BetaVanabout is still in beta — expect rough edges while we keep building. Thanks for trying it early.
2 adults · 6m campervan

Iceland Ring Road Campervan Trip: 15 Nights Around the Island

1 – 16 August · 15 nights · A clockwise circuit of Iceland's Ring Road, from Gullfoss and Vík's black sands to Skaftafell's glaciers, Mývatn's craters and the quiet fjord village of Djúpivogur, looping home via Snæfellsnes. Steady 200km days give a couple time to explore each stop unhurried.
1,508 kmtotal distance
11 / 4drive days / rest days
137 kmaverage drive
289 kmlongest drive
24 hbehind the wheel

The route

Day by day

Every campsite links straight to its OpenStreetMap entry, so you can check it exists before you drive there.

Start · Reykjavik, Island
1 – 2 August · Stop 1 of 10

Selfoss

1 night★ Gullfoss waterfall★ Geysir geothermal area★ Þingvellir rift valley★ Waterfalls
Power not recorded · ~0.8 km from Selfoss
Getting there: 58 km · 1 h 08 from Reykjavik · Easy dual-carriageway out of Reykjavik onto Route 1, then a short detour north into the Golden Circle on well-maintained but occasionally narrow roads with tour-bus traffic near Geysir and Gullfoss.
Arrive Selfoss
  • 10:00Pick up campervan in Reykjavik and stock up on supplies
  • 12:00Drive to Þingvellir National Park, walk the rift valley
  • 15:00Continue to Geysir, watch Strokkur erupt
  • 17:00Drive on to Gullfoss for the falls
  • 19:00Settle into campsite at Selfoss
Depart Selfoss
  • 09:00Morning stroll along the Ölfusá river
  • 09:51Depart towards Vík, stopping at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss en route
2 – 4 August · Stop 2 of 10

Vík

2 nights★ Reynisfjara black sand beach★ Dyrhólaey sea arch★ Skógafoss waterfall
Power not recorded · ~0.5 km from Vík
Getting there: 129 km · 2 h 09 from Selfoss · Route 1 hugs the coast past black sand plains and glacier tongues; watch for strong crosswinds near Reynisfjara and narrow single-lane bridges over glacial rivers.
Arrive Vík
  • 12:00Arrive and set up at campsite
  • 13:30Walk Reynisfjara beach, view basalt columns
  • 16:00Drive up to Dyrhólaey headland for views
  • 18:30Dinner overlooking the village and Katla volcano's flank
Explore Vík
  • 09:00Morning visit to Skógafoss, climb the viewing steps
  • 11:30Stop at Sólheimajökull glacier tongue for a short hike
  • 15:00Return to Vík, relax on the black sand beach
  • 19:00Evening at local restaurant
Depart Vík
  • 09:30Pack up and depart east towards Skaftafell
4 – 6 August · Stop 3 of 10

Skaftafell

2 nights★ Svartifoss basalt waterfall★ Vatnajökull glacier hike★ Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon★ volcanoes
Powered site · ~0.3 km from Skaftafell
Getting there: 140 km · 2 h 07 from Vík · Route 1 crosses vast outwash plains below Vatnajökull with long straight stretches; keep an eye out for glacial river fords and sudden weather changes near the ice cap.
Arrive Skaftafell
  • 12:00Arrive at Skaftafell visitor centre and set up camp
  • 14:00Hike to Svartifoss waterfall
  • 17:00Short walk to view Skaftafellsjökull glacier
Explore Skaftafell
  • 09:00Guided glacier walk or ice cave exploration on Vatnajökull
  • 14:00Drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon to see icebergs
  • 16:30Walk across to Diamond Beach
  • 18:30Return to Skaftafell for the night
Depart Skaftafell
  • 10:00Depart towards Höfn along the coast
6 – 7 August · Stop 4 of 10

Höfn

1 night★ Vestrahorn mountain views★ Höfn harbour lobster catch★ Stokksnes peninsula★ glaciers
Power not recorded · ~0.6 km from Höfn
Getting there: 121 km · 1 h 50 from Skaftafell · A short coastal run with views of Vatnajökull's southeastern outlet glaciers; the road is good tarmac but narrow bridges require care in a large vehicle.
Arrive Höfn
  • 13:00Arrive and set up camp
  • 14:30Drive to Stokksnes for views of Vestrahorn
  • 17:00Walk along Höfn's harbour
  • 19:00Dinner featuring local langoustine
Depart Höfn
  • 09:30Morning at the harbour before departing north for Djúpivogur
7 – 9 August · Stop 5 of 10

Djúpivogur

2 nights★ Eggin í Gleðivík egg sculptures★ Papey island boat trip★ Búlandstindur pyramid mountain
Powered site · ~0.1 km from Djúpivogur
Getting there: 103 km · 1 h 35 from Höfn · The road winds along dramatic fjord edges with steep drop-offs and tight bends; a slow, scenic drive requiring patience in a 6m van.
Arrive Djúpivogur
  • 12:00Arrive and set up camp
  • 13:30Visit the Eggin í Gleðivík sculpture trail
  • 16:00Relax by the harbour
Explore Djúpivogur
  • 09:00Boat trip to Papey island to see puffins and seals
  • 14:00Photograph Búlandstindur mountain from the shore
  • 17:00Quiet evening walk around the village
Depart Djúpivogur
  • 10:00Drive inland over the fjord road to Egilsstaðir
9 – 10 August · Stop 6 of 10

