Driving Stockholm to Copenhagen

What does your itinerary look like and when is this trip? It can be done in a day but is a rather long and boring drive.

We start in Copenhagen, then drive for a few days and stops until crossing with ferry (and car) at Hiirtshals to Kristaninsen onto Bergen a few days near there then drive to Oslo 2 nights, Stokholm 3 nights and back to Copenhagen. I have much of the rest of the trip booked and thought I would drop off car in Stockholm, and return to Copenhagen by train, only to learn of the one way drop off point and extra $$. So now trying to figure out how to not pay for the extra fee in rental and drive without changing my itinerary much.. I welcome your ideas- we like having the car for flexibility but not usually in big cities.

when is this trip?

I did not see the answer to this question.
Also how long do you plan for the whole trip?

This is a lot of driving distance. I know it because I did Berlin - North Cape 3 times with own car - particularly by ship.
Kristiansand - Bergen: How do you plan driving? Be aware of correct writing of Kristiansand to avoid picking wrong town.

Tip: Book Hirsthals - Kristiansand via the Norwegian page of Fjordline. Saves sometimes 20-30%.

And I agree to Badger that driving Stockholm to Copenhagen is a long shot- and often boring (nothing against Sweden).

Driving the whole way. Trip is at end of May total of 21 days- I do have the ferry using fjordline. Thx!

Thanks.
3 weeks sounds relaxed enough.
End of May there can be still snow and temperatures around zero on the fjell parts through Norway mountains. Last year I drove scenic route Ryfylke at the opening day and had snow walls at 520 which were double high as my SUV. The street was perfectly cleared.
On rge way to Bergen from Norheimsund there is a fjell and the temperature dropped down to zero with a mix of snow and rain fall. Not funny to drive.
Maybe consider renting winter tyres on your rental car?

For driving I recommend Sygic navigation app which uses pre-loaded street maps, so no mobile connection needed for navigation.

Car parking in towns is hell in Scandinavian cities. Have EasyPark app on mobile available (connection needed) to pay public parking fee.

Stockholm to Copenhagen is possible in 1 day - well I did it. If you want to do a very little detour I recommend Helsingør (DK) with ferry from Helsingborg. I stayed a night at Scandic Oceanhamnen in a room with fantastic view over to Denmark. If you like watching ships a real recommendation. Ask also for access to spa area.

Scandic Hotels are widely spreaded in Scandinavia: the loyalty program gives you really good prices - better than any hotel portal. Breakfast is often really good. My favorite is Scandic Seilet in Molde.

Be aware of national holidays June 5 in Denmark and June 6 in Sweden. And enjoy Midsummer in Sweden - worth seeing video.

Just as heads up: Did you check flying into Hamburg and rent a car from / to there? Longer way but likely chaper. Interesting stops on the way to Hirtshals and on the way backfrom Copenhagen.

Thank you Badger and Mark K! I think we will brave the roads and do the long drive - but I didn't know about the June 6th date- thank you. Also about the need for snow tires... and easypark app.

"drive for a few days and stops" is not very specific to be honest. But my suggestion would be to split up the car rental. E.g. from Copenhagen take the train to e.g. Odense or Århus, rent a car, return it in Hirtshals and take the ferry to Norway. Rent a new car, return that car in Oslo and then take the train to Stockholm and on to Copenhagen.

That would save you a bit of money in tolls and ferry costs. It also means you'll have a Norwegian car in Norway which often makes paying the road tolls in Norway easier.

I don't think there is much need for winter tyres in May or June, but you never know.

Oh Badger- I was thinking the same thing- but kinda painful that i have to rebook those changes- nevertheless... my bad for not looking at rental cars ahead of time.. I wonder is it easy enough to get on the ferry at hiirtshals to kristaninsen if not taking a car- or do I need to book ahead of time, (and if so how much ahead of time) if you have some idea..because my itinerary requires that I make an am ferry. not sure how easy/difficult it will be to return the car and then get on the ferry with luggage.. Im going to check it out. Thansk again.

More painful than having to deal with long and boring drives, and paying expensive ferries and tolls? Avis has an office in Hirtshals so I think you should be able to return the car there. I'm not sure what you mean by kristaninsen, is that is a creative way to spell Kristiansand? If so, why shouldn't it be easy to get on the ferry? Just board it the normal way. Not having a car also has the benefit of making the ferry ticket a lot cheaper. And not renting the car in Copenhagen saves you the rather pricey bridge toll on the Great Belt bridge.

The Avis office is located on the outskirts of Hirtshals so my suggestion is to return the car there and then take a taxi to the port. (There might be other car rental companies in Hirtshals with offices closer to the port.) If you know when you want to travel, you can buy the ferry tickets now. I think they are for sale. But if you're not bringing a car there is much less risk of the tickets selling out.

I do not see the advantage of renting and dropping twice.
Do not unerestimate the role of a car in that kind of travel - it becomes a kind of home with which you get familiar with. You configure the car you need it-Doing this twice is "stealing" time and awareness.
Maybe other people see it differently but I made the experience with two different persons and on my own on such a trip.