Campervan Trip in Iceland Cost: The Real Budget Breakdown for an Epic Road Trip (2026 Guide)

Everyone says visiting Iceland is expensive, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any ways to reduce your costs without sacrificing your expectations. Traveling in a campervan and staying in campgrounds around the country is one of the ways to do that. When compared with renting a vehicle, booking hotels, and dining out multiple times a day, a campervan can give you some much-needed relief.

Remember, your campervan trip can be just as costly as other options, depending on the choices you make. We’ll help you find the most cost-effective methods to enjoy your trip. Let’s explore the cost of the campervan trip in Iceland to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. 

Campervan Trip in Iceland Cost – Quick Overview

Before we get into the details, here’s a quick overview of what you can expect to spend on a campervan trip in Iceland.

Things to Consider for Your Budget for a Trip to Iceland in a Campervan

The cost of a campervan trip in Iceland is often discussed as one of the most cost-effective ways to see the country. However, it all depends on how you plan your trip. You can still spend a lot of money if you get a bigger campervan and still choose to eat in restaurants or take excursions, but you can also save a lot of money and enjoy more flexibility than other types of trips.

Here are the main factors that will affect your budget:

What Route and How Many Kilometers You Plan to Travel

One of the biggest factors in your driving cost with a campervan is what route you plan to take and how far you plan to travel. The further you drive, the more fuel you must put in your campervan and the more campgrounds you will stay in. The fuel efficiency of your rental also factors into the overall cost. Here’s a quick breakdown of common distances visitors travel:

• Ring Road: 1,332 kilometers (828 miles)

• South Coast: 500-700 kilometers (310-435 miles), depending on how far you go

• Golden Circle: 250-300 kilometers (155-186 miles)

The more detours you take from the main roads, such as the Westfjords or the Highlands, the more kilometers you will cover, increasing your costs. In addition, don’t forget the kilometer fee. We charge a set per-day fee, so you won’t have to worry about unexpected costs at the end of your trip.

What Type of Campervan You Are Going to Choose

The campervan you choose for your camping adventure also plays a role in your overall budget. A small campervan for two people will cost less than a larger one or a motorhome that will fit four or five people. The type of fuel each one takes can also impact your costs. Here’s how to choose:

What Season Are You Going to Travel In?

There’s no bad season to visit Iceland. Each one has something unique to offer. However, it’s also important to understand how the season you choose will impact the overall cost of your campervan trip. Here’s a closer look at seasonal differences:

Renting during the peak travel season will increase your costs, but if you book early enough, you can better manage your costs for a trip during the summer months, if that’s when you prefer to go.

Campervan Price

As you browse our campervan options, you will notice a range of prices, largely depending on the size of the campervan. You can expect to pay the following per day for your rental:

• Budget campervan: $66-150 USD per day

• Standard campervan: $140-220 USD per day

• Large campervan: $200-350 USD per day

How much you pay will vary based on other factors as well, such as the season, the specific model, demand, and how long you are renting. Keep an eye out for discounts for booking early and even for longer trip durations. 

Insurance and Extras Price

The above campervan prices are base prices. For many visitors, insurance and other extras are an important part of budgeting. The weather in Iceland can be volatile, causing damage to your vehicle, no matter how careful you are. We recommend getting full insurance to avoid surprises at the end of your trip. Car repairs in Iceland are costly.

Our campervan rentals include third-party liability and CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) insurance, but you should consider adding:

• Gravel protection (even if you aren’t driving F-roads)
• Sand and ash insurance
• SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver) insurance
• Premium insurance
• Zero risk insurance

With a campervan, there are other extras you can add to make your trip more comfortable, including:

• Extra driver
• Table and two chairs
• Extra chairs
• GPS navigation
• Baby car seat, if needed
• Inverter
• Refrigerator
• Sleeping bag
• 4G WiFi device
• Heater
• Bed linens

A fuel discount card and unlimited mileage are always included with your rental. 

Fuel Prices

Fuel is one of the ongoing and more challenging costs to plan for in your budget. With the introduction of the kilometer fee, the fuel prices have reduced accordingly. In general, fuel prices in Iceland are stable, with diesel costing a little more than gas. However, diesel vehicles often have better fuel efficiency.

If you want to budget for fuel on your trip, you can track current fuel prices by region. At the time of writing, petrol costs 196-230 ISK ($1.60-$1.85 USD) per liter, and diesel costs 221-250 ISK ($1.77-$2 USD) per liter.

