Iceland Camper Van Road Trip · July 16

Day 1

Arrival & South Coast

Thursday, July 16 · → Vík Camping

9:10 AM arrive Keflavík. Pick up van, groceries at Bónus/Krónan, buy stove fuel, stock snacks. Drive east.

Stops

Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi
Skógafoss & Kvernufoss
Dyrhólaey (puffins)
Reynisfjara black sand beach
Vík — Lava Show if bad weather

⚠️ Reynisfjara has deadly sneaker waves — never turn your back on the ocean.

🚗 ~3.5 hours

🏕️ Vík Camping — showers, kitchen, walk to restaurants

📍 Open Day 1 route in Google Maps

Keflavík → Seljalandsfoss → Skógafoss → Reynisfjara → Vík

Day 2

Glaciers & Vatnajökull

Friday, July 17 · → Camping Höfn

Stops

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Skaftafell → Svartifoss hike (~1 hr)
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Diamond Beach

Optional: Sólheimajökull glacier hike if pre-booked (reroutes the day).

🚗 ~4 hours (shorter: Skaftafell Campground)

🏕️ Camping Höfn — walk to grocery, bakery, pool

📍 Open Day 2 route in Google Maps

Vík → Skaftafell → Jökulsárlón → Höfn

Day 3

East Fjords

Saturday, July 18 · → Camp Egilsstaðir

Stops

Vestrahorn
Djúpivogur
Scenic East Fjords drive
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest

Optional: Seyðisfjörður (+1.5 hrs) — rainbow street & blue church.

🚗 ~4.5 hours

🏕️ Camp Egilsstaðir (or lakeside Atlavík)

📍 Open Day 3 route in Google Maps

Höfn → Vestrahorn → Djúpivogur → Egilsstaðir

Day 4

East Iceland → Lake Mývatn

Sunday, July 19 · → Hlíð Camping

Morning hike: Hengifoss & Litlanesfoss, then north.

Stops

Dettifoss
Hverir Geothermal Area
Námafjall
Lake Mývatn

Optional: Mývatn Nature Baths — quieter northern Blue Lagoon.

🚗 ~4.5 hours

🏕️ Hlíð Camping (or Vogar Camping)

📍 Open Day 4 route in Google Maps

Egilsstaðir → Hengifoss → Dettifoss → Mývatn

Day 5

North Iceland

Monday, July 20 · → Hamrar Campsite (Akureyri)

Stops

Goðafoss (morning)
Akureyri — early-afternoon whale watching
Downtown
Dinner at Rub23 (booked)
Ice cream at Brynja

Optional: Forest Lagoon — geothermal soak with fjord views.

🚗 ~3 hours (or +1 hr to Varmahlíð)

🏕️ Hamrar Campsite, Akureyri

📍 Open Day 5 route in Google Maps

Mývatn → Goðafoss → Akureyri

Day 6

Northwest Iceland

Tuesday, July 21 · → Borgarnes Camping

Stops

Kolugljúfur Canyon
Long scenic drive into West Iceland

Longer transit day — fuel up and grab road snacks.

🚗 ~4.5 hours

🏕️ Borgarnes Camping — lagoon views

📍 Open Day 6 route in Google Maps

Akureyri → Kolugljúfur → Borgarnes

Day 7

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Wednesday, July 22 · → Grundarfjörður Camping

Spend the whole day looping the peninsula.

Stops

Gerðuberg Basalt Columns
Ytri-Tunga Beach (seals)
Arnarstapi & Hellnar
Lóndrangar
Djúpalónssandur
Snæfellsjökull viewpoints
Finish near Kirkjufell

🚗 ~3 hours + stops

🏕️ Grundarfjörður Camping — by Kirkjufell

📍 Open Day 7 route in Google Maps

Borgarnes → Arnarstapi → Djúpalónssandur → Kirkjufell

Day 8

Northern Snæfellsnes & West Iceland

Thursday, July 23 · → Reykjavík Eco Campsite

Stops

Kirkjufell
Stykkishólmur
Hraunfossar & Barnafoss
Deildartunguhver hot spring

Evening in Reykjavík: Hallgrímskirkja, Sun Voyager, Harpa, Rainbow Street.

🚗 ~4 hours

🏕️ Reykjavík Eco Campsite — central, big kitchen, pool next door

📍 Open Day 8 route in Google Maps

Grundarfjörður → Stykkishólmur → Hraunfossar → Reykjavík

Day 9

Golden Circle

Friday, July 24 · → Thingvellir Campsite

Stops

Þingvellir National Park — Silfra snorkeling (booked)
Geysir & Strokkur
Gullfoss

Optional: Secret Lagoon & Brúarfoss (short hike to the bluest waterfall).

🚗 ~3 hours

🏕️ Thingvellir Campsite (or Skjól Camping)

📍 Open Day 9 route in Google Maps

Reykjavík → Þingvellir → Geysir → Gullfoss → camp

Day 10

Reykjanes Peninsula

Saturday, July 25 · → Grindavík Campsite

Stops

Gunnuhver hot springs
Bridge Between Continents
Brimketill Lava Pool
Reykjanes Lighthouse
Blue lava fields

Reykjanes is volcanically active — check safetravel.is / road.is for closures before setting out.

🚗 ~2.5 hours · relaxed pre-departure day

🏕️ Grindavík Campsite — ~20 min from airport

📍 Open Day 10 route in Google Maps

Þingvellir → Gunnuhver → Brimketill → Grindavík

Depart

Departure Day

Sunday, July 26 · Flight 7:50 PM

Morning: pack, return toward Reykjavík.

Plan

12:00 PM — Sky Lagoon (allow 2–3 hrs)
Early dinner in Reykjavík or near Keflavík
Refuel the van
Return the van
At airport by ~4:45–5:00 PM for 7:50 PM flight

Return the van full and leave buffer time — drop-off + shuttle can eat 30–45 min at KEF.

📍 Open Departure route in Google Maps

Grindavík → Sky Lagoon → Keflavík Airport