No matter if you are travelling on a budget in Iceland or if you want to experience the social media hype of Vanlife – camping in Iceland is very popular.

Tourists and Icelanders alike love camping, especially during the summer months. Carrying your home for the night with you gives you so much more flexibility than pre booked hotels and being spontaneous is what Iceland is all about.

To make the best of your camping  in Iceland we have some easy-to-follow tips for you.

First question is usually is a camper or a tent better in Iceland. While that completely depends on where you are going you should consider a few factors: If you are planning on multi day hikes your best choice will be a lightweight tent. However, with the strong wind gusts even in the summertime you want a high-quality tent and a good sleeping bag. It can get very cold at night all year around and there is nothing worse than not being able to sleep. Sleeping in a tent in the winter is rather uncomfortable and not recommended.

Many campers come with an inbuilt heater and kitchen unit. While you don‘t have to worry about your camper ripping apart in the wind, it might not always be safe to drive a bulky car during a storm. And those flying rocks can take your windows out or you off the road. Always check road.is and safetravel.is and you won‘t miss any weather warnings and follow the advice of authorities and locals and don‘t drive on closed roads. Once you park your camper for the night, park with the nose into the wind so you don‘t get motion sick by the shaking of the car if the wind picks up in the night.

Is wild camping allowed in Iceland? The easy answer is no. Never in a camper and only in very rare circumstances if you are hiking with a tent in some rural areas of Iceland. The rules about that are so complicated it‘s best to never risk it. Campsites are all over the country and have usually very good facilities and nice spots to park a camper or tent. Campsites are way cheaper than any hotel or any fee for wild camping.

You can find many campsites on https://tjalda.is . Usually there is no need to reserve a campsite in advance but during the summertime or on the long holiday weekends of the summer you might want to call ahead to see if they have a spot for you.

Most towns have a campsite, but it is worth also checking a little bit off the ring road for a quieter spot. On the other hand, busy campsites give you a new chance every day to meet fellow travelers and Icelanders alike and spend a nice evening together at a bonfire (if allowed).

There is no question about following the rules of the campsite, respecting nature, and paying for the fee if requested even at an unmanned campsite. Not all campsites are open all year around. In the wintertime it can get trickier to find a place for the night with open facilities. However, if the campsite is open but the facilities closed, it often is cheaper than during the summer months. Offroad driving is strictly prohibited in Iceland even in uninhabited parts of the country. This is to protect the very fragile environment that you might not even notice but off-roading is heavily fined and despised.

You are in Iceland already and you are missing some equipment for your camping adventure? Check out places that rent out camping equipment or check some second hand stores. You can get gas for a cooker at most gas stations or support some of the local restaurants if you are not feeling like cooking every night.

If you keep these points in mind for your camping trip in Iceland, we are sure you will be a happy camper and remember even though your time in Iceland is limited on a holiday – the places you have not been to yet are just another reason to visit Iceland again!