Travelling by motorhome in Iceland

What is travelling with a motorhome in Iceland really like? We recently wrote a post about travelling Around Iceland by carand got a lot of questions about travelling by motorhome. We are used to motorhomes and have travelled a lot in Iceland. However, we have not travelled by motorhome in Iceland, although we would love to! To fill in any gaps, we took the opportunity to talk to Promote Iceland, which works to promote tourism on the island. And then we got a lot of useful information!

Table of contents

Where can you stay with a motorhome?

You can spend the night primarily on campsites. Since November 2015, it is illegal to stay in a motorhome or caravan outside organised campsites, unless you ask the landowner for permission. There is a special camping licence that you can buy, which is valid for over 40 campsites and until 15 September each year.

Island campingplatser — Campsites in Iceland, where you can use the camping card

Is it safe to travel by motorhome?

Travelling by motorhome in Iceland is not dangerous, but you may need to be aware of things like single-lane bridges and dirt roads in the countryside. As always in Iceland, you should also be respectful of nature.

The weather can change quickly and it is not uncommon to experience strong winds, large waves and thick fog. The water in geothermal areas can be extremely hot and you should not count on warning signs or fences at rapids and cliffs.

Iceland is perfectly safe for women to travel on their own.

In general, you can still feel very safe in Iceland. One reader asked "What about crime on the island? Do you dare to go on your own adventures as a single lady?" We checked with Promote Iceland just to be sure, and they replied that women can feel completely safe travelling alone in Iceland.

Hot springs in Iceland, photo: Iceland.is

READ MORE: Geysers in Iceland - Strokkur and Geysir
READ MORE: 12 volcanoes in Iceland - dramatic facts

Rent a motorhome or bring your own?

There are two ways to travel around Iceland by motorhome. Either fly to Reykjavik and rent a motorhome there, or take your own motorhome on the ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark to Seyðisfjörður in Iceland. Note, however, that the ferry journey takes about 50 hours in each direction. When it comes to renting a motorhome in Iceland, there are several different rental companies to choose from, and we can't recommend one over the other.

How long does the journey around Iceland take?

If you want to drive the Ring Road around Iceland, you can do it in a week. However, to really see and experience the country, we recommend a few more days, perhaps around ten. You don't just want to drive - there's a lot to see and experience in Iceland.

Bathing in hot springs, photo: Iceland.is

READ MORE: Blue Lagoon in Iceland - guide for your visit
READ MORE: Facts about Iceland - 30 things you (might) not have known

Why travel by motorhome in Iceland?

When you fly to Iceland, you end up in Reykjavikand from here you can make various interesting excursions. However, if you want to experience whole In Iceland it is a good idea to travel around the Ring Road, either by regular car (which Helena and I have done once) or by motorhome. And if we get to choose, it's always best to travel by motorhome. Having the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen with you on the trip is a freedom!

Have you travelled by motorhome in Iceland, or would you like to?

READ MORE: Motorhome hire - 1o things to consider

23 November 2017 6:00

Iceland

adventure, campervan life, driving in Europe, nature

Helena

Administrator

24 Comments

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Role o Carina says:

No we have not travelled with a motorhome in Iceland!
Nothing really that appeals to us, we think 🙂
However, we would prefer to travel to the Costa del Sol.
as many others do over the winter 🙂

Enjoy the snow......

23 November 2017 - 9:37

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  If you want to go in winter, I would also prefer the Sunshine Coast 😉 But in summer I would like to travel around Iceland again! 🙂
  
  23 November 2017 - 15:34
  
  Reply
Goatfish says:

Oh, no!
But a regular charter to Iceland would be fine! Iceland is really in vogue now.
The snow, which fell yesterday, is gone today. Slush.
Have a nice Thursday, hugs 😀

23 November 2017 - 11:00

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Iceland is a great country to visit! And the same here, only rain now... unfortunately.
  
  23 November 2017 - 15:35
  
  Reply
Ruth in Virginia says:

I think it's a bit of a shame that the little island is being
"overrun" in many ways. Motorhomes in particular.
They are so big. They don't fit into the landscape.
Obviously favourable for Icelanders, who need
income from abroad.

23 November 2017 - 14:18

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Iceland is bigger than you might think! Several of the rental companies also rent out slightly smaller camper vans 😉.
  
  23 November 2017 - 15:37
  
  Reply
Elisabeth says:

We want to go there with Ellen. Let's see if the volcanoes stay still enough to make it possible.

