How Long Does It Take to Fly to Norway?

Quick Answer

Flying to Norway from the United States takes 8–12 hours on direct flights, depending on the departure city. East Coast cities have the shortest flights at 7.5–9 hours, while West Coast departures take 10–12 hours. Connecting flights through European hubs add 2–5 hours to total travel time.

Flight Times by US Departure City

Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) is Norway's main international airport. Direct flight times reflect nonstop service where available.

Departure City	Direct Flight Time	With 1 Stop	Airlines (Direct)
New York (JFK/EWR)	7.5–8 hours	10–13 hours	SAS, Norse Atlantic, United
Boston (BOS)	7–7.5 hours	10–12 hours	Norse Atlantic (seasonal)
Washington, DC (IAD)	8–8.5 hours	11–13 hours	SAS, United
Miami (MIA)	9.5–10 hours	12–15 hours	No regular direct service
Chicago (ORD)	8.5–9 hours	11–14 hours	SAS (seasonal)
Denver (DEN)	9.5–10 hours	12–14 hours	No regular direct service
Dallas (DFW)	10–10.5 hours	13–15 hours	No regular direct service
Los Angeles (LAX)	10.5–11 hours	13–16 hours	Norse Atlantic, SAS (seasonal)
San Francisco (SFO)	10–11 hours	13–15 hours	SAS (seasonal)
Seattle (SEA)	9.5–10 hours	12–14 hours	No regular direct service

Other Norwegian Airports

While Oslo receives the most international flights, other Norwegian cities are accessible through European connections.

Destination	From New York (1 stop)	From London (direct)	Airport Code
Bergen	11–14 hours	2–2.5 hours	BGO
Stavanger	11–14 hours	2 hours	SVG
Trondheim	12–15 hours	2.5 hours	TRD
Tromsø	13–16 hours	3 hours	TOS
Bodø	13–16 hours	3.5 hours (1 stop)	BOO

Common Connection Hubs

Flights without direct service typically connect through one of these European airports.

Hub Airport	Connection Time	Airlines	Best From
London Heathrow (LHR)	1.5–3 hours	British Airways, SAS, Norwegian	East Coast
Copenhagen (CPH)	1.5–3 hours	SAS	All US cities
Amsterdam (AMS)	1.5–3 hours	KLM	All US cities
Frankfurt (FRA)	1.5–3 hours	Lufthansa	Midwest, South
Reykjavik (KEF)	1.5–3 hours	Icelandair	East Coast, Midwest
Helsinki (HEL)	2–3 hours	Finnair	West Coast

Eastbound vs. Westbound

Flights to Norway (eastbound) are typically 30–60 minutes shorter than return flights due to prevailing jet stream winds that blow west to east across the Atlantic.

Route	Eastbound (to Norway)	Westbound (from Norway)
New York–Oslo	7.5–8 hours	8.5–9.5 hours
Los Angeles–Oslo	10.5–11 hours	11.5–12.5 hours
Chicago–Oslo	8.5–9 hours	9.5–10.5 hours

From Other Regions

Norway is accessible from most major global regions, with varying flight times.

Origin	Direct Flight Time	Common Route
London, UK	2–2.5 hours	LHR/LGW to OSL
Paris, France	2.5–3 hours	CDG to OSL
Dubai, UAE	7–7.5 hours	DXB to OSL
Toronto, Canada	7–8 hours	YYZ to OSL
Sydney, Australia	20–24 hours	2 stops minimum
Tokyo, Japan	12–14 hours	1 stop via Helsinki or Copenhagen

Best Time to Book

Direct flights to Norway are most frequent from May through September, when airlines add seasonal routes. Winter schedules often reduce direct service, particularly from West Coast cities. Booking 2–3 months in advance typically yields the best combination of price and availability for summer travel.

Norway's main tourist season (June–August) coincides with the midnight sun in northern Norway and the best weather for fjord cruises. Shoulder season (May and September) offers fewer crowds and sometimes lower airfares while still providing pleasant weather.