Iceland Camper Van Road Trip: 15-Day Itinerary

Discover The Ultimate Iceland Camper Van Road Trip. Explore breathtaking landscapes, hidden gems, and essential tips for an unforgettable adventure on the Land of Fire and Ice.

It took us several years to finally make our way over to this amazing country but now after 15 amazing days in Iceland we can officially say this country was made for road-tripping. You’ll witness tglaciers, icebergs, lagoons, lupines, grass filled mountains, volcanos and beautiful coastlines. You even have an opportunity to see the northern lights during the months of September-April.

Our number one recommendation for an epic Icelandic adventure is WITH OUT A DOUBT rent a camper van. You of course will absolutely enjoy yourself if you rent a car and stay at hotels but if you want to take your experience to the next level, book that camper van.

Below we will provide a day by day breakdown for the most epic 2 week road trip through Iceland.

This post is the ultimate Iceland Camper Van Road Trip: 15-Day Itinerary.

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Iceland Camper Van Road Trip Itinerary

We started our Icelandic adventure as most do, by flying into Keflavík International Airport. If you booked your camper van for the first day of your arrival most companies will offer a free to/from airport transportation. We booked our van for the following day and took a $30 per person ride with FlyBus to our hotel. Flybus will drop you off at your hotel in Reykjavik.

It’s important to remember that we did this route during the summer season.

DAY 1

LAND IN KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Day one started off at Braud Bakery, make sure to get a cinnamon roll it’s life changing good. With a pastry and coffee in hand head on over to Hallgrimskirkja, the famous church the sits on top of the hill.

A great way to get to know any city is to try and find a free walking tour and luckly Reykjavik does offer one HERE.

Our plan was to start our road trip as early as possible the next morning, so we decided in order to avoid any delays we would do our grocery shopping today.

Two of their main grocery stores is BONUS and KRONAN.

Places to Eat in Reykjavik

101 Reykjavik Street Food
The Seabaron
Dragon Dim Sum Reykjavik

Our hotel for the night was at Canopy By Hilton Reykjavik City Centre

DAY 2

GOLDEN CIRCLE

Todays drive time approx 3 hours.

The official start of our Iceland Camper Van Road Trip starts today.

If you have not done so already pick up your Camper Van, we used the company CampEasy. Highly recommended, the customer service was awesome, the vans were clean and had everything we needed. Blankets, pillows, towels, stove, pots and pans, kitchenware, running water, fridge and a very powerful heater. Our exact Camper Van model we booked was the Easy Viking.

STOPS

Silfra Snorkeing At Thingvellir National Park. Snorkel in the clearest water in the world while you float between the North American and Eurasia continents. There is no fee to enter the National Park but you will have to pay a small parking fee. Pay Online Here
Oxarafoss Waterfall Trail In Thingvellir National Park. It’s about 2.6 mile loop. Its considered a fairly easy trail.
Geysir Geothermal Area Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes. Stay to watch a couple times as some eruptions are smaller than others.
Gullfoss Waterfall Known as Golden Waterfall is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfall.
Hrunalaug Hot Springs Their is an entrance fee to visit this hot spring. $10 per person for adults, $5 for ages 11-16 and free for 11 or younger.
End in Selfoss

Campsite for the night: Gesthus Selfoss

DAY 3

SOUTHERN ICELAND

Today’s drive time approx 2 hours.

One of the best hot springs experience is today, it’s a bit of a trek but it’s so worth it!

STOPS

Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River Is a 5 mile out and back trail with about 1100 feet of elevation gain, Plan for 3-5 hour. We planned for 1 hour at the springs but stayed for almost 3! It’s that amazing. The Springs are free but there is a small parking fee.
Seljalandsfoss This is one the most popular waterfalls in Iceland as you are able walk behind it.
Gljufrabui Is just a short distance walk away from Seljalandsfoss.
End in Seljalandsfoss

Campsite for the night: Hamragardar Campsite

DAY 4

SOUTHERN ICELAND

Today’s drive time approx 2 hours.

Enjoy the beautiful view of your campsite overlooking Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui, after breakfast let’s head to Vik.

