Camping in Iceland is a fantastic experience everyone should enjoy. I traveled to Iceland four years ago. It was the third time I had traveled alone and it was my first stop on my world tour after college graduation.
After booking the cheapest flight, I could to Reykjavik and Couchsurfing my way around the capital city, I realized I hadn’t seen much of the country. I made a classic mistake of only basing myself in a capital city and later regretted it and knew I needed to return to go camping in Iceland.
So when we recently had the chance to revisit Iceland, we jumped at it. Iceland is a land full of natural, raw, and untouched beauty. It’s a place that doesn’t even look real, which is probably why so many movies have been filmed there in recent years.
To make the most out of a trip to Iceland and get to these rugged destinations, I suggest camping on Iceland’s ring road. A road trip to Iceland is the perfect way to get to know the land. Here are a few tips to help with your planning and preparation.
Iceland Camping Tips to Know!
If You’re Camping in Iceland, Consider a Vehicle
If you want to do any extensive Iceland camping and sightseeing, you need to rent a car. The glory of camping on Iceland’s ring road is the ability to explore and spend some time in nature. This freedom is lost on a Golden Circle or Ring Road group tour.
We suggest you rent a campervan with Happy Campers, that is how we camped around Iceland in comfort. It will save you from the hassle and cost of booking hotels individually or setting up a tent every night. If you want to travel with a Happy Campers van as we did (and you should!) make sure to read our full review. You can easily book using this link, but make sure to book well in advance during the high season.
Our campervan from Happy Campers was perfect for what we wanted out of our trip. It provided great freedom and comfort at a reasonably affordable cost. A campervan will serve as your transportation, accommodation, and kitchen for your trip to Iceland – which is pretty much all you need.
You Can’t Camp Wherever in Iceland
We came to Iceland expecting to pull up to waterfalls, cliffs, and oceans and camp at Iceland’s most stunning locations. We had our gas stove and kitchenware, could shower at public pools, and use public toilets. We’d wake up at every destination with one of those killer #vanlife shots.
We should have done more research. It is now the law that all campervans must have written permission to camp on the property, or in other words, a receipt from a designated Iceland campsite.
Given the explosion of tourism in Iceland, it was bound to happen. There are too many tourists and campervans parking all over the country to allow anarchy. The legislation is targeted at vehicles and land rights, not specifically tents or camping. You can still pitch a traditional tent in the Iceland wilderness, but that means you have to be on foot.
So, where do you camp in Iceland? There are plenty of campsites around the ring road. Most of these campsites provide necessary facilities like a toilet, shower, communal area, and maybe if you’re lucky some WiFi.
Campsites in Iceland charge between 1000-2000 ISK per person per night. If you are traveling between October and May, you may find many Iceland campsites are closed. Don’t worry too much because some sites allow you to camp for free in the offseason, with the lack of facilities as they’re locked.
Gas is Very Expensive
I thought I would only have one heart attack this year when we paid $2 a liter for fuel in the middle of nowhere Zimbabwe. We just hadn’t traveled through Iceland yet. Fuel in Iceland is expensive at around $2 a liter – that’s roughly $8 a gallon for all my American friends out there!
If you want to save what you can on fuel, then opt for a fuel-efficient vehicle. Be prepared to buck up and pay if you’re traveling in a campervan or 4×4 like us. We spent $400 on fuel to drive our campervan around the country for ten days. Check out our Iceland ring road trip itinerary (plus some detours).
So is everything else…
If you came to Iceland for a cheap trip, you are in the wrong country, but I’m sure you already know that. Just about everything in Iceland is crazy expensive. Accommodation and food are costly. Even a cup of coffee from a machine can cost you close to $6. So make sure to budget for your ring road trip accordingly.
Get off Iceland’s Ring Road
Some of Iceland’s best sites and attractions are not on the ring road. We suggest looking up the sites you want to see online and through guidebooks. Once you know what you want to see, save it all to an offline Google Maps. Regions that are worth mentioning not on the ring road are the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Landmannalaugar, Husafell, and Dettifoss.
Everyone also recommended that we travel and camp in Iceland’s Western Fjords, as they are the least visited place in the country. We, unfortunately, didn’t have the time to make the most of that detour.
Ditch the GPS when Camping in Iceland
While we are on the subject of Google Maps – don’t bother with paying for a car GPS. Instead, download an offline Google Map on your phone. You can do this via their app. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out Google’s tutorial.
