Iceland Campervan Road Trip Planner.

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Getting around in Iceland.

Driving around Iceland in a Campervan or Motorhome allows you to experience Iceland in your own time. Be prepared to change your plans depending on the weather.

Traffic is usually sparse, and parking is rarely any issue outside of the Reykjavík city centre.

Most of the main roads are paved; however, take care as there are stretches of loose gravel, especially on mountain or farming area roads and in the interior of Iceland.

Iceland' rugged landscape and unpredictable weather, create challenges for even the most experienced drivers.

You are advised to drive cautiously and to be well-prepared before setting out on their journey.

Find out about current weather conditions and postponing or changing plans if necessary.

The minimum age for driving a car in Iceland is 17. Drivers must have a valid driving license. If you are from another country you are permitted to drive a car in Iceland for up to one year.

You have to be 20 years old to drive a small camper. There is no maximum driver age to rent a campervan or Motorhome.

When planning a road trip around Iceland, how long should I plan to be there?

Iceland has so much to offer. It is an island that will easily reward you with spectacular scenery and fantastic views. Allow a minimum of 10 days just to see the highlights. Iceland is 500kms from east to west and 300kms from north to south.

How big is Iceland?

Iceland is Europe's second largest island, and the world's 18th largest. It is 103,000 km2, which is slightly more than Austria, Hungary or Portugal, but about the same as Kentucky.

Ring road around Iceland:

The Icelandic road system is fairly extensive and easy to navigate.

Highway Number 1, known as the Ring Road, is the most travelled route circling the country.

The Ring Road is open throughout the year, though weather conditions can can close certain sections temporarily during winter and occasionally in summer.

Short days and long nights in Iceland

One of the most exciting experiences in Iceland during summer is to enjoy 24 hour sunlight. Days become nights and nights become day. In the winter the reverse it true and the sun never rises - also a unique experience. Don't get over tired enjoying the long days. It is easy to stay awake and just keep going without the sun setting.

Driving on gravel roads in Iceland:

Most major highways are paved, so slow down in time at places where the pavement ends and gravel starts.

Gravel roads require special care even in 4WDs, but even more so in other vehicles and on motorcycles

The condition of gravel roads can vary greatly. Look out for potholes, unstable loose material and washboard surfaces.

Gravel roads - reduce speed as necessary, and keep to the right when meeting other vehicles or when someone wants to pass.

Loose gravel can be difficult to drive on, and perilous to turn on sharply if the vehicle is going too fast.

Care must be taken when passing another vehicle, and it also pays to slow down on gravel when meeting one.

Small rocks thrown up by tires can easily cause damage such as cracked windshields or a ruined paint job.

Mountain roads are often very narrow and curve frequently and unexpectedly, definitely not designed for speeding.

If you see another car coming, look immediately for places where other cars have pulled to the side, so that you can avoid large rocks and also not damage fragile, vegetation and unspoiled ground surfaces.

Watch out as Sheep and horses even reindeer often roam free on roads.

Many bridges and some tunnels only have one lane, so that one or more cars will need to stop in time and wait for others to get by.

Road speed limits in Iceland:

The speed limit in urban areas is 50 km/h; in rural areas, it is 80 km/h on gravel roads and 90 km/h on asphalt roads.

Seat belts are compulsory for the driver and each passenger.

Children must be secured in restraints suitable for their age and weight, meeting the standards of ECE Regulation 44.04 or later.

No alcohol consumption is permitted before driving, nor open containers of alcohol in the passenger space.

Headlamps must be switched on at all times.

Off-road driving is strictly forbidden in order to preserve the vegetation, soil and landscape.

Why rent a 4x4 camper for a road trip in Iceland?

A 4x4 camper is essential on undeveloped roads in the highlands and other
places where there is rough terrain, rocks, unbridged waters, etc. Rent a 4x4 camper.

The highland roads remain closed in winter, just as the weather may at times cause other roads to be closed as well.

When the weather or road conditions are bad, you are advised to leave details on your plans at theSafeTravel website.

Useful facts about Iceland:

About 11% of Iceland is covered by glaciers and washout sands.
As well as glaciers, including Europe's largest, Vatnajökull, Iceland has many lakes and fjords, waterfalls and rivers.
Visit hot and cold springs, beaches of black basalt sand or light-coloured shells, volcanoes and fresh lava fields.
Look out too for older fields overgrown with thick moss.
Lava fields cover around 11% of the Iceland's surface area.
With all surface rock dating less than 20 million years in age, Iceland is one of the youngest landmasses and has some of the world's most active volcanoes in the world.
If there were no erosion along its east and west coasts, the island of Iceland would grow wider by about 2 cm per year, as these two tectonic plates float apart from each other on the molten magma underneath.
The last volcanic eruption was in March 2021 on the Reykjanes peninsula.
A new island appeared in 1963 called Surtsey after a volcanic eruption.
Iceland regularly experiences earthquakes.
Iceland's highest peak is Hvannadalshnjúkur - 2,110 m above sea level, very few Icelanders live at altitudes of over 250 m. About 80% of the country is uninhabited.
The Arctic Circle runs just north of the Icelandic mainland.

