Summer is approaching — and so is the Lake Finland Ring Road tour.
Suomenkielinen versio
This trip is intended for members of the Finnish 2CV Guild and their friends. You do not need to drive the entire route if you do not wish to. Join the group for just a short stretch or a longer part of the journey — or simply drop by the campsite in the evening to say hello to old friends.
One of the themes of the tour is local flavour. Along the route you will find numerous attractions, as well as the rich variety of local foods and delicacies the different regions have to offer. And who knows — there may even be a few light-hearted competitions and evening activities along the way.
At the end of this page you will find a link where you can indicate your interest in participating. This helps us estimate the number of participants and also allows us to share updates and practical information by email.
NOTE! If any changes are made to the locations or schedule, information will be provided on the Guild’s website and by email to those who have registered.
Tuesday 7 July 2026
Those arriving from the Tampere direction will follow Kai Lampinen’s route plan, departing from the Vehoniemi Car Museum at 10:30 towards Lappeenranta (the museum opens at 10:00). Address Vehoniemenharjuntie 92, 36570 Kangasala. This same section of the route will also be repeated on 13 July with those continuing from Tampere towards Lappeenranta. Along the way there are many interesting sights, including the Little French Café in Asikkala, the Canal Museum, Urajärvi Manor, Verla, and much more.
If your stomach starts rumbling around Kouvola, it is worth stopping for local specialties such as potato flatbreads (perunaleposka) or sauerkraut soup. Those provisions should certainly keep you going all the way to Lappeenranta.
In the evening, participants arriving from different directions will gather at Camping Lappeenranta, formerly known as Huhtiniemi. Local chapter representative Harri Pykäläinen has organized an excursion to explore the nearby Salpa Line bunkers. Departure and gathering point (parking area) at 18:00 at the intersection of Hurtanmaantie and Reijuksentie, followed by a walking tour of the bunkers. Please bring a headlamp or flashlight.
OVERNIGHT STOP – Camping Lappeenranta Oy (formerly Huhtiniemi)
Website, address Kuusimäenkatu 16, FI-53810 Lappeenranta, phone +358 50 5556 800, campinglappeenranta@gmail.com
Wednesday 8 July 2026
Route to Parikkala
Final section to Ruokkeen Lomakylä
Those interested are encouraged to gather early at the Lappeenranta market square to enjoy the famous local delicacies “Vety” or “Atomi.” A special parking area has been arranged there for the 2CVs. From the market square, the route continues at 10:00 according to Harri’s plan along the Niskapietilä Museum Road towards the Parikkala Sculpture Park. Along the way are Imatra, the Simo Häyhä Museum, and the Hiitolanjoki scenic trail.
By the time we reach Parikkala, it will certainly be time to enjoy some traditional Karelian dishes. Kari Halonen provided excellent route suggestions, and the evening destination will therefore be Ruokkeen Lomakylä.
There are many interesting attractions along the route. If you have never visited the Savonlinna market square to enjoy freshly fried vendace fish, now is the perfect opportunity. There is also a rather impressive castle nearby worth admiring. In Kerimäki you will find the enormous wooden church, and in Punkaharju, besides the beautiful scenery, you can visit the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto. At Ruokkee, you should definitely seek out a place serving delicious fish soup and traditional Karelian pies.
OVERNIGHT STOP – Ruokkeen Lomakylä
Website, address Ruokkeentie 58, FI-59800 Kesälahti, phone +358 10 207 0110
Thursday 9 July 2026
From Ruokkee we head via Rääkkylä to Arvinsalmi, where a floating road section carries us across the water from one shore to the other. After this unique experience, we continue to Liperi and the Ylämylly Car Museum. The museum hopes to display a battery-powered 2CV in its yard. By this stage, stomachs will surely be demanding more fuel. Sultsina pastries, rönttönen pastries, and other Karelian specialties should help silence the rumbling.
After the museum, the destination is Ukko-Koli and Koli Camping. Ukko-Koli represents Finland’s national landscape at its finest and is well worth admiring from the top of the hill, even if you have seen it before. An evening cruise departs from Koli harbour at 18:00, offering magnificent scenery across Lake Pielinen. For supper, traditional rice pastries, vatruska, sultsina, or kukkonen pies will surely taste excellent.
OVERNIGHT STOP – Koli Camping
Website, address Hiekkaniementie 12, FI-83960 Koli, camping@visitkoli.fi, phone +358 400 818 652
Please note: there are no cabins available here.
