Introduction

I’ve always wanted to travel around Iceland by campervan. So when my friend Gillian said she’s doing that in Iceland , how could I not join?! This was my second time visiting Iceland and it seemed like a good idea especially because the Fagradalsfjall volcano also erupted in March, after lying dormant for 800 years. What an incredible opportunity to see and photograph erupting lava flow! I share some thoughts on what it’s really like traveling in Iceland by campervan for a week plus some tips that can save you from being super uncomfortable. So keep reading for my Iceland by campervan rental guide.

Iceland Road Trip Length

Iceland can be done in 3 days. But if you have 7 days, you will be able to see the country leisurely. If you prefer slow travel then plan for at least 10 days. I know people who have gone to Iceland for just 3 days, as part of a quick stopover and been able to still get a good idea of what Iceland has to offer. It really depends on the amount of time you have to spend in Iceland. From gorgeous beaches to mammoth glaciers, breathtaking fjords to wide open night skies filled with the northern lights, this Iceland by campervan rental guide will break it down for ya!

How to Choose the Right Iceland by campervan Rental?

There are several things to consider when choosing the right vehicle in Iceland.

How many people will be in the campervan rental with you?

Your Iceland campervan rental needs to be able to comfortably fit you, your companions and luggage. Campervans are ideal for 2 – 4 people.

Do you want to sleep inside your Iceland by campervan rental, in a tent on the roof or in a motor home?

One thing to keep in mind, the weather in Iceland is extremely unpredictable. In minutes, you can experience rain, snow, sunshine or hail! If you are using a roof tent and it’s pouring rain or super windy, that may not be the most comfortable option. The heavy winds can also topple over top-heavy motorhomes. My recommendation would be a campervan in which you could sleep inside. I would also recommend getting a large enough van which allows you to stand and one in which you can move from the front to the back without having to step outside the van. In the bitter cold rain and during high winds, I found it torturous to wrestle open the passenger door, sprint to the back, wrestle open the back door and crawl into the back where you had to either sit or lie down.

Which roads do you plan to drive on?

Iceland’s Route 1 is the Ring Road and is a paved two-lane road that is easy to drive on. There is is a small gravel section in the East Fjords, but with the exception of that, you can drive any type of car on this road during the summer months. You do however need a 4×4 to drive on Iceland’s F-roads. The Highlands for example are only accessible by these F-roads, even in summer where you may have to cross a river or a small stream. Look for an Iceland by campervan rental that can accommodate F-roads if you think you’ll be driving on them. Do NOT drive a vehicle that’s not suitable for an F-road on an F-road. Your insurance will likely not cover you when something goes wrong. Always check road conditions here.

Where do you want to sleep?

I would highly recommend sleeping inside your Iceland by campervan rental because of heavy winds and the possibility of rain during your trip. You also have the option of sleeping in a roof tent or a motor home but friends of ours who had chosen the tent option eventually ended up sleeping inside their car.

What time of year will you be visiting Iceland?

Most campsites are open from May – September and campsites in more remote parts of Iceland like the Highlands and Westfjords have an even shorter season from June – August. There are very few year round campsites in Iceland.

While it is possible to plan a winter Iceland by campervan trip, and many campervans come equipped with powerful heaters, winter camping isn’t for the faint of heart. Complete white outs and extreme cold are very real possibilities – even probabilities – of traveling in Iceland in winter.

Manual vs Automatic

Most cars in Europe tend to be manual, so if you want to drive an automatic, be sure to specifically request one. You may have to pay more, but if you’re like me and can’t drive a stick shift, then it’s worth the extra cost!

Campervan Amenities

So what does your Iceland campervan rental come with?! I chose to rent from Lava Car Rental and this is what their campervan comes with:

• Gas stove with propane
• Utensils, plates, cooking pot
• Mattress
• Heater
• 10L refillable water container
• Folding table & chairs
• Mini cooler
• Wifi device (extra cost – $150)
• USB Charging
• Pillows

Where to Pick Up Your Iceland Campervan Rental

I picked up my Lava campervan by using the shuttle service from the airport to their campervan rental location. Depending on which company you’re renting with, make sure you find out the pick up/drop off location.

