Epic Camping Self-Drive Around Iceland Ring Road - 10 Days

Ready to begin your camping adventure? If you didn't collect your camping equipment yesterday, pick it up in Reykjavík after breakfast at your hotel. Once you have your gear loaded, head west toward the spectacular Snæfellsnes peninsula. Today marks your first night under canvas! Drive to discover multiple fascinating sites scattered across this diverse region. Explore Eldborg volcanic crater, its perfect cone rising dramatically from surrounding lava fields. Marvel at Gerðuberg basalt columns forming natural geometric walls. Visit the tiny settlement of Búðir, where a lone black church creates an iconic scene against lava fields. Stop at Djúpalónssandur beach with its black pebbles and shipwreck remains, where you can test your strength on ancient fishing stones. 

Throughout the day, the majestic Snæfellsjökull volcano dominates the skyline with its glacier cap. Drive through charming fishing villages like Arnarstapi and Hellnar, exploring coastal rock formations. Arrive at your campsite in the Snæfellsnes area, where you'll pitch your tent for the first time. Set up camp, fire up your camping stove to prepare dinner, and enjoy your first evening surrounded by Iceland's nature. The camping experience begins! 

From Stykkishólmur or your Snæfellsnes campsite, head southwest toward Borgarfjörður fjord, a region steeped in saga history and natural beauty. This fertile valley features vast farmlands that served as settings for many Icelandic sagas, where heroes and families shaped Iceland's medieval literature. The area showcases gorgeous waterfalls where water emerges from lava fields, creating spectacular cascades as it flows into rivers below. Stop at Hraunfossar, where countless small streams filter through porous lava rock, and the powerful Barnafoss nearby. Views of Langjökull glacier gleaming inland provide a dramatic backdrop to the green valley. The region offers beautiful landscapes perfect for exploration, with the contrast between lush farmland and distant ice cap creating memorable scenery. 

Take time to explore the waterfalls thoroughly, walking along the paths that provide different viewpoints of these natural wonders. Arrive at your campsite in the Borgarfjörður area and pitch your tent for the night. Prepare your evening meal on your camping stove and enjoy the peaceful rural setting, surrounded by mountains and farmland that has sustained Icelanders for centuries. 

Today's itinerary takes you north as you drive through thick farm fields and changing landscapes toward Iceland's northern capital. Pass through the Skagafjörður region, an area renowned throughout Iceland for exceptional horse breeding. You will surely encounter several of the adorably stocky Icelandic horses grazing in the fields along your way to Akureyri, their thick manes flowing in the breeze. This valley has produced champion horses for generations. 

Before you reach the "capital of the north," you can make a variety of worthwhile detours. The Vatnsnes peninsula offers opportunities to spot seals basking on rocks or swimming in coastal waters. Visit Glaumbær, a beautifully preserved turf-house museum showing how Icelanders lived in traditional sod-roofed homes before modern construction. The distinctive Hvítserkur sea stack rises dramatically from the ocean here. Continue your journey north, arriving in Akureyri by late afternoon or evening. Find your campsite and set up your tent in this northern location. The town offers shops and restaurants if you need supplies, and the long summer daylight gives you plenty of time to explore or simply relax at your campsite after the day's drive. 

More natural wonders are on the program today! Drive toward the remarkable Lake Mývatn region, making your first stop at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall, aptly named the 'Waterfall of the Gods,' where water cascades dramatically over a horseshoe-shaped drop. Legend connects this waterfall to Iceland's conversion to Christianity. Before settling at Mývatn, you can visit several awe-inspiring attractions scattered around this volcanic wonderland. Wander through Dimmuborgir, the lava formation labyrinth where twisted rock pillars create an otherworldly maze that inspired countless folktales. Explore the ancient pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir, unique features formed when lava flowed over wetlands, creating steam explosions that built crater shapes. Walk through Námaskarð, one of Iceland's largest sulfurous hot spring areas where the solfataras bubble and steam. The vivid mineral deposits paint the ground in yellows, oranges, and reds, creating an alien landscape. Visit the Krafla volcano area to see recent lava fields and the stunning blue-green Víti crater lake. 

Arrive at your campsite near Lake Mývatn and pitch your tent, surrounded by this incredible volcanic environment. Prepare dinner at your campsite and enjoy the long summer evening, perhaps taking a walk around the area or simply relaxing after a full day of geological wonders. 

