Which Iceland Family Trip Itinerary Will Work Best for You?

Iceland can be a unique and exciting holiday destination for the whole family. And by road-tripping around the country in a motorhome or RV, it’s also possible to do it in the most affordable way. Whether you’re planning on a weekend getaway, a week-long holiday, or a thorough 10-day exploration of the island, we’ve got the perfect Iceland family trip itinerary for you!

You can use our suggestions as is or use them as inspiration to conjure up your own magical family trip itinerary creations. We also give you a few local insights, help you with your budgeting and packing, and provide helpful tips and advice to ensure that you’ll have the family adventure of a lifetime!

1. Why Iceland is the Ideal Family Destination

There are many reasons why Iceland works well as a family trip destination. These include the following:

Safety

Iceland has reclaimed its title as the world’s safest country for the 18th time in a row based on the Global Peace Index, so there’s no need to counter all the horrific Netflix documentaries you’ve seen constantly.

Space

Iceland has plenty of wide open spaces to allow children to just be children, run, play, and burn as much energy as possible.

Family-Friendly Sites and Activities

We have loads of family-friendly sites and activities all across the country. From once-in-a-lifetime activities such as glacier hiking to playgrounds at campsites, there’s always something to keep the entire family busy (or just the kids when mom and dad need a break).

2. Why an RV or Motorhome Makes for the Ideal Family-Friendly Trip to Iceland

Cruising the island in an RV or motorhome has many benefits if you’re traveling with the family:

It is Super Convenient

Think back to all those fond holiday memories where you hear “moooooom, I left…” or every time the kids try to corner dad in the snack aisle because they’re sooooo hungry, despite having eaten a full breakfast buffet before heading out.

Well, GONE are those days! With an RV or motorhome, whatever you “left at home” is just a short walk away. And if you’re hungry or thirsty, there’s plenty to eat once we get back in the car/home.

It Actually Provides More Space

We often hear a family’s fears of living in “such a confined space” with each other, when, in fact, it’s really the opposite way around. If you book into a hotel, everyone is stuck like a tin of sardines. The kids’ options are usually limited to either watching TV or playing on their electronic devices.

If you’ve got young kids, this is a nightmare scenario. In an RV or motorhome, you drive a short distance, then stop at attractions or participate in exciting activities. And, at the campsites, children usually have endless space to run around or clamber on the playground equipment.

It is Super Affordable

Traveling in an RV or motorhome is the most budget-friendly way of exploring the island, especially if you’re planning on visiting between May and September, and you get yourself the Camping Card. The entire family will be able to stay over at campsites for next to nothing!

It Can Be Pretty Impressive

How much do you think you’d pay at a hotel or guesthouse that offers views over the ocean or one of our famous waterfalls? Well, with our campsites, you can literally have these outside your RV or motorhome door and STILL pay the same super affordable camping fees!

It’s a Unique Experience

Cruising around in an RV or motorhome even turns driving into part of the family adventure. It’s a unique experience in itself that simply makes the family memories even more special. It’s the road trip you’ll never forget!

3. When to Visit Iceland with Kids

There will always be reasons to visit Iceland, and when will suit your family the best will depend on a few factors:

How Big is Your Budget?

Summer (June to August) is peak season here in Iceland, which means not only peak season crowds, but also peak season pricing. If you’re traveling on a bit of a tight budget, rather try one of the shoulder months (remember, the Camping Card is also valid mid-May to mid-September).

How Much Time Do You Need?

Daylight hours are also a major consideration when planning your trip to Iceland. This can range from just 4 hours a day mid-winter to 20+ hours over summertime. Needless to say, a jam-packed trip itinerary and considerable driving times on a longer road trip will be practically impossible if you don’t have the daylight hours available to do it in.

What Would You Like to See and Do?

We have many seasonal sights and activities here on the island, so you’ll need to plan your trip around what you’d like to see and do in Iceland.

For example, most of our ice caves can only be explored during the colder months of the year, the Midnight Sun only occurs over 20 to 22 June, the Northern Lights can only be seen during the colder months, especially during the winter season, the Highland F-roads are only open during the summertime, and so forth.

What Weather are You Gunning for?

