March is when winter starts to let go in Iceland. The days grow fast, from about 10 hours of daylight at the start of the month to more than 13 by the end, but there's still snow on the mountains, ice on the waterfalls and dark nights for the northern lights. You get winter scenery with spring daylight, and the roads are far quieter than in summer. Here's what to expect and how we'd plan a week in a camper.
March in Iceland at a glance
| Daylight | About 10 hours in Reykjavík on 1 March, 12 hours at the spring equinox on 20 March and about 13.5 hours by 31 March. |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around freezing in Reykjavík and on the south coast, often a few degrees above in the afternoon. Colder in the north and inland, and the wind makes it feel colder still. |
| Weather | Changeable. Clear, frosty days and spring sunshine, but snowstorms still happen, especially early in the month. |
| Roads | The Ring Road is cleared, but mountain passes can close after snow. Highland roads (F-roads) stay closed until summer. |
| Northern lights | Still a good month. It's dark from about 8:30 pm at the start of March and about 10 pm at the end, and the weeks around the equinox are known for lively displays. |
| Easter | In 2027 Easter Sunday is 28 March, and the holidays run from Thursday 25 to Monday 29 March. |
Why March is a good month for a camper trip
Daylight is what changes everything. In December you've only got 4 to 5 hours of light, but by mid-March it's 11 to 12, so you can drive a bit further each day, stop wherever you like and still pitch up at your campsite before dark. Everything still looks like winter, and you'll often have the famous stops almost to yourself in the morning. If you've been weighing up winter against spring, March gives you a bit of both.
The catch is the weather. March can still throw a proper storm at you, so we'd plan a route with short driving days and a spare day you can use if a road closes. It's the same advice we give for any winter trip.
Driving in Iceland in March
- Studded tyres: every Foxie camper runs on studded winter tyres, and they're allowed in Iceland until mid-April.
- Watch the wind. The Icelandic Met Office posts yellow, orange and red weather warnings on vedur.is. On an orange or red day, stay where you are.
- Check the roads every morning on road.is or by calling 1777, and look at safetravel.is for alerts.
- Melting snow and ice: roads can be icy in the morning and slushy by the afternoon. Slow down on bridges and in the shade.
- F-roads stay closed until summer, and some mountain passes in the east, the north and the Westfjords close after snow.
- Fuel: most stations have card pumps that work around the clock (you'll need a card with a PIN). Your rental comes with an N1 fuel-discount keychain.
- Never stop on the road for a photo or the northern lights. Pull into a car park or lay-by.
There's more in our guide to driving in Iceland.
Where to sleep: campsites open in March
Most campsites are still closed in March, but you'll find quite a few that stay open all year. These are the ones we'd use along the south coast:
- Near Keflavík: Garðskagi, Sandgerði and Vogar
- Hveragerði and the Golden Circle: Hveragerði, Þingvellir (the Nyrðri-Leirar site), Úthlíð, Skjól near Gullfoss and Hraunborgir in Grímsnes (with hot tubs)
- South coast: Hellishólar and Smáratún in Fljótshlíð, and Skógar right below Skógafoss
- Glacier country and the south-east: Skaftafell, Höfn and the Vestrahorn campsite at the Viking Café
Winter facilities can be simpler than in summer, and campsites do change their plans, so check the campsite's own page or give them a call before you go. Our campervan map shows all the campsites in Iceland. At night, sleep only at campsites: it's the rule in Iceland, and it keeps you off the roads in the dark.
Staying warm in the camper
March nights are still well below freezing in a lot of places, so you'll want a proper heater. Most of our campers have a diesel night heater that works without a campsite hook-up, plus an electric heater for nights on campsite power, and the bedding is included. Keep the heater on low all night, and air the camper for a few minutes in the morning so condensation doesn't build up.
A 7-day March route: Golden Circle, south coast and Vestrahorn
With 11 to 13 hours of daylight you can go further east than you would in midwinter. This is the route we'd drive: as far as Vestrahorn, then back along the same coast.
