Iceland South Coast Road Trip: Itinerary, Cost & How Many Days
Route at a glance
- Route length
- 457 kmReykjavík to Höfn one-way; ~915 km out and back
- Time needed
- 2–5 daysideal: 3
- Best time
- Year-round
- Vehicle
- 2WD is fine
- Start
- Reykjavík (out-and-back)
- Typical camper rate
- €137–€337/day · live, a year-round average
About the route
The South Coast is the strip of Route 1 running east from Reykjavík past Vík and on to the fishing town of Höfn. In about 457 km one-way (~915 km out and back) it strings together waterfalls you can walk behind, a glacier tongue you can stand beneath, a black-sand beach with basalt sea stacks, a canyon, a national park and a lagoon full of drifting icebergs. Nowhere else in Iceland concentrates this much scenery along a single, fully paved road.
That paving is the point for campervan travellers. The whole route follows the Ring Road, which is cleared and maintained through winter, so a standard 2WD camper handles it in any season. You never need a 4x4 unless you plan to detour onto an F-road into the highlands, which this itinerary does not. The paved Ring Road makes this the rare camper route that stays drivable off-season, and the safest first drive if this is your first time on Icelandic roads.
Because it is an out-and-back, you are not committed to a full loop of the island. You drive east as far as your days allow, then turn around, which gives you flexibility if weather closes in or you simply want more time at one stop. The route also extends naturally: keep going past Höfn and Route 1 climbs into the Eastfjords, so the South Coast doubles as the opening act of a longer Ring Road trip whenever you have the days for it.
Everything below assumes you are sleeping in the camper. Wild camping in a campervan is illegal in Iceland, so every overnight here is a registered campsite. Check road.is for conditions and vedur.is for weather before each driving day, and lodge a trip plan on safetravel.is in winter.
Watch out: Do not try to reach Jökulsárlón and get back to Reykjavík in a single day. It is around 375 km each way, so a return day trip is roughly ten hours of driving with almost no time at the stops. The glacier lagoon is a day-two destination on this route; treating it as a day trip is the most common way people ruin the trip.
How many days do you need?
2 days
The weekend dash
Travellers on a tight schedule who want the headline stops. Expect long driving days and an early start; you will see Jökulsárlón but skip the hikes.
3 days
The sweet spot
Most people. Comfortable daily distances, time to walk behind Seljalandsfoss and up to Svartifoss, and no rushing past the glacier lagoon.
4-5 days
The slow version
Travellers who want a Skaftafell hike, a guided glacier walk on Sólheimajökull, and buffer days for weather. Also the natural length if you carry on into the Eastfjords.
What a South Coast trip costs
The camper figures on this page are not estimates. They come from our daily price checks across every major Icelandic rental company, so the trip totals shown here reflect what a South Coast camper actually costs to hire right now for the dates and durations we track. Because this is an out-and-back you fully control the length, the biggest lever on the total is simply how many days you book: two, three or five. The live figures make that trade-off concrete.
After trip length, the things that move the number most are season, vehicle class and booking lead time. Summer commands the highest daily rates and the vans sell out first; winter is cheaper to hire but you will want a heater and you trade some daylight. This route never needs a 4x4, so a 2WD camper is the honest choice and it keeps the daily rate down, one of the few Icelandic trips where you can say that with confidence. Booking well ahead almost always beats a last-minute grab in peak months, and watch for insurance add-ons such as gravel or sand-and-ash protection, which are worth more on this coast than the base cover suggests.
Budget separately for the costs the camper price does not include. Registered campsites run roughly €12–20 per person per night, fuel around €40–90 per driving day depending on the van and how far you push east, and groceries about €15–25 per person per day if you cook in the camper rather than eating out. The return drive on day three covers the full 457 km and burns fuel without adding campsite nights, so factor that leg in when you compare the totals here.
Camper rental for this triplive
| Trip length | 2-person camper | 4x4 camper | Family camper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | €300 | €480 | €671 |
| 3 days | €450 | €721 | €1,007 |
| 5 days | €750 | €1,201 | €1,678 |
Camper only, at the live median daily rate for a year-round average — campsites, fuel and food are extra. Longer rentals often lower the daily rate, so treat these as an upper guide.
Estimate your own trip
Pick your travel month, trip length and group size — the camper line prices straight from our live database (rates swing with the season), and you get a budget and a comfort scenario side by side.
Budget
€610–€844
€305–€422 per person · 2-person camper
Camper sized to your group, every meal self-cooked, base CDW insurance only.
For 2 travellers · flights and activities not included
Comfort
€1,386–€1,694
€693–€847 per person · family camper (3+ berths)
One berth size up, full insurance package, eating out roughly one meal in five.
For 2 travellers · flights and activities not included
Camper rates are live medians and quartiles from our daily price checks for a September pickup; campsites, fuel, food, insurance and fees are typical 2026 estimates. Run a live search for exact quotes on your dates.
