Renting a Campervan in Iceland? Here Are 31 MUST READ Tips

Renting a camper van in Iceland is a nature lover’s dream vacation. After all, one does not go to Iceland to spend all their time in a hotel room, but most don’t want to brave the cold nights in a tent.

The Ring Road, or Route 1, is the road that circles the entire island nation of Iceland. We’ve talked about this fantastic journey before, but its popularity means we get a lot of requests for more insights to travel in Iceland.

Exploring Iceland in a campervan is one of the best ways to tackle the Ring Road and explore other regions like the Snæfellsnes peninsula, the Western Fjords, and even the highlands (with a 4×4 campervan rental!). There is no other way to do it thanks to your freedom in a campervan. However, there are some things I learned after renting a camper van in Iceland to help others on their Iceland journey!

Tips for Renting a Camper van in Iceland!

Have a General Iceland Itinerary

We’ve now driven a campervan around Iceland twice, in each direction around the country. We followed the Ring Road for most of the time, but also had no problems venturing off. The name of the Ring Road should be pretty self-explanatory. It’s a road that covers around 1,300 kilometers and circumnavigates the whole country of Iceland – like a ring! The whole route should take about 16 hours if you drive non-stop – but who wants to do that?

It’s impossible to nail the perfect Ring Road itinerary. Our biggest suggestion is to travel at your own pace, it doesn’t matter if you go fast or slow or miss some sights along the way.

As long as you are happy traveling at the pace you are going. If you’re looking for a good amount of time, we’d suggest somewhere between one to two weeks. We went for ten days, and it felt like an ideal amount of time. It left us wanting more but never tired of the trip.

When planning your itinerary, map out all your stops beforehand, but always leave time in the schedule for unplanned stops. There will be plenty of unplanned stops in a country as beautiful as Iceland, and it’s best not to feel rushed.

We try our best to avoid setting our days to a strict timetable because we know we will never be happy if we do that. Here’s our exact route starting in Reykjavik and moving clockwise. You can read all about the destinations here.

Choose a Reputable Iceland Campervan Company

Determining your rental company is one of the first steps in planning your Iceland campervan trip. We drove around the Ring Road (twice) in a Happy Campers van (both times) and loved it.

Happy Campers is a family run by local Icelanders, and you can find the whole family involved. We were checked out by the Sverrir or the “Happy Boss.” While his son was responsible for setting up our booking, another picked us up from the airport. They’re a family business wanting to show visitors the best of the country, and something we appreciate.

The van comes with all you could need for a camping trip in Iceland. It has awesome features such as a heater for cold nights, a running water sink, and a fridge/freezer. If you want to learn more, read our Happy Campers review. 

Alternatively, another local company called Lava Car Rental offers camper rentals and cars for your trip to Iceland

Choosing Your Campervan

Manual vs. Automatic

You should be prepared to drive a manual campervan in Iceland. As with the rest of the world (besides the US), most campervans in Iceland are manual, but with so many Americans visiting Icelnad, automatic vehicles are becoming more popular. Happy Campers has plenty of automatic rentals for rent! If you require an automatic vehicle, make sure to book well in advance and expect to pay a premium.

Size of Your Campervan

Consider the size of your campervan before you book. A few different size options are ideal for one, two, three, and up to five people.  We went with a Happy 2 for the two of us. The van was spacious and comfortable for two people.

However, with a larger campervan comes reduced fuel economy so you’ll be paying more for that larger vehicle in more ways than one. Gas is really expensive in Iceland, almost $8 a gallon. Think carefully about the campervan model you choose and how much driving you’ll be doing.

I’d also hesitate trying to squeeze as many people as you can in an Iceland campervan to save on costs, it will make for an uncomfortable sleep!

When to Book Your Campervan

If you’re planning on renting a campervan in Iceland during the summer, you should start planning and book your trip at least six months out. They do sell out fast, especially between the months of June-October – the busiest time in Iceland.

What is Included in the Happy Campers Campervan?