See the Northern Lights from Iceland

Look for the Northern Lights during the darker months. But when stopping take care, pull off the road safely. Be aware that there are other drivers all doing the same and watch out for other vehicles suddenly stopping to watch the display.

Keep your headlights on until safely out of the way of other vehicles.

What is the weather like in Iceland?

Iceland is on the Gulf Stream so has a temperate maritime climate, with warm summers and mild winters.

Iceland is located right on the Arctic Circle, and its weather is also affected by the East Greenland polar current.

Temperatures fluctuate only a little from night to day or season to season. Rain often begins unexpectedly and breezes can add to the cold.

Be prepared even in summer for chilly, wet, windy days and in winter, blizzards may suddenly delay travel plans.

Iceland has short, cool summers and long but mild winters, while wet periods may occur in some areas of the island at any time of the year.

From June to August, visitors can expect average monthly temperatures of
around 10-13 °C (50-55 °F). The warmest days are unlikely to peak above 20-25 °C (68-77 °F).

The middle of the year features the midnight sun when the island never grows fully dark during what most Western countries call late spring and early summer.

On July 1 in Reykjavík even if the sun sets at 23:57 and rises again at 03:04, it stays light outside the whole time. This effect is even more pronounced in the north of the country, where you can easily get around with constant 24-hour lighting from early May to early August.

Temperatures in Iceland

Iceland's winter temperatures are relatively mild. The southern lowlands have monthly averages of around 0 °C (32 °F) while even the much colder highlands tend to average only around -10 °C (+14 °F).

Iceland is snowy. In the northern half of the Iceland winter snow is always there to open a variety of adventure and sporting opportunities.

Weather conditions are sometimes harsh and hazardous, with snow storms or near-freezing rain and strong winds common throughout the colder months.

Check the weather forecast and road conditions before setting out. Check for road closures or warnings.

Winter in Iceland

On 1 January in Reykjavík, the sun rises at 11:19 and sets at 15:44. Try the swimming pools in winter as they are hot!

Spring and Autumn in Iceland.

The Spring and Autumn nights and days are more similar in length to each
other. High winds and stormy weather are more common in the Spring and Autumn.

In the north of Iceland snow and wintry conditions are still likely in May or early June, and at higher altitudes in every month of the year.

Maps of Iceland:

Detailed, up-to-date maps are important for planning routes and types of road.

You should always make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station as filling stations can be many miles apart.

Visit the Icelandic Transport Authority and SafeTravel for further information on driving in Iceland.

Cycling:

Cycling is very popular Iceland.

Bike hire is available and cycling tours are available for those who prefer a guided experience.

Spiked winter tyres are used between October to April, and lights and reflective clothing are a must at all times.

The highlights are:

Iceland has 8 regions to explore and each of these has their own regional website:

Useful links to find out about Iceland

There is only one toll road in Iceland and that is for the Hvalfjudor Tunnel.

Iceland offers a "Safe Travel Site" where you can leave your details and travel plan so they can watch out for you

Iceland Weather Forecasts

You can check out the roads too with Iceland's network of webcams:

Iceland campervan road trippers have an exciting experience. There is no roadtrip like it!

Dressing for Iceland's climate:

Iceland's weather is unpredictable. Prepare for any conditions, whatever time of year. Dress in sturdy shoes and in several clothing layers of clothing so that you can take off or add a layer as necessary.

Always have a wind- and water-resistant outer layer. If there is bad ice in winter, get cleats to put on shoes, and reflectors for jackets to be seen.

Wind is a major factor in affecting outdoor conditions. Wind chill and rain or wet snow so that even mild temperatures become extremely and even dangerously cold. Be prepared.

In Iceland, there is often no shelter and it may rain or snow sideways in the wind. An umbrella is useless. Wear a good waterproof and wind-proof coat.

Ferries to Iceland

The Smyril Line ferry sails between Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland, Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands and Hirtshals in Denmark once a week. (at time of writing)

Transfers from the airport to the city.

You will be advised at the time of booking on where and when to collect your campervan. There are regular bus transfer services between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik. Taxis are also available.Buses and taxis are also available at the island's other major airports, as well as for ferry passengers to Seyðisfjörður.

Public Holidays in Iceland:

Icelanders have several of their own unique holidays.

Many festivities are related to ancient Norse traditions, while others are Christian.

Plan your Iceland road trip to take advantage of taking part in traditional winter holidays.

The Christmas period is a mixture of religious practices as well as traditional folklore, beginning on 23 December and ending on 6 January.

If you are in Iceland over Christmas look out for the "Yule Lads" They are descended from trolls, and were apparently often used to scare children, but are now a lot friendlier.

Iceland's Yule Lads

One by one the Yule lads come to town in the days before Christmas.

