If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, there’s a very high chance you’ve looked at campervans at some point.
And honestly?
Before this trip, we spent months watching YouTube videos, reading blogs and trying to work out one simple question:
“Is renting a campervan in Iceland actually worth it?”
After driving 1,920 miles around Iceland over 10 days — covering the Ring Road, the Eastfjords, North Iceland and the South Coast — we can confidently say:
Yes.
But there are definitely things we wish we knew beforehand.
Because while campervan travel in Iceland became one of the best experiences we’ve ever had, it’s also very different from a normal road trip or holiday.
It’s exciting, exhausting, freeing, unpredictable and sometimes slightly chaotic all at once.
And honestly?
That’s exactly why we loved it so much.
Why We Chose a Campervan in Iceland
When we first started planning this trip, we looked at hotels, Airbnbs and car hire separately.
And then we looked at Icelandic accommodation prices.
Immediately… campervan travel started making a lot more sense.
Iceland is expensive. Really expensive.
Especially once you start trying to book accommodation around the Ring Road during a multi-day road trip.
A campervan gave us something far more valuable than just cheaper accommodation though:
Freedom.
We could wake up beside a fjord one morning, drive through snowy mountains during the day and fall asleep near a glacier lagoon that evening.
No strict check-in times.
No rushing.
No unpacking and repacking suitcases every day.
Just us, the open road and Iceland.
And honestly, that freedom completely changed the way we experienced the country.
Picking Up the Campervan
We rented the CampEasy Easy Small campervan for the trip and picked it up shortly after landing at Keflavík Airport.
The process itself was surprisingly easy.
After arriving at the airport, we took the CampEasy shuttle transfer directly to their depot where the team walked us through everything properly before handing over the van.
And honestly, the first few minutes were slightly intimidating.
Because suddenly you realise:
“This tiny van is now our home for the next 10 days.”
But after about half an hour, excitement completely took over.
The van itself instantly felt cosy, practical and weirdly exciting.
And once we hit the Icelandic roads for the first time, we knew we’d made the right decision.
The Reality of Campervan Life in Iceland
This is probably the biggest thing people want to know:
What is it actually like living in a campervan in Iceland?
Honestly?
It becomes your entire lifestyle surprisingly quickly.
Within a couple of days, we had our own routine.
Wake up freezing.
Boil water for coffee.
Check road conditions.
Look at the weather forecast.
Plan fuel stops.
Drive.
Explore.
Cook dinner.
Sleep.
Repeat.
And somehow, those simple routines became one of our favourite parts of the entire adventure.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about slowing life down to basics for a while.
Especially in a country like Iceland where the scenery constantly feels unreal.
The CampEasy Tablet Was Genuinely Brilliant
One thing we didn’t expect to use as much as we did was the onboard CampEasy tablet.
Honestly, this thing became essential throughout the trip.
It included:
- GPS navigation
- Live weather updates
- Road conditions
- Campsite maps
- Fuel station locations
- Safety alerts
- Direct messaging with CampEasy support
And when you’re travelling Iceland in winter, road conditions change fast.
Very fast.
Having live updates constantly available made the trip feel much safer and less stressful — especially when driving through mountain passes, remote fjords and heavy snow conditions.
It genuinely became one of the most useful things inside the van.
Driving Around Iceland – Easier Than Expected?
Before arriving, we massively overthought driving in Iceland.
Especially in winter.
But honestly?
Most of the driving was far easier than we expected.
The roads around the Ring Road are generally very good, and Icelandic drivers are calm compared to many other countries.
That said…
The weather is what changes everything.
One minute you can be driving beneath blue skies.
The next you’re entering sideways snow and near-zero visibility.
That unpredictability is the biggest thing you need to respect in Iceland.
Especially in winter.
Do You Need a 4×4 in Iceland?
This is one of the biggest questions people ask before renting a campervan.
For our trip?
No.
We completed the entire Ring Road, North Iceland, Eastfjords and South Coast in the CampEasy Easy Small without needing a 4×4.
However…
We also travelled carefully, checked road conditions constantly and avoided dangerous routes or closed roads.
If you’re planning to drive F-roads or explore Iceland’s Highlands, then yes — you’ll absolutely need a 4×4.
But for standard Ring Road travel?
A smaller campervan worked completely fine for us.
And honestly, being in a smaller van actually made certain roads and towns much easier to navigate.
Fuel Costs Add Up Fast
One thing nobody can really prepare you for properly is how quickly fuel costs build up in Iceland.
We drove 1,920 miles during this trip.
That’s a lot of fuel.
And because Iceland has long distances between towns, fuel stops become something you constantly think about.
We quickly learned:
- Never let the tank get too low
- Fuel prices vary depending on region
- Remote stations are usually more expensive
- Many pumps are fully self-service
- Some pumps require debit/credit card PIN verification
At first it felt confusing.
By Day 3, it became second nature.
Iceland Campsites – Better Than Expected
Before travelling, we weren’t really sure what Icelandic campsites would be like in winter.
But honestly?
Most were far better than expected.
Many had:
- Heated buildings
- Hot showers
- Kitchens
- Toilets
- Washing facilities
- WiFi
- Power hookups
And some of the locations were unbelievable.
We camped beside fjords, mountains, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes throughout the trip.
At times it genuinely felt surreal waking up in places like that.
Did we get cold sometimes?
Absolutely.
But weirdly… that became part of the adventure.
Things We Wish We Knew Beforehand
Looking back now, there are definitely a few things we’d tell anyone renting a campervan in Iceland for the first time.
Bring More Layers Than You Think You Need
Even simple things like stepping outside at night become freezing very quickly.
Winter Daylight Is Short
You lose daylight surprisingly early during Icelandic winters, which affects driving plans massively.
Food Costs Add Up
Bónus and Netto became our best friends very quickly.
Campsites Don’t Always Need Booking in Winter
Outside peak summer season, most places were flexible during our trip.
The Wind Is No Joke
Honestly… Icelandic wind deserves its own warning label.
The Best Part of Campervan Travel in Iceland
Without question, the best thing about travelling Iceland by campervan was the feeling of freedom.
Some of our favourite moments weren’t even planned.
Pulling over beside random fjords.
Watching sunsets from quiet campsites.
Cooking dinner while snow fell outside the van.
Seeing the Northern Lights above us late at night.
Those moments become the real memories.
Not just the famous attractions.
And honestly, we don’t think we would’ve experienced Iceland in the same way if we’d travelled using hotels instead.
So… Was It Worth It?
Completely.
Without hesitation.
Campervan travel made us feel connected to Iceland in a way normal travel probably wouldn’t have.
It slowed everything down.
Made us appreciate the landscapes more.
Made every drive feel like part of the adventure rather than simply getting from place to place.
Was it always glamorous?
Definitely not.
There were freezing mornings, tired evenings and moments where we questioned our life choices while brushing snow off the van in darkness.
But would we do it all again tomorrow?
Absolutely.
Watch Our Full Iceland Campervan Adventure
If you want to see exactly what 10 days travelling Iceland by campervan looked like, you can watch our full Iceland Ring Road series here:
Watch the Full Iceland Road Trip Series
Thinking About Booking the Same Campervan?
We travelled Iceland in the CampEasy Easy Small campervan throughout this trip.
If you’re thinking about booking one for your own Iceland adventure, you can use our link below and get a FREE starter pack included:
Book a CampEasy Campervan Here
Download Our Iceland Itinerary
Planning your own Iceland road trip?
We’ve also created a downloadable Iceland itinerary packed with routes, stops and tips from our own experience travelling around the country:
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