Whether it’s just the type of weather you prefer or what conditions you feel comfortable driving in, the weather plays a big part in deciding when to visit the island. Summer (June to August), of course, offers the very best weather; mild weather conditions as well as high temperatures.

The winter (December to March) can see some pretty harsh weather conditions, and you’ll need to be comfortable driving in ice and snow. Shoulder seasons offer an odd combination of seasons.

May and September still have some sort of summer feel to them, and October and April have some winter magic sprinkled into the mix without much of the season’s drawbacks.

4. How Much Driving is Reasonable with Kids?

Driving with children can be challenging, but here are the official recommendations in terms of health and safety (and your sanity):

• Young kids (under the age of 13) – Have a maximum daily drive limit of between 3 and 4 hours with at least 15 to 20 minute breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours (thank goodness, this should be no problem in the Land of Fire and Ice, where there’s so much to see and do along the way).
• Older kids (13+ years old) – Have a maximum daily drive limit of between 8 and 9 hours while sticking to the break rule of every 15 to 2 hours.

5. Your 5-Day Iceland Family Trip Itinerary

You can use this itinerary as is or use it as an inspirational foundation to customize your own. Our 5-day Iceland family trip itinerary is jam-packed with all sorts of fun family-friendly activities and doesn’t require a lot of driving:

Day 1: Arrival & Heading to the Capital

Total Driving Distance: +/- 73.9 km (45.9 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 1 hour, 8 minutes

Ensure your flight arrives in the morning, so you have an entire day still ahead of you. Pick up your rental campervan or motorhome from the Keflavik Airport pick-up spot, and then start driving in the direction of the capital city. Remember to stop at the Blue Lagoon along the way to relax in its healing waters. Please stock up on groceries once in the capital.

Highlights of the Day:

• Blue Lagoon (we recommend scheduling lunch there at the Lava Restaurant).

Overnight at: Reykjavik Eco-Campsite

Hot Tip of the Day! Go to our budget-friendly grocery stores like Bonus or Kronan when stocking up on supplies. You can also go to the only Costco on the island, where you’ll not only find great deals on groceries, but also the cheapest place to refuel! Just remember that you need a Costco membership card. You can either use yours from home or get yourself a new one at the store.

Day 2: Exploring Reykjavik

Total Driving Distance: +/- 10.6 km (6.6 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 27 minutes

Today you’ll be exploring the capital city (there’s a LOT to see and do here).

Highlights of the Day:

• Sun Voyager Sculpture.
• Kolaportid Flea Market (this can be your souvenir stop).
• The Lava Show.
• FlyOver Iceland (this simulation ride has you flying over the entire island!).

Overnight at: Reykjavik Eco-Campsite (again)

Hot Tip of the Day! The campsite is within easy walking distance of many local sights and attractions. However, if you’ve got smaller tots or just don’t feel like walking, leave the camper at the campsite and get yourself a Reykjavik City Card. This will give you a legion of discounts to major attractions and activities in the capital city, as well as UNLIMITED hop-on-hop-off bus travel!

Day 3: History and Hot Springs

Total Driving Distance: +/- 137 km (85.1 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 1 hour, 58 minutes

Today, you’ll drive north from the capital city to Borgarnes, before taking a turn towards the west. Your northern stop will be at the Settlement Center (might sound a bit boring, but it’s all about Vikings with pretty cool exhibits for kids to enjoy). Then end the day at the Husafell Canyon Baths before heading to your camping spot for the night.

Highlights of the Day:

• Settlement Center.
• Husafell Canyon Baths.

Overnight at: Husafell Camping

Hot Tip of the Day! While the hot springs in Iceland are usually open all year round, there may be some changes in operating hours depending on the season you visit. If you’re planning on visiting outside of our summer peak season, please contact the hot spring/geothermal pool directly to double-check their opening and closing times.

Day 4: Icy and Adrenaline Pumping Adventures

Total Driving Distance: +/- 191 km (118.7 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 2 hours, 49 minutes

Today is an adventure-filled day. You’ll start your day off with an Into the Glacier tour that will take you into the ice tunnels of Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjokull. Even though it may seem counterintuitive, this icy adventure is available all year round.

The tour starts not far from your overnight stay at the Husafell Center, and the entire tour will take between 3 and 4 hours. After the tour, you’ll head to the Reykjadalur Valley for a once-in-a-lifetime adrenaline-pumping experience at Iceland’s longest zipline.