Our Happy Camper was equipped with everything we could possibly need for 10 days on the road. That included things like:

Gas Stove with Gas

Cooler

Privacy Curtains

Pots and Pans

Plastic plates, cutlery, and drinkware

Knife and cutting board

Dustpan

2 pillows

2 blankets

Mattress

You can pay extra for an inverter, chairs, a table, a BBQ grill, and a WiFi hotspot.

Insurance on the Campervan

When checking out a camper van in Iceland, you have many options for choosing insurance. Happy Campers includes CDW as it is mandatory in Iceland. If you go with the standard insurance, your liability limit is €2500. They also offer packages that reduce the waiver, such as sand and gravel damage.

We went with the gravel insurance, but I found it a waste, as the roads were great in Iceland during June and October. Had we traveled during the winter and windier months, I believe it could have been more useful.  Also, look into what your credit card covers for auto insurance.

Most American credit cards offer auto rental insurance as a benefit, and I recommend calling your credit card company beforehand to double-check what they cover. If you don’t have a credit card, it’s time to get one, as it’s an important part of travel banking.

Inspect Your Iceland Campervan

If you run into a guardrail with your campervan rental you’re going to be charged for damages. If someone else ran into a guardrail before you and you don’t note it when you pick up the rental car you could also be charged for damages. Always, always, always, inspect every single rental car you get with great detail – inside and out.

Note any damages with the company and take photos just in case. Cam and I are meticulous with rental car dings, scratches, windshield cracks, and cigarette burns.  Never assume that a scratch or ding is unimportant or big enough to note. When you return your rental, make sure you get a slip signing off that all was okay on the car, so they don’t come back and try to charge you later.

We’ve been blamed multiple times for things like “excessive sand on the floor in Mozambique,” random pieces of cheap plastic falling off in Mexico, and we were even charged for a small scratch on the hubcap in South Africa. Take photos and put up a fight if you think you are in the right.

Get the Right Credit Card

Bringing me to my next point – credit cards with primary rental insurance. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is my favorite travel credit card for many reasons, but the primary rental insurance is one of its best perks (including Priority Pass membership).

When you put your rental campervan on your Chase Sapphire Reserve card you get primary coverage worldwide for up to $75,000.

That works out great since we are nomadic and don’t have a car or home. Car rental companies in Iceland and worldwide love to scare customers and upsell all their insurance packages. You need to make sure if you need it or not before falling victim to their trap. Call your credit card company and always find out before you get to Iceland

Campervan Pick Up and Drop Off

After all the paperwork is sorted with the rental company, you’ll be asked if you want to be shown around the vehicle. We always feel a little foolish agreeing to this, but it’s always worth it!

Unless your rental vehicle is precisely the same as your car at home, several systems are likely to be different. If you choose a Iceland campervan, you 100% should be shown around. There are a lot of aspects to a campervan!

When the agent shows you around, ask them to show you how all the essential systems function. You should be completely happy with using your Iceland van rental when you depart – remember, you are legally responsible for it. So, make sure you know how to operate the headlights, indicator lights, hazard lights, and windscreen wipers. Also, be sure to understand how to engage reverse gear.

Expect a Hold Charge for Your Iceland Campervan

Every single one of our fifty or so rental cars has put a hold on our credit card for the rental period. Holds can range anywhere from a few hundred bucks to $1000+ in some countries. The “excess charge,” as it is called, is typically stated in your reservation details, but it is easy to miss.

We are aware that they must put this hold on our card, but it can be a massive shocker if you are unsuspecting and end up over your credit limit on your credit card. These excess charges are for scenarios where you disappear with the car and are never seen again, or get in a crash and refuse to pay.

Rent Your Campervan From Keflavik Airport (KEF)

If you plan to rent a campervan to get around, make sure to pick it up and drop it off at the airport. It could end up saving you a buck. There is no public transport, and the Reykjavik Express, one of the only buses from Reykjavik city to Keflavik airport, is 4000 Icelandic Kroner one way.