STOPS

Skogafoss This is one of my favorite stops, this waterfall is absolutely stunning!
Kvernufoss This is east of Skogafoss next to the Skogar museum. Don’t miss this one it’s so beautiful and much less crowded them Skogafoss. Small $4 parking fee applies which can be paid at the museum.
Dyrholaey Viewpoint. Epic 360 degree views.
Reynisdrangar Basalt Sea Cliffs
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Beautiful stretch of coastline covered in black pebbles along with basalt columns. Be mindful of the waves.
End in Vik

Places to eat in Vik

The Soup Company
Smidjan Brugghhus

Campsite for the night: Vik Campsite

DAY 5

SOUTHERN ICELAND

Today’s drive time approx 2 hours.

Make sure to grab a coffee at Skool Beans Cafe. It’s the coolest little cafe that’s inside an actual school bus.

STOPS

Vik I Myrdal Church A gorgeous church the sits on top of the hill with great views of Vik.
Eldhraun Largest lava field in the world. If you have a drone this is a great spot to launch as you get a greater perspective of the magnitude of the lava field.
Fjadrargljufur Deep Canyon Also known as the majestic canyon. This 2 mile and back trail takes you along some stunning canyon landscapes with beautiful viewpoints.
Svartifoss Waterfall 2 mile out and back trail. Trail start is just a short walk from camp at Skaftafell.
Svinafellsjokull Glacier 1 mile out and back trail. Trail start is just a short walk from camp at Skaftafell. Looking for an adventure of a lifetime, join a Glacier Hike.
End in Skaftafell

Campsite for the night: Skaftafell Campsite

DAY 6

EAST ICELAND

Today’s drive time approx 2 hours.

STOPS

Mulagljufur Canyon This 3.5 mile out and back trail was one of our favorites! Don’t skip this trail!
Fjallsarlon This will give you epic views of Fjallsjokull glacier
Diamond Beach The amount of ice on the beach will depend on how much glacier has fallen recently. These huge blocks of ice come from Jokulsarlon and wash up on the coastline.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon You can walk around the lagoon and even take a boat ride. Glacier Kayaking is also offered HERE
End in Vestahorn

Make sure to stop at the Viking Cafe in Vestahorn and grab a hot chocolate and pastry.

Campsite for the night: Vestahorn Camping

DAY 7

EAST FJORDS

Today’s drive time approx 6 hours.

STOPS

Vestahorn Also know as Stokksnes. If you stay at the campsite the entrance to Vestahorn is free, if not an Entrance fee of $6 USD per person applies. Definitely make a stop here.
Seydisfjordur Is a quaint little coastal town, super cute and a good place to have lunch. It’s a popular place for the rainbow road leading to the towns church.
Borgarfjordur Eystri Puffins!!! We saw so many puffins here, honestly this was one of our favorites stops.
End in Studlagil

You have a couple options for this part of the Iceland Camper Van Road Trip. You have the choice to add Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss after Vestahorn. We really wanted to see puffins so we decided to skip these because we were already running behind, we spent so much time at Vestahorn.

If you decide to visit the waterfalls listed above and want to skip Borgarfjordur Eystri I suggest camping at Seydisfjordur Camping Site. And then proceed the following morning to Studlagil. Or if you really want to see puffins but are dreading the long drive skip Seydisfjordur. This will save you almost an hour of additional driving time and instead proceed to Studlagil after Borgarfjordur Eystri. Or do it all, just make sure to stay safe and take breaks.

Campsite for the night: Studlagil Campsite

DAY 8

LAKE MYVATN

Today’s drive time approx 5 hours.

STOPS

Studlagil Basalt Canyon Since you’re already at camp you can have this place pretty much to yourself, if you wake up early, which is great because it’s a very popular stop. From camp you can take a quick look from the observation deck, but you’ll have a 5 minute drive or so to the famous Instagram spot. Type in Studlagil (East side parking) in your google maps. Cross the larger bridge, then turn right. You are entering a famers property. Continue along the dirt road and turn into the parking lot sign on the right, just before basalt waterfall called Studlafoss. From here it is about a 2 mile out and back journey.
Dettifoss Waterfall Said to be the one of the most powerful waterfall in Europe, You can pick between the east or west or both if you have the time. We visited from the East. West is more popular because it’s easier to get to and is more managed.
Selfoss Waterfall About a half mile upstream from Dettifoss you will find Selfoss.
Viti Crater
Hverir This is a nice quick stop to see geothermal activity and bubbling mud pools.
Grjotagia Cave I would skip this to be honest unless your a huge GOT fan and have to see all the film locations.
Godafoss The Waterfall of the Gods. You can visit either side of the falls.
End in Akureyri

If your in the mood for a geothermal soak visit Myvatn Natural Pools before heading to Godafoss.