Based on 58,031 price checks across 14 rental companies over the last 22 days (through July 22, 2026). Prices are in EUR and update as vendor availability changes.
South Coast itinerary, day by day
Day 1
Waterfalls, glaciers and black sand to Vík
Reykjavík → Vík · ~187 km
The straight drive is only about two and a half hours, so give the whole day to stops. Start at Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind, then find hidden Gljúfrabúi tucked in the cliff a short walk north. Continue to broad Skógafoss, then detour up the gravel spur to the snout of Sólheimajökull glacier. Swing out to the Dyrhólaey promontory for the arch and puffins in summer, and finish at Reynisfjara black-sand beach and its basalt columns before pulling into Vík for the night. This is a full, rewarding day.
SeljalandsfossGljúfrabúiSkógafossSólheimajökullDyrhólaeyReynisfjaraOvernight: Vík Campsite (Tjaldsvæðið Vík), in the village below the church
Day 2
Canyons, a national park and the glacier lagoon
Vík → Höfn · ~270 km
The biggest scenery day. East of Vík, detour to the mossy Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, then reach Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park and hike the hour-and-a-half round trip up to Svartifoss, framed by black basalt columns. Back on Route 1, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is the highlight: icebergs calve off the glacier and drift to the sea, washing up as ice on the black Diamond Beach opposite. Overnight in Höfn, the langoustine town. The Vestrahorn massif at Stokksnes is an optional there-and-back detour: it sits about 10-15 km east of Höfn, past the town rather than on the way in, so you double back for it either before or after your overnight. The road out to Stokksnes is private, with a paid entrance at the Viking Café.
FjaðrárgljúfurSkaftafellSvartifossJökulsárlónDiamond BeachVestrahornOvernight: Höfn Campsite (Tjaldsvæðið Höfn), on the edge of town near the harbour
Day 3
The drive back west
Höfn → Reykjavík · ~457 km
The return is the full 457 km back to Reykjavík, roughly six hours of driving without stops, so plan it as a travel day rather than a sightseeing one. The scenery repeats in reverse, which is no bad thing in changing light, and this is your chance to catch anything you missed or lingered too long to reach the first time. Break the drive at Kirkjubæjarklaustur for fuel and food, and leave a weather buffer in winter. If you have a fourth day, spread this leg over two and add a stop rather than driving it in one push.
JökulsárlónKirkjubæjarklausturReynisfjaraOvernight: Reykjavík, or a campsite en route such as Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Skógar if you split the drive
Highlights along the way
Seljalandsfoss
The waterfall you can walk behind; bring a rain jacket for the spray.
Gljúfrabúi
A hidden falls in a slot canyon just north of Seljalandsfoss that most people miss.
Skógafoss
A 60-metre curtain of water with a staircase to a viewpoint at the top.
Sólheimajökull
A glacier tongue you can walk up to, and the launch point for guided glacier hikes.
Reynisfjara
Black-sand beach with basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks; mind the waves.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
A deep, serpentine moss-lined canyon with an easy clifftop path.
Skaftafell and Svartifoss
Vatnajökull National Park hiking hub; the Svartifoss falls sit under black basalt columns.
Jökulsárlón
The glacier lagoon where icebergs drift to the sea; the trip's signature stop.
Diamond Beach
Ice chunks stranded on black sand across the road from the lagoon.
Vestrahorn
A jagged coastal massif at Stokksnes, about 10-15 km east of Höfn, a favourite of photographers; reached on a private road with a paid entrance at the Viking Café.
When to go
Year-round is genuine here: the paved Ring Road is cleared through winter, so a camper trip stays realistic rather than reckless in the off-season. June to August brings near-endless daylight, open campsites and puffins at Dyrhólaey, but also the highest rental rates and the busiest car parks.
September to March trades daylight for aurora, lower camper rates and quiet beaches, at the cost of short days, possible storm closures and the need for a well-heated van. Always check road.is and vedur.is the morning of each drive in winter.
May and September are the value shoulders: milder driving, thinner crowds and most facilities still open, though a few highland-edge detours and some campsites keep summer-only hours.
Driving & road conditions
Road surface
Almost entirely paved. The route runs on Route 1 (the Ring Road) the whole way, with short gravel spurs to Sólheimajökull, Dyrhólaey and a few car parks. No F-roads and no river crossings, so a standard 2WD camper is fine.
Fuel
Fill up in Reykjavík or Selfoss before you leave, then top up at Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Höfn. The stretch between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Höfn is the longest gap with few services, so do not run low across it. Many stations are automated and need a chip-and-PIN or contactless card.
In winter
Because the Ring Road is ploughed and salted, this route stays open when highland and northern drives get harder, but winter still means ice, high winds and short daylight. Storms can shut sections at short notice; never outrun the light, and lodge a trip plan on safetravel.is.
- Wind is the real hazard, not the road surface. Gusts can rip a camper door off its hinges, so grip doors firmly when parking side-on to the wind.
- Single-lane bridges are common east of Vík. The first vehicle to the bridge has priority; slow down and read the signs.