Just keep in mind that the ride requires you to be at least 50 kilograms, so if you’ve got smaller kids or a few members of the family with a fear of heights, we recommend sticking to lounging around the thermal waters of the Reykjadalur River.

Highlights of the Day:

• Into the Glacier Tour.
• Mega Zipline or Reykjadalur Thermal River.

Overnight at: Reykjamörk Hveragerði Campsite

Hot Tip of the Day! If you’re visiting during our peak summer season, it’s a good idea to always book any tours well in advance as they tend to fill up fast!

Day 5: Departure

Total Driving Distance: +/- 103 km (64 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 1 hour, 26 minutes

Today, you’ll be leaving the island. Depending on the time of your flight, you can still do a few impromptu stops along the way to the airport if time permits.

Highlights of the Day:

• Whatever you find interesting along the way, while considering the time available to you.

Hot Tip of the Day! Remember to leave sufficient time for your campervan drop-off and flight check-in, so you don’t end up extremely rushed or actually miss your flight.

6. Your 7-Day Iceland Family Trip Itinerary

You will use our 5-day Iceland family trip itinerary for the first 5 days, but instead of heading to the airport on day 5, you’ll head further southeast on the island:

Day 5: Geothermal Pools, Lava Bread and Yoghurt

Total Driving Distance: +/- 90.9 km (56.5 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 1 hour, 18 minutes

Drive southeast to Laugarvatn Fontana, where you will not only soak in the geothermal waters, but also learn how to bake lava bread (and, of course, take some back to the camper for later!).

After this, you’ll check out Skyrland, a museum dedicated to a national staple of ours, which probably resembles what you think of as yoghurt the most. And, pssst! The museum gives out free samples! After your visit to the museum, head over to Selfoss, where you can stock up on a few essentials again, and camp for the night.

Highlights of the Day:

• Laugarvatn Fontana.
• Skyrland.
• Selfoss.

Overnight at: Camping Selfoss

Day 6: Exploring the Golden Circle

Total Driving Distance: +/- 132 km (82 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 1 hour, 59 minutes

The Golden Circle is a popular road trip route with many famous stops along the way. It’s a 230-kilometer (140-mile) loop road that most begin and end in the capital city. However, your journey will start from Selfoss this morning and end at the geothermal area.

Highlights of the Day:

• Thingvellir National Park.
• Fridheimar Farm (we recommend stopping here for lunch to experience the unique tomato-based menu).
• Efstidalur Farm (plenty of farm animals for the kids to check out).
• Gullfoss Waterfall.
• Geysir Geothermal Area (what’s not to like about water volcanoes shooting hundreds of liters of boiling water meters into the sky?!).

Overnight at: Camping Geysir

Hot Tip of the Day The waterfalls in Iceland offer spectacular and completely different experiences all year round. When visiting during the warmer months (May to September), the falls roar over the cliffs from dizzying heights. But during the colder months (October to April), the falls turn into frozen water displays with icy tentacles dangling from the cliffs.

Day 7: Departure

Total Driving Distance: +/- 149 km (92.6 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 2 hours, 5 minutes

Today, you’ll be leaving the island. Depending on the time of your flight, you can still do a few impromptu stops along the way to the airport if time permits.

Highlights of the Day:

• Whatever you find interesting along the way, while considering the time available to you.

7. Your 10-Day Iceland Family Trip Itinerary

You will use our 5 and 7-day Iceland family trip itinerary for the first 7 days, but instead of heading to the airport on day 7, you’ll head south along our coastline:

Day 7: Exploring the South Coast

Total Driving Distance: +/- 207 km (128.6 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 2 hours, 53 minutes

Today, you cruise along our coastline in your camper or motorhome and make quite a few impressive stops along the way.

Highlights of the Day:

• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall (also known as “the waterfall you can walk behind”).
• Skogafoss Waterfall.

Overnight at: Skogar Campsite

Hot Tip of the Day! Reynisfjara is famous for its dangerous currents and sneaker waves. Please ensure that you never turn your back towards the ocean here, or one of the sneaker waves might catch you off guard, knock you off your feet, and pull you into the ocean. Safety first!

