Iceland is one of the most geographically interesting and naturally stunning countries I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to a lot!). I had to keep asking myself if we had landed on another planet, because the scenery was, for the most part, unlike anything I had ever seen before.
It’s also wild, rugged, and takes a bit more preparation and awareness to drive through should you have interest in taking out a 4×4 and heading off the beaten path a bit (and you should! It’s so worth it!).
The following are things I learned and tips to help you on your journey camping Iceland’s Ring Road:
25. Go in the autumn
I get that you can’t always pick when you have time to go somewhere on vacation, but just about everywhere that I can think of is perfect in the autumn, mainly because the weather is still pleasant and the crowds are much smaller. Plus, changing leaves are drop-dead gorgeous.
In Iceland, autumn is particularly spectacular because the ground also changes color from green to yellows, reds, and oranges. Plus, it’s much more likely to see the northern lights since nightfall is around 7pm, which means you get a nice amount of daylight and darkness. In the summer, it’s bright almost all the time, and the opposite is true in the winter.
Another plus: Iceland’s low season means you can plan on half price for things like camper vans and accommodation.
24. Get a camper van
A camper van is, without a doubt, the best way to see and camp around Iceland’s Ring Road and will provide the best opportunities for finding the northern lights.
One night in the highlands, we had no choice but to hole up in the van and pray for the insane wind to stop when we came to a closed road (find road closures here) a few km from the campground. Having a camper van allowed us to cook dinner and sleep soundly (well, as soundly as one can sleep with wind the strength of a jet stream pummeling you) without any problems.
The camper van also allowed us to camp and wake up at the glacier lagoon on the third day, as they allow camper vans but not tents in the parking lot. That allowed us to combine the northern lights at night and a sunrise over the lagoon in the morning. It was wonderful having that kind of flexibility, and we saved a lot on food and accommodation.
23. Camp for half off or even free
The biggest reason to go in the fall is costs. Car and camper rentals in Iceland are easily double the price in the high season months of the summer. We saved half the money by renting in the fall.
That, and most of the campgrounds were ‘closed’ but still kept their gates and facilities open since tourism is such big business in Iceland and they want to discourage camping anywhere other than designated spots. That means you can use them for free (seriously).
22. Get a van with a heater
If camping any time other than the summer, rent a camper that has a space heater in the back. It’s separate from the heater in the front that runs off of the engine when the car is on. It uses gasoline, but it’s efficient and I never even noticed a dip in the fuel levels, despite running it all night.
The one in my van worked really well, and was a great place to hang things in front of that needed to dry out. Given the first 48 hours of the trip were either rainy or snowy with no break in the precipitation, this was quite handy.
21. Pick someone you love to go with and be gentle with each other
A solid week of 24/7 time spent together ain’t easy. Maksim and I are buddies, and we were really tested by the initial 48 hours of constant bad weather, given we barely spent any time outside of the van, and if we did, ended up cold and wet. We were in pretty close quarters that entire time, and if we hadn’t been patient with each other, it could have been a nightmare.
It’s important to be gentle with each other, be open and honest if something is bothering you (the other person may have no idea!), and to laugh and joke as much as possible. Pick someone you know that’s all possible with.
20. If you want drinks, buy them at the airport
It’s not possible to buy hard liquor at stores in Iceland. If you want anything like that before you go, stash it in your checked baggage, buy it at your departure airport in duty-free, or purchase it at the airport in Reykjavik when you land. It’s your only chance.
I used to like my whiskey (before I became sober after this trip), so we bought a couple bottles (that we didn’t even finish, actually) at duty-free before going.
19. You can use a credit card for (almost) everything
I never withdrew any money in Iceland because I was able to use my credit card absolutely everywhere. The only places that you might want coins are for laundromats and campsite showers (but more on showers later).
I didn’t have a card with a chip at the time, and it presented no issues. Just ask them to swipe it.
18. No need to rent a GPS
I rented the GPS but found I never used it. I wanted the power point to charge my other electronics, and most of all, I was downright astounded at how good the coverage from Vodafone was.
Even in the highlands, hours away from any towns, I still had coverage. Any time we needed to figure out where to go, we just used Google Maps. Bonus – this is one of the cheap things in Iceland – 3 gigabytes of 3G was less than USD $17. (You’ll, of course, need an unlocked phone to use a local SIM).
17. Cook your own food to save money
I’d read before I left that hot dogs are pretty popular in Iceland. I was based myself in Germany for part of the year when I went on this trip and it’s a requirement on the visa application that you love sausages, I’m cool with sausage, but also don’t want that or instant noodles for every meal.
Even a pre-made sandwich at the grocery store will cost around $10. It’s much better to buy individual ingredients and cook or make sandwiches yourself. It takes a little bit of extra time, but chances are you’ll already be parked for the night anyways or can spare 5 minutes to make a sandwich.
Camper vans have with a sink and running water that is easy to refill, a camp stove that runs off of propane, and cooking utensils. Easy peasy.
16. Stock up on imperishable items in Reykjavik before you go
Maksim and I learned the hard way that those nifty budget grocery stores (Bónus, Krónan, and Netto) that are a dime a dozen in Reykjavik were a lot harder to find once already on the Ring Road. Stock up on things that won’t go bad easily, such as pasta, potatoes, and cereals. They’ll increase in price if you have to buy them at the smaller, more expensive stores.
Tip: There is a Netto in Egilsstaðir in East Fjords.
15. Have a Ring Road food system
I actually never set foot in a restaurant in Iceland. I knew they were expensive and since we had a well-equipped camper van, cooking was the best bet.