- Sand-and-ash and gravel storms occur on this coast; the matching insurance add-on is worth considering here more than elsewhere.
- The day-three return is a long single push of 457 km. Share driving if you can and take breaks at Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Where to camp
Skógar Campsite
Skógafoss, between Seljalandsfoss and Vík
Right beside Skógafoss; a scenic alternative first night if you want to slow the pace before Vík.
Vík Campsite (Tjaldsvæðið Vík)
Vík í Mýrdal
The natural day-one stop, walkable to the village shops and pool. Open year-round, busy in summer.
Þakgil Campsite
Mountains north of Vík
A sheltered valley reached by a gravel track; summer-only and scenic, but adds a detour off Route 1.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Campsite
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Handy midpoint with fuel and a shop; a good split-the-drive stop on the return leg.
Skaftafell Campsite
Vatnajökull National Park
At the trailheads for Svartifoss and the glacier hikes; ideal if you add a national-park day. Open year-round.
Svínafell Campground
Near Skaftafell
A quieter alternative a few minutes east of the park, with good facilities and glacier views.
Höfn Campsite (Tjaldsvæðið Höfn)
Höfn í Hornafirði
The day-two base near the harbour, close to the langoustine restaurants. Open year-round with indoor facilities.
Overnighting in a campervan is only legal at registered campsites in Iceland — plan each night around one. Seasonal sites can close outside summer; confirm opening dates before relying on them.
South Coast or the full Ring Road?
The South Coast is the best short-trip alternative to circling the whole island. The full Ring Road is about 1,300 km and wants 7 to 10 days minimum to do without exhausting yourself; the South Coast delivers the country's most concentrated scenery in a 3-day out-and-back on the same paved road, which is why it wins whenever your days or the season are limited.
Choose the South Coast if you have under a week, if you are travelling in winter when northern sections get harder, or if it is your first Icelandic drive and you want to keep things simple with a 2WD camper. Choose the full loop if you have the days and want Mývatn, Húsavík whale watching and the Snæfellsnes or Eastfjords scenery the South Coast alone does not reach.
The two are not either-or. The South Coast is the first leg of the Ring Road, and past Höfn it climbs straight into the Eastfjords, so you can start with this itinerary and simply keep driving if the days and weather cooperate.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the South Coast?
Three days is the sweet spot for the South Coast: one day Reykjavík to Vík for the waterfalls and black-sand beaches, one day Vík to Höfn for Skaftafell and the glacier lagoon, and one day to drive back. You can compress it into two long days if you are tight on time, or stretch it to five to slow down and add hikes and glacier walks.
How much does a South Coast campervan trip cost?
Based on our live price checks for a year-round average, the camper alone typically runs €93–€268 per day — roughly €280–€803 for 3 days — before campsites (€12–20 per person/night), fuel and food. The live cost section on this page breaks totals down by camper type.
Do I need a 4x4 for the South Coast?
No. The whole route is paved Route 1 with no F-roads or river crossings, so a standard 2WD camper is fine year-round. You would only need a 4x4 if you detoured onto a highland F-road, which this itinerary does not. Skipping the 4x4 also keeps your rental rate down.
Can I drive the South Coast in winter in a campervan?
Yes, and it is the most winter-viable multi-day camper trip in Iceland because the Ring Road is ploughed through winter. You will want a well-heated van, and you must check road.is and vedur.is each morning, since storms can close sections at short notice and daylight is very short. Lodge a trip plan on safetravel.is.
Is Reynisfjara black-sand beach safe?
Reynisfjara has powerful, unpredictable sneaker waves that surge far up the sand without warning and have swept people to their deaths. Never turn your back on the sea, keep well back from the waterline, and watch the warning signs and light system. Do not let children or anyone chasing a photo get close to the water.
Where do I sleep on the South Coast in a camper?
Only at registered campsites. Wild camping in a campervan is illegal in Iceland, so park overnight at sites such as Vík and Höfn campgrounds, both open year-round, or Skaftafell if you add a national-park day. Never overnight in laybys or car parks.
How far is it from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón?
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is roughly 375 km from Reykjavík, about five hours of driving without stops. That is why the lagoon is best reached on day two of a multi-day trip rather than as a day trip; doing it as a single out-and-back day means around ten hours in the van.
Can I extend the South Coast into a longer trip?
Yes. The South Coast is the opening leg of the Ring Road, and past Höfn Route 1 climbs into the Eastfjords. If you have extra days you can carry on rather than turning back, turning the 3-day out-and-back into the start of a full island loop.
Are there enough fuel stations along the route?
Yes, but space them out. Fill up in Reykjavík or Selfoss, then top up at Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Höfn. The Kirkjubæjarklaustur-to-Höfn stretch has the fewest services, so do not cross it low on fuel. Many pumps are automated and need a contactless or chip-and-PIN card.
Keep planning
Compare live prices across every vendor
These are collected averages. Run a live search for real-time availability and exact prices for your dates.
Search all vendors