Most visitors to Iceland drive the south coast and turn around. East Iceland, the stretch between the glaciers and the north, is quieter and wilder, with long fjords, small fishing villages, reindeer on the hills and some of the country’s best waterfalls. Egilsstaðir is the main town, and a natural base for exploring.

We know Iceland’s roads well enough to say that the east rewards slow travel. Prices and facts below come from the CampervanPlanet Egilsstaðir page as we saw it in early November 2026. The key detail is that you cannot pick up a campervan in Egilsstaðir: you collect at Keflavík and drive east.

Our our campervan rental guide explains hiring basics, and our post on motorhome versus campervan for Iceland helps with vehicle choice.

The key fact: you pick up at Keflavík

According to the page, there is no campervan pick-up in Egilsstaðir or at the Seyðisfjörður ferry terminal. You collect your van at Keflavík International Airport, which is the main entry point for Iceland. Egilsstaðir is about 690 km from Keflavík, around 8 to 9 hours by road via North Iceland, so plan to split the drive over two days or more.

That changes how you plan. A one-way trip works well: collect in Keflavík, drive the Ring Road clockwise or anticlockwise, and enjoy the east on the way. If you want a shorter trip, consider flying to Egilsstaðir or Akureyri and renting a car, and keep the campervan for the longer Ring Road version. You can also compare other pick-ups on CampervanPlanet’s Iceland page.

Day trips from Egilsstaðir

The page suggests starting easy. The first option is Lagarfljót and Hengifoss: take Route 931 along the 30 km-long Lagarfljót lake, famous for its folklore “Lagarfljót Worm”, and park at the Hengifoss trailhead, about 30 minutes from town. The 2.5 km uphill walk leads to Hengifoss, Iceland’s third-tallest waterfall at 128 m. Return through the Hallormsstaðaskógur forest for a picnic at Atlavík. It is about 80 km round trip and easy.

The second option is Seyðisfjörður, the colourful fjord town reached over the Fjarðarheiði pass, which can be tricky in the shoulder seasons and winter. The page flags a caution for the transition months. Check the road status on road.is.

The third option is Stuðlagil Canyon, famous for its hexagonal basalt columns, which were revealed in 2017 after a dam lowered the river level. It is a one-hour drive each way on Route 923, followed by a 2 km walk from the car park.

The East Fjords loop

The page describes a loop through the East Fjords of about 480 km over four to five days, with around half on gravel. It runs from Egilsstaðir to Seyðisfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Reyðarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður and Djúpivogur. The page calls it the most remote route in Iceland, with few other campervans and more than 30 campsites along the route. It suits a 2WD campervan in summer if you drive with care, with fuel stops every 50 to 80 km.

Other routes from Egilsstaðir include the Diamond Circle via Dettifoss, which is a classic northern loop, and a return to Keflavík via the south coast, passing Höfn, Jökulsárlón and Vík. For the highlands, the page mentions Askja and an F-road route that requires a 4×4. Our guide to Iceland’s gravel and asphalt roads explains what to expect from different surfaces.

When to go

The page splits the year into four periods. June to August is the midnight sun peak. Shoulder season, May and September, offers the best value. The transition months carry a caution for the Fjarðarheiði pass. Winter is the aurora season in the east, with long nights and potential road closures.

Iceland prices from the October 2026 index for a 7-night hire show how much season matters: typically €115 a day in November, €260 in May and €395 in July, with campervans starting from €53 a day. Those figures are for the whole country, not just the east.

What it costs, and what to check

Beyond the daily rate, think about insurance. Iceland has specific risks: gravel damage, sand and ash, wind damage to doors and river crossings. Ask what is included and what the excess is. Fuel is a big cost on a long Ring Road trip, so check the current price. Campsites typically charge per person, and some have extra fees for electricity.

Our guide to what a campervan in Iceland really costs goes through insurance and extras in more detail. It’s still the best summary we have of a typical budget.

Camping rules

In Iceland, campervans are generally expected to stay at designated campsites, and wild camping is restricted in many places. The East has many campsites, and the page counts more than 30 along the East Fjords route. Always check current rules, because landowners and local authorities can set their own limits.

We wrote about camping in wind, rain and cold, and Iceland is a good place to practise that lesson. Wind can damage van doors, so park facing into it.

Booking tips

Choose a van that suits the road: a 2WD camper is fine for the main Ring Road in summer, while a 4×4 is needed for F-roads like the one to Askja. Check heating, kitchen equipment and the age of the fleet. Confirm pick-up and drop-off times at Keflavík.

You can compare vans on CampervanPlanet’s Egilsstaðir page or look at the Iceland 4×4 page for highland options. Our code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off your booking at checkout.