I spent one week on a camping road trip around Iceland, staying in some of the most scenic places I’ve ever laid eyes on. In this post I’ll describe exactly how I planned the trip, along with tips and resources for anyone building a similar itinerary. I’ll focus primarily on camping here instead of sightseeing, but will detail each destination in depth in future posts (for a preview check out my Iceland at a Glance missive for my best images from the whole country).
Shortly after booking my ticket to Iceland, I take a long look at the map. How can I schedule an itinerary that will make the most of my time in this country? I have to decide between two options:
- I can either base myself in Reykjavik and schedule day trips to popular tourism spots within a couple hours’ drive. Only downfall is that I’ll be unlikely to reach the far side of the country due to its distance, and there are really beautiful things to see over there.
- Or I can rent a car and just drive the whole Ring Road myself. This might cost more than a few day trips out of Reykjavik, but I’ll have total freedom to see whatever I want. I rule out hitchhiking — which is quite popular in this über-safe country — because I have such a short amount of time here and can’t rely on always getting a ride that way.
(click through to check out this map in greater detail)
TRANSPORTATION
After talking it over with my sister, who had just completed her own camping road trip with friends the month before, I make up my mind. I want to see it all. Iceland is too beautiful to skimp on certain destinations just because they’re far away from Reykjavik. By purchasing my airline ticket I’ve already made the commitment to come all the way from the States, so I might as well properly see as much of the country as possible, even if it’s a little expensive and inconvenient to reach certain spots.
I make a reservation with Iceland Car Rental, and BOOM — about two weeks later I snap this photo of my car mid-roadtrip, near letter D on the map above (on route 94 towards the puffin colony at Borgarfjordur Eystri). This area is gorgeous and very much off the beaten path; I would not have gotten here without a car.
FYI… keep an eye on the speed limit because there are cameras along the Ring Road (although I only remember seeing them in Reykjavik and on Days 1 and 2 between Reykjavik and Myvatn).
TO CAMP OR NOT TO CAMP?
Having settled that, it’s time to make one more big decision… do I camp, or stay in hostels?
Almost immediately, I know the answer. I will camp. Hostels run about $50 per night and some of the towns I plan to pass through don’t even have hostels, in which case I’ll have to spring for a higher level of accommodation in those places. But camping is always an option, and a cheap one at that. I’d read on-line that you can legally camp anywhere in Iceland for free unless there is a sign saying otherwise. (Addendum: You can pitch a tent mostly anywhere, apart from national parks, cultivated land, and in sight of private houses. You can only camp in each spot for one night and there can’t be more than three tents in any given place. Take care not to leave anything behind when you leave, including human waste. On clearly private land try to get permission from the owner. This article explains more and is worth a read.) Clearly, the only downside is that if you camp on the side of the road for free you won’t have a toilet or running water. Most campgrounds charge around $12 USD a night per person to camp on their property and use bathrooms, cooking facilities, car park, etc. And some of the campgrounds have views like this… that is my green tent in the foreground:
Heck, you can’t get that view at a hostel!
CAMPING GEAR
So now I have determined that I will travel around Iceland on a camping road trip. But do I bring my own gear from home? It’s expensive to bring bags on the budget airline I scored a cheap ticket with — around $50 per checked bag on WOW Airlines. That deters me from wanting to bring my own tent, sleeping pad, etc. Again, I find an answer in following my sister’s footsteps — a month earlier, she and her friends used a company called Iceland Camping Equipment to rent gear during their trip. I love this idea because aside from the benefit of avoiding the airline checked baggage fees, I won’t have to lug my camping gear around Spain and Portugal after I depart Iceland. It would be super inconvenient to carry that stuff around mainland Europe. Renting is the way to go.
Another benefit: Iceland Camping Equipment is located a mere 3 minute walk from KEX Hostel, where I am splurging to stay on my first and last nights in Iceland. This is perfect: I will wake up at KEX, walk over to pick up my camping gear, and take off on my road trip. It’ll be just as easy when I return: park and drop off all camping gear, then check into the nearby hostel, and return the rental car. Done and done.
Here is the exterior of Iceland Camping Rental — their office is located on the second floor, but they have a storage room on the ground floor that is accessible 24 hours a day via access code. So if you make arrangements ahead of time, they will leave your gear available for pick-up at any hour of the day or night. This is helpful for anyone arriving into (or departing) Reykjavik in the wee hours of the morning.
Here is a peek at the storage room — the reserved gear is labeled and ready for pick-up. I snap this photo when dropping off my own stuff at the end of my road trip.
A few thoughts about Iceland Camping Equipment:
They are great. The owner Delphine is especially kind and will go above and beyond to give everyone a good experience. When my sister and her friends rented gear the month before my trip, they had pre-paid for an item they ended up not needing at the last minute. The person behind the counter was happy to allow them to swap that item for any other one they wanted around the same price, which was a big help.
If you are checking out prices on their website, just keep in mind that the cost is per day (not per night), so if you’re camping for 4 nights, you will pay for 5 days. Prices are structured so that if you rent an item for longer, it’s a little cheaper. They advertise the lower price based on renting for a longer period of time (“from 5 euros per day”) — so if you only plan to rent for one week instead of three, then you’ll pay a little more. It’s all clear on the website once you select the items you want.
Their equipment is in perfect condition. All gear is thoroughly reviewed and cleaned by employees upon drop-off, so it’s ready to go in top shape for the next guest. Personally, I rented a tent, a self-inflating air mattress, a pillow, two fleece blankets, a camping mug, and a plate, bowl, and utensils. I brought my own sleeping bag and portable camping stove from home because they are light-weight enough to easily fit into my luggage. Here is everything in the back of my rental car:
FOOD
Those are the groceries I picked up at Bonus supermarket in Reykjavik — I bought $30 worth of food to last for most of my week-long road trip. Over 6 days, I only ate at a restaurant once for lunch and once for dinner. All of the other food I ate came from this one-time $30 grocery stop. *pats self on back* … As someone who likes to spend money on food, I’m proud of that.
Here’s the exterior of Bonus supermarket — they are the cheapest place to buy groceries. Just beware that their hours are not extensive; they are open most days from 10am-6pm.
So what exactly do I eat while camping in Iceland?
This is my breakfast each morning — granola and rice milk, with a pack of raisins tossed in. I don’t have a cooler to keep items cold, but it is chilly enough that the rice milk does fine in the trunk of the car all week.
This is my lunch every day except one: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on 7-grain bread. The quality of these ingredients is really high — the bread is substantial, and the jelly is far chunkier and full of fruit compared to most I’ve had abroad.
I got a few cheap snack items like these rice cakes covered in chocolate and caramel. YUM.
And this is my dinner every night except one: plain ramen noodles and pesto sauce. Delicious, and I didn’t get tired of it (I had flavored ramen on stand-by in case I did).
CAMPING IN REYKJAVIK
Highlights: Hallgrimskirkja, Blue Lagoon, Inside the Volcano, KEX Hostel, coffee, restaurants
As I mentioned, I stayed at KEX Hostel in Reykjavik for my first and last nights in Iceland instead of camping. If you look at my KEX Hostel post you’ll see why I made that decision. But if $50 per night is too pricey for your budget, it is totally doable to camp in Reykjavik, and that’s just what my sister and her friends did. They stayed at the Reykjavik City Hostel campground on the outskirts of town. It’s a great spot, but it takes about 30 minutes to walk to the heart of Reykjavik from here (it’s a pretty walk along the water and very safe coming back at night, just chilly). Of course if you already have a rental car, then it’s only a five minute drive, and parking is cheap and plentiful in the city — just pay at one of the machines located on each block and put the print-out on your dashboard, or on some streets there are individual meters.
The Reykjavik campsite is located right next to Laugardalslaug thermal baths — these are WAY cheaper than the Blue Lagoon (around 5 euros instead of 50 euros) so my sister and her friends enjoyed lounging in the hot baths into the wee hours of the night. The baths are open late in the summer because there is daylight practically all night long. Here is the Reykjavik City campground; that structure in the distance is where the baths are located:
Below are some of the common areas at the campground — guests can cook food or relax in these spaces.
This is where I have to admit to something sneaky. My sister tipped me off to the free pile of leftover supplies at this campground. Since lots of travelers start and end their trip here, they often leave behind essential camping items like fuel for cooking, dishes, and even mattress pads and sleeping bags. If you’re willing to take partially used items, you can save a few bucks by perusing this pile. I’ve come for one thing: fuel for my camping stove. For obvious reasons you can’t bring this item onto an airplane (even in checked luggage), so if you plan on using a stove you HAVE to buy the fuel once you arrive in Iceland. But that is a pain — there is a camping supply store on the far side of Reykjavik near the docks called Ellingsen and it costs maybe 10 euros for a fuel canister. So I decide to swing by the campground first… and just as my sister had told me, there’s a mountain of partially used fuel canisters left behind. I pick up two, just in case one of them runs out during my trip. Do I feel guilty about this since I’m not a paying guest of the campsite? Yes. But it’s so convenient and I’d rather finish off two used canisters than purchase a whole new one only to leave that behind at the end of my trip. I write it off as being an environmentally conscious decision. And I take these photos to give a shout out to this campsite on my blog, because from what my sister says, it’s a great place to stay in Reykjavik and a much cheaper option than KEX Hostel.