23 November 2017 - 14:51

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Oh hope you get there with Ellen! 🙂
  
  23 November 2017 - 15:37
  
  Reply
annar aas says:

My wife's friend and her husband took over the motorhome last summer. It was an unforgettable adventure. She is from there, but her Freddy is Danish. Nice campsites but also easy to stay with someone in the countryside. If you have a normal-sized motorhome, you can always bring your own car. The boat trip itself is also an adventure. Good luck Elisabet and "Ellen"

23 November 2017 - 17:28

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Great that your wife's friend and husband tried this with a motorhome in Iceland! It's also great to hear that the campsites are nice and that it's also possible to stay in other places in the countryside. The boat trip is an adventure, I agree! I have travelled it once, even though it was a long time ago and even though we had a regular car.
  
  25 November 2017 - 10:14
  
  Reply
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Yes, we have also read brochures and information online. Iceland is definitely an appealing destination for a campervan trip, great scenery and odd wildlife, what more could you ask for (in which case it wouldn't be quite as costly as it is if you go in the summer months).

23 November 2017 - 18:38

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I love Iceland myself and think it would be fantastic to travel around there with a motorhome! Just as you say, it will probably be difficult to get away from the fact that it costs a lot, although of course you can try to plan as smartly as possible.
  
  25 November 2017 - 10:16
  
  Reply
BP says:

What an absolutely fantastic header:-) Now you are an ambassador for that country too;-)
Could imagine a "regular" trip to Iceland, but the weather / climate does not attract. However, I think it is great fun that little Iceland has become so popular as a tourist destination.

23 November 2017 - 20:06

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The header is a press image from Iceland.is. I have labelled the others but missed this one. Can add it so that it becomes clear. I also like that picture!!! I have shown my own (scanned) pictures from the Iceland round trip before, but would love to go there again and take new nice digital pictures 🙂 And a "regular" trip to Iceland is also a fantastic adventure! 🙂
  
  25 November 2017 - 10:19
  
  Reply
Johan Persson says:

I would love to go to Iceland with a caravan or motorhome. Somehow it feels most fun to take your own carriage and get a boat trip with. Sometime it will happen:)

25 November 2017 - 19:19

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  How nice that you are keen on Iceland Johan! I'm sure you would love travelling around here! 🙂
  
  26 November 2017 - 19:45
  
  Reply
Anna Broman says:

Hey, hey, hey, hey,
For many years we have had a great desire to travel to Iceland and researched a bit how it would be possible. We have the motorhome and now we are seriously considering taking it over and staying there for a little longer as we are both retired.
We've read the great reports you've posted and we're keen to take the plunge!
If there is more to read about motorhome travel in Iceland, we would be grateful for answers and tips and advice on everything!!!!
Greetings from Anna and Sten-Olof

26 November 2017 - 13:17

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Hi Anna and Sten-Olof! What fun that you are thinking about Iceland! I have some links that I will send by email to you!
  
  26 November 2017 - 19:46
  
  Reply
Maria's Memoirs says:

Motorhome trip in Iceland sounds so wonderful!!! 🙂

30 November 2017 - 21:18

Reply
Susanne says:

Hello, Thinking about renting a motorhome when we go with the family to Iceland at the end of July 2018. ALL tips and links are received with great gratitude! How does it work to travel with a motorhome there? We will be there for five days and feel like we want to distribute the days on the southern part.

07 May 2018 - 21:54

Reply
- Carina says:
  
  Susanne - did you get any tips? We were planning to go in November 🙂
  
  29 August 2018 - 10:54
  
  Reply
carina says:

it says that the camping card is valid until 15 September Does the campsite close then?
We were going to go in November and rent a campervan

29 August 2018 - 10:54

Reply
Roger Orebom says:

Roger is my name, booked a trip by ferry in February March this year, are there any campsites open and if so, do camping cards apply?

19 January 2020 - 18:48

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I'm not sure if there are any campsites that are open that early, but I can't say for sure. On the map on the following page, you can click on the campsites and the opening hours are listed: https://www.campingcard.is/
  
  19 January 2020 - 19:04
  
  Reply

Travelling by motorhome in Iceland

Where can you stay with a motorhome?

Is it safe to travel by motorhome?

Rent a motorhome or bring your own?

How long does the journey around Iceland take?

Why travel by motorhome in Iceland?

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24 Comments

Role o Carina says:

Helena says:

Goatfish says:

Helena says:

Ruth in Virginia says:

Helena says:

Elisabeth says:

Helena says:

annar aas says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Johan Persson says:

Helena says:

Anna Broman says:

Helena says:

Maria's Memoirs says:

Susanne says:

Carina says:

carina says:

Roger Orebom says:

Helena says:

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