Traveling with campervan in Iceland – complete guide
Waking up in a campervan, making fresh coffee, and enjoying beautiful views in Iceland was my dream for years. And my experience in Iceland, traveling by campervan, was even better than I imagined.
In this guide, I will share all the necessary information that was useful for us during our 7-day ring-road trip with a Campervan in Iceland in February.
Table of Content
The best time to visit Iceland
Iceland has relatively mild winters and cool summers, with frequent weather changes. The average winter temperature is 0 to -10 °C. In the summer, it is usually 10- 15 °C, but it can reach up to 25 °C. I would say every season is the best time to visit Iceland.
During springtime, you can enjoy the blooming flowers and greenery and encounter the migration of birds back to Iceland. May is officially the start of the Puffin spotting season. Summer is the most popular season. In June, you can experience the midnight sun phenomenon with nearly 24 hours of daylight. You can also explore the highlands.
You can experience the northern lights in autumn while the weather is not freezing cold.
In winter, there are fewer tourists. You can enjoy the beautiful winter landscape of the country. You can, of course, spot the northern lights. However, keep in mind that you cannot explore the highlands, and many roads can be closed.
No matter what season you visit Iceland, traveling with a campervan is always a great idea.
All you need to know about Campervan rental
Why Camping?
If you are planning to stay in Iceland for more than three days, you should rent a campervan to get the most out of your trip. It was our first camping experience. We were doubting whether to book a campervan or not, but luckily, two weeks before our trip, we decided to go with it, and it was the best decision!
1. There are plenty of camping areas, even in winter (read Ultimate Guide to Winter Campsites on Iceland’s Ring Road, including a map).
2. Traveling with a campervan can be a more affordable option.
3. And it gives you the most flexibility. Is there a northern light possibility? Drive anywhere in the middle of the night in the comfort of a hotel room.
Choosing the right campervan
Renting a campervan in Iceland is relatively straightforward, with numerous rental companies offering a variety of vehicles to choose from.
After carefully considering the cost and reviews, we decided to rent via Camp Easy. We paid €990, including zero-risk insurance, airport pick-up and drop-off, an extra driver option, and a power inverter. They have a 24-hour online chat service, and an agent answered all my questions during the booking process and after.
We chose the Easy Auto option. These are VW Transporters. They had new cars in the winter, and we were the first users of this campervan. If I were to go back again in winter, I would choose the 4WD drive option, which costs more. The campervan was sufficient for our trip, but renting a 4WD would make driving on icy, challenging roads easier and less stressful.
Campervan Rental Process
Once we arrived at Keflavik airport, Eduardo, an agent from CampEasy, picked us up and brought us to the office. CampEasy offers free airport pick-up and drop-off.
Once we arrived in the main office, we got coffee and waited for him to prepare the needed documents. Then, he explained all the driving rules, things to be careful of, and many other tips.
He advised us to get extra roadside assistance in case we got stuck in ice, which we did. It costs around €2o per day. If you enter an impassable road and get stuck, you will need to pay for the assistance, which is usually more than €1K. You should know that no insurance covers the damage done by animals. So, if you encounter them on the road, try not to trigger them.
They also gifted us sunglasses and neck warmers. Since we forgot to pack sunglasses, they were very handy.
Sometimes, rental companies seem to want to charge for every little thing, and we did not feel that way with Camp Easy. We purchased an extra gas can, but we didn’t use it, and they accepted a return.
People also leave unused items on a dedicated shelf, and you can pick things up if you need them.
We had a tablet with a chatting option with a CampEasy agent and a navigation app that showed open winter campsites and many other valuable spots. Now that we have our campervan, let’s check what is inside.
Campervan Facilities
Front of the van
The front is very comfortable for two, although this campervan is suitable for 3 people. However, with bulky coats, snacks, and drinks, it was perfect for two.
Under the passenger seat, you can see the motor for the Webasto heating system. One night, it made very loud sounds, so we were worried that we might have dropped something there. We did some quick research and realized that it was just too cold outside for it to warm the van up.
The kitchen
There is a small kitchen in the back. We had all the needed kitchenware—utensils, plates, pots, and many other things. There was a small sink, but it was not very practical to use. We mostly used the kitchen in the campsites to wash our dishes. We had two gas cans, and bought one extra, but we did not use it. In the end, we could return it and get a refund.
There is also a small fridge. It was in freezer mode, and we couldn’t change it to fridge mode. Make sure to figure things like this out before driving away with your van.
I am still grateful that I packed thermoses and a moka pot. It was great to have a warm beverage whenever we wanted. You can find my Iceland must-have list here.
The sleeping area
The couch turned into our sleeping area at night. The bed was quite easy to assemble. We were provided with free duvets and bedsheets, and we could get more if we needed them.
I packed sleeping bags just in case, but we didn’t use them. The first night, I woke up with a bleeding nose because the van got too dry. The other days, we filled the sink with water to increase the humidity to normal. I wish I had also packed my portable humidifier.
Charing devices
As it was our first campervan experience, we were worried about charging all our devices. The van had enough sockets, and we rented an inverter to use in the front. Keep in mind that you should use them only for batteries. The van’s electrical system cannot support devices like irons, hairdryers, curlers, etc.
This campervan had everything we needed and was a perfect home for us for 7 days.