We download offline maps everywhere we travel, which rarely leads us astray. Just be warned, it may eat up some space on your phone memory, but it’s well worth not getting lost and knowing where you are going. It’s the most efficient way to plan your routes in between campsites.
But Get the WiFi
Our Happy Campervan had built-in WiFi that cost €40 for the entire rental period. Having WiFi in the car was fantastic for when we wanted to check emails, post to social media, and browse for things to see in Iceland. If the internet is part of your daily life, I would highly recommend adding it to your rental.
Allocate Enough Time for your Ring Road Trip
How long should you spend driving the Ring Road? It depends. The Ring Road or “Route 1” is 1,332 kilometers, so technically, you could do it in less than 16 hours and never stop – but what’s the point of that? We made our Iceland ring road trip clockwise in 10 days. We felt it was the perfect amount of time to see all the main sites.
Sure, we missed some things, but we never felt too rushed or that we hung around for too long in a place. In an ideal world, I would suggest 7-10 days to drive the Ring Road, but we met people doing it in 3-5, which sounds exhausting.
Learn to Love Instant coffee!
Are you a coffee or tea drinker like us? For your trip, you should consider picking up tea and instant coffee at a grocery store in Iceland. Remember when I said Iceland is unimaginably expensive?
Well, those costs trickle down to even the coffee and tea, so if you want your caffeine, it’s best to buy some instant coffee. There is also the option to bring an Aeropress with your favorite roast from home.
Download a good playlist
You will spend much time in the car, so a good travel playlist is essential. Download one to your phone before you go, so you are ready to roll!
There Are No Bathrooms!
When you’re in Iceland camping, you should come to expect hardly any bathrooms. Aside from the high cost of everything in Iceland, our other complaint with the country is the lack of public restrooms. There is almost nowhere to do your business on Iceland’s ring road so plan accordingly.
Obviously, hotels will have bathrooms, but outside the Golden Circle tourist stops of Geysir and Gullfoss, we found few public bathrooms. This isn’t a massive problem for number one, but what do you do for number two?
A good option is to head for gas stations, but you will likely have to buy something. Food and other amenities come with a high price in Iceland gas stations, but it doesn’t hurt to always have a full tank of gas should you not need any knick-knacks. Most campsite toilets will be open if you are traveling in the summer, but you will have to stay there to use them.
If you really can’t hold it, you should practice pack-in/pack-out. Iceland has seen a boom in tourism in the last ten years. With massive amounts of tourist dollars flowing into the country, it baffles us that the government or tourism board has done nothing regarding facilities for actual visiting guests.
Instead, locals choose to shame tourists that are visiting and pay for funny videos to attract more visitors on social media. In case you were wondering, the country has a long history of corruption.
There are 334,000 Icelanders and More Than Two Million Tourists (a year)
There is a reason for this considerable tourism boom. Yes, Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. That should not be a surprise given the number of photos and videos on the internet. We came expecting beauty and surreal locations, and so did everyone else.
The beauty of Iceland is not a secret anymore. Did you know more American tourists are visiting Iceland than Icelandic people? And that’s just one nationality! Almost everyone we saw while driving around Iceland’s ring road was a foreigner, and it wasn’t until Reykjavik that we finally found ourselves among the local people.
The sheer number of tourists here may even disappoint you at first glance, especially if you’re traveling during the summer months. I know we kept feeling that too many were floating around the country, but then I remembered how many people visit Rome, Thailand, and freaking Disney World each year and the numbers aren’t even comparable.
There are some hidden gems you can get to that are not popular with tourists in Iceland though. Most notably the East and West Fjords, so go ahead and get off the beaten path!
13. Watch Where You Step!
One thing you will notice about the landscape in Iceland is the iconic moss. It is everywhere, and the locals cherish it. For a good reason, too – it’s a fragile part of Iceland’s gorgeous landscape.
It’s important not to step on the moss, and god forbid don’t trample it, write your name in it, or pull it up from the ground like Justin Beiber. It can take up to 70 years to grow back and make sure to stick to the paths and admire the moss from afar.
This goes for driving down roads as well. Many of the country’s most majestic campsites and regions are down F roads in the center of Iceland. There is no development here and lots of open ground.
We witnessed firsthand the harmful effects of tourists driving off-road and “having fun” doing donuts in the moss. It’s a surefire way to end up with a hefty $5,000 fine if caught or a broken nose from a local.
Drink the Water!