UPDATE: Iceland Camping Rental now has gas cans, too. This is a much less sketchy option than sneaking onto a campground.
Remember how this hostel is a 30 minute walk into the center of Reykjavik? Well they have bikes available for rent to make the trip faster — it’s a scenic route right along the water:
ITINERARY PLANNING
DAY 1 – DRIVE TO AKUREYRI
Highlights: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls
The first stop for me is Akureyri in the north. I planned to depart Reykjavik early but the sun is out so I make the decision to spend a few hours sight-seeing in the capital and then finally leave around 1:30pm after lunch. This is a long drive — 6 hours plus time for stops — and I detour to visit two waterfalls that are not directly along this route (Hraunfossar and Barnafoss). Both are cool but I get lost while trying to find my way back to the main road and dead-end in someone’s private farm. I’m using GPS but Google Maps is not always accurate in this region and I curse myself for not bringing along something my sister mentioned from her trip — a NatGeo map that shows which roads are gravel and which are paved. I lose at least an hour back-tracking and am near the point of tears as it gets later and later in the day and I still have four hours of driving ahead of me. I call my sister on the Viber app and she talks me down. I listen to podcasts, fill up the car with gas, and keep chugging along.
I arrive in Akureyri around 9pm just as the sun is setting. I check into the very basic campsite located on a city block, directly next to Icelandair Hotel if you’re looking for it on Google Maps. It takes me nearly TWO HOURS to set up my tent for the first time, in the dark. I am so frustrated and tired. It’s raining a little and the wind is howling — my tent nearly blows away multiple times as I try to stake it into the ground — and I seriously doubt my decision to camp for the next five nights. If it’s going to be this hard the whole time, I’m screwed.
Around 11pm it’s all set up. I park my car in the nearby lot and boil hot water to make ramen noodles. By midnight I’m ready for bed, and I snap the first and only photo of this frustrating night — I smile for camera despite feeling very unsure if I’ve made the right decision to camp.
After a good night’s sleep, things are looking up. It got very cold overnight (around 32 degrees Fahrenheit / 0 degrees Celsius) and I was so glad to have rented two fleece blankets. I woke up freezing in the middle of the night because the blankets weren’t properly arranged; I discovered that wrapping them around me mummy style and then burrowing into my sleeping bag is most effective.
Here is a shot of my tent in the morning at the Akureyri campground. It’s the most basic campsite on my trip, but it’s located within decent proximity to downtown Akureyri.
I walk about 10 minutes to the main street in town and it’s utterly charming — I look forward to sharing more details in a future post. At a coffee house I sip a vanilla latte while charging all my battery-depleted devices and uploading photos from the previous day onto my laptop. One challenge to camping is that it’s hard to keep up with digital maintenance, and I fall woefully behind on my camera homework during this trip. Usually during travel I weed through my photos every single night to get rid of the bad ones. That did not happen in as timely a fashion on this trip.
DAY 2 – DRIVE TO LAKE MYVATN
Highlights: Akureyri main street, mountain drive, Godafoss, pseudo craters, Lake Myvatn Nature Baths
The drive from Akureyri and Myvatn is very short, which allows for lots of stops. The scenery is outstanding. Since I’m limiting this post to just the campgrounds, I won’t go overboard talking about each destination here, but I will detail all these places in depth over the coming weeks.
Note that while the map above depicts taking the northern route around Lake Myvatn, I actually took the southern route once I got to the lake because of the craters down there.
Lake Myvatn has the best campsite of the whole trip. It’s called “Camping Myvatn” if you’re looking for it on Google Maps. It’s located directly on the lake and the views are incredible. I am glad I got here early to set up my tent in the warm sunlight — this is so much more pleasant than the previous night!
It takes me only about 15 minutes to put up the tent and wind cover. SO much easier and faster since I worked out all the kinks the previous night. I am relieved, because I was concerned that every night could be a struggle. Lesson learned: budget extra time for tent set-up on the first night, and try to get everything done before sunset when it’s still warm out. Once the sun dips below the horizon it gets cold quickly.
Also worth noting — I set up my tent behind a tree because that helps shelter it from the wind. Luckily, the only night that wind or rain bothered me was the first night in Akureyri. The weather turns out to be more mild the rest of the trip.
Here’s my tent and waterfront view… not bad for $12 a night!
Basking in the sun, soaking up this view:
A look inside the tent — this is meant for two people, and it would hold extra gear (backpacks, etc.) too. Very spacious. The best part is the little “foyer” in the front — it’s an antechamber of sorts where I can sit down to take off my hiking boots before I move into the main tent compartment. This makes it easier to climb in and out without dirt getting everywhere.
Okay, time to cook dinner. Since this is the most scenic campground, I take lots of photos here.
I set up the Jetboil and one of the partially full gas canisters I lovingly borrowed from the Reykjavik campsite.
Within three minutes or so the water is boiling. I add plain ramen noodles and cook until tender.
Now I pour on a very generous helping of pesto sauce and voilá — instant dinner. I’m a happy camper. Literally.
I enjoy dinner while the sun sets. I boil more water to brew mint tea.
After dinner, I zip up my tent and drive a very short distance to the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths. I don’t leave any valuables inside my tent; just my sleeping bag, mattress pad, and some clothes. Everything is safe when I return a few hours later. There seems to be an unspoken agreement among campers that we’re all in the same boat, so no funny business.
This ends up being the most magical night during my time in Iceland — I even glimpse the Northern Lights while soaking for three hours in the outdoor hot baths. I return to my tent all toasty and ready for a comfortable night of sleep.
One last shot of the campgrounds as I enjoy breakfast the next morning:
DAY 3 – DRIVE TO SEYDISFORDUR
Highlights: Grjotagja cave, Hverir geothermal area, Viti Crater, Dettifoss, Borgarfjordur Eystri, Seydisfjordur
If I had to narrow it down to my two absolute favorite days of this Iceland itinerary, one of them would be the drive from Lake Myvatn to Seydisfjordur. I saw so many mind-blowing vistas on this drive, especially on an afternoon side excursion up to the puffin colony at Borgarfjordor on the coast (highlighted in yellow on the map above).
I stay at a campsite right in the middle of town next to a few cafes and a church (editor’s note: in a previous version of this post I misidentified this campsite as being in the neighboring city of Egilsstadir — my apologies, as I meant Seydisfjordur). The setting is outrageously beautiful — the town is situated on a small port, surrounded by fjords and cascading waterfalls on three sides. I hear sheep bleating nearby when I wake up the next morning. There are a couple of great restaurants, bars, and cafes within walking distance.
View of my tent looking to one side:
And view of my tent looking to the other side:
DAY 4 – DRIVE TO SKAFTAFELL VISITORS CENTER
Highlights: Jokulsar icebergs, Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Today’s drive is crazy scenic.
I arrive at the Skaftafell Visitors Center right at sunset and quickly put up my tent. They have several fields open for camping but it’s really hard to stake a tent — there are rocks everywhere just under the surface. It’s not so bad that I feel them while sleeping; it’s just hard to get my tent anchored to the ground. Luckily the wind isn’t too bad this particular night so my tent doesn’t blow away.
Here’s a shot of my tent the next morning. There is an enormous glacier just over that hill to the left:
Today is a big driving day, so I have only two hours or so to hike and explore the park. There’s a famous waterfall known for its basalt columns, several turf houses built into the hills, and views of the glacier.
I snap a shot overlooking the entire campground from the trail:
DAY 5 – DRIVE TO SKOGAFOSS
Highlights: Svartifoss, turf house, Kirkjugolf, Fjadrargljufur, airplane, Skogafoss, Seljalandsfoss
Today’s drive along the south coast is my other favorite day on the whole road trip.
I do not actually spend the night at Skogafoss because my schedule is too tight and I have to push through to Thingvellir National Park, where I have plans to snorkel at 9am the next morning. But I highly suggest staying overnight at Skogafoss for a few reasons:
- I got here around 7:30pm after a very full day of sightseeing. By then I’m tired and just want to set up my tent. The last thing I want to do is drive two more hours to Thingvellir.
- This is a good halfway spot between Skatafell and Reykjavik.
- It’s a gorgeous campsite. The prettiest one after Lake Myvatn.
I admire the campgrounds while climbing to the top of this impressive waterfall. I bet I’d sleep like a baby next to the roar of these falls.
View from the top of Skogafoss looking down over the campsite, with the ocean in the distance:
DAY 6 – DRIVE GOLDEN CIRCLE BACK TO REYKJAVIK
Highlights: Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Fridheimar
Instead of stopping at Skogafoss, I press onward and it’s totally dark by the time I arrive at Thingvellir.
There is nothing wrong with the campsites at Thingvellir, it’s just too far to travel in one day from Skatafell given how dense the tourism highlights are along the South Coast. (Plus I have to backtrack to get to Gullfoss, Geysir, and Fridheimar, so I regret scheduling that snorkel for 9am.) There are two campsites here: Vatnskot by the lake, and Leirar right next to the Information Center (not the Visitors Center). I stay at Leirar only because I spot it first from the road and immediately pull in to set up camp. By that hour, the Information Center is closed so I can’t pay $12 USD for my campsite. And since I have to leave early in the morning for my snorkeling trip, they are not yet open then. I wasn’t trying to avoid paying but that’s what happens when you arrive late and depart early.
