Traveling around Iceland's Ring Road by campervan is one of the greatest adventures you can have, whether by yourself or with your family.
You'll get to combine both the excitement of traveling in the wilderness and the convenience of having your own moving accommodation.
This 1,332-kilometer route offers one of the best ways to access Iceland's geysers, waterfalls and remote beauty spots. Plus, hiring a campervan is not only convenient, but it also means that you have the flexibility to change your plans depending on what happens each day.
And perhaps more importantly, waking up to a glacier first thing or parking your home under the Northern Lights can be one of the greatest experiences in your lifetime. But before you get down to planning or looking for the best campervan rental in Iceland, let's take a look at everything you need to know.
First of all, what is the Ring Road?
The Ring Road (Route 1) in Iceland is one of the main roads in the country. The layout of the island means visitors are able to travel all around it on a single, 1,332 km road.
This way covers most of the inhabited parts of Iceland, and you can always venture out of it if you want to get off the beaten path at some point. The great thing about it is, the Ring Road is easy enough to drive through, and you can easily explore it with a campervan.
That is where the flexibility of the Ring Road is such a blessing, because you will be close to many different camping spots during your trip. The majority of them are only open during the summer months, but they make for a great spot to stop by and take a break.
Gas stations abound too: they're about 200 km apart and generally self-service, so be ready for that.
When jumping on the Ring Road, travelers commonly head out counterclockwise from the airport to get big-ticket attractions out of the way early. For example, you can plan to see Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall on a day trip.
Why we recommend hiring a campervan to explore the Ring Road
Whatever your intentions for the trip, we firmly believe that renting a campervan around Iceland's Ring Road is the best way to explore its wild beauty. A campervan serves as your own tour bus as well as your home on wheels, and you can make your own schedule and stop when and wherever you feel like.
If you end up taking this route, you'll be able to tour Iceland, unconstrained by hotel check-in times or the schedules of restaurants, enjoying at leisure some of the most impressive landscapes available in the whole planet.
Economically speaking, a campervan is an inexpensive option, too. You can always avoid dining out by cooking your meals in the camper's kitchenette; and the Ring Road campsites are generally quite cheap and always have basic facilities like a shower and electric connections.
And finally, it also simplifies your itinerary, making travel planning less stressful, as you will not have to make a billion bookings. Ultimately, renting a campervan takes your Icelandic adventure to the next level and provides you with freedom, flexibility and massive savings.
Some of our favorite campsites
For any adventurous traveler exploring Iceland, we know that driving on the Ring Road is already a memory in itself; but staying at some of the best recommended campsites will make your exploration even more memorable.
Begin your adventure from the campsite in Geysir, close to the most famous geyser of all. This is the perfect place to see geothermal wonders in a serene natural setting! Then you can continue your trip by moving to the Pakgil campsite in a peaceful valley near Vik.
The campsite near the town center of Djupivogur has an attractive harbor view and all the town's services are within proper walking distance from there. This is a perfect place to get a glimpse of the local buzz and intriguing seaside charisma.
There are just too many options to list here, but here are some more of our favorites:
- The Egilsstadir campsite is situated in the heart of Egilsstadir city, and offers numerous amenities and easy access to its surrounding attractions.
- Asbyrgi's campsite is located in the stunning North Iceland canyon, attracting nature enthusiasts with its beauty.
- The Laugardalur campsite is located in Reykjavik and offers sustainable practices and urban attraction sites.
In any case, traveling along the Icelandic Ring Road with a campervan is an adventure to remember. You will have the freedom to explore and discover hidden gems at your own pace while enjoying magnificent Icelandic landscapes.
From Iceland's geysers and waterfalls to quaint towns and story-like rock formations - you can visit just about everything from a campervan.