Just about everything will cost you money in Iceland, except for one thing – Water! The water in Iceland is some of the best drinking water in the world so there is never a reason to buy bottled water.
Bring a travel water bottle and fill up from the taps, rivers, streams, and glaciers – it’s all okay to drink! Seriously, save plastic waste and your money by avoiding any sort of bottled water. The Icelanders will secretly laugh at you if you spend money on those stupid plastic bottles.
Almost every gas station in Iceland has a tap and hoses for you to clean your car or fill up your campervan’s water tank. Yes, it is free as well! So when you’re making an Iceland camping trip, rest assured you’ll have water.
Northern Lights = Winter. Midnight Sun = Summer
If you’re going to Iceland for a chance to see the Northern Lights, you will need to travel there when it is actually dark. If you are heading to Iceland to see the Midnight Sun, then you will have to go camping in the summertime when it is light at midnight. Northern Lights in Iceland = September to mid-April. Midnight Sun in Iceland = May to August.
Just make sure you have a great packable down jacket because the winter months can be freezing at night! If you want to learn more about the best time to visit Iceland, we have a post for that!
Practice Proper Pool Etiquette
Most towns in Iceland have a public swimming pool. It’s considered a public necessity and an important part of Icelandic culture. It is a place where Icelanders get active, relax, and socialize. They aren’t just for locals, though; foreigners are welcome too. We tried to go to as many swimming pools as possible when camping on the ring road.
Swimming pool entrance fees run between 600-1000 Icelandic Kroner, which is a fraction of the price of a Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon ticket. News Flash – The Blue Lagoon and Secret Lagoon are just for tourists and Instagram photos anyway. Public pools are fed by geothermic water. They all will have at least one main pool for swimming and two different hot tubs for relaxing. Some pools even have saunas, ice tubs, water slides, and steam rooms!
You will probably want to shower when you’re on a camping trip in Iceland. We had several instances of the campsite without a shower available. That’s not a problem, as you can head to the local pool for a hot shower and swim. But…
You Will Need to Get Naked
Speaking of pools in Iceland, you must get naked and wash before you enter a pool. Casual nudity is a normal part of the Scandinavian culture, and taking a shower before swimming is the law in Iceland. (No, seriously, it is the law that you must get naked and scrub.)
Showers are divided by sex, and they are open air in the locker rooms. The proper way is to undress, lock up your belongings, place your bathing suit and towel in the convenient cubbies, take a shower, put on your bathing suit, and leave your towel behind when you return to the locker room.
Icelanders take their hygiene very seriously, and the pools use minimal chemicals, so entering clean is important. If you don’t feel comfortable getting naked in front of others of the same sex, then going to a pool in Iceland is not for you.
Showering with your swimsuit on, or worse – not showering, will likely get you scowls and maybe even a good scrub from an Icelander in the shower… they’ll do it! There’s no need to be shy, and we consider visiting a local pool a must for anyone visiting Iceland.
There are Ways to Save Money Camping in Iceland
Iceland is one of the most expensive countries to travel to, but there are ways you can save money! The first would be not to eat out. A basic meal for two can run about $100 USD at a restaurant. Stick to the grocery stores if you are on a budget. We found Bónus to be the cheapest grocery store in Iceland, followed by Krónan.
Our campervan had a fridge to keep veggies frozen and milk cold, but depending on when you travel, you may not need it. The temperatures in mid-October are to be around 1 C at night. If you buy perishable items without a fridge, stick them outside while you sleep!
If you want to drink while in Iceland, then be sure to either bring your alcohol with you or shop duty-free before you enter the country, or you may be paying for the most expensive cocktail of your life.
If you travel in a group, it will save you money on car rental and gas. However, campsites charge per person and range from 1000 ISK to 2000 ISK (and some charge an extra 500 ISK if you want to use the shower).
The number one thing to remember is that enjoying nature is free! There are plenty of trails, viewpoints, and waterfalls in Iceland. All of those don’t cost a penny (yet).
Credit Cards Work Everywhere
The country pretty much runs on credit cards, and we never once had to pay with cash in Iceland. Everything from bathroom attendants to grocery stores and campsites has a credit card machine. You can also pay for an apple at a gas station with a credit card!
This is excellent news for travel hackers like us and helps us earn some serious travel points. Check out our favorite travel credit cards or how we handle banking while we travel abroad!