How to Fill Gas

While gas in Iceland is not the cheapest (almost $8 a gallon), you also cannot use your American credit cards here. This was the single most surprising thing about filling gas in Iceland. Instead be sure to have a debit card with a pin (required). So technically you can use a credit card if it has a pin associated with it. Instead of using the “fill up” option (which puts a $250 hold on your card to be refunded later), choose one of the other levels. Know that the N1 gas stations also serve as grocery stores and you can easily grab some to-go meals and coffee here. Tip: Lava provides you with a discount card to use at these N1 stations.

Where to Sleep at Night?

I thought if we had a campervan we could pretty much sleep in any location off the side of the road. It turns out that it is actually illegal to car camp outside of the designated campgrounds. But here is where you CAN park your Iceland by campervan rental:

There are more than 200 official, formal, legal campsites situated around Iceland, most of which are around the Ring Road or the Westfjords. The campsites and campgrounds really vary in terms of amenities and facilities. You can find some campgrounds that are basically just wide open fields where anyone can park their campervan or pitch their tent. Amenities typically include showers, restrooms and electricity and water hookups. The fee for water and restrooms is included within your site rental fee, but you’ll need to pay extra to use the showers and electric hookups, in most cases. You can see what each campsite offers ahead of your stay, with some careful planning and routing of your camping trip. 

Thankfully, you’ll easily find lots of designated campgrounds all over the country. Campgrounds in Iceland typically cost around $10 to $20 per night and come with perks such as electric and water hookups, restrooms, showers and WiFi. 

When to Book Your Iceland Campervan?

If you’re planning on renting a campervan during the summer, you should really start planning and book your trip at least six months out. They do sell out fast, especially between the months of June-October. Also remember when you go to pick up your campervan rental, ask the agent to show you how all the essential systems function. Make sure you know how to operate the headlights, indicator lights, hazard lights, and windscreen wipers so that you’re not trying to figure this out later. Parts of Iceland are quite isolated without any cell/wifi signal so there won’t be a way to look up how to turn on the lights if you’re trying to look this up in the evening.

Insurance on your Iceland campervan Rental

When seeing Iceland by campervan, you have a lot of options for choosing rental insurance. All of Lava rentals come with the following insurances:

• Third party liability insurance: Third-party liability is equivalent to the amount stipulated by Icelandic law at each time. This also applies to the amount of individual driver liability. Third-party coverage and personal accident insurance are automatically included in your rental and in the self-risk liability amount mentioned here below. If for some reason, the renter causes damages to a third party vehicle, without causing damages to the rented vehicle, the third party liability is a total of 35.000 ISK
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Collision Damage Waiver covers rental car damage in case of collision. Self excess is at 360 000 ISK. 
• Theft Protection (TP): It covers the vehicle for theft. No self excess. The insurance does not cover items stolen within the vehicle.

Most American credit cards offer auto rental insurance as a benefit and I would recommend calling your credit card company beforehand to double-check what they cover. For a list of insurance packages offered by Lava, click here.

Driving in Iceland Tips

Weather

You have to know the weather somewhat ahead of time so you can be mentally prepared and maybe even change your route as needed. For example there were certain days when we woke up, checked the weather and realized there would be a snow storm in the northeast. So we waited it out and explored another area instead.

Road Conditions

Check road conditions frequently as some roads may also be closed due to the weather.

Speed Traps

Iceland has a lot of speed traps, so be sure to pay attention. There are also times when there will be no one else on the road and you will be tempted to hit the gas pedal, when suddenly a ton of sheep will cross, so beware of speeding.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would highly recommend seeing Iceland by campervan because it gives you the flexibility to explore Iceland, stopping wherever you want. With just a little bit of planning and knowing where the campsites are in your itinerary, you can change course and still find a place to sleep at for the night. With an airbnb, that flexibility will be missing as you must reach the accommodation by the end of the night. If you’ve rented a campvervan, please share your experience/feedback, would love to hear! If you have any questions, be sure to dm me on Instagram @eagertravele or leave me a comment. Next up, my exact itinerary around Iceland! Thanks for reading!