# North Frisia: dikes, lighthouses and mudflats

> 4-day road trip of about 108 km (67 mi) with 8 stops, from Friedrichstadt to Nordstrand. About 1 h 29 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-north-frisian-coast/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 108 km (67 mi) with 8 stops, from Friedrichstadt to Nordstrand. About 1 h 29 min of driving in total. From Friedrichstadt’s canals across the Eider to the vast beach of St. Peter-Ording, the Westerhever lighthouse and Theodor Storm’s “grey town” of Husum.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 108 km (67 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 29 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Friedrichstadt → Nordstrand |
| Countries | Germany |
| Updated | August 6, 2026 |

## Route description

Start in Friedrichstadt, a small town founded by Dutch settlers in the 17th century, with canals, stepped gables and boat tours. From there it is a short drive to Tönning, where the Multimar Wattforum explains the Wadden Sea before you see it for real.

Follow the B5 west to the Eider Barrage, where the road dives into a tunnel beneath the flood gates, then continue onto the Eiderstedt peninsula. St. Peter-Ording’s beach is so wide that its cafés stand on stilts; some sections allow parking on the sand, but check the tide tables and signs.

North of St. Peter-Ording, narrow lanes lead across the marsh to the car park for the Westerheversand lighthouse, the most photographed on the German North Sea coast. The walk out takes about half an hour and is best at golden hour, when sheep graze the salt meadows.

Finish in Husum, with its colourful harbour and the Theodor Storm house, then cross the dam to Nordstrand, a former island now joined to the mainland. It is a quiet base for mudflat walks, which should only be done with a certified guide. The coast is windy all year; May to September brings the mildest weather.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Friedrichstadt** (Germany)
2. **Multimar Wattforum** (Tönning, Germany): The visitor centre of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, with large aquariums and a sperm whale skeleton. A good rainy-day stop before heading out to the mudflats.
3. **Eider Barrage** (Tönning, Germany): Germany’s largest coastal flood barrier closes the mouth of the Eider, and the road runs through a tunnel beneath it. Climb the dike to watch boats pass through the lock.
4. **St. Peter-Ording** (Germany)
5. **St. Peter-Ording beach stilt houses** (St. Peter-Ording, Germany): Cafés and lifeguard huts on tall stilts stand on a beach up to 2 km wide, reached by long wooden boardwalks. Cars may park on parts of the sand for a fee; keep an eye on the tide.
6. **Westerheversand Lighthouse** (Westerhever, Germany): A red-and-white lighthouse flanked by two keeper’s cottages, standing alone in the salt marshes. Park behind the dike and walk about half an hour across the meadows.
7. **Husum** (Germany)
8. **Nordstrand** (Germany)

## FAQs

**How long is North Frisia: dikes, lighthouses and mudflats?**
4-day road trip of about 108 km (67 mi) with 8 stops, from Friedrichstadt to Nordstrand. About 1 h 29 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for North Frisia: dikes, lighthouses and mudflats?**
We suggest 4 days: about 1 h 29 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does North Frisia: dikes, lighthouses and mudflats start and end?**
It starts in Friedrichstadt and ends in Nordstrand.

**Which countries does North Frisia: dikes, lighthouses and mudflats pass through?**
Germany.