Pack Smart While Camping in Iceland
I’ve traveled to Iceland in both the summer and winter, and it was windy and cold both times. I would recommend packing clothes that layer well. Must haves are a good rain jacket and hiking boots.
Even in Reykjavik, people dress pretty casually, so there isn’t much need to be super fashionable. Pack comfortable, quick drying, and waterproof clothing for a good time. Read more about what to pack for Iceland here.
Don’t Overestimate Your Iceland Camping Rental!
Rental cars and vans are just that – rentals. They should be treated with care and caution because if you damage the vehicle, you will be the one paying for the repairs. Sure, you can always take out insurance in a rental car, but even that doesn’t fully protect you, and it is a pricey add-on.
Another thing to mention is that no car rental insurance will cover you on Iceland’s “F” roads. F roads are cut through the center of the country. They are rough, gravel, mud, and fit for tough 4×4 vehicles with experienced drivers. When we picked up our Happy Camper, we were informed that we could not drive on these roads under any circumstances, and most other rentals have the same policy.
We still wanted to get to places like Mount Hekla and Landmannalaugar, so we decided to go on a tour. Moonwalker tours are super fun and personalized for the guest. They’re run by an Icelandic, Bessi, who knows how to tackle the rough terrain. Why am I telling you this? Because on our Moonwalker tour, we saw at least 20 rental cars that were unfit to drive on these rough roads, but tourists had decided to drive on them anyway.
We even saw a car waiting to be picked up after busting its oil pan and overheating the engine. So, they had to wait in the cold for a tow truck to be stuck with the bill afterward (because they were on an F road). This is not only foolish but also dangerous as you could easily get stranded in the freezing cold with nowhere to turn. Just stick to the nice paved roads unless you are an experienced driver with a heavy-duty vehicle.
Oh, yea – and there is A LOT of wind in Iceland. So hold the door, or it could blow right off the hinges – that’s not covered by most insurances either…yes, I’m serious.
Bring a Camera!
Everywhere you look on your Iceland ring road trip will be anything but ugly. Make sure to bring something to capture the moment with. You can check out more of our favorite photography equipment here. Popular places to photograph and visit in Iceland are the Black Sand Beach near Vik, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and Vatnajökull National Park.
Bring Your Own Bed
Whether camping in Iceland in a tent, car camping in Iceland, or campervanning being comfortable is a priority for sleep. When we camped in Africa, we invested in heavy-duty sleeping mats, and our backs thanked us every single night. Make sure to bring the right gear.
We traveled through in Iceland in October, and temperatures were already around freezing. It never hurts to invest in a good sleeping bag if you’re in a campervan or tent. If coming from the US, we suggest checking out REI for camping equipment as they only carry quality products.
Towels are a Lifesaver When Camping in Iceland
We always carry a travel towel. It doesn’t matter if we plan to hop between hotels, camp in Iceland, or head to a beach resort. They almost always come in handy. Especially if you’re camping and using the public pools of Iceland because they will charge you around 500 ISK for towel rental, you can check out our favorite travel towels here!
Learn to Cook Basics while Camping in Iceland
Learn to cook a few easy meals. We’ve spent a lot of time camping this last year, so it’s been a process of learning simple meals that be done with one burner.
- Wraps: These are super simple. Cameron made hot wraps by cooking a stir fry in a pan using vegan hoisin duck, frozen veggies, and mushrooms. Dish it out in some wraps and top with vegan cheese. (You can use the real stuff too!)
- Rice: It’s a staple, and finding a way to make it your own will take you miles. We like to top our rice with peas, corn, avocado, eggs, and a sweet Thai chili sauce. (There are hundreds of variations of this!)
- Soup: We love to make soup because it’s delicious, requires one pot, and it fills you up. For an easy and healthy soup, Cameron recommends the following: Saute onions in a pot until translucent, add mushrooms, tomatoes, vegetable stock (bouillon cubes to save space), rice, potatoes, carrots, and season with paprika. If you’re a meat eater, cook it first with the onions. The key to a soup is layering flavors and letting it simmer for a long time.
- Pancakes: Who doesn’t love pancakes? They’re dead simple, and when you top them with peanut butter, they’ll keep you going for hours. For camping, we suggest the premade mix from the store.
- Pasta: Roasted red pepper, pesto, avocado, or mushroom stroganoff. There are countless variations of pasta you can make. We love to mix them with frozen veggies when camping in Iceland. Fresh produce is expensive!
