Driving in Lapland – Do you need a 4x4?
The roads of Lapland in winter are white, wide and silent. Snowploughs work day and night, keeping highways open even in heavy storms. Yet many visitors wonder: do you really need a 4x4?
The truth is simple: for most travellers, a standard car with proper winter tyres is enough. In Finland, every rental car from November to March must be equipped with studded or high-quality friction tyres. These tyres bite into ice and snow in a way that surprises first-time drivers.
A 4x4 adds comfort, not necessity. On steep hills, unploughed tracks, or when pulling a trailer, it helps. But on main roads between Levi, Rovaniemi, Muonio, or Raattama, it is rarely required. Locals drive small hatchbacks and station wagons – and reach their destinations safely.
Important to know: snow chains are only allowed off-road or for freeing a stuck vehicle. Once you return to a road, chains must be removed.
What matters more than the car:
-
Drive slowly, accept longer travel times.
-
Keep distance – braking on ice takes patience.
-
Always carry warm clothes, water, and a charged phone, in case you need to wait.
Lapland driving is not about horsepower. It is about rhythm – steady, calm, patient. Whether in a 4x4 or not, the road will take you as far as you let it.