Driving in Iceland in March

Updated: Apr 20

Hiring a camper rental in Iceland is one of the best ways to see the country. You’re carrying your home around with you, and you’ve got the freedom and flexibility to roam wherever you please. Many people wonder if it’s possible to drive around Iceland in March by campervan. Luckily, the answer is yes! March is a fantastic month for camping in Iceland.

Make sure you've got your nice Webasto heater to keep you warm and toasty at night and a companion for adventure. In order to drive safely around Iceland by campervan in March, there are some important things to keep in mind.

Can You Drive Around Iceland by Campervan in March?

You can definitely drive around Iceland’s Ring Road in March. Of course, you’ll need to take the usual precautions like making sure your campervan rental company provides vehicles with snow tires or studded tires (the snowy season lasts until April). You may want to also get a 4x4 camper rental just to ensure you have better control over your vehicle at all times. Snow chains are also a possibility for your camper rental.

One of the advantages of taking a camper road trip in Iceland in March is that prices are much lower on everything. It’s the shoulder season, which means there will be fewer tourists in the country and fewer drivers. This is a blessing because you’ll often have stretches of open highway all to yourself. Just remember to always pay attention! It’s easy to get distracted when you’re surrounded by such beautiful vistas.

Driving Tips for a March Iceland Campervan Trip - Safety Comes First

I’m not going to lie to you; if you don’t like driving in winter, then driving around Iceland by campervan in March might not be for you. It’s definitely better if you’re an experienced driver who has driven in icy conditions before. Anyone who has endured black ice knows what I’m talking about. Always go slowly and anticipate longer braking distances, approach curves with caution, and don’t be afraid to go well under the speed limit. Many winter accidents on slick, slippery, snowy roads could be avoided if drivers just slowed down. And if you're driving in Iceland at night, please don't get distracted by the Northern Lights.

Check the Weather Forecast and Status of the Roads

This may sound boring, but it’s a crucial piece of advice for driving safely in Iceland in March. As you know, Iceland’s weather is unpredictable. Snowstorms come out of nowhere, and weather conditions are quite mercurial. The best way to be prepared is to check the weather forecast frequently. See what things look like for the day and the upcoming days. Also, check it before you head out to see if you’ll need to cut your trip short by pulling into a campsite or nearby village because of an approaching storm. If worsening conditions catch you off guard, please seek shelter. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with Icelandic weather in March.

The Ring Road tends to stay open, especially in Southern Iceland, unless the weather is really bad and driving would be dangerous. You’ll only find this in extreme circumstances where you don’t want to be out on the road anyway, like in a powerful winter storm. If this is the case, it’s best to just head inside and ride out the storm. It also never hurts to keep a small shovel handy just in case you get a small dumping of snow and need to dig yourself out.

You can stay up to date with status updates, alerts, warnings, and road closures using the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration’s website. We’ve got some other useful resources for you to check out as well.

If you do find that somehow you’ve gotten stuck or stranded, Iceland’s national emergency number is 112. Call for help, and they’ll send assistance as soon as snowplows can get through and the roads are passable again.

Useful Website for Safe Driving in Iceland in March

Iceland is a popular tourist destination, and as such, the authorities recognized the need to educate visitors about how important driving safety is here. They’ve created several different resources in the form of videos, brochures, and websites to give motorists an idea of what to expect while driving in Iceland. A prepared driver is a safe driver, so here are some useful resources for Iceland driving safety.

The IRCA Website Driving Safety Page

The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration has published the Icelandic Transport Authority’s extremely helpful flyer How to Drive in Iceland on the driving safely in Iceland section of their website.

The Iceland SafeTravel Website

This website is the official portal for driving safely in Iceland and has lots of useful information about travel in Iceland. Check it out for driving safety tips, maps of Iceland’s roads, road closures, alerts, and warnings, and get help creating an Iceland driving safety plan. It's a must if you are thinking about driving in Iceland in March.

Driving in Iceland with Elfis

Elfis the Elf is your guide to driving safety in Iceland. There’s a video about driving on Icelandic roads. This helpful little elf tells you what dangers to watch out for.