I snap this shot around midnight just before going to sleep. I wonder if the cloud cover wasn’t so heavy if I might be able to see the Northern Lights.
Another shot the next morning:
At certain campsites you can park alongside your tent, which makes unpacking and repacking gear much easier. Just make sure the ground isn’t soft from recent rain — at various campsites I saw drivers get their tires stuck in mud, which was usually my cue to park in a paved lot nearby. But the ground here is solid during my trip:
After my snorkeling excursion I hop in the car and drive to a few sightseeing spots along the Golden Circle, including geysers and Gullfoss waterfall. And then I make it back to Reykjavik in time to drop off my camping gear and return my rental car in town before they close at 6pm.
Then I take the longest, hottest shower in the history of showers at KEX Hostel. Because I showered approximately once over the previous five nights, in the locker room at the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths. Most of the campgrounds charge a few dollars for a timed shower (some places were out of hot water by the time I arrived), but that’s not the only reason I skip them — it’s the horrible thought of going to bed in the freezing cold with wet hair. It gets so cold at night that I just want to put on all my layers and burrow into my sleeping bag and fleece blankets.
THE TAKEAWAY
Even after that first miserable night, I am so glad I made the decision to camp around Iceland.
By spending $12 per night camping instead of $50 for a hostel, I saved a bit of money. Same goes with cooking my own meals — my food budget was incredibly minimal over these six days of camping.
But the best part was being outside in nature… even during freezing temperatures, and I hate being cold! Sleeping in a tent outdoors felt like I was really embracing Iceland, getting closer to it than if I were staying inside. The sounds of wind or sheep or waterfalls soothed me to sleep each night. I woke up to the warm sun on my tent. It was lovely.
The minor inconveniences were just that — minor. I didn’t get to shower every day. Sometimes it was a pain to wrap up the tent in the morning if it was still wet with dew. I couldn’t always find a place to charge my iPhone or laptop or camera battery at night, although I brought along a car charger from home so I could recharge those devices during the long drives.
All worth it for views like this one:
Let me know if you are planning your own Iceland camping itinerary and have any questions! I squeezed a lot into a very shot time span and wish I’d had an extra day for this itinerary. In truth, I did the bare minimum by circling the country via Ring Road — lots of travelers rent a camper van for a month or more during the summer to drive ALL over Iceland. I only got to the exterior, and totally skipped the peninsula in the west called Snæfellsnes that is considered by some to be the most scenic area in the country. Clearly I’m meant to go back in the future for further explorations.
Edited to add: it is not recommended to go tent camping in Iceland outside of the summer months (May through September). It is simply too cold!
For more detailed posts about highlights around Iceland, here are ALL my other Iceland posts:
Iceland at a Glance
Arriving in Iceland at 4am
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
Inside on of Iceland’s Extinct Volcanoes
Swankiest Hostel Ever — Kex in Iceland
Exploring Reykjavik: Part 1
Iceland Road Trip Day 1: Guide to Akureyri
Akureyri, Iceland’s Charming City in the North
Iceland Road Trip Day 2: Drive to Myvatn
Northern Lights Over Lake Myvatn
Geothermal Activity at Hverir, Iceland… and the ‘Game of Thrones’ Sex Cave
Iceland Road Trip Day 3: Drive to Puffin Colony
Seydisfjordur: A Pocket of Beauty Tucked Away at the Top of the World
Iceland Road Trip Day 4: East Coast
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Zodiac Tour
Putting the Ice in Iceland
Explorations in Skaftafell, Iceland
Iceland Road Trip Day 5: Horses and More
Fjadrargljufur: Iceland’s Epic Green Canyon
Crashed Airplane on Black Sand Beach
My Two Favorite Waterfalls in Iceland
Snorkeling in Silfra, Iceland
Iceland Road Trip Day 6: Golden Circle
Northern Lights Exhibit in Reykjavik
Exploring Reykjavik: Part 2
Exploring Reykjavik: Part 3
Expense Report: Iceland
Iceland Highlights Video
Many thanks to Iceland Camping Equipment for providing my camping gear. Opinions are my own.
I’ve told my husband that this is where we will go next! I really enjoy your travels. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure! Whenever you get to Iceland, you will not be disappointed — it packs the most travel bang for buck out of any country I’ve visited.
What company did you use to go snorkeling? What was the price? (Looking for cheaper, alternative options than the one I just found).
Hi Mark, I went with Arctic Adventures (just the snorkeling without the cave add-on) and I think the going rate is around $135 USD. I researched a bunch of companies before I went and they were all pretty similar. I drove myself so it might cost a little more if the company does pick-ups / drop-offs in Reykjavik. Here’s my full post on the experience: http://www.asherworldturns.com/snorkeling-in-silfra-iceland/. Good luck planning your trip!
Your info is EXACTLY What I am looking for.
I am a well seasoned traveler having spent YEARS in Asai and South America. I grew up in Europe
I am over 65. But I still like budget travel .
I never have been to Iceland
So I am saving this site and plan to read and the read it . THANK YOU
Imagine traveling in S America in the 70s no guide books .no internet etc… I can do it but you made this so doable
Hi Zuni, thank you for your kind words. I hope you get to Iceland — it’s unlike anywhere else I’ve been (maybe closest to New Zealand) and the scenery is just fantastic. Sounds like you have lots and lots of travel under your belt! I hope to do more exploring in South America, albeit with the benefit of wifi!
What time of year did you do this trip. It sounds colder than I am expecting it to be. Plus you saw the northern lights. Amazing … Saw them in Alaska .
I did this trip the last week of August 2016. It was indeed cold, and when my sister was there in early July, she found it cold then too. But nothing a warm sleeping bag and extra fleece blankets can’t help. I was lucky to see the Northern Lights — usually they are visible starting in September.
Hi Erica,
Thank you for sharing this experience, you convinced me of camping on my upcoming trip to Iceland. I also rented a car, although its a small car. I see that you rented a much bigger vehicle for this trip, do you think that I need to upgrade a rent a bigger vehicle or would a small car get me where I want to go? I am doing pretty much the same route as you, but mainly staying in the south? From Reykjavik to Skaftafell.
Hi Anik! Yes, I would recommend the car upgrade. Having a 4 wheel drive vehicle made it so much easier. My sister and her friends rented the cheapest car and did the same trip I did, and they were nervous about many of the roads. Specifically, they did not drive down the road to see the crashed airplane because it was too rough for their car to handle (although I hear that as of the past month or so, that road is closed to all car traffic anyway — foot traffic is allowed). There were a few other roads that are rough, specifically driving to the puffin colony in the north, and driving to Fjadrargljufur canyon in the south. And you might be okay on those in the small car, but those were the times I was glad to have a big vehicle. I hope this helps! Have a fantastic time!!
Thanks, Erica! Did you need reservations at any campsites? I am particularly interested in Camping Myvatn.
Hi Jennifer,
No, you do not need camping reservations; just turn up and pay. My sister said the Lake Myvatn campground was popular in mid-July (peak season) during her trip, but there was still more than enough space. It just meant that by evening people had to park farther away from the campground area because parking was crowded. But plenty of room for everyone to pitch a tent. By the time I traveled in late August it was easier to find parking.
Hope that helps!
Hi and thank you!
My husband and I travel in mid-June and will camp for the last 5 nights of our trip. We are bringing basic camping gear (tent, pads, stove and bags) but where might we get a small ice chest? Silly question, but with your advice about leftovers, I cant help but wonder…
That is a good question! If you are starting your trip in Reykjavik (as most people do) then I think you will easily find a small ice chest there, maybe at one of the grocery stores. But it is a big enough city that it should not be a problem to find one there. Good luck!
Nice site. Big Thank you.
We, husband and son, are heading over for 3 weeks. Will use your plan.
Again, Thanks.
Cat
Good luck! Have fun!!
Great blog post!! I’m planning a trip to Iceland in August with one, possibly two, of my girlfriends. I’ve been doing a lot of research/reading a lot of blog posts and this is definitely the most informative in terms of plotting out a route (which I’ve been looking for!!!). So, thank you! I have a few quick questions — what month were you in Iceland? What destination do you wish you allotted more time for and which, if any, did you think you could have done without seeing? If we choose to just visit the North OR South of Iceland, which would you suggest? Anything else you wish you knew before going to Iceland? Thanks!!!
I am so glad this post was helpful! My sister was my best resource when planning my trip as she had recently camped in Iceland, but when I looked for other camping itineraries on-line I came up short. So I am glad you found mine! I was in Iceland in late August 2015. In retrospect I would have skipped Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls on Day 1 — they’re nice, but there are way more impressive ones to come, and it wasn’t worth detouring from the Ring Road (especially since Google Maps pointed me in the wrong direction when I left the waterfalls). The South coast is definitely the one to pick if you don’t have time to see both the North and South. The airplane wreck — while cool — it out of the way now that they’ve appeared to stop cars from driving down that road (it’s around 4km each way on foot). My favorite “hidden gem” (if you can call it that) is Fjadrargljufur canyon on the South coast; that place blew my mind. And my favorite village is Seydisfjordur in the northeast (with a scenic side trip a couple hours north to the puffin colony at Borgarfjordur Eystri) — a little removed, but worth it if you have the time. It’s a good idea to have at least one full day just for Reykjavik, as there is quite a bit to walk around and see there. I hope this helps! Have a great trip!
