5 Reasons You Should Camper Van Around Iceland

Our home for the week

I am not sure I will ever stop being in awe of Iceland. It has breathtaking landscapes at every turn. I could honestly visit every year and still not see everything there is to see or get tired of the scenery. And while Iceland has stunning hotels and bed and breakfasts that come with all the perks of traditional tourism, there's a freedom that comes from exploring its wonders in a campervan. And trust me, I am not a someone who likes to be uncomfortable while on vacation. I like my luxury accommodations, but campervanning in Iceland is magical. Plus, the campsites offer many amenities and activities that are far from "roughing it”. In this blog post, I discuss five reasons why you should consider campervanning around Iceland for your next travel adventure.

1. Unparalleled Scenery at Your Doorstep: When you campervan around Iceland, majestic views are just another part of your daily routine (see below). With campsites strategically located, you have a front-row seat to Iceland's awe-inspiring landscapes without the constraints of fixed accommodations. There were many campsites on our trip that had access to waterfalls, beaches, and other natural wonders that you wouldn't have access to when staying at a hotel, and if you wanted to escape the lights of the town to star-gaze, your hotel options were slim to none in those locations. Additionally, you get to see even more beautiful sights when you don’t have to spend extra time driving to and from a base hotel or packing and unpacking like you would if you hotel hop.

2. Flexibility and Spontaneity: The biggest pro of campervanning is the freedom it provides you. It takes away the need for rigid itineraries or tight schedules. It's just the open road and the ability to adapt your journey on a whim. Want to spend an extra day exploring the hidden gems of the East Fjords or take an unplanned excursion off the beaten path to a hidden waterfall? Campervanning allows you to follow your impulses, ensuring that your Icelandic adventure is uniquely yours. This particularly came in handy on our trip when we changed up our itinerary for bad weather and to optimize our chance of seeing the Northern Lights. If we had been booked on a tour or had specific hotel reservations that didn't allow for flexibility, we would have missed out on some really epic sights and activities.

We had this waterfall all to ourselves because it wasn't on one of the main tourist routes, and we had the flexibility of taking a detour from our original plan.

3. Chasing the Northern Lights: Iceland is one of the best places on Earth to witness the beauty of the Northern Lights, and campervanning enhances your chances of catching this ethereal phenomenon. Quite often, especially in early winter, the Aurora activity is not as high and requires a dark sky with low cloud coverage to see it. However, most hotels are in towns with a lot of light pollution that prevents you from seeing the Northern Lights in town. You could rent a car and drive from your hotel or book a Northern Lights Tour, but both options have downsides. If you rent a car, you will most likely end up sitting in it (bored) for hours late in the evening into early morning, hoping to see the lights. If you book a tour, it costs extra money, you are on a schedule, and you aren’t guaranteed to see them. However, if you are in a campervan, you can park in a dark sky area and sit/lie down comfortably while waiting. Several of our campsites even had a Northern Lights watch so we could sleep soundly, knowing they would wake us up when the lights started. Plus, you can do this every night of your trip (for free) to increase your chances of seeing them.

We finally got to see the Northern Lights on our 5th night in Iceland.

4. Cost-Effective Exploration: Traveling in Iceland can be expensive, but campervanning offers a cost-effective way to explore. With your transportation and accommodation rolled into one, you'll save money that can be better spent on excursions, local cuisine, or souvenirs. Additionally, many campsites in Iceland provide essential amenities like bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, and communal kitchens, enhancing your budget-friendly adventure. Several of our campsites also offered an inexpensive buffet breakfast and coffee options. To give you an example, to go to all the places we explored, we would have needed to have hotels at each stop along the way and rent a car for all seven days. We priced this out, and it totaled approximately 3600 USD* for accommodations and car. Our campervan, which hooked up to electricity at each campsite and had a heater, a cold storage unit, a convertible couch/bed, cooking necessities, a propane burner, and 4-wheel drive, acted as both our accommodations and our transportation. The total for it was just under 1600 USD.

*All pricing was from 2022. The hotel and rental car option was based on moderate accommodations and factored in the discount my husband gets for rental cars from his job.

5. Cultural Immersion and Local Connections: Campervanning isn't just about the landscapes; it's also a gateway to meaningful interactions with locals and travelers from all over the world. Icelanders are known for their warm hospitality, and camping lets you engage with the community more intimately. The setup of many campsites also encouraged this comradery with its communal spaces and onsite activities. We met many travelers from all ages and cultures who came to explore just like us. Whether we were sharing stories around a campfire, laughing over trying and failing to work the Icelandic stoves (a story for another day), or sharing recommendations and stories, the campervan lifestyle allowed us more authentic cultural experiences. We made friends that we are still in contact with today whom we may never have connected with if it weren't for our decision to live out of a van for a week.

I know, even after reading my points above, that the campervan experience won't be for everyone, but if you are 1) Adventurous and want to have a new perspective on traveling or 2) want to experience the magic and wonders of Iceland on a budget while still being comfortable, then give campervanning in Iceland a chance. You will come back with a truly unique perspective on travel that will forever connect you to Iceland. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and let the land of fire and ice captivate you in ways you never thought possible. Your Icelandic adventure awaits!

Watching Harry Potter and playing Yahtzee before bed became one of our nightly rituals at campsites.