Iceland is a small country with surprisingly complicated airports. There is the international one at Keflavík, which handles almost every visitor, and there is the domestic airport in central Reykjavík, known as RKV, which handles flights from Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Ísafjörður and the Westman Islands. If you are flying in on a domestic hop and expecting to pick up a campervan next to the terminal, we have bad news: there is nothing quite like that.

The good news is that the fix is easy. This is home-turf territory for us, since Iceland sits on our Nordic road-trip map, and we have written many posts about it, so we know how the logistics tend to work. We still recommend checking the current details with your rental company before you travel. If you want the bigger picture first, start with our campervan rental guide.

In short, collect your campervan at Keflavík, about 50 km from Reykjavík and roughly 45 minutes by road, and plan the rest of the trip around that.

What the domestic airport is, and is not

The domestic airport (RKV) sits right in the city, a short walk from the centre. It handles flights to places such as Akureyri, Egilsstaðir and Ísafjörður, and is the usual gateway for a quick hop from the north and east. It does not have rental company desks for campervans, and the campervan market in Iceland is organised around the international airport.

The CampervanPlanet data backs this up. On the Iceland price page, all 19 rental companies in their November 2026 search hand over at Keflavík Airport, and only three offered pick-up in Reykjavík. So if you land at RKV, plan on a transfer to Keflavík, or to a Reykjavík city depot if you have found one.

Check the exact collection point on your booking confirmation, because depots near Keflavík can be a few minutes from the terminal and are often reached by a free shuttle.

Getting from RKV to Keflavík

The distance is about 50 km, and the drive is around 45 minutes. Without a car, you have a few sensible options: an airport bus, a pre-booked transfer or a taxi. Prices change, so check current fares and timetables before you travel. Most travellers coming from a domestic flight find that the bus to the international airport area is the cheapest, and that a taxi is the quickest when two or three people share.

Plan your timing with some margin. Rental desks have set opening hours, and a late flight can mean waiting till morning. If you arrive in the evening, many people stay a night in Reykjavík or Keflavík and pick up the van the next morning. In winter that is especially wise, because the roads can be icy and daylight is short.

For more on the pick-up itself, see our guide to campervan pick-up at Keflavík.

What Icelandic campervans cost now

The November 2026 figures on the CampervanPlanet price page are a good guide. A campervan in Iceland typically costs €137 a day from November to March and €355 a day from June to August, which is about 159 percent more in summer than in winter. The cheapest offer in their search was €40 a day. A typical seven-night rental costs about €957 from November to March, €1,574 in April and May, €2,007 in September and October and €2,484 from June to August.

These are rental prices for two people, before the cover that brings your excess to zero, extras and anything paid at pick-up. Basic cover leaves a bond of €522 to €3,497 on your card, and zero-excess cover costs €25 to €150 a day. That is a huge range, so check the details for your van. Of the 113 vehicles in their search, 42 percent are automatic.

For more on how prices move, see our post on low season versus peak campervan prices.

When to book for summer 2027

Iceland is a seasonal country, and the summer vans sell out. If you plan to travel in June to August 2027, we would start comparing now, and book by early in the new year at the latest. Midnight sun, open highland roads and long days make July very popular, and campsites fill early.

May and September are the shoulder months and the best compromise: long daylight, mild weather and lower prices. Winter, from November to March, is the cheapest window, and it is the time for northern lights, ice caves and empty roads. It also demands more care. You need a van with a proper heater, winter tyres and an owner who will tell you when roads are closed.

For the northern lights angle, see our post on Reykjavík campervan rental in winter.

A first route from the airport

Once you have the van, the classic first drive from Keflavík is the Golden Circle: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir area and Gullfoss waterfall, all within about two hours of Reykjavík. We have driven it in several seasons, and in winter the low sun makes the steam from Geysir look spectacular. It is an easy first day because the roads are sealed and the sights are close together.

From there, you can continue south along the coast to Vík and Skaftafell, or turn north for the Snæfellsnes peninsula. If you started in the north and flew from Akureyri, think about whether a loop or a one-way makes sense, because you can also drop the van at a different location. Check which depots allow it and what the fee is. Our guide to the Akureyri campervan route shows the northern option.

Remember that fuel stations can be far apart outside Reykjavík, so fill up when you can.

Insurance, gravel and common surprises

Icelandic rental contracts have a few quirks. Gravel protection, sand and ash cover and water-crossing exclusions are common additions, and damage from F-roads and river crossings is usually not covered unless you hire a vehicle built for it. Wind damage to doors is a classic claim, so park facing into the wind and hold the door when you open it.

Also, camping rules are stricter than many visitors expect. Overnight stays are generally limited to designated campsites, and wild camping with a campervan is restricted, so check current rules before you rely on a spot. Campsites are plentiful, but July can be crowded.

Our post about campervan insurance and excess explains the vocabulary in plain English.

Driving in Iceland: what we tell friends

We have driven in Iceland in several seasons, and the same few things surprise first-timers. Speed limits are low, usually 90 km/h on paved rural roads and 80 km/h on gravel, and speed cameras exist. Headlights are used all day. Sheep wander onto roads. Single-lane bridges are common on the Ring Road, and the vehicle that reaches the bridge first has priority.

Weather changes fast, and the website of the Icelandic road authority and the weather office are the places to check before you set off. In winter, a campervan can be blown off its line by crosswinds, and ice on coastal roads is common. If conditions look bad, wait a few hours. It is rarely worth driving against a storm warning, and many rental contracts exclude weather damage you could have avoided.

If you want the seasonal picture, our post on low season versus peak campervan prices shows how much the calendar matters, and your rental company can tell you which roads are open before you set off.

How to book and save €20

Open the CampervanPlanet page for RKV arrivals and enter your dates with Keflavík as the pick-up. Compare the companies by price and by what is included, and check the deposit and the insurance terms. If you are travelling in winter, check the heater and the tyres. Then enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 at checkout for €20 off your booking.

The code is deducted from our commission, so you do not pay more, and the link tracks your booking for 30 days if you decide later. If you are still unsure, our 22-country campervan price comparison shows where Iceland sits on cost.