Camping in Iceland is No Longer a Secret
Chances are, if you’ve heard of the destination in Iceland, so has everyone else! You’ve probably seen photos of that abandoned plane sitting in the middle of nowhere Iceland. It’s still in that same location, but it’s now surrounded by tourists and littered with trash (including tourist poop). More importantly, it’s in the middle of nowhere!
The hike is well known for being in a flat desert area with no vegetation. It is used to add to the mystique. Now, you’re just in a line behind the other tourists trying to get that same photo. Iceland is well explored, asides from the middle, where most people can’t get. You should think about what you really want to see in the amount of time you have.
What Are the Best Campsites While Iceland Camping?
Like previously mentioned, you will have to stay at designated campsites overnight while camping in Iceland. There are plenty around the country (see the full list here).
Many of the campsites at least have hot showers available, but for the most part, you are paying for the right to park your car there. You’ll find some with WiFi, a communal area, and cooking facilities if you’re lucky. We stayed at a few of our favorite campsites in Iceland: Skaftafell, Snorrastaðir, and Staðarholt.
Plan Your Epic Campervan Trip to Iceland
Book a Camper!
A campervan is the best way to get around Iceland on a budget. While a camper is slightly more expensive than a car, you can sleep and cook in it! You don’t have to search for hotels or deal with expensive restaurants in Iceland.
Plus, you sleep in nature and still use a heater if you wish! If you want to travel with a Happy Campers van as we did, read our full review. You can easily book using this link, but make sure to book well in advance during the high season.
Book a Tour
Sometimes it’s nice not to have to do all the travel planning and let someone else do it.
When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland?
In my opinion, the best times to visit Iceland are June, July, September, October, and December – but it all depends on what you want! June-August is the high season, but it is also summer in Iceland, and when you will find the most pleasant temperatures. It’s also when you will experience the most amount of daylight and get the most out of your trip. December is great because it is winter, you stand a strong chance of seeing the Northern Lights, it’s low season, and the temperatures haven’t gone to complete freezing yet.
However, my personal favorite time to travel to Iceland is during the fall months. It’s September and October when you will see the leaves change vibrant colors around the country. Temperatures are still mild, and tourism is slowing down. You can see the full month-by-month breakdown for Iceland travel here.
Things to do in Iceland
There are so many things to do in Iceland that I could write a book about it. Unfortunately, I don’t have that time, so I’m showing you the ultimate Iceland bucket list here. Some must-do things are going to an Iceland swimming pool, soaking in a natural hot spring, standing under a waterfall, and seeing the Northern Lights.
Photography Gear for Iceland
A high-quality camera is an essential packing item for Iceland if you want some great shots while on vacation. We travel with our Fujifilm Camera and 200mm telephoto lens.
Drones have taken Iceland by storm and can also capture fantastic footage. We had our DJI Mavic in Iceland, but make sure to use your drone responsibly, as many locals are annoyed at their sight.
Do not forget a tripod for Iceland – especially if you plan on photographing the Northern Lights, as you’ll need one for the long exposures.
Is Iceland Expensive?
Iceland is mega expensive. One of the most expensive countries in the entire world. Make sure that you plan accordingly and in line with your budget. It’s certainly possible to do Iceland on a budget of less than $100 if you are camping, cooking all your basic meals, traveling by public transport, or scoring a good deal on a rental. The good news is that nature is free, and you’ll be able to see Iceland’s beauty without paying for it. So yes – it’s completely doable to have an affordable Iceland vacation.
If you plan on drinking, be sure to pick up duty-free alcohol before you leave the airport. A pint of beer can easily run you $15-$20!
Plan For Your Trip
- Protect Your Trip: We don’t travel without travel insurance, nor should you. You never know what can happen while traveling, so it’s best to be prepared. HeyMondo provides excellent short-term and long-term travel insurance plans.
- Find Cheap Flights: Sign up for Going (formerly Scotts Cheap Flights) to get notified when prices get ultra low.
- Travel Adapter: Make sure you find a good adapter to keep your personal electronics charged. Otherwise, you may be paying for a cheap one once you land. Purchase one here.
- Travel Backpack: We like the Nomatic Travel Backpack for our travels. Check the price here.
- Our Favorite Travel Shoes: Our answer to this question is always ALLBIRDS! Check them out on their site!
- Get a Travel Credit Card: We travel worldwide for free because we have leveraged our spending into points. See why you should get a travel credit card and how you can do the same with our favorite travel credit cards.
