Camping In Iceland

Iceland is currently one of the hottest travel destinations in the world.  While it has become increasingly popular, many people still feel they are unable to afford a visit.  Having spent just two weeks there, I can verify this is a reasonable concern.  Iceland is a very expensive country.  However, if you’re willing to compromise a bit, a trip to Iceland can be affordable.

Camping in Iceland will have an enormous impact on your trip cost.  Midrange lodging runs $100+ per night in Iceland. By comparison, that amount will cover a weeks worth of permits for campsites in some of the most stunning landscapes on Earth.  I know, I know. Camping? In Iceland?  It sounds so cold and miserable.  There were certainly times during our trip that we were cold, but it wasn’t while inside our tent.  Winters in Iceland may be harsh but summers are ideal for camping with lows dipping just below 50.  With a decent sleeping bag and a 3-season tent you’ll stay warm and dry all night.

Our campsite was just outside of the left side of this picture.

Photograph by Jeffrey Palmer

One thing that can be easily overlooked is that there are several benefits to camping.  Camping allows flexibilty that hotels can’t.  Campsites are found throughout Iceland and government signs along the road designate where each of them are located.  We rarely traveled more than 30 minutes on the Ring Road without passing one.  The ability to stop when and here we wanted allowed us to make full use of the endless summer sunlight.  There was no need to plan our time around a hotel that we were scheduled to stay at each night.  We could drive the Ring Road and make as many stops as we wanted with no need to choose a place to stay in advance.

We also had the opportunity to visit popular landmarks later in the day, long after hotel guests had checked in for the night.  By visiting the sights late at night, we often had places completely to ourselves (which means crowd free pictures!)  These times when we were able to explore Iceland totally alone were some of our favorite moments of the trip.

Icelandic accommodations are more similar to that of Europe than those in the United States.  European travelers don’t demand as high levels of luxury and are much more open to budget friendly options.  While camping may feel like “roughing it,” the campsites in Iceland offer modern conveniences.  Bath houses with private showers were present at all the sites we stayed at and a few had free WiFi.  Some even had hot tubs or access to hot springs.  You should expect to pay from $10-20 USD.  Campsites can be found throughout the country and around major cities, including a large one inside the city of Reykjavik.  The cost of purchasing camping equipment is easily offset by spending only a night or two in a campsite.  I would recommend buying a tent of a reputable brand.  Be sure that it has a full coverage rain fly and tie down points to stabilize it against the country’s strong winds.  We use a Eureka 2xt for our trips and it has held up well for years.  Something similar to it would be an excellent purchase and prove valuable for future trips as well.  A mummy-style sleeping bag rated to 32 degrees will provide more than enough warmth.  Almost any brand should work but the bag’s packed size should be a major consideration.

Camping in Iceland is an excellent option and one that could help make your trip a reality.  The savings it will provide make a trip much more affordable and offers some unique advantages to more conventional accommodations.  The idea may seem radical at first, but the quality and availability of campsites in Iceland will alleviate many of the anticipated inconveniences.