Roadtripping Iceland

There’s no better way to experience Iceland than by road trip. The freedom to pull over for a random waterfall, chase the midnight sun, and drive on some of the most beautiful roads in the world is what makes this country so special. But Iceland also has a few “rules of the road” that can really impact your trip (and your budget) if you don’t know them ahead of time.

You Can't Just Stop And Sleep Anywhere

If you’re roadtripping Iceland in a campervan (or even sleeping in your car), you cannot wild camp. You need to stay at a designated campsite; it's the law!

The easiest way to stay organized is to use the Go Campers Campsite Google Map. It shows campsites across the country and includes useful details like locations, open dates, and info for planning.

If you’re trying to keep costs down, the Iceland Camping Card can also be worth looking into. It can save money if your route lines up with the participating campsites (not every campsite accepts it), so it’s best for travelers who are flexible and happy to plan around the included locations. To see if the Camping Card is worth it for you, we would highly recommend reading Go Camper's Camping Card Guide.

Get Wi-Fi

One thing we’re so glad we did was get WiFi in the car.

Iceland is easy to navigate, but there are long stretches where service is weak or disappears, especially once you’re away from larger towns. Having WiFi meant we could reliably check the weather, road conditions, parking apps, and navigation without stressing, and it made the whole trip feel smoother.

If you’re doing a true road trip, this is one of those upgrades that quietly pays off every single day. It usually costs an extra $10/day, depending on which rental company you go with.

Don't Skip Gravel + Sand/Ash Insurance

If you’re renting a car, this is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

Iceland’s winds can be intense, and a lot of the country is made up of sand fields and loose volcanic material. In the wrong conditions, that wind can literally sandblast your car. Gravel roads can also lead to windshield chips and paint damage, sometimes without you even realizing it until you return the vehicle. Sand/ash protection is specifically designed for this kind of damage (and it’s typically not covered by basic coverage).

If you’re staying strictly on paved routes in calm summer conditions, you might be fine, but we'd still recommend it just to be safe. But for most roadtrippers, especially anyone doing gravel roads, remote areas, or shoulder seasons, this is one of the easiest “better safe than sorry” choices. Together, this will probably cost you an extra $30+/day, depending on which rental company you go with.

Highlands and F-Roads

The Highlands are unreal… but they are not normal driving.

Highland routes are often F-roads (mountain roads), and they’re rougher, slower, and frequently involve river crossings. In general, you need a proper 4x4 for true F-road driving, and you should only drive them when they’re officially open.

Iceland takes driving rules seriously, especially anything that damages nature. Off-road driving (leaving marked roads/tracks) is illegal and can come with very serious penalties.

Even when something looks “close” on a map in the Highlands, it can take much longer than you expect. You’ll drive slower, stops take longer, and conditions can change very quickly.

Also, when deciding which rental car to go with for the Highlands, you NEED to make sure it says "F-Roads allowed". If you decide to get a regular car and go into the Highlands, your insurance will be void, and you will be slapped with at least a $2,500 fine. Please rent the correct car for your roadtrip!!! And in the Highlands, the bigger the car, the better!

River Crossings

Before crossing any rivers in Iceland, you need to make sure you know exactly what you're doing.

If you drive into a river that’s too deep and flood the engine, you can “drown” the vehicle. That kind of water damage is often not covered by rental insurance, and you may be held responsible for extremely high costs—potentially even the full value of the vehicle, depending on the contract. (And beyond cost, it can be dangerous.)

Here’s the smart, cautious way to approach river crossings:

• If you’re unsure, wait and watch another capable 4x4 cross first.

• When it’s safe to do so, wade the river on foot to check depth and current.

• Never assume the “narrowest point” is safest; river bottoms change.

• If conditions feel sketchy, turn around. No location is worth it.

If you want a detailed, step-by-step guide, this one is excellent and worth reading before any Highland driving: Epic Iceland’s river crossing guide.

Speed Cameras Are Everywhere

There are speed cameras across the country, especially on major routes like the Ring Road, and tickets can be extremely expensive.

Unfortunately, in Europe, these tickets will get sent to you by mail, and it may take quite a while until you actually even find out you got a ticket. This leads to more fines for late payment.

Things Close Early

Outside Reykjavík and a few larger towns, Iceland runs on a different schedule.

Restaurants, grocery stores, and even services you assumed would be open late close relatively early, even during the peak summer season. This matters most on long driving days, because it’s easy to push your schedule and then realize there’s nowhere to grab a real meal.

We actually ended up having no food at all on our first day in Iceland because we really just wanted to start driving and exploring and figured we'd just stop somewhere later for food, but nope, everything was already closed... So what we would recommend (so that doesn't happen to you) is get food early and always keep snacks in your car, just in case!

Most Gas Stations Are Self-Service

Most gas stations are self-service, and depending on the station, you may need a card that works smoothly at the pump; if your card requires certain verification methods, you might run into issues.

Also… yes, fuel in Iceland is insanely expensive, especially compared to the U.S. Prices are usually $8-$9 per gallon.... It's safe to say we were shocked when we filled up the first tank of gas.

Another thing to note is that our AMEX CC did not work at any of the gas stations (it did everywhere else in Iceland, just not at gas stations), but our Chase (Visa) CC worked just fine. So if you have an AMEX, you might want to find an alternate way of paying just in case. I believe Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted at gas stations.

Have an Incredible Roadtrip

We know this might seem like a lot at first, Iceland definitely has a few unique things to keep in mind. But honestly, once you’re on the road, it all becomes way easier than it sounds.

A little planning goes a long way here, and the reward is absolutely worth it. Roadtripping in Iceland is one of the most unforgettable travel experiences we’ve ever had, and there is truly nothing like seeing this country at your own pace.