Egilsstaðir

1 night★ Lagarfljót lake legend of the worm★ Hengifoss waterfall★ Hallormsstaður forest
Power not recorded · ~0.5 km from Egilsstaðir
Getting there: 152 km · 2 h 19 from Djúpivogur · A mix of fjord-side road and inland valley driving with a mountain pass that can be foggy; well-surfaced but with some steep gradients.
Arrive Egilsstaðir
  • 13:00Arrive and set up camp
  • 14:30Walk in Hallormsstaður forest
  • 17:00Drive to viewpoint over Lagarfljót lake
Depart Egilsstaðir
  • 09:00Short hike to Hengifoss waterfall
  • 10:22Depart north over the highland pass towards Mývatn
10 – 12 August · Stop 7 of 10

Mývatn

2 nights★ Krafla volcano and lava fields★ Dimmuborgir lava formations★ Mývatn Nature Baths
Power not recorded · ~6.8 km from Mývatn
Getting there: 174 km · 2 h 38 from Egilsstaðir · The route climbs over a barren highland pass with volcanic scenery before descending to the lake basin; good tarmac but exposed to crosswinds at altitude.
Arrive Mývatn
  • 13:00Arrive and set up camp
  • 14:30Walk among the lava formations at Dimmuborgir
  • 17:00Soak at Mývatn Nature Baths
Explore Mývatn
  • 09:00Drive to Krafla volcano and Víti crater
  • 12:00Visit the Hverir geothermal field with bubbling mudpots
  • 15:00Walk the Höfði peninsula for lake views
  • 18:00Return to campsite for the evening
Depart Mývatn
  • 09:30Depart for Akureyri along the north coast
12 – 13 August · Stop 8 of 10

Akureyri

1 night★ Akureyrarkirkja church★ Botanical Garden of Akureyri★ Goðafoss waterfall en route
Power not recorded · ~4.1 km from Akureyri
Getting there: 76 km · 1 h 18 from Mývatn · A relatively straightforward drive along the fjord with gentle curves, though the descent into Akureyri has a steep final stretch.
Arrive Akureyri
  • 13:00Stop at Goðafoss waterfall on the way in
  • 15:00Arrive in Akureyri and set up camp
  • 16:30Visit Akureyrarkirkja and stroll the town centre
  • 18:00Walk through the Botanical Garden
Depart Akureyri
  • 09:30Browse the harbourfront before departing for Varmahlíð
13 – 14 August · Stop 9 of 10

Varmahlíð

1 night★ Glaumbær turf farm museum★ Grafarkirkja tiny turf church★ Skagafjörður horse country
Power not recorded · ~0.4 km from Varmahlíð
Getting there: 94 km · 1 h 29 from Akureyri · Rolling farmland and river valleys with easy roads, a gentler stretch after the fjord driving further east.
Arrive Varmahlíð
  • 13:00Arrive and set up camp
  • 14:30Visit the turf farm museum at Glaumbær
  • 16:30See the tiny turf church at Grafarkirkja
Depart Varmahlíð
  • 09:12Morning drive through Skagafjörður horse country before heading for Snæfellsnes
14 – 16 August · Stop 10 of 10

Stykkishólmur

2 nights★ Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano★ Kirkjufell mountain★ Djúpalónssandur black beach
Power not recorded · ~0.4 km from Stykkishólmur
Getting there: 289 km · 4 h 48 from Varmahlíð · A long transit day across the northwest fjord roads and into Snæfellsnes; mostly good tarmac with some winding sections around the peninsula's base.
Arrive Stykkishólmur
  • 14:00Arrive and set up camp
  • 15:30Walk out to Súgandisey island lighthouse
  • 18:00Dinner in the harbour town
Explore Snæfellsnes
  • 09:00Drive around the peninsula to Kirkjufell mountain
  • 11:30Visit Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach
  • 14:00View Snæfellsjökull glacier-capped volcano
  • 17:00Return to Stykkishólmur for the evening
Depart Stykkishólmur
  • 09:30Final coastal drive back to Reykjavik
16 August · End of the trip

Reykjavik

Getting there: 172 km · 3 h 15 from Stykkishólmur
Drop-off day
  • 13:00Arrive in Reykjavik and return the campervan
  • 14:30Free time for last-minute souvenir shopping
  • 16:00Trip ends
A plan, not a promise. Campsites, roads and opening times can be wrong or out of date — check anything you'd be sorry to get wrong.
  • Campsites come from OpenStreetMap, which volunteers maintain. A site listed here may have closed, be full, open only in season, or be tagged wrong. We link the record we used and the site’s own page where there is one — always confirm it exists, and book it yourself.
  • Distances and times are measured on real roads, not guessed. But a router doesn't know about roadworks, a closed pass, a ferry that stops running in October, or the height, width and weight limits that apply to a large motorhome. Treat them as good numbers, not gospel.
  • The day-by-day plan is written by AI. Opening hours, prices, whether a thing runs in your season, and whether it suits your vehicle or your party can all be wrong. Check anything you'd be sorry to arrive and find shut.
  • Local rules are yours to know. Where you may park and sleep overnight, what a licence permits, and what the road demands of a big van vary by country and change without telling us.

Use your own judgement, and see our Terms for the rest.

Want this trip, but yours?

Different dates. A different start. Shorter driving days, or no toddler in the back. Change the shape of it and re-plan any stop — you get your own copy, and one link to share with everyone in the van.

Make this trip yours — €9.99