There was a system we implemented early on in the Ring Road to make things easier and to preserve and re-use ingredients before they went bad. It worked pretty well:
Mornings: Muesli (or whatever cereal you like) and hot tea.
Lunch: Soft-boiled eggs as snacks boiled the night before in the leftover pasta or potato water and sandwiches with tomato, thinly-sliced cucumber (one cucumber lasts forever but lettuce won’t), a mix of ham and salami, and some amazing sauce of the gods called remoulade. Seriously that stuff is good. We resolved to keep eating sandwiches until we got tired of them, which, after a week, we never did.
Dinner: Wither pasta with chopped peppers and pesto sauce (we had four kinds that Maksim brought from Germany), or boiled sausages with potatoes. I also boiled frozen veggies with my meals. Unless the weather is nice enough to cook outside, boil what you eat when cooking indoors or you’ll have an oily mess to deal with after and your clothes will smell like sausage.
Snacks: A ridiculous amount of boiled eggs, crackers with cream cheese, and cookies. We really like cookies.
14. Fill up on gas early and often
It’s tough to know when you’ll come across another gas station, so when it gets to a half tank, start thinking about filling up, especially in the East Fjords.
We never even got close to running out, but better safe than sorry.
13. You can fill up on water, too!
Iceland has no shortage of water, and you can pretty much always find it for free at gas stations. There’s usually a hose around that you can use to fill up water bottles and the water tank in your camper van.
If you are taking a lot of 4×4 roads and need to give the car a shower, you can do that for free, too! There are usually also hoses with large brushes attached just for that purpose.
12. So if you’re camping, where do you shower?
I’m glad you asked, because it’s actually pretty neat to check out Iceland’s public swimming pools that cost anywhere from 1000-1500kr ($7.55-11.35 USD) for a shower and a dip in the heated pools. They are super popular with locals and seem to be in just about every town and village, no matter how small.
You can also shower at the campsites if they’re open. The prices run about the same, but you’ll need coins and will only get a few minutes. You can take as long as you want at the swimming pools. Find locations and hours of operation here.
11. For the love of God, bring your own towel
I preach to always have a pack towel in my packing guides but somehow completely forgot to bring one to Iceland. Major fail. I spent around 600 kronar, per shower, to rent one.
If you’re wondering why I didn’t just buy one, I found they ran around 2200 kronar. It would have evened out eventually but I’ll let you do the math on why I didn’t buy one (#noshame).
10. Hold onto the door!
I didn’t believe it at first when we picked up the van and the girl at the shop told us to hold onto the door in windy weather. Why? It can blow right off the hinges – the wind in Iceland is that strong!
One of the doors on our vehicle almost did blow clear off, and had to be fixed after, which brings me to the next point:
9. Get all of the insurance
Driving the Ring Road for a week or more means you’ll encounter all kinds of weather and road conditions that you might not have expected. I had no idea before we started how real the weather was going to be. Sandstorms can happen, as can hail, insane wind, and all kinds of gravel marks, especially if you take a 4×4 road.
Insure your rental fully, except for theft insurance since nobody steals cars in Iceland. Honestly, people even leave them running when they go to the grocery store!
You should also make sure that you have travel insurance for yourself, just in case you get sick or need to go home early for medical reasons. The best-case scenario is that you don’t need it, but it will keep you covered in the worst-case scenario.
8. Bring warm and waterproof clothing
Chances are good that at some point in Iceland you’ll encounter rain, and when it rains in Iceland, it rains.
I was really glad to have waterproof boots with me. It was also a good idea to have two pairs, because during one of our hikes I had to jump across about 20 freezing streams of water and, despite all those years doing high jump in high school, couldn’t quite clear it and ended up dunking my leg up to my knee. Maksim suffered the same fate, but he only had one pair of shoes.
Mine are UGG brand, and you can find similar ones here.
Check out this post for my full Iceland packing list.
7. Bring extra chargers or the battle for the power outlet can turn ugly
I travel with a portable charger that holds four charges in it. It was super helpful to have that along considering my phone served as a GPS and I was using it for work as well (Snapchat, Instagram, emails, etc.), plus, my new camera needs to be charged more often than my old one did, and I have a GoPro, and Maksim wanted to charge his stuff too.
In our van there was only one power outlet, which I think is probably standard, so it was a great idea to have another method for charging available.
6. If you want to photograph the Northern Lights, bring the right gear
Iceland’s Ring Road drive had long been on my list because I wanted to photograph the heck out of it. I was really hoping to catch the Northern Lights and was able to find them three times because before setting off on the trip, we looked at the weather and aurora forecast and headed south rather than north on the chance that we’d get clear skies mid-week. It paid off!
I knew that I needed certain equipment for photographing them, such as a tripod and a remote, and thankfully neither were expensive.
I was also able to get some neat long exposure shots of all the waterfalls with those two items, as well as a CPL filter.
Check out my Iceland photography tips for more on how to photograph the Northern Lights and waterfalls.
5. Protect your gear
After my last phone succumbed to the elements, I decided I wasn’t going to let that happen again, and before going to Iceland, bought a waterproof phone case that would protect it. I used to dislike similar cases because they’re so bulky, but this one is much sleeker and totally worked.
I took it out in the rain, under the water in the Blue Lagoon, close to waterfalls, and in the snow – and it protected me the whole time. I felt that it was definitely worth the cost of the case to protect my $900 phone. Plus, I can take my phone in the shower now to play music. Win!
4. Watch out for suicidal sheep
Sheep will just run right out in front of you without even thinking about it. Probably because they don’t think much?
It’s difficult to know what’s going through their little sheep brains when they dart across the road, but they sure are cute and it’s hilarious to watch them running. It’s just not so hilarious to hit one. Keep your eyes open for them, especially when driving at night.
