Iceland has more than 170 registered campsites, offering an affordable way to explore the country’s diverse landscapes. This guide covers camping rules, top sites, and key tips for a comfortable stay.
Camping in Iceland is one of the most genuinely rewarding ways to travel the country. You wake up inside the landscapes rather than driving to them. You get the Ring Road stops at first light before anyone else arrives. You end the day wherever conditions were best rather than wherever you booked a room in February.
It is also a country with strict camping rules that catch many visitors off guard. Unlike Norway or Scotland, Iceland does not have a right to roam that permits wild camping freely. The rules are specific, consistently enforced, and worth understanding before you arrive.
The Core Rule: No Wild Camping for Vehicles
The single most important thing to know about camping in Iceland is this: overnight stays in campervans, RVs, and rooftop tent vehicles are only permitted at designated registered campsites. Parking a campervan in a roadside pullout, an attraction car park, a beach, or on private land without written permission from the landowner is illegal.
This is not a gray area. Fines are enforced and rangers patrol popular areas specifically for overnight parking violations. The rule applies year-round regardless of season or how remote the location appears.
For tent camping, the rules allow more flexibility. In uninhabited wilderness areas away from national parks and protected land, tents-only camping is sometimes permitted under the Nature Conservation Act. But this is genuinely wilderness: above the treeline, away from farms, roads, and settled areas. In practice, most Iceland visitors camp at registered sites regardless.
Camping in National Parks
Within Iceland's three national parks, Þingvellir, Vatnajokull, and Snæfellsjokull, camping is only permitted in the specifically designated camping areas within each park. Even tent camping outside these designated zones is not permitted.
Þingvellir's Nyrðri Leirar campsite inside the national park is one of Iceland's most atmospheric camping locations. Camping inside Vatnajokull National Park at Skaftafell puts you at the base of a glacier outlet with morning access before day visitors arrive.
The Camping Season in Iceland
The main camping season runs from roughly May 1 through September 15, with peak season from June through August. Most registered campsites open in May and close in September or October. A small number of sites operate year-round.
In summer, nights in Iceland rarely get truly dark, which means camping in tents under the midnight sun is a specific experience unlike camping anywhere else. In June and July, you may need an eye mask since it simply does not get dark.
Outside the main season, campers face reduced facilities at the sites that remain open, and most campsite networks effectively close for the winter. Winter camping is possible at a handful of year-round sites, but it requires cold-weather equipment and genuine preparation.
Campsite Costs and the Iceland Camping Card
Standard campsite fees run ISK 1,500 to 4,000 per person per night depending on the site and its facilities. Most sites charge separately for showers, electricity hookups, and laundry.
The Iceland Camping Card is the most cost-effective option for summer campers planning to use multiple sites. In 2026, the card costs approximately ISK 22,900 (around USD 170) and covers two adults plus up to four children at 40 or more registered campsites across Iceland for a single season. The card covers the camping fee only; showers, electricity, and laundry are still charged separately.
The card pays for itself at around 10 nights of camping. For a ring road trip or any itinerary involving 10 or more campsite nights, it is worth buying. Purchase online before your trip at campingcard.is or at participating sites on arrival.
Where to Find Registered Campsites
The official campsite directory is at tjalda.is. This lists every registered campsite in Iceland with locations, facilities, opening dates, and contact information. Download it or bookmark it before leaving home.
Sites vary significantly in character. Some are basic: toilets, cold water, and a grassy area. Others have full facilities including hot showers, shared kitchens, laundry, WiFi, and electricity hookups. Knowing which you are arriving at saves unpleasant surprises after a long day of driving.
Best Campsites to Know by Region
Several campsites stand out consistently across visitor reviews and are worth prioritizing when building a route.
In and near Reykjavik, Reykjavik Campsite at Laugardalur is the largest and most centrally located, within a short bus ride from the city center. It has full facilities and operates year-round, making it the default choice for travelers arriving before or departing after the main season.
On the Golden Circle route, Nyrðri Leirar inside Þingvellir National Park is the most atmospherically positioned. Sleeping inside the national park means the gorge is a five-minute walk before any day visitors arrive. The Geysir campsite puts you within walking distance of Strokkur for evening and morning visits when the geyser field is quiet.
On the South Coast, Skogafoss campsite at the base of the falls lets you hear the waterfall overnight and reach it at sunrise before any tour buses. The Þakgil campsite in a canyon near Vik is one of Iceland's most hidden and beautiful camping locations, reached via a rough road that keeps crowds low.
In North Iceland, Hamrar campsite at Akureyri is frequently described as one of Iceland's best-run sites, with excellent facilities in a forested setting above the city. Myvatn camping area puts you beside the lake for early morning light on the volcanic craters and geothermal field.
In East Iceland, Grundarfjordur campsite on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (west side) offers mountain and fjord views with Kirkjufell visible nearby. For the Ring Road east, Faskrudsfjordur campsite in the East Fjords is small, quiet, and positioned in scenery most visitors never reach.
What to Pack for Camping in Iceland
Iceland's weather tests camping gear quickly. Equipment that works in milder climates often fails here within a night or two.
The tent matters more than anything else. Iceland's wind is not decorative: a freestanding, double-walled tent with a good rainfly and quality stakes is the minimum. Single-wall tents and cheap festival shelters fail in Icelandic conditions. Invest in a tent rated for at least 3 seasons, and bring extra ground anchors since the wind can pull standard stakes.
A sleeping bag rated to -5°C is appropriate for summer camping and colder for shoulder season. Nights in June and July average 5 to 10°C. Rain gear that is genuinely waterproof, not water-resistant, is essential since Iceland's rain comes sideways in wind.
Cooking equipment for campsite use should include a reliable gas stove with enough fuel for your trip duration. Not all campsites have covered kitchen facilities, and not all of those with kitchens have gas or adequate burners. Bring your own.
Gray Water and Waste Disposal
This is one of the most consistently ignored rules among campervan travelers and one of Iceland's most enforced environmental protections.
Gray water from vehicle kitchens and sinks must be disposed of only at designated disposal points at registered campsites. Emptying gray water on the ground beside the road or at parking areas is illegal and damages the fragile ecosystem. The same applies to sewage from toilet tanks.
Most registered campsites have gray water and sewage disposal facilities. If yours does not, drive to one that does. Never dump on the roadside or at natural sites.
Campfires in Iceland
Open fires are prohibited in almost all areas of Iceland. The volcanic landscape and fragile vegetation mean fire risks are taken seriously and campfire damage is permanent on a timescale of decades.
Use your camp stove for cooking. Even in designated campsites, assume fires are prohibited unless the site specifically has a designated fire area and current conditions are safe. Check with campsite staff before lighting anything.
Safety and Emergency Planning for Campers
Iceland's highland and remote areas have no cell coverage over significant stretches. Before entering any remote camping area, register your travel plans at safetravel.is. This allows Iceland's search and rescue teams to know your route and expected return if something goes wrong.
Carry a physical map alongside your GPS or phone-based navigation. Offline maps downloaded before you leave coverage are essential for remote routes. The road.is app and website is the most important tool for checking road conditions: check it every morning before driving anywhere.
For campers heading to F-roads and highland sites, carry a survival kit beyond normal camping gear: extra food and water for at least two days, warm clothing beyond what you expect to need, a basic first aid kit, and a fully charged backup battery for your phone.