Cabins can be found 700 metres away at Kolin Uusi Caravan:
Hiekkaniementie 2, FI-83960 Koli, phone +358 40 137 2090, www.kolikeskus.fi
Friday 10 July 2026
The noses of our vehicles now turn northwards, with the goal of reaching Manamansalo Camping on the shores of Lake Oulujärvi by evening. Along the route are Puu Juuka, the Bomba Karelian village in Nurmes, the hills of Vuokatti, the sights of Kajaani, and many other interesting destinations.
The Kajaani chapter representative Mauri Saari will welcome interested visitors to his own garage at Sokatie 436, FI-87800 Kajaani. After Mauri’s garage, before reaching Manamansalo, there are still two fascinating stops: Paltaniemi’s Picture Church and the birthplace of Eino Leino.
If you stop for lunch in Juuka, your natural choice is the traditional Karelian stew (karjalanpaisti). In Vuokatti, you may find local delicacies such as rönttönen pastries or smoked lamb. With treats like these, the journey is sure to continue smoothly. For provisions by Lake Oulujärvi, we can warmly recommend the local vendace fish specialties.
OVERNIGHT STOP – Manamansalo Camping
Website, address Teeriniementie 156, FI-88340 Manamansalo, phone +358 44 793 7851, manamansalocamping@gmail.com
Saturday 11 July 2026
Today’s goal is to reach Halsuan Helmi for the night, located by Lake Halsua in the Ostrobothnia region. Along the way we will pass, among other sights, the “Eiffel Tower,” which of course deserves a visit. The route also goes through Kaustinen, where you can even have your joints “repaired” if you wish. We will also make a stop at the cemetery with those interested.
The day’s route passes through Nivala, where local specialties include mutti, kampsu, and red whey. What are they and what do they taste like? There is only one way to find out — by trying them. If those sound a bit too adventurous, Kaustinen’s local specialty is juustopaisti (cheese roast), which we can confidently recommend from experience.
OVERNIGHT STOP – Halsuan Helmi
Website, address Lehtomaantie 151, FI-69510 Halsua, phone +358 40 544 7565, piia@halsuanhelmi.fi
Sunday 12 July 2026
We continue towards Seinäjoki and Automeca, where Matti Lampila will introduce the company’s activities and offer delicious coffee and refreshments. If there is still room left after Matti’s hospitality, local delicacies such as squeaky cheese bread (juustoleipä), kropsu pancake, or dumpling soup (klimppisoppa) will surely fill any remaining hunger.
Before Seinäjoki we pass through Lapua, home to the old ammunition factory, now known as the Cultural Centre Vanha Paukku. Fifty years ago, a major explosion occurred here, claiming the lives of 40 people. Today the area hosts museums, galleries, and various shops. Lapua is also known for its barley flatbread (ohrarieska) and dumpling soup.
After Seinäjoki, optional destinations include the Pirunpesä giant’s kettle in Jalasjärvi and Finland’s smallest car museum in Ikaalinen, where an especially impressive 2CV exhibition will be on display this summer (more information here). The museum is located in the Komppi shopping centre. Komppi is situated right beside Highway E12 at Karhoistentie 3, FI-39500 Ikaalinen.
Before reaching Ikaalinen, it is worth stopping at the Aitoneva Peat Information Centre in Kihniö, where in addition to the museum you can see many large machines and devices related to peat production. Before Tampere we will also visit the Töllinmäki Museum, the birthplace of Nobel Prize-winning author F. E. Sillanpää.
The Tampere tramway construction project is currently expanding, and reaching the campsite requires driving through the construction area. A little patience will ensure a safe arrival. From a well-stocked local supermarket, it is worth picking up some authentic Tapola black sausage for the evening snack — grilled over an open fire, it comes close to the famous market square portions of Alaranta. Naturally, it should be enjoyed with local traditional rye flatbread (rievä). For those who started their journey from Tampere on Tuesday 7 July, the full circle will now be complete.
OVERNIGHT STOP – HÄRMÄLÄ CAMPING, TAMPERE
Website, address Leirintäkatu 8, FI-33900 Tampere
Phone +358 300 870 873, harmala@suomicamping.fi
Please note: with the code 2CV, you will receive a 10% discount on tent accommodation for 12–13 July when booking through the Härmälä Camping online store.
Monday 13 July 2026
Those continuing towards Lappeenranta may follow the original 7 July route plan.
Further information:
Rauno Tuomainen, +358 400 851 489, rauno.tuomainen@gmail.com
Lasse Suhonen, +358 407 314 993, lasse.suhonen@web.de
Hannu Keinänen, +358 400 179 345, hpj.keinanen@gmail.com
Please provide your contact details so that we can send you updates if there are any changes to the route, additional information, or other important announcements. Your contact details will not be used for any other purpose and will not be shared with third parties.