From end of March onwards, nights get progressively shorter and soon, and there is at least some dawn all night through. Quite soon, around April 20th, even the period of midnight sun starts. For full 4 months, the sun never sets from then onwards, meaning daylight all around the clock. However, all the way into sometimes even early June, conditions may still be wintry, certainly in April and early May. So, though we have open, the spring season is recommendable only for professionally equipped campers with stormproof winter gear, also if you "just" want to camp on Longyearbyen Camping.

Since 2008, we open also in spring, usually from early April to early May. During the following main snow melt, we keep normally closed and open again for the summer season around mid-June. As a test, we had continuously open in 2011 from beginning of April to mid-September.

Contrary to the last years, Longyearbyen Camping will stay closed during spring 2012 and opens in early June for the summer season. Informations for campers outside our summer season: » Question 20 in FAQ - Frequently asked Questions.

April is the absolute peak tourism season of the year in Longyearbyen, mainly because of lots of mostly Norwegian snowmobile drivers, a few ski and dogsledge tourists, but also North Pole travellers sitting in Longyearbyen and waiting for their flights to the North Pole base, and at the end of April the numerous participants of the Svalbard Skimarathon (2012: Saturday April 28th, see further informations further down). Especially full are the weekends, Easter and May 1st. So in this period, it is not unusual, that all other accomodations in Longyearbyen can be completely booked long in advance.

In tent, snowcave, igloo - or inside the service building:
For those who want to be outside the settlement and close to nature, Longyearbyen Camping is an option also in spring: 

• With your own tent: a true experience, requiring top quality winter equipment for arctic conditions, and appropriate winter experience.
• Sleeping inside the service building on insulation mats in sleepingbags, thus not having to bother about weather conditions outside for the night.
• Your own snowcave or igloo on the campsite (see further down) !

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Climate in April and May

As an exception, temperatures can drop to below -25 C, especially in the first half of April. Normally, and especially in the second part of April, temperatures are in the area of -20 to -5 C. However, also melting due to some plus centigrades or even some rain may occur as the other extreme. In case of melting, water may be standing on the ground, also in the snow. However, main attention should be given to the possibility of strong wind or even storm, which multiplies not only the effect of cold, but challenges also the camping equipment. Wind stability of tent, a shape which minimizes the accumulation of snow on the tent (optimal: cupolar design, geodetic) and the possibility of making the tent tight against intruding fine drifting snow can be essential, if you want to use a tent also on Longyearbyen Camping in spring.
We do not rent out winter gear.

Snow melt: Somewhen between late April and second part of May, the main snowmelt starts, which sometimes sets a sudden end to winter activities out in the terrain, and which creates extensive ponds on the campground tundra. However, an old beach wall on the campsite terrain stays above the wetness, offering enough dry ground for the few tents in that period. Rubber boots might be useful in that period.

In May, both mild temperatures up to +10°C can occur especially in the later part of the month, but also plunges down to -15°C have to be anticipated. With the sun above the horizon all around the clock, temperature differences between day and "night" are modest.