Car & Van Hire - Kløfta

Kløfta is a town that's derived from the word "cleft", likely named after the town's main road that splits for Oslo, Trondheim and Kongsvinger. Now considered a commuter town of Oslo, thanks to its road and rail links, it played a major role in Norway's commercial development and was a prominent settlement during the Viking Age. Norway's first public railway track, the Norwegian Trunk Railway, was laid through Kløfta in 1854. This connected Oslo with Eidsvoll and provided crucial travel via steamboat to Lillehammer.

Kløfta is known for Ullensaker Church, the fourth such church built on this spot since the 12th century. The interiors include an altarpiece by Johan Reinholt and decorations by Alf Rolfsen. Another noted church, Hovin Church, can be found in Ullensaker, north of Kløfta. It was built by Oluf Iversen Helmen, who died during its construction in 1695.

Kløfta's principal shopping district is Romerikssenteret, a shopping mall west of the rail tracks. It contains various Norwegian and international brands, a food court, services and ample parking. Alternatively, fast connections to Oslo allow for shopping trips at the Oslo City shopping mall or the luxurious Steen & Strøm department store.

Kløfta is known for its Miklagard Golfklub, generally regarded as one of Norway's best golf courses. It consists of an 18-hole international championship course, a driving range and a short game area. Widely used by Oslo-based golfers, the club also boasts training workshops, dining and shopping.

MiA - Museums in Akershus is a network of 18 museums throughout this area, offering a deep dive into the culture and history of Akershus. Just south of Kløfta in Skedsmokorset, you'll find the Skedsmo region museum (Skedsmo bygdemuseum), which details the cultural history of the area within a traditional house. A museum card will give you year-long access to all of the MiA attractions, which are easily reached by car.

A car or van hire in Kløfta is an excellent way to discover the region surrounding Oslo. It takes roughly 30 minutes to drive into Oslo's centre from Kløfta, providing plentiful opportunities to discover the Norwegian capital. Elsewhere, Kløfta is within easy reach of the Nordre Øyeren naturreservat, a wetland reserve with spectacular fishing, sailing and hiking opportunities. Fetsund Booms, a logging museum, is located on its shores. 17 km north and nearby Oslo Airport, you can visit both the Ullensaker Museum, a municipal museum, and the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection.

Kløfta is a well-placed town with good connections through the Greater Oslo Region and beyond. The town itself is easily navigated, with two major highways passing through the eastern section for travel to Oslo to the south, Kongsvinger and Sweden to the east, and Hamar and Northern Norway to the north.

Europe's longest road, the European route E6, passes through Kløfta. This motorway largely consists of a dual carriageway linking Oslo to Sweden and the north of Norway. It narrows after passing north of Lake Mjøsa. Kløfta also provides access to the European route E16 highway, an important highway that connects Norway's eastern Swedish border with the western coast via the Lærdal Tunnel, the world's longest tunnel road.

Speed limits in Kløfta are, like the rest of Norway, 50 km/h within built-up areas. There are also some central zones of 30 and 40 km/h. These are well signposted as you reach the town centre with speed bumps (farts dempere). Once you reach the motorway, limits are generally from 90 to 110 km/h. Rural roads have limits of 60 to 80 km/h.

It's worth noting that in Norway, vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road. In Norway, you generally give way to traffic on the right unless you have the right of way (as indicated by a yellow diamond). Overtaking is only allowed on long, straight roads. Illegal driving is strictly enforced by the police.

While there are no difficult mountain passes or narrow roads near Kløfta, it is worth preparing for them if you're travelling north or to the fjords. Some mountain passes get snowfall as late as May and as early as September. Be prepared for closures and wintry conditions if driving during the colder seasons. Drivers must also beware of elk and deer, which may suddenly enter the roads.

Car hire in Kløfta makes for pleasant drives since it is generally less busy than in other areas of Norway, like Oslo. As such, for travel into Oslo, it's recommended to use a park and ride (innfartsparkering) or train from Kløfta. Oslo's centre is compact with one-way streets, pedestrianised zones and other limitations. There are several tolls on the E6 highway both north and south of Kløfta, as indicated by a "Kr" sign. These are collected via the AutoPASS system.