Travelling Iceland by campervan means your bed, kitchen and transport are the same thing. You wake up next to a mountain, drive to the next waterfall when you are ready, and stop for lunch wherever the view is good. Here is how it actually works day to day, from the people who hand over the keys at our desk in Keflavík.
Picking up your camper
Our desk is at Smiðjuvellir 80 in Keflavík, about 7 minutes from the airport, and the transfer is free. We show you how everything in the camper works, from the heater to the kitchen, and you drive off. Every camper comes with bedding, kitchenware, a table and chairs, and unlimited kilometres.
One group had booked a camper with us, and when their friends' rental with another company fell through, we found the friends a second camper too, at a fair price. They wrote this on Google afterwards:
"They singlehandedly saved our Iceland trip, and I cannot recommend them more. They picked us up from the airport, they were super transparent about every fee and cost, and were always available to contact whenever something came up. The vans themselves were super clean, came with absolutely everything necessary (utensils, burner, table, foldable chairs, pillows, sleeping bags, etc.) and they were even able to provide us with portable wifi's that saved us for maps and travel."
Where you sleep
At campsites. In Iceland it is not allowed to park a campervan overnight outside a campsite, even in a quiet lay-by. Campsites are spread around the whole country, they are cheap, and most have toilets and showers, many also a kitchen or a warm common room. Find them on our campsite map; outside summer, turn on "open all year". Read more in where you can sleep in a campervan.
Power, heat and staying warm
Our Premium, Scudo and Trafic campers have diesel heating that keeps you warm through the night, and an off-grid battery that charges while you drive. You do not need a campsite with electricity to charge phones, cameras and laptops. See our off-grid power guide for the details.
One guest, an airline pilot travelling in winter, put it this way in his Google review:
"It's fully self-sufficient, with a battery that runs the heat and lights, so I stayed warm and comfortable without worrying about hookups."
Food and cooking
Most guests cook breakfast and dinner in the camper and save money on restaurants, which are expensive in Iceland. Shop at Bónus or Krónan, the cheapest supermarkets; our supermarket map shows where they are. Tap water is excellent and free everywhere, so fill a bottle instead of buying water (more on tap water).
Showers and hot pools
Campsites have showers, and every town has a swimming pool with hot tubs for a small fee. Locals go every evening; after a cold day of sightseeing it is the best place to be. Before you get in, shower without a swimsuit; it is the rule everywhere (here is why).
Driving: how far each day
Plan three to four hours of driving a day. 100 km on the map often takes 1.5 to 2 hours with stops for waterfalls and photos. The speed limit is 90 km/h on paved roads and 80 km/h on gravel. Check road conditions on umferdin.is and the weather on vedur.is every morning; wind matters more than cold. Our driving in Iceland guide covers the rest.
Fuel stations are far apart in the countryside, so fill up in towns. See the gas stations map.
Where to go
For a first trip, the Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss) and the South Coast (Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Skaftafell) are the classics. With more time, carry on east to Vestrahorn and Stuðlagil, or around the whole Ring Road. See our best campervan routes and the 7-day Ring Road itinerary.
What it costs
Besides the camper, plan for fuel, campsites and food. Our campervan trip cost guide breaks it down, and our best time to visit guide shows how camper prices change by month.
Which camper?
- Two people: the Campervan 2 Persons Premium, easy to drive, with heating and off-grid power.
- Three people: the Renault Trafic 3 Persons or the Fiat Scudo 3 Family.
- Four people: the Fiat Ducato and VW California are coming to online booking soon; ask the desk until then.
- Highlands and F-roads: you need a 4×4 (4×4 guide).
Compare them all with live prices on our campervan rental page.