3. Make the back of the van a no-shoe zone to keep it clean
On day one we declared the back of the van, where we slept and ate, a no-shoe zone. That was our saving grace as far as keeping it clean.
The shoes and bags sat in the front seat while we slept so that we had ample space and clean digs.
2. Don’t be that guy who stops in the middle of the road to take photos
It’s really tempting to just stop in the road and take a quick photo when driving the Ring Road, but I noticed that there were always places to pull over and get out of the car. We always found an option, and it was frustrating when others just stopped in the middle of the road for long periods of time for photos.
Be kind to those around you and just pull off the road in a clear spot where it’s ok to do so. It’s dangerous to park in the middle of the road, and parking spots are never too far.
1. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
There you go! 24 easy and quick tips to help make your Iceland Ring Road trip an awesome experience.
Have any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll be sure to get back to you.
READ NEXT:
The Perfect Ring Road Itinerary
The Perfect Iceland Packing List (for anytime of year!)
The Cost of Traveling in Iceland (and how to save!)
*GO Campers provided me with a discount on the camper van for my Ring Road trip. My review is favorable because I think the van was a GREAT asset for our trip. I definitely recommend this company and would have without the discount as well.
Ijana says
I’ve never commented before, but decided I should start 🙂 So omg thank you this is the Iceland post I’ve been looking for! I’m planning to go to Iceland sometime in the next year or two and have been looking for literally this exact information
Kristin says
That’s awesome! There’s a packing list coming as well and some golden circle info, so you should be covered 🙂
Amanda says
Great tips! I’ve only been to Iceland in the winter so far, and have yet to rent a car/camper because I know how crazy the winter weather can somehow get. But going in the fall sounds perfect! I will definitely keep this in mind for when I plan my next trip to Iceland!
Kristin says
I wouldn’t have wanted to drive a car around there in the winter, but then again I have zero experience with that and would find it terrifying. I was glad Maksim was driving!
Carly says
I’ve finally decided to head to Iceland in late October later this year after wanting to vista for years and years so thank you so much for this awesome, helpful post Kristin!! Next stop, your post on ‘Iceland Photography Tips’ 🙂
Kristin says
Awesome! The packing post is coming this week too!
Jenna says
Great advice and inghits as aways.
Wonderful shot of Kirkjufellsfoss! Was this with your Sony a6000 camera? Can I ask switch shutter speed you used for that particular shot? I have the same camera.
Happy travels!
Kristin says
Hi Jenna. I think it was a second or a fraction of a second and yes that was with my Sony a6000
Brianna says
This definitely looks like the way to go to see a lot of the country. Did you research and plan out your campsites in advance or did you just wing it while you were there? Are you going to write anything about the financial details of your trip to Iceland? I’ve heard it can be quite pricey, but since you’re so good with your travel money management, I’m curious 🙂
Kristin says
Completely winged it and yes I’ll write about the budget. It’s not a cheap destination at all but certain things can be cheap if you play your cards right which I’ll explain 🙂
Cameron Cobb says
I wish I would have had this list before my trip! I had to learn about filling up on gas often and bringing backup chargers the hard way. It’s pretty crazy when you’re driving, especially when you’re solo. I completely agree with the bring your own towel, stock up on cheap local food and get the insurance. Valuable information. Great photos as always!
Kristin says
Thanks Cam! Luckily I read up on expertvagabond.com before I went and he had a lot of good suggestions about all of that.
Ishia says
This was extremely helpful, there is so much more for me to think about than I first realised! I’m planning a trip to Iceland this October. I have 2 questions for you!
1. Would many of the places you visited be inaccessible if we only had a non-4×4 camper van?
2. Did you buy your Vodafone card in Iceland?
Thank you!
Kristin says
1. Yes, namely the highlands and one of the better waterfalls we saw
2. Yes, in Reykjavik it’s easy there are lots of shops around
Unnur Karlsdóttir says
Hi there, good information, and happy to see people share advice on traveling in Iceland. I would like to add one warning, to those of you who are going to come to Iceland: No matter how beautiful the scenery is and you want to take a picture instantly, DO NOT STOP YOUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BUT TAKE IT ASIDE AS POSSIBLE so that passing cars can pass you without danger.
this comment is based on experience driving in my country as a native experiencing increasing tourism.
And do not drive off road, no matter if on 4×4 wheel or not. Just follow roads and gravel roads outside the main road but do not leave the road. It is forbidden for the sake of nature protection and you can get a huge fine, and it hurts us natives if people vandalize your country by leaving scars in nature after car wheels.
and a tip. There is this Bonus and Netto supermarkets in the biggest towns around the ring road nr. 1 and the price in Bonus is the same in the Bonus stores outside Reykjavík
Wish you all who come to Iceland the best of luck. And thank you Kristin for warning about the sheep on the road. To many people have gotten seriously injured or even died when crashing into sheep on the road in Iceland.
Kristin says
Yep, my points too. Don’t just stop in the middle of the road. Unfortunately a lot of people do!
Pétur says
Hi, glad you enjoyed it. However there are shops selling hard liquor and beer in almost every village, just the opening hours are not long. Also there is both a Bónus and a Nettó in Egilsstaðir and in Reyðarfjörður next door there’s Krónan.
Happy Travels.
Kristin says
Good to know. My friend told me before I went that it wasn’t to be found ‘anywhere’ but I guess it’s maybe just a bit more expensive.