Campsite Prices

When traveling in a campervan in Iceland, it’s important to know that you must stay in designated campgrounds. Stopping for the night in parking lots, pull-offs, private property, or national parks is prohibited and can lead to hefty fines. Therefore, you must factor the cost of campsites into your budget.

One night in a campground typically costs 1500-3000 ISK ($12-$24 USD) per person per night, depending on the campground. Pay close attention to which amenities are included and which cost extra. You may need to pay additional for electrical hookups, showers, or laundry machines.

One way you can save some money on longer trips is to purchase the camping card. This card is valid for up to 30 nights between the opening of the camping season around May 15-June 1 until September 15 each year. For 179 euros ($206 USD), you can camp in one spot for up to two adults and four children age 16 and under. You will need to pay a 400 ISK (~$3 USD) overnight tax.

Supermarket and Food Prices

Food is one of the things that can make or break your budget in Iceland. When you’re camping, you get the opportunity to shop like a local at the grocery stores and prepare your own meals, rather than relying on dining out at expensive restaurants as you go. Many campgrounds are equipped with community kitchens, or you may cook on a campstove.

If you shop at grocery stores like Bónus, Krónan, or Netto, you can save significant money on food, spending just $15-25 USD per person per day for all your meals. However, if you eat in restaurants, you can expect to spend closer to $25-50 per person per meal, greatly increasing your costs. You can use a combination of these, as well, to adjust your budget as needed.

Activity Prices

The final part of your budget is activities. Most of nature is free, but you can expect to pay for parking at many of the popular stops. Parking generally costs around 1000 ISK ($8 USD). However, there are some activities that require a guide or are paid experiences that can be well worth it, but will increase your budget. 

Some of the special activities you may want to add to your trip include the following:

• Glacier hikes: $120-180 USD per person
• Whale watching: $90-150 USD per person
• Ice caves: $150-220 USD per person
• Hot springs and spas: $20-60 USD per person
• Horse riding: $125-210 USD per person

Summary Table of Prices for Our 7-Day Campervan Trip Around Iceland

Before going to Iceland, most people read plenty of blogs. Some made it sound like you could do the whole trip on a shoestring budget. Others made it sound like you'd need to remortgage your house just to afford a hot dog. The truth, as always, was somewhere in between.

While your budget may vary, the table below is an excellent starting point for your budgeting needs:

Your exact prices will vary, depending on the camper model, time of year, current fuel costs, food choices, and any activities you plan for your trip.

We traveled the Ring Road ourselves this March 2026, and in this case, we spent seven days driving the Ring Road in a campervan, just the two of us. No tours. No rigid schedule. Just a van, a map, and a lot of curiosity about what we'd find around the next bend.

For the sake of this article, we rented a small camper from our own fleet, the Campervan Play MAX, one of our most popular and demanded vehicles. We wanted this adventure to feel just like any of you would experience it. We added Zero Risk insurance (safety first) and an extra driver, because my friend wanted to take the wheel too.

Our days looked something like this: wake up at a campsite, make coffee, check the weather, and drive. Sometimes we had a destination in mind. Other times we pulled over simply because something looked interesting. Some days we drove for hours. Other days we stayed put because a place just felt right.

We did our grocery shopping at Bónus and Krónan. Breakfast and most dinners came from our little kitchen. We ate out maybe once a day, sometimes lunch, sometimes a splurge dinner (look at us being fancy). A typical meal in Iceland (burgers, fish and chips) averages around $22 USD. If you go for something mid-range like lamb or lobster, expect to pay $40 to $50 per person.

We also did a couple of paid activities: a glacier hike in Skaftafell (plus parking fee) and a soak in the geothermal pool at Gamla Laugin. The rest of the time we just wandered.

The most expensive campsite for us was the one at Skógafoss, but I suppose you have to pay for the view. You can actually watch the waterfall right from your campervan. It cost 2,200 ISK per person per night (roughly $16 USD).

The exact cost of our trip was $1,319 per person.

Explore Iceland in a Campervan to Save Money on Your Trip

Renting a campervan is one of the most cost-effective ways to explore Iceland at your own pace. Understanding the cost of a campervan trip in Iceland will help you plan your budget and determine which things you want to do during your stay. Camping in Iceland gives you the ultimate flexibility to explore Iceland’s landscapes while keeping your travel expenses under control.

With careful planning, you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime on a more limited budget than you might expect for a trip to Iceland.