The first one arrives during the night before December 12 and the last one during the night before December 24.

The Yule Lads used to steal things or play tricks on people but now their main role is to give children small gifts.

Every child in Iceland puts a shoe on the window sill in the evening so the Yule lad coming that night can leave a present in it.
Of course, if the child has been naughty, the lad might just leave a raw potato instead!

There are now 13 Yule Lads:

Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod)
Giljagaur (Gully Gawk)
Stúfur (Stubby)
Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker)
Pottasleikir (Pot-Licker)
Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker)
Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer)
Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler)
Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper)
Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper)
Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer)
Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook)
Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer)

On Christmas Eve Icelanders celebrate Saint Þorlákur's Mass and serve putrefied skate a popular delicacy in Iceland.

If you plan your Iceland road trip at Easter note that both the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday are also holidays - five days in all.

If you plan your Iceland trip at Christmas, most businesses will be closed from noon on Christmas Eve till after December 26.

New Year's Eve and New Year's celebrations in Iceland

New Year's Eve is probably the wildest party of the whole year. Everyone is allowed to light fireworks.

In many towns and villages, fireworks are let off on a smaller scale during the evening on the Thirteenth Day of Christmas, when the last Yule Lad has left for the mountains and the Christmas season is considered over.

Þorrablót Festival:

Early in the Icelandic past, Þorrablót was a mid-winter festival with sacrificial offerings to the pagan gods.

Iit was abolished after Christianisation and then restarted in the 19th century as a social celebration. Small communities, clubs, schools, etc. often arrange their own Þorrablót.

Þorrablót season

If you are planning to be in Iceland for The Þorrablót season it begins on the first Friday after January 19.

Try to sample some of Iceland's traditional Icelandic dishes that have been dried or smoked.

Lactic acid, a milk product, is also used to preserve food creating unusual traditional foods to give you a taste of something quite different.

The traditional Þorrablót menu:

Includes:

rotten shark's meat (hákarl)
boiled sheep's head (svið)
smoked lamb
cooked sheep's blood
tallow (blóðmör)

Expect the main drink to accompany Þorrablót, to be somebrennivín – also known as "Black Death" – a potent schnapps made from potato and caraway.

A Þorrablót banquet is accompanied by traditional songs, skits and funny talks or pictures, followed by a night of dancing.

Local restaurants will often create a Þorrablót atmosphere and offer traditional dishes on their menus. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Traditional food In Iceland:

Traditional food includes lamb, fish, milk products and potatoes.

Beef, pork, chicken and vegetarian options are widely available.

Farmers take offer free-ranging "mountain lamb" as the world's best. Icelandic fish has long had an international reputation for quality.

Freshwater salmon and trout as well as ocean fish are available. Salted or smoked fish is very popular.

Sea birds such as the guillemot and puffin are now often served as delicacies. The high-quality cod liver oil common in grocery stores is often taken home by tourists. Whale and seal meat are also commonly eaten.

Try Icelandic dairy products such as skyr, a cultured skimmed milk curd and súrmjólk, a soured milk. These are often served with crowberries or bog bilberries.

Drinking in Iceland:

Beer was legalised in 1989, and today a whole range of craft beers is on offer.

Brennivín is Iceland's traditional hard liquor. Taxes on all spirits is high.
The retail sale of alcohol is only through the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company.

Icelandic tap water is always safe from the tap and among the
cleanest in the world.

Hot water in Iceland

About 90% of Icelandic homes are heated by geothermal water, provides warm showers and warm swimming pools, etc.

List of Public Holidays in Iceland:

New Year's Day 1 January
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Fist Day of Summer (Thursday after 18th April)
Worker's Day 1 May
Ascension Day 39 days after Easter Sunday
Whit Monday 7th Monday after Easter Sunday
Independence Day 17 June
Commerce Day 1st Monday in August
Christmas Eve (afternoon)
Christmas Day
St Stephen's Day 26th December
New Year's Eve.

The wworld's oldest parliament is in Iceland

With þing meaning parliament and al- meaning that it represented all of the island, the Althing is often referred to as the world's oldest parliament that continues to meet more or less in its original form.

For many centuries, the Althing met at Þingvellir, which is about 50 km from Reykjavík and has today become a National Park.

Iceland has a population of only 335,000 and has the lowest population density in Europe. Two thirds of Iceland's population live in Reykjavik with most other people living in Akureyri.

Culture in Iceland.

The ruling male settlers of Iceland were mostly pagan, following the traditional Norse religion. As Scandinavia and other parts of Europe became more and more Christian, political pressure mounted on the Icelanders to convert to Christianity.

Climate change in Iceland:

From around 1600 to 1900, Iceland's climate became even colder and less
favourable for agriculture and the regrowth of overgrazed, eroded areas.

Up to a third of the country was covered by low-growing birch when the first settlers brought their livestock. This had been reduced to only 1% of the surface area by the end of the 19th century

Between 80 and 90% of the residents still lived on farms just before 1900.

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