Matthew Van Brocklin says
Hi Kristin,
I am helping with a geology field trip to Iceland from May 24 to June 5. We will have a total of 12 individuals in our group and will be mixing it up with camping for a few days and then a night or two in a hostel. As the tech for the SLU geology department i will be helping one of our professor who is leading the trip. My biggest responsibilities are usually first aid and the purchase of the groceries and the preparations of meals for the group, mainly breakfast and dinner while the group will make their own sandwiches for their lunches after breakfast is finished. I am hoping to buy some food items in bulk at one of the large stores, though I am not sure what is available in Iceland for groceries, particularly in large packages. Things like large bags of pancake mix, gallon carton of instant hash browns, canned goods to prepare meals with, hamburger, hot dogs or sausage, canned or frozen vegetables, etc… Which brings me to my other big concern… We hope to bring a two burner Coleman stove that takes the green Coleman canisters. Are the green Coleman fuel canisters available in Iceland? Do they hook up to a Coleman stove from the states or is it different?
I have done this sort of work many times before, but in Alaska and the Northern Rockies were we were able to purchase in bulk and were able to purchase the Coleman Stove canisters. Any insight on the purchase of groceries for a group and the availability of Coleman fuel canisters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks too for the advice you have given and i am happy to be the muse and learn.
Cheers
Matt
Kristin says
I had a stove with my camper van but I can’t remember the brand. It’s the same kind I would use at home with a stove. If you go to the big department stores you can buy the things you need though I wasn’t looking for bulk items so I can’t say for sure what the sizes are. Buy in Reykjavik, it’s your best chance.
adrian says
Really nice i can wonder about going to Iceland now but in next year probably i can go there from that reason i will use some of your tips for sure :]
Ashley Armbruster says
How much cash did you have on hand? Which did you use more often, cash or card?
Kristin says
I never took Krona out of the ATM actually. Never needed it and I have a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (important!) so it was advantageous for me to use that for the mileage rewards.
molly says
Question: did you bring a cooler with you for all your food?
Kristin says
The camper van has one built in.
Anonymous says
May I know how much cost per person overnight in campsite per day?
Kristin says
It was free for me because there was nobody there to collect any money, so I don’t know! That won’t be the case during high season
Kristin says
I said people need to use campsites, and that they were open and free when I was there in October. They aren’t always, and you can’t camp anywhere you please. I think I was pretty clear about that but thank you for sharing this article 🙂
HP says
We’ll soon be off to Iceland, and are doing some research on how to make the best camping trip. This is was very helpful! Thank you 🙂
Steph says
Hi there! I love this blog! It has been very helpful in planning our trip at the beginning of October. What dates were you there? I am just concerned that being there Oct 2-12 we may have trouble finding campgrounds open/ with bathroom facilities available. Did you run into any of this trouble or was it fairly easy winging it and finding places? Thanks!
Kristin says
I was there from Oct 1-10. The campgrounds stay open!
Jim says
You can buy liquor at the state run liquor stores…I saw one in Reykjavik and one in Hofn…Would assume Akeuryi and Selfoss have them as well.
Jim says
A travel tip I would add is to never use the “fill up” option when pumping gas. It’ll put a 200 dollar hold on your account for 48-72 hours until the amount that was actually pumped clears. i didn’t see this in any book or forum before my trip. Would have been great to know.
Kristin says
I think this is actually common worldwide at gas stations.
KooKoo says
Hi Kristin,
Thanks for the nice blog article and great tips! I’m heading out to do a loop in Iceland in a few weeks (same time as yours). If the volcano stays calm, we’ll be traveling on a motorhome / RV for 4ppl. Given everyone will have at least 2-3 devices (phone, camera, tablet, etc) to charge nowadays, my biggest concern is to figure out our charging options. I plan to bring an extension cord, but am wondering if it was hard to find power outlets during your trip? Did your camper come with a 3-prong plug/adapter for your devices? Does the campground offer power outlets even if it is closed? My pack alone will have 2 a6000, 2 GoPro, phone, tablet, and a phantom.
Any particular campground you really like?
Thanks!
Kristin says
I found a power outlet once at one of the campgrounds. I wasn’t looking that often. However your RV should have outlets.
The best thing you can do is bring along portable powerpacks. I swear by mine.
Kristin says
What a cool adventure to have at such an impressionable age for your toddler. That sounds so amazing!
valeria says
Love this article, it definitely inspire us to go to Iceland! We are planning to go in one month and as we miss our “van life” like that onces we had in Australia and New Zealand, we would like to have another roadtrip adventure! I have a technical question about the 4×4 campervan that you rented. Has the weather will be a nightmare on October, is it possible to properly cook inside? I mean turn on the camp stove inside the back of the car like on a motorhome? Or you have to stay outside?
And is mandatory a 4×4 or you are ok with a normal 2×2 campervan as well?
Thank you!
Kristin says
We cooked inside but instead of frying we boiled and were sure to crack the windows. Take a look at the itinerary as well and you’ll see what we needed the 4×4 for. You’d miss the highlands and one of the waterfalls, both of which were super cool.
valeria pecorino says
Just back from Iceland and I have to say that your tips about the country were great! Just a note, in Iceland you can buy wine or liquor in Vinbudin in small cities also, no only at the airport. Prices are pretty much the same. It’s closed on Sunday.
Kristin says
Thanks for the tip!
Claire says
Hi there,
Just wondering if you think it’s safe enough to drive around Iceland on your own? I’ll be doing a tour through the Highlands but will hire a car to drive around the Ring Road and have planned it all down to the T.
Your posts have been super helpful thank you, and I can’t wait to get over there.
Claire
Kristin says
Hi Claire – Iceland is the safest country in the world. People leave their cars running when they pop into the grocery store. I do know some people who have done it solo and honestly I would have too if my friend hadn’t been with me. However I don’t feel qualified or comfortable with telling you that yes, it’s totally fine and that you should do it. I can just tell you that I probably would and that people often do. Your call 🙂
Ana says
Hi Kristin,
how safety is to go solo …girl solo?