Campsite for the night: Camping Hamrar

DAY 9

NORTHERN ICELAND

Today’s drive time approx 6 hours.

STOPS

Explore Akureyri The second largest city in Iceland. There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants in the city square. This would also be a great time to restock on groceries. Look for a BONUS supermarket.
Kolugljufur Canyon Very easy to find just off the main road but surprisingly very few people. You can enjoy views from both sides of the canyon and there is a beautiful waterfall as well.
End in Flokalundur

Campsite for the night: Yjaldsvaedid Flokalundi

DAY 10

NORTHWEST ICELAND to WEST FJORDS

Today’s drive time approx 3.5 hours.

This was a rough day for us. The weather was just not in our favor and practically had no views on anything the entire day. So hopefully it’s a much better experience for you.

STOPS

Latrabjarg Cliffs The largest sea cliffs in Iceland and said to be the westernmost point in Europe. Another great spots to spot puffins in case you skipped Borgarfjordur Eystri but is also home to millions of birds, including northern gannets, guillemots and razorbills.
Raudisandur Beach This is a red sand beach, again we didn’t get to see because it was completely fogged out for us.
End in Flokalundur

Campsite for the night: Yjaldsvaedid Flokalundi

DAY 11

WEST FJORDS to SNAEFELLSNES PENINSULA

Today’s drive time approx 5.5 hours.

STOPS

Hellulaug Hot Springs This had to be one of the best experiences we had. It’s a good size pool overlooking the ocean and Vatnsfjördur fjord plus it’s about a minute or so drive from camp.
Dynjandi Waterfall The jewel of the west fjords which also happens to also be the biggest waterfall in the west fjords. It’s stunning, hands down one of our favorites!
Kirkjufellsofoss Waterfall An incredibly popular stop just right off the main road. Try and go early or later in the evening to avoid the crowds.
End in Olafsvik

Campsite for the night: Campsite Olafsvik

DAY 12

SNAEFELLSNES PENINSULA

Today’s drive time approx 3.5 hours.

STOPS

Ingjaldsholskirkja Church One of the most photographed churches in Iceland
Svortuloft Lighthouse A vibrant Orange Lighthouse with gorgeous coastline views.
Londrangar View Point This a nice observation deck overlooking the coast.
Arnarstapi to Hellnar Hike This is a lovely 3.5 mile round-trip hike. The trail follows the coastline. One you reach Hellnar you will se a small cafe, make sure to order some waffles.
Budakirkja The famous Black Church
End in Akranes

Campsite for the night: Camping Þorisstadir

DAY 13

SNAEFELLSNESS PENINSULA TO REYKJAVIK

Today’s drive time approx 2-5 hours.

STOPS

Glymur Waterfall Is the second highest waterfall in Iceland and one of our most favorite hikes of the trip. Roughly 4.3 mile loop with 1394 feet of elevation gain. You will have two river crossings one by log and one barefooted in some very freezing water. Make sure to go slow as the rocks and pebbles underneath are slippery. Make sure the current looks safe, please don’t cross if it doesn’t look safe!
Sky Lagoon Personally we enjoyed Sky Lagoon more than we did Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon is definitely still worth a visit. Make sure and try the 7 step ritual experience.

Our plan was to stay at Landmannalaugar Campsite but after our very relaxing time at Sky Lagoon we were extremely tired and didn’t make it all the way. Make your way over to Camping Landmannalaugar or if you’re like us you can drive as far as you can and find a spot to camp.

Campsite for the night: Your Pick

DAY 14

HIGHLANDS

Today’s drive time approx 1-5 hours.

Our last adventure day on our Iceland Camper Van Road Trip brings us to the Highlands.

I recommend having a 4×4 vehicle when visiting the highlands. The Highlands are usually accessible from late spring until late fall. We visited the area of Landmannalaugar.