I am so glad I found this; truly inspired me! I have a layover in October in Iceland and was considering driving/camping (but in a camper as it will be even colder!). I was wondering about doing it solo and then saw this!
One problem. I only have 4 nights
Is there anyway to shave off some time and still do some version of this? Are there any short-cuts or other routes. Less than ideal I know, but I hate to scrap the whole idea. Appreciate any suggestions. I have never done anything like this before, certainly not alone, so any words of wisdom would be helpful! thanks 
Hi Robin! Thank you for the kind words! Sorry for the delayed response — with only four nights, the South Coast should be top priority. I’d suggest staying in Reykjavik maybe the first and last nights, and then camping those middle two nights — that would give you three full days on the road. The best waterfalls are along the South Coast, as well as the glaciers, black sand beaches, and most dramatic views. I hope you have a wonderful trip!! Enjoy it!!
Love your blog! I’m a solo female traveler who currently resides in CO and am pretty outdoorsy to begin with and getting by with the minimal. I’ve contemplated a camper van to have the luxury of a bed(ish), cooler, camp stove etc without packing a lot with me! But doing this solo plus the cost of gas will probably cost me over 3,000 USD alone not including flight or activities which doesn’t seem very budget friendly!
I’ve also contemplated the thought of just renting a hatchback where you can throw the seats down (for sleeping) (~1500 USD) and just living out of that and either renting a jet boil or bringing mine along and buying fuel in Iceland! And for this, I can still sleep anywhere essentially aside from the general rules you mentioned in your post and I’ve googled! After reading your article, I am now more enlightened by the camp sites, but jw your thoughts on this! Keep up the amazing writing!
Hi Meleah! Thank you for the blog compliments! I’m so glad you like it. Sounds like you have a great trip planned to Iceland. Yes, it’s an expensive country to visit, and the camper vans cost a lot. Maybe better to go cheaper with a hatchback as you suggested. Either way, the scenery will be what you remember the most. Good luck planning the rest of your trip!!
Hi! Im planning to do the same for my trip in July this year. But I plan to rent a 4×4 maybe a discovery sport and convert the back of the car (which I assume is going to be spacious) as my ‘luxury camping bedroom’ using air mattress and comforter. haha. I surveyed and its about 2300Euro for 13days. Dont know if its a wise idea but for that I can have all flexibility + comfortable bed + save some budget. How did your plan go? Will it be okay to sleep in my car during end of July. WIll it be too cold?
Hi Sarah! That sounds like a great plan. It will be cold at night (even in July), but you’ll probably be a bit warmer inside the car than you would in a tent. You’re basically doing the same thing as people renting camper vans, so you’ll find company at the campgrounds when you park for the night. Good luck!
This was such a great read! I have wanted to visit Iceland for quite some time. I am finally going to be able to visit Iceland next summer sometime in 2017. I have decided to rent a Go Smart Van. How did you maintain keeping all of your electronic devices charged? I plan on bringing my phone and a GoPro. It is crucial for me to have both of those items fully charged each day.
Hi Chad! Congrats on planning your Iceland trip! RE: electronic devices, I sometimes charged them while getting coffee in the morning (if I could find an available outlet in the cafe / coffee shop) or I charged them in the car while I was driving. Most of the rental cars will probably have a USB plug-in but I didn’t want to take chance so I brought my own charge adapter from home. Since my Iceland trip last summer I have purchased a new device that you may find useful — a portable charger made by Anker. They sell a few different models — some are for phones, others are for tablets — and they charge your device anytime, anywhere. Now I don’t travel without it, and I wish I had it in Iceland last summer. Hope that helps! Good luck planning your trip!
Love this blog and got so much great information!
I do have 1 question, how much was it for gas?
Thank you again for all the info, makes me excited for a potential trip to Iceland!
Hi Charlie! I spent a total of $330 USD on gas during my week-long trip around the Ring Road of Iceland. There are more specific details in my budget report for Iceland. I hope that helps! And I just Googled “gas in iceland”, and the rate as of July 2015 was about $7.40 USD per gallon.
Love ur blogs and is really helpful with all ur sharing .
7 of us are heading to Iceland end of this July . Just a quick question , the campsite in skogafoss is it a paid campsite and how much they charge ?
And lastly along south Iceland any site free or paid that u can camp and wake up beside the glaciers ?
Thanks sincerely
MARCEL
Thank you Marcel! Yes, you have to pay for the campsite in Skogafoss. I don’t know the current rate, but most campgrounds in Iceland charge around $12 USD per person, per night (about 1500 ISK). I do not know of a campground next to the glaciers — that sounds beautiful, but cold! Good luck planning your trip!
Hi,
Such a pleasure reading your blog! Beautiful pictures! Me and my friend are planning to camp for 5 days in Iceland. We will be bringing our own camping gears…aside from the fuel. I have a jet boil and msr pocket rocket. And I know fuel can be expensive
I was wondering which campground are you talking about that has used fuel left by some campers? Does the renting equipment place that you mention also sell fuel or other camping gears?
Thank you!
Thank you so much! The camp ground with the pile of leftover fuel containers is Reykjavik City Hostel; it’s a great place to stay if you plan to camp Reykjavik. And yes, Iceland Camping Rental does have fuel for purchase (more here)… I hope that helps! Good luck planning your trip!
Hi..
Thanks for your Iceland camping travel story..
I am planning to travel there for 10days by my own car on 3 years later..
Ur camping information is really what I am looking for…
Thanks…from Ahn.
Thank you for the comment! Good luck planning your trip!
Hello,
Thank you for posting this.. it is super helpful. My friends and I (we are 4 in total) are heading to Iceland from August 29-Spet 11. We have a car rental already and we are also camping. We are planning out our itinerary/route but we wanted to plan it base on campgrounds available on route. Is there a book/site/reference which you used to figure out what campgrounds youre going to use?
Honestly, I mostly copied my sister’s route since she did it just a few weeks before my own trip. She got her campsite info from Lonely Planet’s Iceland book. I hope that helps!
Hi Erica! Finding your blog just made my trip so much easier!! My boyfriend and I have a camper van rented for 6 nights/7 days next month, and we were debating on if we’d be able to make it around the whole Ring Road or not in that time. You’ve showed us its possible! Your map and daily posts are suuuper helpful.
A question.. Do you think we’d have time to sneak in a 3ish hour whale watching tour up near Husavik if we cut something out? I know you wrote maybe skipping the falls the 1st day could have saved time. Either way, thanks so much for the awesome info!!
I’m so glad you found my posts helpful! Yes, I think you can squeeze in Husavik — I’d do it on Day 2 going from Akureyri to Myvatn since that’s a short driving day, and Husavik isn’t too far out of the way on the north coast. Good luck with your trip!!
Thank you Thank you for posting about campgrounds! I know there are plenty, but planning the stops is stressful! We have a camper van for 8 days and this itinerary is so helpful!
Thank you for taking the time to comment! I am so glad to hear that you found the info helpful. Good luck on your trip!
Hey, this is so useful and informative! I’m planning my own mini camping trip (first time – and solo) to Iceland for early September and all your advice and experience is going to help a lot. The honesty in the posts is also really helpful, so I think I have a good idea on what to expect, both good and possibly frustrating! Thanks
Thank you for the comment, Kate! Experiencing the beauty of Iceland is totally worth the small struggles that will inevitably pop up on a big first-time solo camping trip. Good luck, and enjoy it!!
Wow, so amazing! We are planning a trip to Iceland next June (oh why so far away…) and your blog has so many invaluable tips, thank you so much!
Thank you so much! Good luck with your trip!!
Holy cow, this settles it. I am camping in Iceland. Thank you for the detailed post that included some of the logistics of the travel. After reading this post I feel as if I already know everything there is to know. Very insightful and inspiring!
Thank you for the kind words, Danielle! And good luck as you plan your own trip to Iceland — it will not disappoint!
Hi ! I’m planning on visiting and camping iceland during the summer 2017. Since i want to camp for 3-4 weeks, i wanted to know if you happened to see grocery stores during your road trip. I read that you brought all your food from the beginning, but do you know if there are possibilities to buy some during ?
Thanks
Good question! Some of the bigger towns will have grocery stores — like in Akureyri, Myvatn, Egilsstadir, Hofn, Vik. So you could stock up in those places as you make your way around the Ring Road. Good luck with your trip!!
Wow! It’s impressive what you fit in on such a short time! You’ll have to come back to camp in the West Fjords next. That’s by far the hidden gem of Iceland! Are you planning on coming back anytime soon? If so, what else did you miss that you’d like to come back to see?
Yes! The Snaefellsnes area is high on my list for whenever I return to Iceland. I don’t know much about the West Fjords but will look into it. And it would be nice to see Iceland in the winter sometime!