Day 1: Hveragerði. Pick up your camper at our desk in Keflavík (staffed 24/7, with a free airport transfer) and drive about 1.5 hours to Hveragerði, a town built on hot ground. If you've still got energy, walk up the Reykjadalur valley to bathe in a warm river. It's about 3.5 km each way and can be icy, so bring ice cleats. Sleep at the Hveragerði campsite.
Day 2: Golden Circle. Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir area and Gullfoss, with about 3 hours of driving in all. Sleep at Skjól near Gullfoss or at Úthlíð, about 10 minutes from Geysir.
Day 3: Waterfalls. About 2 hours to Seljalandsfoss (the path behind the waterfall closes when it's icy) and the hidden Gljúfrabúi next to it, then 30 minutes to Skógafoss. Sleep at Skógar, right below the falls.
Day 4: Vík and glacier country. The view from Dyrhólaey, the black sand beach at Reynisfjara (stay well back from the waves; read our Reynisfjara safety guide) and the village of Vík. Continue east past Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon if its path is open (it's sometimes closed in spring to protect the ground) and on to Skaftafell, about 3 hours of driving in all. Sleep at Skaftafell.
Day 5: Ice and mountains. Walk to Svartifoss in the morning, then drive about 50 minutes to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the icebergs on the black beach across the road. Another hour brings you to Höfn and the Vestrahorn mountain on the Stokksnes peninsula. Sleep at the Vestrahorn campsite or in Höfn.
Day 6: Back west. The longest day: about 4.5 hours of driving back to Skógar. Stop at Jökulsárlón again for the morning light, and break the drive in Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Vík. Sleep at Skógar, or at Hellishólar or Smáratún in Fljótshlíð.
Day 7: Back to Keflavík. About 3 hours of driving. Stop for a last swim in a Reykjavík swimming pool or a lagoon on the way, then return the camper at our desk.
If you've got 9 or 10 days, add Snæfellsnes at the start or the end: our February guide has that part of the route. For the full Ring Road, give it at least 10 days and keep a spare day or two, because the north and east can still get heavy snow in March. Our free trip planner, included with every booking, builds a day-by-day route for your own dates.
Northern lights in March
March is one of the last good months for the aurora before the bright nights of summer. It's properly dark from about 8:30 pm at the start of the month and about 10 pm at the end, and many aurora watchers swear by the weeks around the spring equinox. You'll need a clear sky more than anything, so check the cloud forecast on vedur.is in the evening and drive to a dark car park or your campsite, away from town lights. Our guide to the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland has more, including camera and phone settings.
Easter and other dates in March
- Beer Day, 1 March: beer was banned in Iceland until 1 March 1989, and bars still mark the day.
- Spring equinox, 20 March: from now on the days are longer than the nights, and they keep growing fast.
- Easter, 25 to 29 March 2027: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Many shops close on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and some places have shorter hours, so stock up on food the day before. Icelandic Easter eggs are chocolate with a proverb hidden inside. Our Easter camping guide has more.
Things to do in March
- Ice caves: natural ice caves under Vatnajökull can usually be visited until about the end of March, but only on a guided tour. Don't go in on your own.
- Glacier walks: guided glacier hikes run from Skaftafell and Sólheimajökull all year.
- Hot pools: swimming pools and lagoons are open all year. See our hot springs guide.
- Waterfalls in ice: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Gullfoss and Svartifoss look different with snow and ice around them.
- Vestrahorn: the jagged mountain and black dunes at Stokksnes, one of the most photographed places in the south-east.
What to pack
- Thermal base layers and a wool sweater
- A waterproof, windproof jacket and trousers
- A warm hat, gloves and a neck warmer
- Ice cleats (microspikes) for icy paths and car parks
- Sunglasses: the low sun on snow is bright
- A headlamp and swimwear for the hot pools
Bedding, a cooking kit and a camping table and chairs come with every Foxie camper, so you don't need to pack those. Our packing list has the rest.
Is March a good time for a campervan trip?
Yes, if you'd like winter scenery and still want days long enough to enjoy it. We think it's one of the most underrated months. March gives you snowy landscapes, a real chance of the northern lights and 10 to 13 hours of daylight for driving. Storms still happen, so keep your plan flexible, check the weather every morning and leave a spare day.
You'll find our campers and live March prices on the Iceland campervan rental page.