Thank you
Ana
Kristin says
I didn’t do it solo but Iceland is a safe country, it’s just how you feel driving alone and that’s up to you!
Kaitlyn says
Wow! It looks like you had a great time. All of your photos are stunning. It’s neat the locals visit the pools, too! Thanks for sharing all of these great tips.
Crystal Lee says
Hello, I love your posts concerning your iceland road trips. I am going this mid December and I’ve rented a camper van as well. However, I hope to have more information on campsites. May I know the names of the campsites that you’ve stayed overnight at? I know they are closed, but were there any shower facilities that are opened? I know that the most convenient thing to do is to take a shower at the public pools, but as I googled them, I find out that we need to shower in complete naked in front of others, and this idea makes me want to avoid the public pools. Please advice.
Thanks.
Kristin says
The showers were half open and half not. You’d need coins to operate them. Most of the time at the pools nobody else was in there when I was showering naked and the men’s and women’s restrooms are separated so you would only be naked with other women. There’s nothing to worry about!
I don’t have the names of the sites I just have the stops. There was one campsite at each place that you couldn’t possibly miss.
Neil Smith says
Hi. We’re planning a motorhome trip around Iceland in July 2017. Can you tell me if (once out of Reykjavik) it’s possible to simply park at the side of the road overnight. I will obviously look for suitable places off the road’s edge, but are car park near waterfalls and into the interior simply free to park up overnight in?
Thanks
Kristin says
You are supposed to pull into campgrounds to park overnight.
Oliver says
I need to take portable propane heater with myself on the Iceland or no need it here?
Kristin says
The camper van comes with a stove
Ashleigh says
Hi Kristin,
Amazing info! My husband and I have decided to go to Iceland in October because of this article! We have never been before and are planning on hiring a 4×4 camper to travel the ring road. However I have looked on a few websites like tripadvisor and they say that all of the campgrounds are closed and that the facilities such a toilets and showers are shut and locked I’m just wondering if this is correct and if you could give us any advice?
Thanks heaps!
Ashleigh
Kristin says
I found them to be unlocked but can’t say for sure what will happen when you go. They want to discourage back country camping so I think that’s why they were open.
Elizabeth says
Closed?? All of the campgrounds would be closed at this time of year in Winter…. but I can’t imagine they would not be open in summer. Surely what you read just meant they are closed right now for winter.
Kristin says
I was still able to use them even though they were “closed” the parking lots were still open and the bathrooms too.
Kim Lowman says
Hi Kristin, I just spoke to one of the GoCamper people and looking for September pricing on one of their 2×4 automatic campers. He said it was their “shoulder” season and that they have a 15% discount. Quoted me a price of $149. us /day. Does this sound reasonable? You had mentioned on your webpage there might be half pricing so I just wondered what your experience was and whether other vendors might have different pricing. Also looking at what I might miss by not being able to travel the F tracks without a 4×4. He mentioned the West Fjords might be difficult to access without the 4×4.
I’ll be there for two weeks in September with maybe a 2-3 day stay in Reykyavik to begin with.
Thanks for any suggestions, Kim
Kristin says
It’s probably reasonable, and when I say half pricing I should clarify that other things that are normally expensive, like campgrounds, are actually more like free. The natural attractions are free too for the most part. You’d want the 4×4 for the West Fjords but that also probably means you wouldn’t really be doing the ring road. I was there for 10 days and barely finished it in time.
Kerry says
Oh My Gosh!
I LOVE your blog! Your writing is amazing! Great Job! Keep it up!
I’m headed to Iceland in a week and I found your blog to be the realist. Very authentic and covering basis. Plus, your perspective is from your experience and it doesn’t feel like you’re trying to potentially sell my a tour (ha!)
Thank you for you!
Kristin says
No tour to sell, this is all self-drive 🙂 Enjoy Icleand!
Maria says
Just returned from Iceland a couple days ago and while we were there enjoying guided tours we started talking about going back in warmer weather and camping along the Ring Road. I’m so excited to have found your tips! Thank you! I’m also looking forward to reading about more of your travels.
Kristin says
Have an amazing time!
Marrie Jackson says
Iceland is a awesome country for camping and hiking. Really good information on the trip. Would love to recommend this to any backpacker who want to be a part of nature. Having the right gear and tools for your trip is only part of preparing for your camping trip. There are other skills which need to be mastered also.
Thank you for sharing this and please keep it up
Kristen says
Hi, this post is very helpful! We are looking to rent a camper van and going the third week in May, just before busy season. It looks like some campgrounds will be open and some won’t be yet. I have seen a few things about about a camping card – would you recommend it?
Kristin says
I haven’t heard of that but even though they were ‘closed’ when I was there they were still open.
Kelsey says
Hi! Thanks for your super informative post! My boyfriend and I are looking to go in March and are planning on camping – we have plenty of solid winter camping stuff and have camped in subzero, windy temps before. Although I’m seeing a lot of stuff out there about high winds in Iceland in the winter, we’re up to the challenge!!
Do you know if these closed sites will have open gates in mid-late March as well? We were hoping to camp at the sites instead of just off the side of the road, if possible. If you have any info or can direct me to someone who might, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks!
Kelsey
Kristin says
I don’t think you’re allowed to camp on the side of the road. They really try to discourage that, so they should be open though I can’t say that 100% for sure!