Erica,
This is such a great blog and exactly what I have been looking for! It has been hard to find itineraries that included camping on the Ring Road. I have a couple questions, was there a reason that you went North to South on the Ring Road instead of South to North? And we were toying with the idea of doing camper camping (we are planning mid-August travel), but I am now leaning toward tent camping. Our problem is that we have never camped outside of a cabin before (I know) which was our idea of “roughing it.” Is it hard to pitch a tent, and be an outdoor camper? Should I rethink trying it in Iceland and just stay with the camper?
Thanks!
Tera
Hi Tera!
Ha, I think I picked North to South because my sister went that way and I was basically copying her itinerary. BUT in retrospect, I am glad I went that way only because the scenery in the South is the highlight of the whole country (exception: my day driving near Borgarfjordur Eystri was outstanding), so it was nice to build up to the gems on the southern route. But it could definitely be done either way.
RE: first-time tent camping in Iceland… if there is any way you can test out tent camping in your home country before then, it would help you make a clear decision. For what it’s worth, I never sleep well when I camp in a tent, but I take one Tylenol PM or ibprofin PM (simple over-the-counter sleep medication) and that along with ear plugs and an eye mask helps me fall asleep. For me, I did not grow up camping (I was in my mid-20s the first time I camped in a tent), and I think it is always a little uncomfortable. In Iceland, it gets cold at night (even in August) so that can make it extra difficult — but I rented two extra blankets to wrap myself in mummy-style which made it okay. Putting up the tent was tough the first night since I had to figure it all out, but every night after that it was easy. Bottom line: tent camping is a unique experience, but if you think it will make you too uncomfortable (or not get enough sleep to enjoy the daytime hours) then maybe go with the camper van since it’s a safer bet. Good luck deciding, and enjoy your trip!!!
–Erica
Hi, loved your blog! Just need help ! I don’t drive and am planning to take my two teenage children to iceland in july for 7 nights. Thinking of getting the beautiful south passport and focus on the southern areas.Do you know how easy is it to get accomodation as in hostels or hotels in the towns in the south on my bus route , should I prebook them ?
I did not look into accommodation in the south. But since you are planning to go in high season, I would definitely recommend booking in advance! There will be lots of people traveling in Iceland during July. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks so much for sharing this information. Our family of four plans to tent camp. Is there a good place to kayak? That is on my bucket list.
I’m sorry, I did not look into kayaking while in Iceland! But I am sure there are places. Perhaps near the lagoons on the south coast? I just did a quick Google search and see these three tours. Those all look pretty expensive but if you dig deeper I bet there are more affordable options, especially for shorter trips (instead of overnight ones). Good luck!
Thank you Erica for posting your trip report. With this valuable info I decided to rent a VAN and tent camp with my wife and my 4 teens. We only have 3 days but we will save a lot of money and will be closer to nature. We’ll do the Golden Circle and the South Shores.
I’m so glad to hear that! And glad you found the blog post helpful. Enjoy your trip — Iceland is spectacular and will not disappoint!
One of the best blogs on camping around Iceland I’ve read. I’m a 54 y/o woman and never had the experience of solo travel. Your blog has given me the confidence to pursue my long time dream of visiting Iceland and to travel solo. I’m heading off in July 2017. Thanks Erica
Maria, thank you so much for this comment! I am so glad to hear you’re going to try solo travel. It can be occasionally tough but always rewarding. Iceland is spectacular and safe — the perfect place for a solo trip! Good luck this July, and Happy New Year!
Hello! Wondering what month you camped in Iceland? I’m heading there this March with a girlfriend and we are planning a trip…wondering if we should just sleep in the car or I bring the tent…however I have no idea how cold it would be and ideal to camp/tent outside at night in March when we do the ring…
Hello Tina! My Iceland trip was in late August / early September, and it was cold then. I would NOT recommend camping in March — there will be lots of snow. The camping rental company doesn’t even rent equipment during the winter because it’s too dangerous to camp. Sleeping in the car will be very cold… unless maybe you have a heater to leave on overnight? Good luck planning your trip, Iceland looks beautiful in the winter!
Thank you so much for sharing! If you had three full days, which locales would you most recommend? We’ll be starting at Reykjavik.
Hi Tammy. For three full days, here’s what I’d recommend: spend one day exploring Reykjavik, and spend two days visiting highlights along the south coast (maybe spend one night in Vik since it’s in the middle of the south coast). Two days on the south coast gives you enough time to reach the glacier lagoons in the southeast and even see some of Skaftafell, and then spend the other day exploring the really impressive waterfalls and views in the southwest. I’d suggest skipping the Golden Circle (unless you happen to pass some of it on your way in/out of Reykjavik) because it’s less impressive than the south coast highlights. That itinerary will give you a good perspective on some of Iceland’s highlights in just three days. Happy planning! Enjoy your trip!
Your trip was truly inspirational! My husband and I are planning a to Iceland trip for the last week in May, 2017. From some research, I’ve noticed some campsites “open” in June, however, on some websites I’ve noticed that you can camp year around. What were your observations? Could we stay at the same campsites for example, you stayed during the last week of May? Thank you so much for posting your travels! Best wishes.
Hi Kaitlyn! Since I wasn’t in Iceland during the month of May, I can’t comment definitely on it. But my guess is that there is still snow during that month, or perhaps just early in the month and then it tapers off by the time June approaches. In late August the temps were right at freezing during the night (0° Celsius, 32° Fahrenheit). I imagine some of the campgrounds might be open in May? But contact them directly (if possible) since I wouldn’t want you to count on it and then be disappointed. Perhaps the camper van option might be worth considering, as you could turn the heat on when necessary and then you wouldn’t be restricted to a campground? Just a thought. Good luck deciding! I bet Iceland will be beautiful in May, as you’ll get some snow and some greenery, and you’ll beat the crowds. Enjoy your trip!
Fantastic write-up and just what I was looking for. I’ll be in Iceland for 7 days, the end of June into July, and prefer to camp. My questions were answered, but one … how much did you pay for gas?
Excellent question! I wrote up a full budget report on my Iceland trip here. Here is the specific info on gas:
“It’s worth noting that a HUGE part of my expenses — nearly two-thirds! — was my rental car and gas. That cost me $883 total: $553.54 for a 7-day car rental and $329.13 for gas (higher than I expected for gas but that’s probably because I was in a 4WD vehicle). (…) My car rental with gas “only” cost $126 per day for the seven days I drove it. I saw so many incredible, overwhelmingly majestic places — many of them free, like hikes or waterfalls — that I would not have seen without the freedom and flexibility that comes with having my own set of wheels. I think renting a car is the best way to see Iceland — it’s super easy to drive there, and some of the best gems are hidden off the beaten path. Plus I can’t put a price on the ability to pull over and take a photo (or 50) whenever I see a pretty view out my windshield.
Erica, thanks for this great posting. I just booked my trip for September 17 to 24th, and plan to use majority of your tips in my planning. If there was one thing you would say is a not miss, what would it be?
Hi Rob! So glad you found the post helpful. As for the one thing not to miss… can I say the south coast? That whole stretch showcases the best of the country, from waterfalls to cliffs to glacier bays / icebergs. There are day trips to see some of those highlights from Reykjavik, but to really experience it you need 2-3 days in the south coast. (For the record: from the north, my favorites were Hverir geothermal area near Myvatn and — if it’s a clear day — the drive to Seydisfjordur / Borgarfjordur Eystri.) Good luck with your trip!
Hi Rob — one more update: at the bottom of this post, I just added a list of ALL the posts I wrote about Iceland. Perhaps that will give you more photos / info to narrow down what you want to see? This page also links to all of my Iceland posts. Again, good luck planning your trip!
Hi Erica! I am considering to go this June (2017) and I wanted to ask you:
-which car rental company did you rent from (is it cheap and good)
-How much did you spend without airfare in total?
Thank you very much!
Hi Luisa! I wrote a whole blog post about my Iceland budget — this link will answer those questions. Oh, and in this post I talk more about my car rental. I think the car rental prices fluctuate throughout the year depending on what deals are going on and each company’s inventory at any given time, so maybe shop around before you decide. I was very happy with the company I rented with (Iceland Car Rental / Reykjavik Rent-a-car – both are owned by the same company). Hope that helps. Good luck planning your trip!
Hi Erica!!
Seriously.. your blog has answered questions I have been searching for over the last few months!!!
I’m heading there Mid. Sept 2017…. we are camping 2/10days…
Now that I’ve learned we might freeze to death at night I will make sure we plan accordingly for those days.
At each of the campsites- what method of payment did they accept? We care hoping just to swipe our cards.
Strangely enough we are roughing it in some ways.. like.. who needs ground pads??? (Seriously, should we just get them? Or go to the secret pick pile and borrow some?)
Would it be best to invest in a jet boil for the 4 of us instead of renting one while we are there?
Thanks again!!!
I really enjoyed reading through your blog
Hi Steph! I am so glad you found my blog helpful. As for your questions…
– I don’t recall if the campsites took cards, though they did seem kind of low-tech so it wouldn’t surprise me of some of them did not take cards. I paid in cash at each one since it was a small amount. But if you are traveling with multiple people I can understand how paying with a card might be easier. I would be prepared with cash and then you’ll be covered in case they say no to cards.
