Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes (EVE) sits well above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, serving both Harstad and Narvik and functioning as the main air gateway for travelers heading onward to the dramatic peaks and fishing villages of the Lofoten Islands. A rental car picked up at EVE is often the single most useful decision for this trip, since Lofoten's scattered villages and viewpoints are poorly served by public transport and reward slow, flexible driving between stops. The airport itself is a compact regional facility with counters from international and local rental companies, and pickup is generally quick given the modest passenger volumes this far north.
From EVE, Narvik lies roughly forty-five minutes to an hour south, while Harstad sits a similar distance northwest. The drive into Lofoten proper is considerably longer, often three to four hours depending on your final destination on the island chain, following a scenic but genuinely demanding route across bridges, tunnels and mountain passes connecting the mainland to the islands. Along the way, fjords, steep peaks rising directly from the sea, and small fishing hamlets make for a memorable if unhurried journey.
Driving is on the right throughout Norway, and this arctic region brings real seasonal challenges: winter tires are standard practice and typically fitted by rental companies as a matter of course from around October through April, since snow, ice and short daylight hours define much of the year this far north. Norway's AutoPASS electronic toll system covers many tunnels and bridges along this route, including some of the crossings into Lofoten, and charges are usually billed automatically to the rental company rather than collected at a booth, so confirm how your specific rental handles toll billing before setting off. Fuel stations are spaced generously apart on these remote arctic roads, so treat every stop as an opportunity to top up, and always check weather and road conditions before attempting the Lofoten crossing outside the peak summer months.