kristiansand is a small and charming town but i don’t think it is worth a seperate trip – unless you have ample time to explore the archipelago near kristiansand – home to thousands of charming summerhouses, many of them perched on the edge of fjords or small islands. but you definitely can’t do that in one day.

my family has a summerhouse in this area, off of the inland passage called blindleia – and i love it.

that said, given your options, i would take an extra day in stavanger and save yourself the energy and expense of traveling south.