– If you and your travel partners have camped without sleeping pads before and are comfortable with that, then maybe you’ll be fine. The ground is definitely cold though, so comfort reasons aside, you might really want a sleeping pad to be slightly elevated from the cold ground. You may have luck with the discard pile at that Reykjavik camp ground. Then maybe rent them as a back-up if you don’t find what you’re looking for? Since you’ll be there in mid-September it shouldn’t be too busy, as the camping season is nearly over by that point, so hopefully you could still rent them last-minute if you had to.
– Hmm… I think Jet Boils are like $100 on Amazon? Totally your call — I was glad I could borrow one from my sister so that I didn’t have to buy one myself. It did not take up much space in my luggage.
Hope that helps! Best of luck planning your trip!
–Erica
Hi there! Great post, thanks so much!
My question is on the campground hours. I noted in one section you said you arrived late and left early and the visitors center wasn’t open. Can you “check in” to campgrounds at any time? Are the open to get in and out of 24 hrs a day?
I’ve also read that there are no real “spots” and you don’t need a reservation; you just pull in and find space. Is that true? We’ll likely be in a campervan, not a tent.
Thanks!
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne!
From what I experienced, yes, you could enter campgrounds at any time and put up a tent on an empty patch of grass. If there is someone working there to collect payment, then you pay upon arrival, and they usually give a sticker to put on your tent (like on the zipper at the entrance of the tent). If you arrive too late at night to pay, then they’ll likely come around to collect it the next morning, and will “knock” on tents that do not have stickers showing. In the case of that one campground where I arrived late at night and then had to leave early the next morning for a previously booked snorkeling tour at Silfra, there literally wasn’t a way for me to pay. But I had no problem driving in and putting up my tent, even late at night.
What you describe about there being no real “spots” within a campground is exactly what I encountered — each night upon arriving at the campground I found any empty patch of grass and set up my tent. I don’t know if it’s more structured for campervans? But in general each campground seemed sort of free-flowing; just find a space and it’s yours.
Good luck planning your trip!
–Erica
That’s great! Thanks very much for the blog post and the extra help!
–
– Suzanne
Hello Erica, I’m Thais from Puerro Rico
Thank you for your travel blog….it has been of great help to us!
We are know planning our 10 day camping trip throughout Iceland (in May).
Regarding the Myvatn area, we are experiencing a little bit of trouble in choosing the best and most beautiful/scenic place to camp. Since we really liked your pictures, could you please tell us the exact name of the camping site? Or exact location? Maybe Website?
We don’t seem to find any information. Is it the same as Bjarg?
Hope you can help us. Thank you!!!!
Hi Thais — that place is called “Camping Myvatn” on Google Maps (located on the northeast side of Lake Myvatn — here is a link). Hope that helps! Good luck planning your trip!
Hi Erica,
This blogpost is totally awesome. Like literally. Been through many posts and this one really stands out.
I am planning to use my screw one camping stove in Iceland. And I was feeling really bad about buying a fuel canister and discarding it. Sounds ridiculous to me. I plan to use it only for tea and ramen and I need very little really. So, I would like to pick up a used canister.
1. In which part of the campsite in Reykjavik City Hostel might I pick a used one up? Is the stock easy to find? Since I might be sneaking in, I dont want to look lost. 😛
2. How did you clean your ramen bowl? Did you pick up camp suds/scrubber from Bonus? How did you discard your dirty suds after washing your ramen/pasta bowl? I want to make sure that I dont dirty my surroundings as much as possible. Been reading that tourism is dirtying Iceland rapidly.
3. How did you manage water?
Keep up the good work.
Best,
Rohit
Thank you very much, Rohit! RE: the used canisters, just walk around the campground general community area (near the kitchen?) until you find it. I don’t remember the exact spot. As for cleaning, the campgrounds all had very basic kitchens with sinks so it was no problem to wash dishes. I think I did have a small towel with me that I used to dry it. RE: water, I just filled up my bottle at the campsites. The tap water in Iceland is potable. Hope that helps! Good luck with your trip!
Hi Erica,
Is the tap water at the campsites drinkable?
Yes, the tap water at the campsites is drinkable.
THANK YOU for this info!! This type of trip is exactly what I am looking to do and your insight definitely helps. Were there any signs or concerns for wildlife? Ive done some research on this but you never know what you’ll run into in real life. And what time of year did you take your trip?
Hi Robyn — thank you! My Iceland camping trip was at the very end of August 2015. I did not see signs of wildlife. I was hoping to see puffins at the puffin colony in Borgarfjordur Eystri but they had already left the area by that point (there were hundreds in mid-July when my sister visited that spot). Good luck trip planning!
Hi Erica, I love your post. I plan to go iceland, and I learnt a lot here. One question, is it easy to get electricity to charge our laptops? We will be doing a lot of photography and will need to constantly use our laptops for processing. Thx!
Thank you, Joelynn! I found it unreliable to charge my electronics while camping. I carried a charger in my rental car and primarily charged devices that way. And I would often go to a coffee shop for an hour in the mornings just to charge my laptop while getting coffee. I take lots of photos and I got very behind on sorting my images while camping. I ended up with a backlog of work at the end of my trip. That was the downside of camping, but it was nice to have a break for a few days.
Thanks for the great guide. I’m planning a 2 week solo trip to Iceland in june and I just figured out that tent camping was the cheapest way to go. Campervans are quite expensive, unfortunately. Your post and photos showing what to expect helped me make up my mind. Even if I have more than one miserable windy/raining night, which is what I’d been fearful of.
Thank you for the comment, Roberta! Yes, tent camping seems to be the cheapest way to go. I wish you perfect weather for all nights on your trip! And even if it’s a little windy / rainy, I think you’ll still be glad you camped as it’s a unique experience. Good luck!
Hi Erica,
I am planning a camping trip with my Dad (63 y/o) in June and was hoping for some feedback! I have a tentative plan below:
June 21 – Air Bnb in Reykjavik
June 22 – drive from Reykjavik through Golden Circle and stay overnight in Vik
June 23 – drive to Hofn for overnight stay
June 24 – drive to Egilsstadir for overnight stay
June 25 – drive to Akureyri for overnight stay
June 26 – drive to Hvammstangi for overnight stay
June 27 – drive back to Reykjavik for overnight stay in Air Bnb
Please let me know if you think we should do something different. We want to soak in all the landscape in Iceland but don’t want to feel rushed. Looking for a good mix of nature adventure and leisure time with my Dad!
Hi Jai — that itinerary sounds fine. I am not an Iceland expert so I don’t want to take the fall if you are unsatisfied with any of the towns! (And I have not been to Hvammstangi.) But covering those distances seems reasonable. I will point out that in an earlier version of this blog post, I incorrectly identified the town Eglisstadir — I meant to write Seydisfjordur instead. I caught that mistake recently and fixed it throughout the post / maps shown. Definitely stay in Seydisfjordur as it’s very charming and located on the water. And make sure you get to Lake Myvatn – I might recommend camping there instead of Akureyri since the Lake Myvatn campsite has such pretty views and the Akureyri one is in the middle of the city. But totally your call. Good luck!
Amazing blog post! We’ll be there this weekend, and I appreciate all the helpful tips. Thank you so much!
So glad you found it helpful! Have a fantastic trip this weekend!!
Did you have to pay cash at the campgrounds or did they accept credit cards?
I believe I paid in cash upon arrival for each campsite, so I am not sure if some of them take credit cards.
Hi Erica,
Just a quick note to say thank you for your amazing blog post. We have booked our flights to Iceland for August now and your blog helped us come to the decision to camp as well. Looks fab.
Thanks
Pete
Hi Pete! I am so glad you found the post helpful! Have a wonderful trip in August!
Hello Erica, Thank you so much for sharing your experience it is so helpful!
I’m going to Iceland in August to hike the Laugavegur trail camping in a tent. Do you know by any chance if camping are equipped with food container or do people leave their food in their tent when they don’t have vehicule? I don’t know if wildlife is a problem in backcountry areas. Thank you very much Erica.
Hi Caroline, I did not notice any food storage / containers at the campsites. But since everyone was car camping at the places I stayed, it wasn’t an issue. That is a very good question about backcountry areas and wildlife. I’m sorry I don’t have a better answer for you! Good luck, the Laugavegur trail looks spectacular and I’d love to go there on a future trip!
Hi! This is so helpful! Did you buy the jetboil somewhere or did you find it at that campsite?
I brought the JetBoil with me from home (I borrowed it from my sister), and then I had to get the fuel for it once I arrived in Iceland.
Excellent post. Thank you for sharing it! I am planning a 6-day trip for August, and I’ve found this very useful. I’m considering spending one day in Reykjavík. I really enjoy experiencing the culture of a new city. Obviously, this would mean taking away precious time from the drive around the country. I am considering combining the drives on days 2 and 3 in order to accommodate this. What are your thoughts? Is there another part you think would be better to sacrifice?
If I had to cut out a day, it would be day 2 — but I would combine it with day 1 instead of day 3. That means the first day of driving would be very long (8 hours?) but if you left Reykjavik early enough it would be doable. The reason I’d suggest that is because while Akureyri is super cute town, it is quite small and you could stop to walk for 30 minutes along the main street to stretch your legs and get a feel for the area (and maybe eat dinner there before continuing on to Lake Myvatn since the long days give you ample time to set up camp and maybe go for a late swim at the Myvatn nature baths which are open til midnight). There is so much to see on day 3 IF you plan to make the extra side trip out to Borgarfjordur Eystri (which I would recommend as that part of the country is less visited and supremely beautiful). If you do NOT plan to visit Borgarfjordur Eystri, then it matters less whether you combine days 1 & 2 or days 2 & 3. I hope that helps! Good luck!