That’s a $30 airport transfer on a bus! I would recommend picking up and dropping off your car at the airport to save on this fee.

If you want to rent a camper, Happy Campers has a location at the airport. We had an enjoyable experience with them, and they will provide you with a free transfer to their offices once your flight lands, and will take you back to the Keflavik Airport when you depart.

You can easily book using this link, but make sure to book well in advance during high season. Seriously – they made our trip to Iceland so amazing.

Gas for Your Iceland Camper van

Be prepared to shell out some money when you head to the pump in Iceland. Gas costs a little over $2 USD a liter or almost $9 a gallon! We paid with tap just about everywhere in Iceland, and never needed cash for the gas stations.

Be aware of distances between fuel stations. We found them all over Iceland and never ran low on fuel, though there are some stretches where there is nothing for miles. For our 10-day itinerary, we spent around $400 on fuel – YIKES. On our next trip to Iceland we spent nearly $600 on fuel for 13 days. Make sure to budget for this one, as it’s easy to forget.

A 4×4 Iceland Campervan is Not Necessary for Exploring

If you’re planning to drive Iceland’s iconic Ring Road (Route 1 around the country) or the Golden Circle, a 4×4 vehicle is unnecessary. Most of the roads are paved and easy to navigate with a sedan.

If you want to go down an unpaved or unmarked road, make sure your car can handle it first! We saw numerous small sedans trying to push their car too much down bumpy roads and getting stuck or tearing out the bottom of their rental!

However we recommend a 4×4 campervan if you want to get into the Highlands

If you plan to drive to places like Landmannalaugar or anywhere in the Iceland Highlands, you’ll need a 4×4 for the “F Roads.”

In Iceland, F-roads, also known as mountain roads or highland roads, are a specific classification of roads that traverse the country’s remote and rugged interior. The “F” stands for “Fjallvegur” in Icelandic, which means “mountain road.” These roads are unpaved and typically only accessible during summer when conditions are more favorable.

F-roads are characterized by challenging terrain, including gravel, rocks, river crossings, and steep inclines. They often require vehicles with high ground clearance, four-wheel drive (4WD), and specialized equipment to navigate safely. Due to their remote nature and difficult conditions, traveling on F-roads is considered an adventure and requires careful preparation and caution. Not every rental car or campervan can travel on F-Roads, and you’ll need to rent a 4×4 specifically if you want to get into the Icelandic Highlands. This can add to your trip’s cost, but it’s worth seeing the beautiful Highlands. Happy Campers offers 4×4 campervn rentals that are equipped to travel on these roads.

Don’t drive a car not rated to handle the F Roads down an F-Road. If you damage the vehicle, insurance from your rental car agency is typically voided, and you could pay large for your mistake.

Make Sure You Don’t Have Mileage Limits

It can be common for Iceland campervans to have mileage limits. Usually, this is something like 200 km/day that can be driven. Of course, they can’t know which day you are driving 200km/day and what days you are not, so it all totals up to the end.

Say you rent a car for six days, and it has a mileage limit of 200 km/day. That means for your total rental, you have 1200 km of free driving. If you return the car having driven 1300 km, you will be charged for the overage of 100 km. If you want complete freedom when driving around Iceland, choose a rental with unlimited mileage. (Our Happy Camper had no mileage limits).

Navigation in Iceland

It’s worth mentioning that distances and speeds in Iceland are recorded in kilometers rather than miles. This can make sights seem further away than they are, although the winding country roads you’re likely to encounter mean travel times are a little longer than those in the US.

It’s unlikely your rental vehicle will have a built-in GPS navigation system, generally referred to as SatNav (satellite navigation); however, it is likely that you will be offered a separate GPS (at additional cost, of course) instead. The good news is that if you are driving the ring road, it’s a ring around the country and easy to follow.

Still, whether you are traveling on your own or as a group, we think navigation is a must. It takes much of the stress out of driving on roads you aren’t used to and relying on road signage. You might be happy using paper maps, but it’s not normal for them to be supplied with a rental car, which means you may as well opt for the GPS instead.