As for wind, I had some gnarly winds in Patagonia and the best thing you can do is get extra ropes and tie them to rocks and get the tent nice and surrounded in low areas. Of course, if it rains you’re in an ideal spot for the rain to collect, so try to find one where the water has somewhere to go 🙂
Cindy says
I’ve starting to plan my solo trip (67 year old woman) to Iceland and was going to do a short jaunt on the way to Europe…..but now I’m changing it up to 10 days, only Iceland, in a camper van and going whole hog! I’m so glad I found your site, you inspired me. Also, I thing I’ll go in Oct instead of Sept like I had been planning to. So whats the worse that can happen Thank you!!
Kristin says
That’s awesome Cindy! Let me know how it goes for you! I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
Maria says
Hello, I admit that I didn’t read ALL the comments, but I don’t believe you spoke to this: I understand that now that Iceland tourism/campervanning is popular, it is very much preferred to stay in campsites (‘official’ campsites?). Do you think this decreases the ‘coolness’ of renting a van and being able to wake up close to the geographical features that make Iceland great? What I mean is, is having a campervan to park in the campsites better, due to the sights, than staying at a hotel/b&b?
Thanks for any thoughts!
Kristin says
I personally really liked the flexibility that it gave me, but it’s going to be less comfortable, naturally, than staying in a hotel. Your call!
ngoc nguyen says
Thanks for all the advice! We used KUKU campers to rent our campervan and ABSOLUTELY LOVED our experience. We opted for the one that’s slightly bigger than the one you guys used and it was way more room than 2 people could possibly need. Thanks so much for all the tips 🙂
Fhum says
Hello
Thank you so much for your post. Me husband, toddler and I will be travelling in mid-march and keep going back and forth from the camper rental to a car with air bnbs. I don’t feel like planning out my trip ahead of time (I don’t feel like I have a grasp of where to go exactly) so booking accommodations is hard. We have 6 days to travel. I was set on a camper van but my main concern was the sparse winter camping sites. Where do you park in the city? Is there anyway to know if the gates are still open in March for the “closed” campsites ? Thank you so much !
Kristin says
I believe they keep the gates open but the best bet would be to ask the camper van company
Shakira says
Hello, I really need help about where to sleep.
I’m planning to rent a campervan. Do we only sleep at campsites? Because for now I really thought we can only sleep at the campsites.
Or what did you do before? As I read, you once slept in the parking area of glacier lagoon.
How about the fee? If at campsites.
Did you check where to sleep before the trip or you guys just stop at random places? Thanks a lot
Kristin says
You are not allowed to pull off the side of the road to camp but the campsites were open when I was there, but not fully, so they weren’t charging or run by anyone. The glacier lagoon allows you to camp in their parking lot.
PJ Gaerlan says
We are arriving in Iceland on March 29th until April 5th. Renting a camper van. Do you have a site or any advice on where we are allowed to park or camp? We dont want to be those people
thanks in advance
Kristin says
Yes, In campsites! Also, when I wanted to pull over for a view, there was almost always a little place to pull out within a few minutes or less.
Ashlyn says
How did you dry your hair after showering or bathing? I imagine with the cold you’d want to dry your hair instead of walking around with it wet. Do the pools or bathing stations have them provided? Did you bring your own and plug it into the camper?
Kristin says
They had hair dryers!
Glen Canning says
Thank you so much for writing this article. One of the best and more helpful ones for sure. We’re heading to Iceland soon and are planning our trip right off your writing. Thanks so much!!!!
Kristin says
You’re welcome! Glad you found it helpful!
Sean Farrow says
Hi Kristin,
No matter what I punch into google in regards to a trip my partner and I are doing around Iceland this coming Winter, your blog keeps coming up. Great work!!! So much useful information, especially about the camp grounds being open, and the weather conditions.
Thanks so much!!!
Kristin says
That’s awesome! Glad you have found it all to be helpful!
Maren says
I am happy that I found your blog! Very interesting 🙂 It helped me a lot for planning my trip.
But I have a question.
I want to rent a “normal” car…not a camping van. Are we still allowed to have a sleep-over on a parking lot?
Kristin says
In some yes and in some no. You’ll need to have a tent and a place to put it
Cian says
This was so informative and enjoyable to read. Thank you very much! Myself and my other half are doing 3 weeks in Iceland in July/August and will be taking a lot of what you said on board. Can’t wait to read some more.
Kristin says
Wow I’m jealous you’re going for so long! It’s definitely better enjoyed with more time than less 🙂
Stepan Podlipsky says
Hello Kristin, I have read most of your comments, noticed one saying that we could rent a normal car and stay at the campgrounds provided we have a tent and a place where to put it. I was hoping to rent a 4×4 SUV car where me and my girlfriend could sleep over, like when folding down the seats, should be enough space for us, as I found out. Could you please tell me whether there might be any problems with the law or possibility of getting a fine for not having a proper camper van and sleeping in a normal car? I understand it is less comfortable etc. But we could surely save up lots of money and spend them on something else. Thanks a lot, amazing job with the article. And thanks for keeping it up-to-date for new tourists like us.
Kristin says
Hi Stepan, Hm, I’m not the person to consult on Icelandic law, but I can tell you I never saw any police there.
If you do see them, get a selfie. They seem like a lot of fun https://www.instagram.com/logreglan/
Scooter Chillson says
Dude, that sheep is totally photoshopped
Jamie says
Hi Kristin, great post! I am planning a ring road trip in October as well – possible first 2 weeks. I see that your post is very positive about campgrounds remaining open, but other places have been warning my troop and I away from even entertaining such thoughts. But I will take your word for it 😀
Just to be sure, when you say the campgrounds are open – does this include the facilities as well (aka the water, toilets, bath etc.)?
Thanks!
Kristin says
Sometimes it did include the facilities. I hope you’ll let us know what you find! I had no problems.