It helps a ton – thanks! I have decided to stay in Reykjavík that first day. Coming in on a redeye, I’ll take that first day to enjoy the city and rest… before the next day’s 8 hours of driving
What an amazing trip report!! Perfect for me as I’m doing an 8 day ring road adventure at the end of july! I’ve rented a camper van for the journey as I booked it quite late so accommodations were out of the question and basically just too expensive! one question, do camper vans “camp” at the same campsites as actual campers? oh also did you stick main roads as I’m not allowed to drive on any F roads.
Thank you!
Glad you found it helpful! Yes, the camper vans can park at the same campgrounds as people sleeping in tents — they have lot(s) for the camper vans. And yes, I did stick to main roads for 95% of my trip, and that 5% of off-roading was optional to access specific hikes (and the side trip to Borgarfjordur Eystri on Day 3). Have fun!
Thanks! also, your career as a scripty is what I was wanting to do, but kind of realized that too late in life,( I’m 40 now) as in canada to get into the industry you have to start so low on the ” food chain” I wouldn’t be able to survive on the money as a PA for a few years. I’m sure it was an exciting and interesting career.
Cheers
Hi Christine! It in an interesting field… in retrospect I might’ve preferred a career where I was more actively helping people, but there is a certain excitement to work on the fringes of productions like the ones I’ve been part of. The freelance aspect means money is less predictable but having chunks of time off lets me travel more so I appreciate that. I hope you landed on a career that you find engaging and fulfilling! Cheers!
My daughter and I are looking at doing this tour between July 17-26. I was going to rent a small car and bring my own camping gear. Do I need reservations at the campgrounds – do I need to call ahead – or can I just show up any time?
Hi Wendy — no, you do not need reservations, at least that was the case during my trip in August 2015. (Perhaps Google a more recent recommendation in case that has changed?) From my experience, you can simply show up to the camp site and there will be an area where you can pay for the number of people camping in your party that evening. Then you get to pick a spot to set up your tent, first come first served. I found that by late evening the parking lots at these campgrounds did get quite full so it might help to arrive before too late (maybe by 8pm since the sun is out so late in the summer?) just to ensure you get a parking spot and decent location for your tent. That said, the campgrounds I saw were huge and I can’t really imagine them turning people away because there is always room for another tent. Good luck with your trip!
Thanks for this informative post of your journey. I just got back from 2 weeks in Iceland (counter-clockwise Ring Road and several days in the West Fjords), and had planned on camping most of the time there, with a few pre-booked hostels. Because of that plan, my husband and I packed our tent and sleeping bags in a suitcase. After dealing with airline fees for checked bags, I’d second the recommendation to look into rental equipment, rather than flying with it. After a particularly cold, rainy, and windy night, we made the decision to seek out hostels for the remainder of our trip (booking.com is the place to go), and attempted to dry out the tent in the back of our rental vehicle. We also made the decision not to use a camp stove, and found a good variety of breads, meat, cheeses, and even dried cod, from grocery stores along the way. Some gas stations are all-in-one havens, with cafeterias and grocery stores attached.
Annie, thank you for this comment! I hope it helps others as they plan their own trips with regards to bring vs. renting camping equipment, and also the knowledge that food is readily available along the way if they want to forego a camping stove. Glad you had a successful trip!
Thank you for such a fun and helpful blog! I was curious if you considered just sleeping in your car? Looks like you got a decent sized one and you were traveling solo. I also plan to do Iceland on the cheap and enjoy camping, but wondered if it would just be easier to put down my sleeping bag along the trunk/ back seat. Do you see any reason why car camping, literally speaking, wouldn’t work?
Hi Anita, I think that if you preferred to just sleep in your car, that would be acceptable. If you did it at a campground with access to bathrooms and a kitchen, you might still be expected to pay the per person camping fee to use their facilities. It would certainly save you time from putting up / taking down your tent. While I did have a decent-size car, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to lie totally flat when putting a seat down. At the Lake Myvatn camp site, it was special to camp right next to the water and more fully enjoy the serene setting. But elsewhere (like Akureyri for example) where the campsite is less pretty, I can see how literally sleeping in your car could make sense.
Hi Erica,
This is a superb site. Your blogposts are superb to plan a trip to Iceland. I am planning a trip to Iceland in mid August 2017 (12th-21st). We are 2 guys in a 4WD (Dacia Duster) and plan to camp for accomodation, except last 2 nights at KEX!! :-). I wanted to ask you about clothes – What kind of clothes (uppers, bottoms, shoes/ socks etc) did you carry? We are concerned about how much warmth do we need (day vs night) and how much do we need to be prepared about waterproof clothing? Any tips you can share in that regard would be helpful.
Thanks and Regards,
Arun
Hi Arun — thank you for the kind words. I responded to your email and will reply here in case that helps anyone else looking for similar advice: RE: clothes, I was glad to have very warm layers with me. Occasionally during the day if I was hiking I wore just a t-shirt with long pants, but at night or during the day when the wind picked up, it got very cold. I had a waterproof shell jacket which I occasionally wore if it was raining. I wore a fleece most of the time, day and night. My advice is to have lots of layers that you can peel off if you get warm, and put on if you get cold. But it was more cold than hot during my trip in late August / early September. I hope that helps! Good luck on your trip!
Hello,
we are thinking of doing this exact trip but early October. We are renting a camper van to sleep in. We have done this in New Zealand in the winter and loved it. I am trying to find out if camp sites are open at this time of year and if they have bathroom/shower facilities.
thank you so much
Hi Wendi, I remember that some of the campgrounds I stayed at were closing for the season during the month of September. I don’t recall which ones off-hand, but it is worth investigating further to find out if bathrooms / showers will be available. I’m sorry I don’t have a clearer answer for you! Good luck!
Erica,
What sort of camera and lenses did you use for your pictures?
Hi Joe, I use a Canon 5D mark ii with a couple of lenses (a 24-105mm and 15mm fisheye are my most used lenses). You can read more about my specific camera equipment here.
Greetings!
I am planning a trip to Iceland in Mid-Late September. I found all of your information in here very helpful. Where can I locate either the websites or contact information for the specific campgrounds to check for costs and whether or not the campsite is open during the times I will be passing through? Also, did you have to pay cash or use a card at the campsites? Did you have to check in at each campsite before setting up camp?
Thank you in advance
Hi Brooke! I think you’ve probably returned from your Iceland trip by now — I hope it was successful! Sorry I did not respond earlier. When I went in Sept. of 2015, the campsites did not have websites where you could check for costs or season dates. Did you come across any sites during your trip prep? And I remember paying mostly with cash in 2015. I checked in at each site before setting up camp except in one case when I arrived after the main office had closed, and had to depart early in the morning before they opened so I did not pay there. Hope you had a terrific trip!
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am planning to do a drive it yourself with my children in a camper van, and would like to stay at campgrounds.
1. Do you happen to know the campsite names so I can look them up?
2. Do you know if they get fully booked at any time of the year?
Hi Anna, some of the Iceland campsite names are specified under each day of this post. If the name is not there, then I do not know what it is. As far as if they ever get fully booked, it is hard to say because you cannot make reservations for them (to my knowledge). So then it just depends on how many people show up on any given day and if they have to turn people away. For what it’s worth, I didn’t see any specifically numbered camping sites — they are just open lawns and anyone can set up their tent anywhere. So I don’t think they would turn anyone away — it just might mean you have to squeeze in close to your tent neighbor. Hope that helps!
Hi Erica, thank you so much for such an informative article! Which sleeping bag do you use? And portable stove too?
I have been looking for a comfortable, cold weather sleeping bag but too lost with the variety in options.
You’re welcome, glad you found the post helpful! I don’t have a sleeping bag recommendation, unfortunately — I bought mine in Kathmandu for like $20 and while it says it’s a name brand, I’m pretty sure it’s a knock off. BUT I can highly recommend buying a fleece sleeping bag liner on Amazon (I think they retail for under $30) — that makes a huge difference in keeping me warm at night while camping. So I think you’d be fine with cheap-ish sleeping bag and then bring along the fleece liner to add extra warmth. I don’t use a portable stove for camping, just a Jet Boil (this one) to boil hot water for pasta or dehydrated backpacking meals. Good luck with your trip!
Good evening, hope you can help. I would like to plan a trip to Iceland in June for 7 days with my kids – 15 yrs and 16 yrs old. Can we rent a mobile home and make it work?
Sorry, I don’t know anything about renting a mobile home in Iceland. Good luck planning your trip.
Many people have left their comments, but nobody says this: You are beautiful, Erica. I plan to visit Iceland in March by next year, and I plan to walk from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón, and from Jökulsárlón back to Iceland. I am not sure how many days it will take, as I need to camp during that cold and snowy time. I know it sounds a bit crazy, but I would like to challenge it. I just have one question: Does every camp site (after leaving Reykjavik) have toilet? I am just very concerned about how and where to do the “toilet business” when we camp out there? Thank you Erica.