Smartphone apps such as Google Maps are a brilliant free alternative, which gives you the additional advantage of knowing up-to-the-minute traffic and road conditions. You should download a map of Iceland to your phone from Google Maps while you’re on good WiFi. If you forget to do this, Reykjavik Airpot has free WiFi where you can download Google Maps to your phone before you hit the road.

Our latest Happy Campers rental came with free unlimited WiFi, as well as a navigation around the country.

Watch for Speed Traps!

Iceland has numerous camera speed traps around the ring road. So it’s best to always stay within the speed limit. Fines are extremely expensive in Iceland. Between ISK 50,000 and ISK 150,000, it’s best to follow the rules.

The good news is there is always a sign warning you about the speed camera a few hundred meters before. If you are speeding in Iceland, now is the time to slow down!

You may think that because you are a foreigner and leaving the country, you will get away with not paying for a ticket. However, the rental car company has a copy of your credit card and is authorized to charge it in the circumstances like this.

Drinking and Driving in Iceland

This should go without saying, but drinking and driving is a grave offense in Iceland. The threshold blood alcohol test (BAT) level is extremely low. Drivers can be charged with DUI with a BAT as low as .05%, and yes, foreigners can be charged too.

The Icelandic people take this very seriously, and most do not drive if they plan on drinking. If you want to go out for a night at a bar, make sure you have a responsible way back to your accommodation.

Seatbelts and Safety in Iceland

It’s a legal requirement for all passengers to wear a seat belt/safety belt when the engine is running.

Likewise, it is not permitted to use a cell phone when driving in Iceland to make calls or send/receive SMS text messages. You can use your smartphone for navigation purposes, but it must be hands-free only (such as safely stowed on the windscreen), and you must not program navigation while the vehicle’s engine is running.

I recommend getting a phone holder for your car dashboard for your travels.

How Much Will an Iceland Campervan Rental Cost?

It depends on the season! In the summer, your rental car will cost significantly more than in the off-season months from October to February. Happy Campers offers low season, mid-season, and high season rates. So if you’re goal is to save money, book a car rental in the off-season. Here are some tips for getting a good deal on a campervan Iceland:

The sooner you book, the better. Campervans, especially with the good companies, sell out fast.

Do your research and go with the companies that have good reviews. They are often the ones who won’t rip you off for extra charges.

Avoid peak season, which is late June-early September.

Emergency Numbers in Iceland

112 is the single emergency number in Iceland. Remember it and store it in your phone if you ever need it. You never know when you’ll be faced with a life-threatening situation – but remember, only use it if you need to. Safetravel.is puts up all relevant alerts and warnings and should be checked regularly when driving in Iceland.

I also like to join relevant Facebook groups to stay updated on current travel situations. People are generally quite helpful!

Do You Need an Iceland Van Rental to Have a Good Time?

No! Iceland campervans are not essential to your enjoyment in Iceland. However, it will greatly enhance your experience, especially if you are short on time or want to explore as much as possible with endless freedom. No hotel bookings, making sure you get somewhere by a certain time, or checking out – just pure freedom.

If you love the great outdoors, parking under the northern lights or midnight sun, and enjoying home-cooked campervan meals instead of expensive Iceland restaurant food, then a campervan is for you.

How to Enjoy Your Iceland Campervan to the Fullest!

Hold the Door on your Iceland Campervan

Before our trip to Iceland, we came from a North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland and a road trip around the Faroe Islands so we knew what to expect.

The North Atlantic and Iceland have some seriously high winds. When you’re exiting a car, hold firmly to your car door – otherwise, it may blow right off the car and isn’t covered by insurance. We’re not kidding!

Enjoy Your Sleep

Expect it to be pretty cold in Iceland. Our Happy Camper had a heater we could run all night if we wanted, and it kept us toasty warm in the brisk Autumn air. Bring a warm sleeping bag if you’re renting a van without a heater or don’t want to run the heat all night.

