, when waves break over the road.
Is there a toll on the Atlantic Ocean Road?
No, not on the Atlantic Road or the tunnel. Norway tolls some other roads automatically by number plate, so check before you drive on.
Do I need a ferry?
No, this route has no ferry. You reach Kristiansund through a subsea tunnel.
When is the best time to drive the Atlantic Ocean Road?
A calm summer evening for the light, or a stormy autumn day if you want to see the waves. Mornings are best for front-lit photos of the Storseisundet bridge.