Before heading east, you will continue exploring the northern part of the country, where spectacular attractions await. The peninsula of Tjörnes has many surprising sites in store for you. Visit Ásbyrgi, a lush green horseshoe-shaped gorge surrounded by towering cliffs and filled with vegetation unusual for Iceland. According to legend, this massive depression was created by Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir. Experience Dettifoss, the impressive waterfall with a drop so powerful that you literally feel the ground shake under your feet. This massive cascade plunges with incredible force, creating thunderous sounds and clouds of mist. Europe's most powerful waterfall creates an unforgettable spectacle. 

On the way to Egilsstaðir, you can choose to detour and drive through the Möðrudalur highland's lunar landscape, where barren beauty stretches endlessly across high desert terrain. This remote area offers stark contrasts to green valleys. Arrive at your campsite in the Egilsstaðir region and set up your tent for the night. The eastern location provides peaceful surroundings and excellent opportunities for enjoying Iceland's nature. Cook dinner at your campsite and rest after your day of exploration through North Iceland's dramatic landscapes. 

Today is the day to discover the scenic Eastfjords, where steep mountains rise dramatically from deep fjord waters. Starting toward Reyðarfjörður, where you'll find a small but interesting World War II history museum worth visiting, you continue along the fjords toward Southeast Iceland. The museum documents the significant Allied military presence in these remote waters during the war. Drive through spectacular coastal scenery as the road traces the shoreline and mountainsides. At times, the roads are highly perched on the mountains, offering exceptional views hundreds of meters above the water. Each fjord presents its own character and charm, from narrow dramatic inlets to broader serene waters. Pass through tiny fishing villages where colorful houses cluster around small harbors, their economies still centered on the sea. Watch for reindeer, which roam freely in the mountains and valleys of East Iceland and are found nowhere else in the country. 

Finally, you drive through the Almannaskarð tunnel, bursting through the mountain to emerge with spectacular views ahead. Arrive in the Höfn region, known for its langoustine fishery, where you will spend the night. Find your campsite, pitch your tent, and prepare your evening meal, perhaps walking to nearby shores or simply enjoying the remote coastal setting. 

Your next stop is Iceland's scenic southeast, a region of spectacular glacial landscapes. After passing various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap, you arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. This exceptional attraction sits at the foot of Iceland's highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur, creating a dramatic backdrop. Watch massive icebergs drift serenely through the deep blue water as they slowly make their way toward the ocean. The lagoon offers the unique possibility to explore it up close by taking a guided boat tour between the floating icebergs, navigating among these giant ice sculptures. Cross to Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash ashore on black volcanic sand, creating stunning contrasts. 

Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This green oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains offers a broad range of hiking options perfect for camping adventurers. Trails lead through birch woodlands to waterfalls and glacier viewpoints. You will continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, across the vast moss-covered Eldhraun lava field, and over the Mýrdalssandur glacial outwash plain before you arrive in the Vík area. Find your campsite and set up your tent, perhaps with views toward the ocean or surrounding mountains. Prepare your evening meal and rest after a day filled with glacial wonders and dramatic coastal scenery. 

Continue west along the spectacular south coast of Iceland, taking in the many breathtaking landmarks that make this region famous. Stop at Skógafoss, one of Iceland's highest waterfalls at 60 meters, where you can climb stairs beside the falls for incredible aerial perspectives. Continue to Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk behind the curtain of falling water for a unique and unforgettable view. Explore the Golden Circle route, beginning with the imposing three-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, where the Hvítá river plunges dramatically into a rugged canyon. The sheer power creates massive clouds of mist. At the Geysir geothermal area, watch as Strokkur reliably ejects its warm water column into the air every 5 to 10 minutes, creating excitement with each eruption. The surrounding hot springs bubble and steam constantly. 

Complete your circle at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, creating dramatic fissures you can walk through. This location combines geological wonders with Iceland's political history as the site of the ancient parliament. Continue toward the capital area, finding your campsite for your final camping night. Set up your tent one last time, cook dinner on your stove, and reflect on the incredible landscapes you've experienced while camping across Iceland over the past week. 

Now it is time to head back home after an amazing journey through one of the world's most picturesque landscapes, experienced from campsites across the country. Pack up your camping gear for the final time and return it as arranged. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to enjoy your last morning strolling around Reykjavík. Browse shops for final souvenirs, enjoy a restaurant breakfast after days of camp cooking, or simply relax before your departure. 

Drive back to Keflavík Airport to return your rental car and catch your flight home, carrying memories of sleeping under midnight sun skies, cooking meals with mountain backdrops, meeting fellow adventurers at campsites, and experiencing Iceland's raw nature up close through camping. The combination of freedom, adventure, and connection with nature that camping provides creates memories that last a lifetime. Or, even better, consider booking an extra night in Reykjavík to really give yourself time to experience all the amazing things Iceland's capital city has to offer before heading home, extending your adventure just a bit longer.