I suggest a down comforter from home if you’re looking for comfort. The beds in campervans can be quite firm, so a camping pad will make all the difference. When you’re ready to camp for the night, park the van on a level surface unless you enjoy sleeping with your feet higher than your head.

The key here is to bring everything you’re comfortable with to make the van feel like home for the next week or few days. 

There’s No Bad Weather, Just Bad Clothes

Remember that you’re traveling around Iceland in a campervan. The smallest models don’t leave a lot of room for a massive checked bag. The obvious thing to pack is warm weather clothing, even in summer. A great option is to pack a duffel bag or backpack that has soft sides and can be stuffed under a seat.

Of course, always pack a down jacket, sweater, wool socks, and a travel towel. The towel is really important if you go to hot springs and public pools. We have a post on what to pack for Iceland if you want more clothes recommendations. It should also go without saying that Iceland is seriously photogenic, so you’ll want a great camera for travel photography.

Here are some things we’d recommend to make your campervan more at home in Iceland.

Stay Organized

It’s crucial to keep your Iceland campervan organized on your Iceland trip. This is important in more ways than one. It won’t take long to figure out that loose items in the back habit shift everywhere while driving. We worked hard to keep the back of the van organized, so we didn’t lose anything.

This meant we could easily access anything, and it kept the small space from turning into a pigsty. Ten days in a van with two people would be easy to let everything get out of hand.

Also, pick up a few basic cleaning supplies like a rag and multi-purpose cleaner/wipes. Our van came with a brush that we used to keep our floor clean. Without this, the van would have been a disaster zone.

If it’s your first time camping, we can not recommend bamboo baby wipes enough as they make it easy to keep yourself fresh. Of course, any baby wipe will do, but they are terrible for the environment, so try to opt for biodegradable ones.

Choose a Good Campsite

You can not camp freely in a motorized vehicle in Iceland. It is required by law that you have written permission from the landowner, or in other words, a receipt. There are a plethora of campsites around Iceland in the summer, and Happy Campers created this map on their website to help you find one.

Campsites in Iceland are generally decent, with showers, toilets, and sometimes even WiFi facilities. The average camping fee ranges from 1600 ISK to 3000 ISK per person, per night. Sometimes, showers are not included in this price and cost 300-500ISK for a three to five-minute shower. We cannot recommend reading reviews when picking campsites enough. We personally wouldn’t stay in a campsite below a 4.0 on Google Reviews and always made sure there was hot water and clean facilities at the campsite before paying. This led to us having a very positive camping experience in Iceland.

Since showers can sometimes cost extra while camping, we love getting naked in Iceland’s public swimming pools instead. 

Keep in Mind…

The majority of campsites close down for the winter. We drove the Ring Road once in October and found many of the campsites to have already closed on September 30th.

The availability of campsites will depend on the time of year. Traveling in October, we found it to be hit or miss. The good news is that even when the campsites are closed, they are still accessible and you technically still park there and camp if need be. This means you don’t have to pay – you won’t have access to facilities like toilets during the offseason. Remember when I mentioned baby wipes?

Almost every campsite in Iceland is open by June – perfect for campervanning Iceland in the summer!

Eat Good Food!

We are no strangers to prepping easy meals, and we’ve gotten better over time. Campervans in Iceland don’t provide a ton of prep space, so you should stick to simple meals. If you want to learn about food costs, we have outlined them in our guide to grocery stores in Iceland. Here are the common meals we made in our campervan.

Wraps: These are super simple. Cameron made hot wraps by cooking a stir fry in a pan using vegan hoisin duck, frozen veggies, and mushrooms. Dish it out in some wraps and top with vegan cheese. (You can use the real stuff too!)

Rice: It’s a staple, and finding a way to make it your own will take you for miles. We like to top our rice with peas, corn, avocado, eggs, and a sweet Thai chili sauce. (There are hundreds of variations of this!)

