Experience Unforgettable Camping in Iceland

Camping in Iceland is a genuine gamble. On a good day, you’re parked in a sun-drenched valley with glacier views and a shower block that puts your bathroom at home to shame. On a bad day — and this actually happened to someone — emergency services are driving you to sleep on a school floor because a summer windstorm shredded your tent poles. Rare, yes. Possible, also yes.

With that cheerful thought in mind, we did this trip properly: a luxurious 4×4 camper van with heating, a refrigerator, a gas stove, USB ports with self-charging batteries, running water, and enough storage for multiple cases of lopapeysur, a serious quantity of art supplies, and a hearty stock of Bríó beer.

“Our sites varied dramatically, from lavish camping resorts to a lonely patch of grass marked by a solitary, neglected toilet.”

Most camping sites in Iceland charge between 1,000 and 2,000 ISK per person, with extra fees for washing machines, electricity, and other amenities. We had a rough destination each night but spent time scouting sites in each region for atmosphere and facilities. Our checklist: soft grass over gravel, privacy between plots, clean and heated toilet blocks, and a decent view. Bonus points for hiking trails, laundry, or somewhere to eat.

Standards were mostly strong. There were a couple of genuine misfires — an abandoned site, and one obscure grassy lot with a toilet we’d rather forget. Here’s the honest rundown: the good, the fine, and the grim.

Wild West

We opened in Borgarfjörður with a stop at Varmaland, which had solid Google reviews. Tree-lined plots, picnic benches, views over rolling plains, a pool nearby — it had the bones of a great site. But there was no obvious reception, no staff in sight, and the whole place felt oddly hollow. We moved on.

Hverinn won us over straight away. Sitting next to the Krauma spa, it had a diner serving hot soup from locally grown vegetables and owners you could phone for check-in even after diner hours. Tree-lined pitches, clean toilets — a proper first night.

Munaðarnes deserves a special mention. Tucked into a forest near Bifröst, it had a real sense of seclusion — playgrounds for kids, a washer-dryer, discreet pitches, and a trail leading down to the river. Birds, sunshine, the works. We wished the itinerary allowed for longer.

True North

Around Akureyri, a few sites competed for attention. Hamrar stood out — a well-kept spot at a wooded hiking crossroads with trails heading off in every direction. For anyone wanting to stay out of town, Vaglaskógur offered its beautiful forests as a quieter alternative. Flatagerði covered the practical side well, with laundry and hot showers doing exactly what you need them to.

Mývatn had two solid options: Hlíð, the simpler lakeside site with views that justify every penny, and nearby Vogar. We arrived during persistent rain, and Vogar’s hot showers and onsite pizza place felt like a genuine lifeline. They took QR code and Apple Pay payments, which was a nice touch. If you can, give yourself a few nights here — you’ll kick yourself for not having more time in Mývatn regardless.

Far East

In the east, Atlavík on the eastern shore of Lagarfljót was a highlight. The facilities were on the basic side, but the wooded pitches were genuinely secluded and the beach walks were lovely. Falling asleep to the sound of the lake was worth any tradeoff in amenities.

Berunes, tucked into the rocky Berufjörður on a historic farm, was a pleasant surprise — calm, with hot showers and a greenhouse-style seating area that made it feel more retreat than campsite. If you’re trying to cover distance, Djúpivogur just across the fjord is a decent alternative.

We also tried to find Smiðjunes near Hvannagil. The signage let us down badly and we ended up on a wide stretch of black sand instead. An adventure of sorts, if not the planned one.

Deep South

The south coast sites are busier — there’s no getting around that. Heading west from east, Höfn’s town site and nearby Myllulækur are perfectly adequate. But Skaftafell is in a different league. Big grounds, well-maintained showers and toilets, the Vatnajökull visitor center right there, and trailheads for Svartifoss and Sjónarnípa starting on-site. It earns its reputation.

After that the bar drops. The campsite in Vík felt like a flat patch of grass squeezed between busy roads and hotels — saved mainly by the presence of the Skool Beans coffee bus, which was genuinely wonderful. The real surprise of the whole trip, though, was Herjólfsdalur in the Westman Islands. Dramatic cliff on one side, sprawling golf course on the other, a kitchen area with stoves and sinks, washer-dryer, decent hot showers, and an owner with plans for more improvements. Twelve points to Vestmannaeyjar.

The low point of the whole trip was Þrastarskógur near Selfoss. Beautiful setting, but confusing signage from the start, visitor center staff who couldn’t help with check-in, and a lone toilet in a condition that genuinely recalled Trainspotting. Maybe they weren’t ready for summer volumes yet. Either way, Selfoss and Hveragerði both offer far better alternatives nearby.

That’s the Ring Road camping picture — the honest version. Most of it was genuinely good, good enough that it rarely felt like roughing it. Just keep vedur.is open and make sure the wind forecast is the kind you can sleep through.

A special thanks to Go Campers for providing an exceptional van experience. Book yours at gocampers.is.