Iceland’s south coast gets the postcards. The east gets the silence. Egilsstaðir is the main town of East Iceland, set beside the long lake of Lagarfljót and surrounded by birch forest that looks entirely unlike the rest of the country. From here you can drive to a canyon of basalt columns, to some of the steepest fjords on the island, and to reindeer herds that graze on the high plateau.

Iceland is home turf for us, and the Ring Road is a route we know well. One thing worth saying clearly up front, though: you cannot collect a campervan in Egilsstaðir. The CampervanPlanet Egilsstaðir page is explicit that live availability is for pick-up at Keflavík International Airport and in Reykjavík, so an east Iceland trip is a drive of about 690 km before you reach the town, or the other way round if you plan the loop in a different direction.

Why East Iceland deserves more than a day

The standard advice for an Iceland road trip is to drive the Ring Road anticlockwise and hurry through the east on the way home. We think that is a mistake. The East Fjords are long, narrow and quiet, with small fishing villages tucked at the end of each one. The coast is rugged, the weather changes constantly and the birch woods around Hallormsstaðaskógur are the nearest thing the country has to a forest.

Egilsstaðir itself is a practical stop with a supermarket, fuel, a swimming pool and campsites, which makes it a good base for day trips. It also has a small airport, but note that CampervanPlanet does not list any pick-up there, so plan to start at Keflavík and drive.

If you want to see the north first, our guide to the Akureyri and Diamond Circle covers the other half of the northern ring, and our campervan rental guide explains how to choose a rental.

Four routes through the east

The Egilsstaðir page maps four routes. We would consider them as pieces of a larger Ring Road loop.

East Fjords loop

This is the one most visitors skip. The road follows the coast through Reyðarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður and Djúpivogur, with tunnels, hairpins and moments where the sea fills the whole windscreen. Allow a full day with stops, or two if you want to walk.

Diamond Circle via Dettifoss

Dettifoss is often described as the most powerful waterfall in Europe by volume, and the approach road matters: the western side is the easier road, the eastern less so. Combine it with Ásbyrgi, Húsavík and the Mývatn area, and you have a classic north-east loop of two to three days.

Back to Keflavík via the south coast

From the east, you drive the famous stretch with glaciers, black-sand beaches and the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón. It is a long day to reach the south, and a good reason not to rush any single section.

Askja and the highland F-roads (4×4 only)

If you want to enter the highlands, you need a proper 4×4 and a clear understanding of river crossings and F-road rules. Our guide to Iceland 4×4 camper rental and F-roads goes through what is allowed and what is not. The highland roads open only in summer, usually from late June, depending on snow.

Prices and seasons

The page shows a range of vehicle types. A two-berth manual petrol camper appears from around €40 a day on quiet dates, a two-to-three berth comfort camper with heater and kitchen from about €129 a day, a 4×4 highland camper from about €189 a day, and a family motorhome with full kitchen and bathroom from about €219 a day. These are starting prices, not guaranteed rates, and Iceland has a steep peak: June to August costs several times what winter does.

The other big costs are fuel, which is high in Iceland, and the distances. A loop from Keflavík to the east and back is easily 2,000 km, so budget for a full week at the very least. A 4×4 uses more fuel but opens up roads that a two-wheel-drive van cannot touch. Enter your dates on the Egilsstaðir search page to see live prices, and code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off at checkout.

Weather, passes and the winter question

The east is the part of the Ring Road where the weather bites first. The page specifically warns about the Fjarðarheiði pass, which connects Egilsstaðir to Seyðisfjörður and can close in snow during transition months. Wind is another risk: strong gusts can damage vehicle doors, and rental insurance may not cover wind damage, so ask what is covered and how to park safely.

In winter, the east becomes the aurora capital of the island, with dark skies and very few people. A winter campervan trip in Iceland is possible but demanding: short days, ice, and a need to check road conditions every morning on the Icelandic road site. Heaters must be diesel-powered and reliable. We would only recommend it to people who have driven in snow before.

Where to sleep and what to do

Egilsstaðir has a campsite in town, and Atlavík, inside the forest of Hallormsstaðaskógur, is a lovely alternative on the shore of the lake. In Iceland, wild camping in a campervan is not allowed in most places: you are expected to use campsites, and the rules were tightened in recent years. Always check current regulations before you go.

For a first day, we would pick one of three easy options. The Lagarfljót and Hengifoss walk is a mellow outing to a tall, striped waterfall. Seyðisfjörður, the colourful fjord village, is spectacular but needs the pass in good conditions. Stuðlagil canyon, with its basalt columns and turquoise river, is a popular north push. Whatever you choose, keep the fuel tank topped up and the fresh water full before you head into the less populated parts.

When to go

June to August is the Ring Road’s high season: open roads, long days, midnight sun and the highest prices. The shoulder months of May and September give lower prices and fewer people, though weather can turn. Highland roads open late and close early. For northern lights, plan between September and March, and for that you need warm gear and a very good heater.

Frequently asked questions