If you are curious about campsites we stayed at during our 7-day ring-road trip, check out this blog.
Driving a Campervan in Iceland
Driving in Iceland in winter can be challenging. Landscape changes so quickly within a day. These rules and tips can make your trip more pleasant and help you avoid the mistakes we made:
- The number one rule is to check the Safe Travel app daily for your route to see if roads are open.
- We didn’t have any unusual situations in Iceland, like being close to a volcanic eruption. If anything, the Safe Travel app is the hub for any help you might need. You can even upload your itinerary, so if something happens, the emergency services will know if you are in a potentially dangerous zone.
- Highlands are closed in winter. You can only drive around the infamous ring road and visit some western parts.
- The speed limit in Iceland is 50 km per hour on city roads and 90km per hour on main roads. When it is dark or the roads are icy, you must drive slowly anyway. Choose your speed according to the weather and the road conditions. The speed limit applies to the best conditions, and in winter, conditions are seldom so good that you can drive according to the speed limit. I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is running over.
- Slow down when approaching gravel roads. The tires will lose grip when crossing from paved roads to gravel, and not slowing down can cause you to lose control of the car.
- The lights on the car are required to be on at all times. All year round, you need headlights. The “Auto” setting on the lights is not enough.
- You should always park your van at dedicated parking spots. Download parka. is app to pay for parking, and some campsites easily.
- We never had an issue finding a parking slot, whether we visited a popular, attractive site or a campsite. I have heard it is very different and more challenging in summer. But, I have to tell you, parking areas near iconic destinations such as Geysir Geothermal Area and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon were very busy.
- You should also check the direction of the wind every time you park. It can be very windy in Iceland. Open a window and check the direction and force of the wind before opening the doors. Park the car so that the front part faces the wind. Always keep a firm grip on the door while it is open.
Learn from our mistakes
This was our first campervan experience, and the winter conditions didn’t make it easy. Of course, we made some mistakes, but luckily, nothing big affected our overall experience.
Impassible roads
We didn’t always check the road conditions beforehand, and got disappointed twice. One was on the way to see the second most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss, and the last kilometer from the road was closed.
Getting stuck in the snow
Sometimes, navigation can advise a shorter and faster route. Try to ignore and follow the main road. We didn’t and got stuck in the snow. Even though the road was not impassable, it was not cleared that day. We didn’t panic because we knew that our insurance would cover it since it was not an impassable road. But we got sad since we were going to lose time and daylight, which are very precious. Luckily, within 5 minutes, we saw a road service car passing by, and the driver stopped to help us for free.
Frozen doors
Suddenly, the car started to indicate that the rear doors were open. However, they were frozen, so we could not open or close them. Luckily, we were close to a hot spring. Deildartunguhver is the highest-flowing hot spring in Europe. You can feel the heat of boiling water behind the fences. Of course, we could not gather hot boiling water. Krauma Thermal Spa is located right next to it, and the water flowing from there is warm. Elmir filled bottles with warm water, and as he poured it over the doors, they opened. You do not need hot, boiling water to melt ice. Also, be careful not to pour the hot water over the glass, as the rapid temperature change can shatter it.
Icy roads
Always check the ground before stepping out of the van. Once, we parked on an icy road and didn’t realize it, and I fell the moment I touched the ground. Now we laugh about it, but at that moment it was scary.
Safety in Campervan
There was not a moment when I did not feel safe in Iceland. But there are certain rules to follow.
- Ensure your phone always has a battery; you can call 112 for all emergencies. You can send your GPS location to emergency services via the Safe Travel app. It is also good to have your van renter’s emergency call number at hand.
- Make sure to fill the tank when it is already halfway through. We never had an issue with filling gas or finding a gas station on the route.
- Never stop in the middle or on the side of the road, even if you spot the Northern Lights. Find a safe spot to stop. Every year, Many accidents occur when tourists stop at an unsafe spot to admire the view or take pictures.
- Do not drive when tired. Switch drivers or stop for 15 minutes. I remember while driving to the east, we got very tired. The plan was to drive all the way. But luckily, we decided to rest. We called a nearby hotel, and luckily, they welcomed us and served dinner. After resting a bit, we hit the road again.
- Keep the shelves locked when you travel. Double-check that gas cans are turned off and placed safely.
Returning the campervan
On our last day, we woke up early, had breakfast at Grai Kottirun, aka Gray Cat cafe, in Reykjavik, and drove to CampEasy to return the van. You need to return the van by noon. And our flight was the next day, early in the morning.
We filled the gas tank and returned the van easily. Camp Easy offers a free airport shuttle. We asked them to drop us off at the Aurora Hotel, which is a few minutes’ walk from the Keflavik airport.
On our last day, we rested, ordered dinner, watched movies, and slept early for our morning flight.
I might have planned differently if I had known that the van had fixed return timeslots. Of course, we knew this when we booked. However, I already had the flight tickets.
Final notes
It has been almost a year since we got back from Iceland, and I still can’t get over it. I enjoyed this whole experience so much that I did not want to travel anywhere after.
It also inspired us to consider the campervan option for our coming trips, and now that we are a bit more experienced, we want to do it more.
Every day was a dream-come-true moment for me in Iceland. I hope you will also have a wonderful time there.
