Are you planning on visiting Iceland and want to make sure you are making the most out of your trip? Not sure if you should base camp in Reykjavik or if you should rent a campervan to drive yourself around the Ring Road? In this post, we’ll go over all the convincing reasons why you need to travel in a campervan to see the best of what Iceland has to offer.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission on products if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
For most people, Iceland may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip so it’s natural that you want to make it as memorable and amazing as possible. Especially knowing how many natural beauties there are to explore from geothermal hot springs to beautiful waterfalls, to jaw-dropping glaciers – a campervan ensures you will see it all!
Renting a campervan and driving around Iceland’s Ring Road will ensure that you have the trip you are dreaming of considering most attractions are easily accessible by car and a short distance off the main road.
Whether you’re traveling on a budget, want flexibility during your trip, or simply want to see as many attractions as possible; Here are the top 3 reasons that are sure to convince you to travel Iceland in a campervan.
Why You Should Travel By Van in Iceland
1. The Most inexpensive way to see the WHOLE Island
Save Money by Doubling the Van as Transportation and Lodging
If you haven’t already heard, Scandinavian countries can be pretty pricey and Iceland is no different. Traveling by campervan is definitely going to be your cheapest option and the most bang for your buck.
Most of Iceland’s beauty is sprinkled around the whole island so your best bet is to rent a car to get to all of the must-see attractions. So instead of spending $150 to $300 per night for a guesthouse/hotel, on top of the price of a rental car, why not double up and sleep in your rental van?
Comparatively, you will easily save upwards of $1200 (on a seven-day trip) by sleeping in your rental van instead of paying for lodging every night. Therefore, giving you the option to spend a little more on attractions which is the whole reason you’re visiting Iceland, right?
You Will Spend Less by Having a Stove to Cook Food on
The largest expense after lodging, is by far dining. A fast-food-style hamburger can cost you $20 on average and dining at a restaurant will run you way more than that.
One of the benefits of traveling Iceland in a campervan is having the ability to cook your own food. Whether that be with an outdoor camp stove or a built-in kitchen depending on which kind of van you get.
As a vegetarian, my favorite on-the-go lunch when I was traveling in Iceland was a hummus and pesto sandwich. We had a small cooler that fit all of our produce and perishables. For breakfast, we would make egg sandwiches and have pasta for dinner.
Undoubtedly, getting your food from a grocery store will save you more money and time than dining out for every meal which means more time for more wonderful attractions.
Campsites are Abundant and Cheap
There is one small caveat – it is illegal to park and camp anywhere besides a campsite in Iceland. However, this was not an issue seeing as there are hundreds of campsites spread around the country.
They were cheap and open late so a reservation was not required. I visited in October, which means a lot of campsites are closed for the slow/winter season and it was still not an issue. There were plenty of campsites still open.
Most campsites charge you per person – not per site, with the average cost being $10-$20 per person. The abundance and ease of campsites are other worry-free reasons to travel Iceland in a campervan.
2. Maximum flexibility for Travel plans
Have Full Control of Planning or Relax with Ease of Spontaneity
For most people, the best reason to travel Iceland in a campervan is undeniable because of the flexibility it allows you. You are in control of how little or how much you want to drive, where you want to go, and how long you want to stay there.
Maybe you fall in love with a little town and want to spend another day there. Maybe one of your tours gets canceled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No matter the situation, you have the flexibility to choose the way your trip goes.
Whether you’re a planner like me and want full control of your day-to-day itinerary or you’re more spontaneous and love the ability to go anywhere you want at the drop of a hat; a campervan is the easiest way to achieve this.
You Can Beat Crowds to Top Attractions
Another benefit of traveling in a van is beating tour buses to popular attractions. You can roll out of bed, make a quick breakfast, and just like that be on the way to your first destination before the crowds have even boarded the buses.
Similarly, you have a higher chance of having other attractions later in the day all to yourself because most people have moved on to get to their lodging for the night.