Hi Alan. I appreciate the comment but my physical appearance is the least interesting part of me! Every camp site I visited had bathrooms and showers. Enjoy your trip.
Probably the best blog I have ever read.
I see this is around June-August. Do you think it will be the same around Feb-March? Is it a bad idea to visit Iceland during Feb-March?
Thank you! I suspect it will be much colder during Feb-March. That is still a fine time to visit, as you can do different tourism activities related to winter weather, but it is not recommended to camp in a tent during that time. Also, the Ring Road (the main road that circles Iceland) is more treacherous to drive in the winter months — just something to be aware of. It might be easier to base yourself in Reykjavik and plan day trips from there? Good luck planning your trip!
I’m so thankful I came across your blog! I have wanted to go to Iceland for years, so on a whim and partially due to cheap flights I’m headed there at the end of April 2018
I had a list of places I wanted to see and was planning to stay mostly in the south because I didn’t think it was possible to drive the whole thing in just a week. After reading each and everyone of your Iceland posts it helped convince me it’s entirely possible. I have read so many blogs about Iceland and yours is by far my favourite, and most informative. I love the honesty in your posts!
We are planning to use air bnb while we are there instead of camping. I’m from the Rocky Mountain area in Canada so we want to do as much hiking and waterfall seeing as possible.
Do you think we can do Reykjavik in 1 day ? Our flight arrives early morning, and leaves in the evening a week later.
I was told blue lagoon may reschedule due to weather as well so not to book it at the end of your trip ? Your thoughts on this ?
Thank you for the kind words! And congrats on your upcoming trip! Good idea to use Aibnb instead of camping as it might still be pretty cold in April, especially at night. RE: Reykjavik in one day, that is squeezing in a lot, but you could at least get to see the highlights. If you’re flying in on a red-eye that might make the first day of exploring slightly less enjoyable depending on how much sleep you get on the plane (just something to consider). RE: the Blue Lagoon, do you mean that they might be closed if the weather is bad? I’m not clear on their weather policy. But the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport so it’s easy to tack on either right when you arrive or before you depart — otherwise it’s a bit of a drive from the center of Reykjavik. Maybe try upon arrival and if the weather is bad, reschedule for the day you depart? Also, if you’re driving the Ring Road, you may get your spa fix at the baths in Myvatn or some of the other spots — the Blue Lagoon is still worth visiting, but if it ends up getting cancelled due to weather, you will at least have other places on your trip to experience Iceland thermal baths. Hope that helps! Good luck with your trip!
This is the most excellent wrap-up of camping in Iceland that I’ve seen! Did you feel like 7 days was enough to do the loop?
Thank you Susan! I do think seven days is enough to do the loop, but I felt a little short-changed on my time in Reykjavik. It would have been nice to have more time there on either end of my Ring Road trip.
Ah I’m so happy I stumbled onto this post! This is exactly what I’m hoping to do this summer / am currently planning. I am thinking I’m going to spend 10 days in Iceland (so really probably more like 8 full days because of the travel). What month did you do this? And if you had an extra 2 days – what would you suggest doing?
Thank you, Paige! That sounds like a perfect amount of time for this trip. With eight full days of travel, that gives you just enough time to go around the Ring Road and have one full day before AND after in Reykjavik (I had only a half-day on either end and that felt too short). Enjoy your trip!
This is really informative and helpful–thank you! Weird question, but what app or program did you use to make the maps with your daily itineraries on them?
I used “My Maps” by Google — once you’re signed in, you can make custom maps with more stops / customazations than the normal Google Maps. So I took a screen shot of that map for each day of my Iceland itinerary and then added text using Apple Preview. Hope that helps!
Hi Erica,
What a great story and presentation. I loved it.
We are also going to Iceland this summer and now, after reading this, I just can’t wait!
Thank you again for so many details.
Br,
Vita
Thank you, Vita! So glad you found it helpful!
This is an awesome page. Hopefully you will not regret the offer to answer some questions. My hiking partner & I are going in mid-July. Can’t wait!
We are going to hike as well as visit some of the tourist locations.
A question about camping. We are from New England USA. We have only backpacked in New England and have never had a theft issue setting up tents & leaving a lot of stuff we don’t need to hike in the tent. We take our hiking essentials with us in lighter backpacks. Do we need to worry about theft?
Thanks!
Hi Jojo, Thank you for the nice words. For what it is worth, I had zero theft issues while camping in Iceland. I had a small lock that I looped through my tent zipper on the evening I went to the Myvatn Baths (I was gone from my campsite for several hours) and everything was undisturbed when I returned. The lock wouldn’t have been much of a deterrent since scissors would’ve easily opened my tent, but I used it anyway for a little peace of mind. During the summer, the tents are packed pretty close together which makes theft not impossible, but unlikely, with that many people around. I never left anything valuable in my tent, just my sleeping bag, blankets, mat, pillow, toiletries, book, flashlight, etc. Good luck on your trip!
HI,
What time of year did you go? This is best trip I have seen for ICeland so far and I have been doing A LOT of research. I was debating renting a tent and a car vs a camper van…I am not sure what to do yet, but you definitely sold me on not wasting time and money on hotels! GREAT POST!
Thank you! I went to Iceland from late August through early September. I appreciate your kind words!!
Did you feel it necessary to have the 4WD? Would you recommend that? Is there a better way to chat about your trip? Or should I just keep asking my questions in the comments? Is you had more time was there an area you would’ve liked to spend more time in?
Hi Jen, you can either as in the comments (that way others can read the answers in case they have similar questions) or feel free to email me at asherworldturns [at] gmail [dot] com. I’ll try to write back in a more timely manner!
RE: 4WD, I was really glad I had it. My sister and her friends did a similar trip around Iceland the month before I went, and they did not have 4WD — they made it just fine, but they got nervous in a few spots where the road was not good. It’s up to you but I would recommend 4WD.
RE: spending more time in one area, I would’ve liked another day in Reykjavik at the end of my trip to decompress and enjoy the food and walking around more. I felt most rushed in Reykjavik.
Thanks so much for writing this blog. We visited Reykjavik a few years ago and have been wanting to do a ring round trip ever since. We’ve been researching tonight and when I saw dorm beds at a YHA at a cost of USD 100 a night pp, I almost decided we couldn’t go. And then I thought of camping, came across your blog and the trip is back on! Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed post.
Thanks Anya! I am glad to hear it was useful! Good luck planning your trip!
Wonderful post! I think I will do a very similar trip
Can you tell me when did you exactly did yours? I am going at the end of September and I am concerned about the cold nights in tent.
Thanks!
I went on my Iceland trip at the end of August through early September (so like roughly Aug. 26 – Sept. 3). I recall some of the campgrounds close sometime in September — I’m specifically thinking of Seydisfjordur but there may be others — so that is something to keep in mind. It was chilly at night during my time there and would of course get colder by late September. But that still might be fine. One other idea is to ask the friendly folks at Iceland Camping Equipment Rentals — they might have more knowledge as to the camping weather in late September. Good luck!
hey!
i enjoying reading your post, and this is my favourite! im planning to travel around march with my classmates. we’re getting a minivan, but it happens that our vans cant drive on F roads. so what i was wondering, while travelling on the rind road, is there any F roads that we will encounter. and if there is, are there alternative routes?
thank you (:
Hi Khai, I don’t know the exact answer to your question (are there any F roads on the Ring Road?). But I know that my sister did this exact same trip in a non-four wheel drive vehicle — she said there were some rough parts in the road that made her nervous, but that by driving slowly and carefully they were able to maneuver around them just fine (this was in July when snow wasn’t an issue). Good luck planning your trip!
Hi! I have been following your blog, and particular this iceland section for a while now since I’m traveling to Iceland (3rd-10th of september). My plan is to rent camping gear and car around the ring road from 4th -> 10th of September. The major difference I have planned in my itinerary and yours is that I will start with the golden circle and go from South–>east and then North, so opposite way. I won’t also do any snorkeling in Silfra, but I have planned a whale safari early morning on 4th of Sept. My plan is to Explore the city of Reyjkavik on 3rd of Sept.
Do you Think it will be possible for me to explore the ring road from the 4th –> 10th of September? I’m trying to make it work with scheduling, and maybe skip some stuff to make the time work. Really appreciate any tip, and love your blog, really grateful that you have written Everything detailed.
Best regards
Thanks for the kind words! You could definitely do the Ring Road in reverse. And September 4-10 is a great time to visit — it’s at the end of summer tourism season so there shouldn’t be major crowds, and it’s before it gets too cold to camp. Your time frame matches up closely with my trip so you should be able to squeeze it all (or at least most of it) in! Good luck!
Hi Erica! I’m totally using your blog as a guide for my solo 8 days 7 nights trip to Iceland. Would it be possible to get your day to day itinerary with attractions, campsites, and the vendors you used to book your activities? Also – what gear did you rent and what did you bring yourself (e.g. european convertor/car charger?) Appreciate any advice/help you can offer.
Hello, all of these details are linked at the bottom of the post (before the comments begin). There is a post for each day of the itinerary. I did not book any campsites in advance — this was back in 2015. Happy planning!