Ramesh says
Great blog,
Thanks a lot
emi says
HI Kristin,
I saw that you said you went in Autumn and was wondering what month you were there? Your blog is what actually got me to book my solo trip to Iceland from 9/22/17 for 1.5 weeks and I plan on renting a camper van and just travel on the ring road! Just wondering if your trip was around that time and how the weather was…I know there are strong winds that can blow campers over. Did you experience anything close to that? Got a little scared from some Tripadvisor threads absolutely discouraging camper vans on the ring road from September on, so wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks so much!
Kristin says
I went during the first week of October, from the 1-11, so the timing sounds good. The wind is insane so hold onto your door when you open it! I didn’t experience weather so extreme that it would blow over a camper, though.
Stuart Gonzales says
Kristin:
Thanks for the article. I’ve secured my trip (flight to KEF) for 6 days the hop over to BCN for Transatlantic. I have a lot of camping gear from my travels on the Appalachian Trail, and was thinking of renting a car instead of a campervan. It’s just me, so your insights are appreciated. BTW, what are the prices of a campervan in late October (27 October – 2 November)? Any company you recommend?
Stuart
Kristin says
I used GoCampers and the prices probably fluctuate so I’d check with them! You don’t need a tent or gear if you get a camper van.
Anonymous says
I know it was mentioned before but you can buy liquor in government liquor stores. It’s the same in Canada, but yes you cannot get it in grocery stores.
A bottle of red wine will run around $20-25 USD and a 1lter bottle of absolute will be around $63.00 USD.
Stuart Gonzales says
Good Evening Kristin:
Impressive article and blog~! I’m heading to KEF on 26 October from Orlando, FL on a stopover for 6 days, and your article is just what I needed – straight answers. I’m solo and like a previous poster, also renting a 4X4 SUV so I can camp out of it. I have gear from my AT days with an MSR clean fuel stove, and gear that should keep me warm. I’m also bringing supplies. I have 6 days to tour, so I’m hoping you can answer a couple of questions – what area should I definitely hit in those six days and with only 6 days should I forego a 4X4 and the F-Roads? A little bit about me: I’m an adventurer, and although I’m a native Floridian, I enjoy the cold weather. Kristin, thank you for the article and thank you for your reply.
Stuart
Kristin says
Hey! Six days is short for the ring road – you’d really have to push it and miss a lot and I guess in that case I’d skip the F roads since they are slow-going. Alternatively make your way to the southern part and explore that area since it’s so beautiful and with so much to see, or head to the Western Fjords with a 4×4 for something that’s more off the beaten path. That’s next on my list!
Micheal Hurley says
Hello, I intend to take my own motorhome (in 2018) from Ireland overland to Denmark and go by ferry as part of the adventure. I intend travelling in June and my question is would one have to pre-book camping sites at that time of the year. There seems to be no centralised campsite website that you can search by facilities/length of motor home/electric hook up etc. I used ACSI card in France last year and it has an accompanying APP for searching.
Kristin says
I used this site to find camping spots: https://en.camping.info/iceland/campsites
Since I can’t answer your question from personal experience I suggest contacting one of the campsite managers to ask them. They can help out more!
Vinh says
Kristin, thanks for sharing. The pictures are beautiful. You recommended to travel in the Fall. Exactly when would be the peak time for all the Autumn landscape colors? I plan to be there on October 10, so I hope I can catch some of those amazing autumn landscapes.
Kristin says
That really depends on the year. I was there October 1-11.
Les says
Wow! This is what I am looking for. A blog with all the info I want to know about roadtrip in Iceland.
Will be going there next year with a friend. Probably around Aug or Sept. hope that would be the a good month. I wanna see the Northern Lights and he wants less tourists so we decided to go during Fall season. He wants to camp like the way you did but im anxious to do that coz it would be my first time to camp if ever. so we decided to just rent a 4wd and just camp outside in a tent for just a night or two. Can you suggest a nice place to camp outside? Just for experience.
Will definitely come back in here to ask some more info. I hope you dont mind.
Thanks for this wonderful post. Will share it to my travel buddy.
Of all the tips, this is my favorite:
“Pick someone you <3 to go with and be gentle with each other"
I hope this trip would be a trip to remember for both of us.
Kristin says
The campsites are the best place where you can camp, however you’ll need some good cold weather sleeping bags and gear! It’s cold in Iceland, especially if you want to go during a time that you can see the Northern lights.
Regina says
Hi Kristin,
Thank God I found your blog, your information about Iceland is pretty impressive.
I am planning to go to Iceland next year, so this post help me a lot. Thank you! =)
And also, your photos are stunning! I want to experience the yellow of fall like you did. Just wondering what month did you go there? I am thinking to go on October but a bit doubt because I read some other blogs say that October may be snowing. Should I go on September instead?
Oh, one last question! If we rent campervan, where should we go if we need restroom some time? Is campsite provide it?
Kristin says
I went October 1-10 🙂
I did have snow but only in the highlands. Each year is different of course, but I thought October was perfect.
Campsites have restrooms. If I just had to emergency pee we pulled over and I had a bag in the car I put the used toilet paper in.
Cristina Ortega says
I am going to Iceland next week!! So this article was very welcome. We (my boyfriend and I) have rented a campervan and were planning on driving ring road. However, since doing our researc, we have a lot of urging against driving the ring road in winter time (when we will be there) and now my boyfriend is thinking we should change our plans. I wanted to see if anyone here had driven ring road in a camper and could share a little about your experiences? I don’t want to get ourselves into a sticky situation but I also don’t want to miss out. Any help is most welcome!
