Photos: Balazs Busznyak, Einar H. Reynis, Martti Salmi, Shadman Sakib, Ankit Sood
Itinerary · Iceland
Iceland Van Road Trip: 10-day Ring Road itinerary
Glaciers, geysers and northern lights at the wheel of your van
Iceland is one of the most popular van destinations. Over 10 days, Route 1 (the Ring Road) takes you past lava fields, big waterfalls, geysers and glaciers.
The route
Indicative route, in straight lines between the stops, in travel order.
View on Google Maps →The 10 stops
Good to know before you go
The real budget for 10 days in July
Budget about €3,120 to €5,830 for 10 days in July, for two. This covers three things only: the rental, diesel and your nights. Food, visits (Blue Lagoon, tours) and zero-excess insurance come on top. Prices checked in October 2026.
- 4x4 campervan rental: €252 to €495 a day in July, so €2,520 to €4,950 for 10 days (campersearch.is, prices tracked over 30 days up to 27 October 2026). Summer examples for two: Campeasy Easy Ranger 4x4 at €322 a day, Go Campers Go 4x4 Cruiser at €400 (Campervan Planet, 23 October 2026). Basic insurance is included; zero-excess cover costs €25 to €150 a day extra.
- Diesel: 326 to 339 krónur a litre in late October 2026 (Map of Iceland, 29 October; Skeljungur, 30 October). For 1,400 km at 9 to 11 litres per 100 km (our estimate for a 4x4 van), that is 126 to 154 litres, so €301 to €383.
- Nights: €15 to €25 per person per night at most campsites (Camper Rental Iceland, 2026), so €300 to €500 for two over 10 nights.
- Total: €3,121 to €5,833, so about €3,120 to €5,830 (1 króna = €0.007331, rate of 26 October 2026, Wise).
Outside summer, rental drops sharply: €150 to €205 a day in March, €150 to €382 in October (campersearch.is). A two-wheel-drive van is enough for Route 1 in summer and costs less.
Where to sleep in a campervan in Iceland
Spending the night in a campervan, motorhome or tent trailer outside an organised campsite is illegal, unless the landowner has given permission (Nature Conservation Act No. 60/2013, Environment Agency of Iceland). Plan a campsite every evening.
The 2026 Camping Card costs €179 for two adults: up to 28 nights at more than 40 campsites, no more than 4 nights in a row at the same site. It expires on 15 September (Camper Rental Iceland). It only pays off if your route uses its campsites.
When to go
June to August for a first trip: most campsites are only open from May to September (Visit Iceland, page updated 19 August 2026), and most mountain roads (F-roads) do not open before late June or early July (Vegagerðin, read 31 October 2026). It is also the most expensive season: €252 to €495 a day for a 4x4 campervan in July.
For the northern lights you need dark nights and partly clear skies (Icelandic Met Office). They can be seen roughly from late August to April; from May to July it is too bright (Perlan, read 31 October 2026).
Off season, a few campsites stay open all year, but many close (Visit Iceland). The Camping Card expires on 15 September. Vans are much cheaper: €150 to €205 a day in March (campersearch.is). Take a heated van and check the road every day on umferdin.is and the weather on vedur.is.
Driving Route 1 and the F-roads
- Route 1 is more than 1,300 km long and has been fully paved since 2019. There are still 29 single-lane bridges (2023 figure): whoever gets there first goes first (Vegagerðin, read 31 October 2026).
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on gravel roads, 90 km/h on paved roads outside towns (Vegagerðin).
- F-roads are usually closed from mid-September until June or July. Not every 4x4 suits every one of these roads. No insurance covers damage while crossing a river (Safetravel, read 31 October 2026). Before you set off, check that the road is open on umferdin.is.
- Driving off roads and tracks is strictly forbidden, even for a photo (Safetravel).
- Toll: the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel near Akureyri costs 2,216 krónur (about €16) per trip, paid online at veggjald.is within 24 hours (rate of 2 March 2026). You can avoid it via the Víkurskarð pass if the weather allows.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sleeping in a car park or by the road. It is illegal outside campsites unless the landowner agrees (Act No. 60/2013). Plan a campsite every evening.
- Trying to do the loop in 7 days. With this itinerary's detours (Golden Circle, East Fjords, Snæfellsnes), you go over 1,400 km: over 10 days that is about 140 km a day.
- Turning up at the Blue Lagoon without a ticket. It is fully booked all year and pre-booking is essential, with an arrival time (Blue Lagoon, read 31 October 2026).
- Taking an F-road or a river crossing without checking. Road closed or van not up to it: turn back. A failed crossing is at your own cost.
- Forgetting the tunnel toll near Akureyri. It is paid online within 24 hours of driving through, at veggjald.is.
Updated 31 October 2026
When to go
June to August, or September to March for the aurora
- Jan : Best time
- Feb : Best time
- Mar : Best time
- Apr : Outside the best time
- May : Outside the best time
- Jun : Best time
- Jul : Best time
- Aug : Best time
- Sep : Best time
- Oct : Best time
- Nov : Best time
- Dec : Best time
Your questions
No. Spending the night in a campervan or motorhome outside an organised campsite is illegal unless the landowner has given permission (Nature Conservation Act No. 60/2013). Plan a campsite every evening: €15 to €25 per person per night in 2026.
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