Day 8: Meet Our Icelandic Horses

Total Driving Distance: +/- 203 km (126.1 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 2 hours, 50 minutes

Today, you’ll get to meet Iceland’s very own breed of horse on a farm just outside of Reykjavik! The Icelandic Horse is known for its friendly nature, its pony-like stature, and, if you’re visiting during the colder months, their fluffy coat.

There are various horseback tours to choose from, from just a quick ride, getting to know the Icelandic Horse breed, to longer rides exploring the surrounding landscape. After your horseback ride, head back to the capital for your final days on the island.

Highlights of the Day:

• Ishestar Horseback Riding Tour.

Overnight at: Reykjavik Eco-Campsite

Day 9: Last Chance to Explore the Capital

Total Driving Distance: +/- 20 km (12.4 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 45 minutes

Today, you’ll spend some time exploring any other sights and attractions you still want to tick off your Reykjavik bucket list. You may not have time for all the attractions and activities below, but you can pick the ones that suit you best.

Highlights of the Day:

• Hallgrimskirkja (be sure to pay the small fee to take the stairs up the tower and check out the spectacular city views!).
• Elding Whale Watching Boat Tour (this tour takes between 2 and 3.5 hours).
• Perlan Museum.
• Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach.
• Valdis Ice Cream Parlor (famous for its ever-changing, creative flavors).
• Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (a famous hot dog stand, perfect for lunch).

Overnight at: Reykjavik Eco-Campsite (again)

Hot Tip of the Day! Although Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach is a lot of fun with kids, we wouldn’t recommend this activity during the colder months. So, if you’re visiting during the colder months, substitute this activity with having your Viking portraits taken at Mink Studios.

Day 10: Departure

Total Driving Distance: +/- 52.4 km (32.6 miles)

Total Drive Time: +/- 45 minutes

Today, you’ll be leaving the island. Depending on the time of your flight, you can still squeeze in a few last-minute Reykjavik excursions or make a few impromptu stops along the way to the airport if time permits.

Highlights of the Day:

• Whatever you find interesting along the way, while considering the time available to you.

8. A Few Helpful Tips While on a Family Trip Through Iceland

If this is your first time visiting Iceland, or just the first time you’ll be visiting with kids, the following tips and advice will be helpful:

• Be sure to keep an eye on weather forecasts and road condition updates via the Vedur and Umferdin websites to ensure your itinerary plans don’t get derailed.
• Child car seats can often be rented along with your campervan or motorhome, so please speak to your rental agent beforehand if this is one of your needs.
• Please ensure that you stay on designated and clearly-marked pathways and trails at all times. This is for both the protection of our environment and your safety. In the Land of Fire and Ice, one misstep could land you in hot water (literally!)
• Please keep an eye on your kids at our hot springs, waterfalls, and other places that can be pretty wet and muddy. It can be slippery, especially during our colder months when the moisture can turn into ice.
• Save important emergency numbers on your phone, such as the insurance and our national emergency hotline, 112.

9. What to Pack for Iceland with Kids

Remember that layering is the name of the game here, where the local saying goes that “Iceland can have all four seasons in a day.” This means bringing everything from t-shirts and long-sleeved shirts to sweaters, jackets, and coats. If you’re planning on visiting during our colder months, you should also bring your thermals. Gloves, a beanie, and a scarf are also a must, irrespective of the season.

Waterproofing is also a priority, but probably not in the way you think. A raincoat, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, and waterproof hiking boots are very important items on an Iceland packing list, but not just because of possible weather changes. Our hiking trails can get pretty muddy (including the trails around our hot springs), and our powerful waterfalls create a dense mist and spray that can leave you absolutely soaked!

Remember to pack swimwear and towels, irrespective of the season, since our hot springs are open all year round.

Hot Tip of the Day! Save on packing space and grab some unique souvenirs by opting to buy your sweaters in Iceland. We have beautiful traditional sweaters made from the finest sheep wool and decorated in unique patterns called Lopapeysa.

10. Reach Out: We’re Happy to Assist!

If you’ve still got any questions or would like some more advice on how to customize your 5, 7, or 10-day Iceland family trip itinerary, we’ll be happy to help. We’ll also give you some guidance on which campervan rental will suit your family and specific trip itinerary best.