Great for Chasing the Northern Lights
One of my favorite memories from my trip around Iceland was being able to chase the Northern Lights. Traveling in a campervan allows you to pull over on a side road, turn off the headlights, and stare into the night sky hoping to see those beautiful lights dance.
Having your own transportation means you can drive around looking for clear skies and away from any town’s light pollution which will increase your chances of catching them.
3. Travel along the Attraction filled Ring Road
Most of the Attractions are Located Conveniently Along One Main Road (Route 1)
Another reason why you need to travel Iceland in a campervan is because this island country was made for road trips! Just take a look at the Ring Road – an 820 mi (1322km) highway that runs in a circle around the whole country allowing you to see the most iconic attractions.
Some of the most beautiful and popular natural attractions are right off the Ring Road or a short drive to it. Such as Sólheimajökull and Vatnajökull glaciers, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Reynisdrangar black beach, and Diamond Beach – just to name a few!
This also means you can easily hop from one area back to another. In case you loved one attraction so much or in case you forget your phone on one of the glacier’s tour trucks like me. Whoops!
Save More Time by Continuously Driving in One Direction
Instead of having to go back and forth to your same hotel every night, you can camp close to whatever you want to do first thing in the morning.
Inevitably, having your home and transportation in the same vehicle will save you more time throughout your trip. Because of the accessibility of the Ring Road, there are many campsites to choose from likely close to where you decide to rest for the night.
I hope that this blog post convinced you to travel Iceland in a campervan! It’s the most inexpensive way, allows you maximum flexibility, and ensures you’ll see all the best attractions along the Ring Road. I truly feel that it’s the best way to see all of the amazing natural wonders Iceland has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp anywhere in a campervan in Iceland?
Unfortunately, no. You cannot pull off to park and camp on the side of the road in Iceland. While it’s not illegal to freely camp, there are many restrictions to keep in mind so you’re better off just staying at a campsite.
You always want to make sure you’re following rules/laws while traveling in a different country; out of respect and kindness but also to avoid issues with the law and/or expensive fines.
How much does it cost to rent a campervan in Iceland?
When I visited in October of 2021, it was about $550 for 6 days for a manual Volkswagen Caddy Beach. According to the campervan company I booked through, their prices range from $800 to $2000 for a 6-day trip in October of 2023.
Of course, the time of year, amount of days, and type of campervan will vary the price but this is on average.
How old do you have to be to rent a campervan in Iceland?
Most companies require you to be at least 20 years old to rent a campervan. However, this does vary depending on the rental company with some companies requiring 25 years of age to rent a motorhome.
Do campervans have a heating system?
Fortunately, yes! This was my main concern before I booked seeing as Iceland’s weather can be finicky. Most, if not all, campervans will have a small heating system of some sort. We had ours in the back near the bed which was hooked up to its own battery.
It lasted us all night every night and it definitely kept us warm enough for comfort.
Which campervan rental company is the best?
If you do a quick Google search, you will find top companies such as Indie Campers, Campervan Iceland, Campervan Reykjavik, Happy Campers, etc. My recommendation is to take the time to compare travel dates vs types of vehicles and see which company is cheapest.
We booked through Campervan Reykjavik and overall had a good experience. The only part that didn’t go so smoothly was the shuttle pick-up at the airport. You send them your arrival time and information beforehand and they’re meant to meet you there to take you to the rental place.
We ended up taking a taxi to the rental place because we were waiting for at least 1.5 hours to no avail. There were a bunch of shuttles at the airport for all different companies so I believe maybe the shuttle was there but it was signed poorly so we never found our ride. This is my only complaint with the company. Everything else was great.
For more Iceland information, you may also like:
- Easy, Epic, & Best Iceland Ring Road 5 Day Itinerary
- The Best Time to Visit Iceland By Season (2023)
- Iceland Rainbow Road – The Cute & Unique Town of Seyðisfjörður (2023)