Kristina says
Hi Kristin! My sister, best friend and I are going to Iceland Sept 29 – Oct 10, and are renting a camper. But we’re having trouble figuring out which type of camper would be best for us. We’re thinking a three-person van might get a little cramped after 10 days, but a lot of the 4/5 person automatic campers (none of us can drive stick) that we’re finding don’t have a sink in them; how necessary do you think it is for us to have one? I know campsites have sinks we can use, but is it worth trying to find one that has a sink in it? Also, if we wanted to venture off the ring road, say near Gullfoss or Kirkjufell, should we get a 4×4? Thanks!
Kristin says
You’ll want a 4×4 if you head to the highlands, or anywhere else I listed on there. I think for Gulfoss and Krikjufell you don’t need a 4×4. Yes it would be cramped after a while so you might want to go a little bigger for your sanity! I guess a sink isn’t super important. Just save your dishes and wash at the campsites.
Lisa says
Hello! Thank you for your wonderful blog ! I’m going to Iceland Mar 1 -10, 2018 and traveling solo in a camper van (Cozy Camper). I’m traveling around Ring Road and most of the campsites say that they’re open year round so I can be assured of toilets/ showers, but the one in Vik doesn’t say it’s open year round and their email bounced back. Do you recall if they were open if you went there? My friend who did this in Oct a few years ago said most places were open and not locked, even if there was no attendant avail.
Also I just noticed Blue Lagoon is expensive! $61 USD just to get in the door for the basic package. That’s a lot of money. Are the other geothermal pools around the country that expensive? I’m hoping to find them and enjoy them on this trip!
Thank you again, your blog was most helpful as I am doing this trek around Iceland to celebrate my 50th and my friend said the country is so safe and the people are great. She said the weather is a doozy, so you are my hero for TENT camping. haha – My friend rented the Cozy Camper and had such a great experience so that’s why I am renting it.
Thank you!
Kristin says
I found the same when I went in October. Most were open but not locked. In most cases regarding showers, we went to the thermal baths which seem to be in each town, even the tiny ones. So to answer two of your questions, you can bathe along the way, no problem and yes there are many alternatives to the blue lagoon, they just aren’t blue. Bring your own towel!
Happy birthday! Yes Iceland is super safe. I didn’t tent camp, I also did a camper van. Was a great idea 🙂
Kata says
Hey Kristin,
First of all, thank you for this awesome article! 🙂 I truly loved it!
We 2 are planning to rent a 4×4 campervan for our 10 day, RingRoads trip to Iceland this September. Do you think that showers and toilets will be open during our visit? (We travel on a budget, so do not want to pay extra money for taking a shower etc.) My other question is if is there any car rentals that you recommend?
Thanks a lot in advance, your blog was extremely inspiring! 🙂
Kristin says
Hey! I would recommend the camper van listed in the post near the top. There were showers open at some campsites and not others when I went in October, but they were all pay-to-use. The public baths is part of the experience, though, so I’d recommend budgeting it in!
Julie Courcier says
Thank you so much! This has been very helpful! Thinking of visiting Iceland this August. Your article answered many questions! Any you are funny! 🙂 I will use your packing list to the T
Kristin says
Awesome have fun!
vicky says
your post is just awesome just need to know that i will be travelling with my wife in this october and need to know how ere the campsites in iceland and if therz a situation can i rent a room in campsites
Kristin says
If you want rooms better book those ahead of time. Campsites are in each little town for the most part and on the website I linked 🙂
Natalie Pearson says
How much money did you spend on gas?
Kristin says
Thing is the price fluctuates a lot so what I spent won’t be a good indicator of what it might cost now. I don’t think it was more than $100 each, though.
Bryan Shriver says
Hi Kristin,
I came across your blog this morning while attempting to plan a trip with my friend around Iceland in June. I found it super helpful ! We are both avid campers and want to ideally camp around the island, but are unsure of the best routes and realistic possibilities in our 5 day trip.
If you had a moment to answer some questions about your trip and other options of seeing the island, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you and I look forward to your response!
Kristin says
I’d head south in that case!
Nick says
Hi Kristin,
Great article! Definitely planning on using a lot of your tips and visiting the places you’ve recommended. Had a question on camping… We were thinking of bringing our own tent/gear and simply renting a 4×4 so we could access the areas we would like. We will be there early/mid September. Did you always camp at campgrounds or just find a nice secluded area to call it a night?
Kristin says
You’re required to camp in campgrounds as far as I understand. I think most 4x4s are equipped with tents or are camper vans, which makes it a lot easier and warmer!
Alizzy says
oh, i love Camping. You can enjoy the pure nature and just switch off…
Jennifer says
About how much USD did the camper van cost to rent per night? Also month did you go?
Kristin says
October! I have the campervan I used linked in the post. It was expensive but it also totally depends on what time of year you go.
Amanda says
Great post! I’m planning a trip to Iceland for this summer and plan on renting a camper van. I’ve been doing research on campsites to stay at, but I haven’t seen anything about whether you need to reserve a campsite in advance. Did you need to reserve any campsites or was first come first serve? Since I’ll be visiting in the busy season I’m a little worried it may be difficult finding places to camp. I appreciate your help!
Kristin says
I was there in low season so they weren’t even staffed. I think reserving ahead of time could be a good idea. I’d contact them directly to try to find out.
Monts says
Hi, great blog! I loved it!
I´m thinking about a road trip to Iceland, but I only have a few days in early april, do you know if we go on a roadtrip with the van, I can find campistes to pass the night? I read some other sites that say in april almost all campsites are colsed.
Thank you in adavance
Kind Regards
Monts (Form Mexico 🙂 )
Kristin says
I think they’re usually open but just not staffed.