STOPS

Sudurnamur Looking at All Trails this is no longer a loop trail due to erosion. It can still be done as an out and back hike but our recommendation is to speak with a ranger before heading out and finding an alternative that works best for you.
Stutur Crater. Just a short drive from Landmannalaugar, worth the short hike up the crater.
Sigoldugljufur Known as The Valley of Tears. This has to be one of the most stunning waterfalls in Iceland. Total oasis. You’ll see a very small gravel parking lot and will have to walk about half a mile or so to the viewpoint.
End in Reykjavik

Campsite for the night: Reykjavik Campsite

DAY 15

KEFLAVIK

STOPS

CamperVan Drop Off
Blue Lagoon Spend a relaxing afternoon or evening at the blue lagoon. Enjoy the different face masks and the swim up bar.

Tip: Long hair should be kept out of the water as the silica can make your hair extremely tangled.

Our stay for the night was at Silica Hotel, bit of a splurge but it was so worth it!

DAY 16

Fly Home.

Iceland Road Trip Tips

It gets extremely windy at times so be careful with your doors. We saw way too many people let their doors just fling right open causing damage to not only their vehicle but their neighboring vehicle too.
Buy a local SIMINN SIM card, 10GB will run you $23. We picked ours up at the visitor center.
Make sure to have a spare camera battery charged, you will be taking A LOT of photos
With any good road trip comes the need to snack. So make sure you are stocked up, you’ll hopefully be in a Camper so that shouldn’t be a problem.
No need to purchase water, just drink straight from the tap.

Best Time to Visit Iceland

Every season offers something different. If you want to experience the midnight sun visit during late spring and early summer.

Summer is amazing, offering 15-22 hours of sunlight. Although it’s peak season if planned correctly you can enjoy most attractions with little to no people there.

Winter offers an average of 4-5 hours of sunlight, but you have a high chance of seeing the northern lights.

Autumn would be a great time to go because there are fewer crowds, prices are cheaper and still have a chance to visit the highlands that are not accessible during spring and winter.

We visited Iceland during the month of July. I would say it’s a great month to visit because you get 15 plus hours of daylight. We hiked to glaciers, waterfalls, and coastlines around 2-3 in the morning, which was amazing because the majority of the time there wasn’t a single other group around.

Iceland Camper Van Rental Companies

After a ton of research we decided to go with Camp Easy. Our camper van with more than we could’ve asked for. It came with everything we needed for our Iceland Camper Van Road Trip, minus groceries. Highly recommend.

I also listed some other highly rated companies.

Essential Packing List for Iceland

Make sure to bring layers! One of those layers must be waterproof not only because the weather is so unpredictable but the glorious waterfalls will get you wet.

WOMENS

MENS

Waterproof Shoes
Rain Jacket
Insulated Jacket( I love my puffer jacket)
Waterproof Pants
Thermal Layers
Beanie+Gloves
Swimsuit
Camera with Spare Battery

Checking Weather in Iceland

The weather is so unpredictable! No joke you can experience sun, rain, WIND, and snow all in the matter of hours. Checking the weather daily can help avoid problems. Check HERE.

Must do Iceland Experiences

BLUE LAGOON

SKY LAGOON

SILFRA SNORKELING

GLACIER KAYAKING

Skaftafell National Park: Glacier Hike

JOKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON BOAT RIDE

That concludes this post, the ultimate Iceland Camper Van Road Trip: 15-Day Itinerary.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE:

Travel Resources

Here you can find all the travel site links that we personally use and recommend.

CAMPSITES/CAMPGROUNDS We like to use a couple apps for last minute campsite bookings. Our favorites are HipCamp, The Dyrt and Campendium.

ACCOMMODATION: We find the best deals with BOOKING.COM. The more you book the better the perks like free breakfast with your stay, room upgrades and even higher discounted room rates.

CAR RENTALS: We have always used RentalCars.com and find them to have the best deals, customer service and selection of locations.

FLIGHTS: Our go to for looking up flights is SKYSCANNER, but we try to always book directly with the airline.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: GET YOUR GUIDE and VIATOR are two very reputable sites with easy and hassle free bookings.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s so important to travel with insurance and for this we use SafetyWing. We are currently using them for our 1 year trip.

TRANSPORTATION: For all our bus, ferry and train transfer needs in Asia we use 12go.as ia.

Iceland Camper Van Road Trip: 15-Day Itinerary