Soup: We love to make soup because it’s delicious, requires one pot, and it fills you up. For an easy and healthy soup, Cameron recommends the following: Saute onions in a pot until translucent, add mushrooms, tomatoes, vegetable stock (bouillon cubes to save space), rice, potatoes, carrots, and season with paprika. If you’re a meat-eater, cook it first with the onions. The key to a soup is layering flavors and letting it simmer for a long time.

Pancakes: Who doesn’t love pancakes? They’re dead simple and when you top them with peanut butter, they’ll keep you going for hours. For camping, we suggest the premade mix from the store.

Pasta: Roasted red pepper, pesto, avocado, or mushroom stroganoff there are countless variations of pasta you can make. We love to mix them with frozen veggies when camping in Iceland. Fresh produce is expensive in Iceland!

BYOB

Iceland is expensive, and alcohol costs are obscene. A bottle of the budget vodka Smirnoff can cost $70. You are permitted to bring a bottle of your own booze into the country, so we came prepared with a great bottle of gin or wine before arriving.

If you’re worried about the weight of a bottle breaking, your next option is to purchase alcohol at the Airport duty-free before you enter the country, which offer a better deal than stores in Iceland. Outside of duty-free stores at the airport, you can only purchase alcohol at the state-run stores called Vinbudin.

Download a Good Travel Playlist

Be prepared for some long drives and plenty of time on the road. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for an excellent travel playlist or music. Just make sure you download all your music to your phone, as you may not always have a connection.

Pros and Cons of Renting a Camper van in Iceland

Plan Your Epic Campervan Trip to Iceland

Renting a Camper Van in Iceland!

A campervan is the best way to get around Iceland on a budget. While a camper is slightly more expensive than a car, you can sleep and cook in it! This means you don’t have to search for any hotels or deal with expensive restaurants in Iceland.

Plus, you get to sleep in nature every night and still use a heater if you wish! If you want to travel with a Happy Campers van as we did (and you should, they are the BEST!), read our full review. You can easily book using this link, but make sure to book well in advance during high season.

When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland?

In my opinion, the best times to visit Iceland are June, July, September, October, and December – but it all depends on what you want! June-August is the high season, but it is also summer in Iceland and when you will find the most pleasant temperatures. It’s also when you will experience the most daylight and get the most of your trip. December is great because it is winter, you stand a strong chance of seeing the Northern Lights, it’s low season, and the temperatures haven’t gone to complete freezing yet. 

However, my personal favorite time to travel to Iceland is during the fall months. The leaves change vibrant colors around the country during September and October. Temperatures are still mild, and tourism is slowing down. You can see the full month-by-month breakdown for Iceland travel here. 

Things to do in Iceland

There are so many things to do in Iceland I could write a book about it. Unfortunately, I don’t have that time, so I’m showing you the ultimate Iceland bucket list here. Some things that are a must-do are going to an Iceland swimming pool, soaking in a natural hot spring, standing under a waterfall, and seeing the Northern Lights.

Photography Gear for Iceland

A high-quality camera is an essential packing item for Iceland if you want some great shots during your vacation. We travel with our Fujifilm Camera and 200mm telephoto lens. Drones have taken Iceland by storm and can also capture fantastic footage. We had our DJI Mavic in Iceland, but make sure to use your drone responsibly as many locals are annoyed at their sight.

Do not forget a tripod for Iceland – especially if you plan on photographing the Northern Lights, as you’ll need one for the long exposures.

Is Iceland Expensive?

Iceland is mega expensive. One of the most expensive countries in the entire world. Make sure that you plan accordingly and in line with your budget. It’s certainly possible to do Iceland on a budget of less than $100 if you are camping, cooking all your basic meals, traveling by public transport, or score a good deal on a rental. The good news is that nature is free, and you’ll be able to see Iceland’s beauty without paying for it. So yes – it’s completely doable to have an affordable Iceland vacation.

If you plan on drinking, be sure to pick up duty-free alcohol before you leave the airport. A pint of beer can easily run you $15-$20!