Leave Reykjavík around 8:00 AM on Route 1 toward Vík. It’s roughly a 2½-hour drive without stops, but allow most of the day for the waterfalls and for filling the van before you get too far along the South Coast. The road is straightforward and mostly paved; keep an eye on road.is and SafeTravel for wind, rain, and visibility. After passing Hveragerði and Hella, settle into the wide coastal views, with plenty of safe pull-offs—avoid stopping on the shoulder of Route 1.
Your first main stop is Seljalandsfoss, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Reykjavík. The walk around the waterfall takes approximately 45 minutes, including the path behind the falls when it is open and safe. Wear waterproof layers and shoes with good grip: the spray makes the rocks slippery even in August. Parking is paid, and the area can be busy, so an earlier arrival is worthwhile; toilets and refreshments are generally available seasonally near the parking area.
Continue approximately 25 minutes east to Skógafoss. Give yourself about an hour here to see the waterfall from below and climb the steep staircase to the upper viewpoint if conditions and energy allow. The spray is often strongest near the base, while the top gives a broader view over the South Coast. Skógar has useful facilities for a first van day, including fuel and food options, so this is a sensible place to top up supplies before the final drive to Vík.
From Skógafoss, it is about 30 minutes to Vík. Have dinner at Black Crust Pizzeria, a relaxed wood-fired spot in town; budget roughly 3,500–5,500 ISK per person, and check the current evening hours before setting out because schedules can change outside peak periods. After dinner, drive to Vík Campsite for the night. It is conveniently placed for town and provides toilets and showers; check in as soon as you arrive, follow the marked van pitches, and confirm shower payment or access arrangements at reception. Since this is your first night camping, use the campsite kitchen or common area if available rather than cooking in a crowded car park, and keep food secured—the coastal wind can pick up quickly overnight.
Leave Vík around 7:00 AM on Route 1, with the van fueled before departure. Your first stop is Dyrhólaey Lighthouse and Viewpoint, about 20 minutes east of Vík; allow an hour for the cliff views, sea arch, and lighthouse area. Continue a few minutes to Reynisfjara Beach for the basalt columns and sea stacks. Stay well back from the shoreline—sneaker waves are genuinely dangerous—and avoid turning your back on the ocean. The beach itself is free, though parking rules and conditions can change.
Continue east on Route 1, stopping at Fjaðrárgljúfur near Kirkjubæjarklaustur for the marked viewpoint walk, roughly an hour. It is a good place to stretch your legs, but remain on the designated trail to protect the fragile moss. Afterward, drive onward to Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park. Allow about two hours for a moderate walk toward Svartifoss; the visitor centre has toilets, maps, and trail updates, while parking is generally paid—budget roughly 1,000 ISK per vehicle. Bring water and a layer even if the coast feels mild.
Finish at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where an hour is enough to watch icebergs drift toward the sea and, if energy allows, walk across to the nearby black-sand outlet shore. Keep clear of the water and ice; pieces can calve unexpectedly. From the lagoon, allow about an hour to reach Höfn Camping in Höfn via Route 1. Check in before the evening rush, choose a level pitch, and confirm the current shower arrangement at reception; Icelandic campsites commonly charge around 2,000–3,500 ISK per adult, with showers sometimes included or metered. Stock up on fuel and groceries in Höfn tonight, since services become more limited as you continue east.
Leave Höfn around 7:00 AM with the van fueled and breakfast packed; today is a long but beautiful eastbound drive, and the planned stops make it closer to a full day than the direct four-to-five-hour estimate. Start at Diamond Beach, beside Jökulsárlón, where chunks of glacier ice wash onto the black sand. Spend about 45 minutes walking the shoreline, keeping well back from the waves—ice can shift unexpectedly, and the Atlantic current is stronger than it looks. Check road.is and Safetravel.is before leaving, particularly for wind and road conditions on the later mountain stretch.
Continue west of Höfn’s area to Vestrahorn at Stokksnes, allowing about 1½ hours for the beach, dunes, and mountain views. There is usually an admission fee of roughly 1,000–1,500 ISK per person, payable at the Viking Café, and the access road can be rough, so drive slowly in the van. This is one of the best places to let the schedule breathe: weather can change the view completely, and the dunes are worth exploring on foot rather than rushing through for a photograph.
Follow Route 1 through the Eastfjords to Djúpivogur Harbour, a peaceful fishing village that makes a good 45-minute leg stretch. Walk along the waterfront and grab something simple from a local café or bakery if open; hours are seasonal, so don’t rely on it as your only lunch option. Keep lunch supplies in the van, and use the town’s fuel stop if you are getting low—services become more limited as you continue east. From Djúpivogur, allow roughly an hour to reach Petra’s Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður. Petra’s private collection is a charming, slightly eccentric stop filled with Icelandic minerals and stones gathered over her lifetime; plan about an hour and expect admission in the neighborhood of 2,000–3,000 ISK per adult, with summer hours generally extending into the late afternoon but worth confirming on the day.
The final leg to Seyðisfjörður uses Route 93 over the pass, so allow extra time for weather, winding roads, and photo pull-offs rather than treating the navigation estimate as fixed. Once in town, walk the short distance through Rainbow Street toward the Blue Church, taking about an hour to browse the colorful artsy streets and small galleries. The church is most atmospheric from outside; access inside depends on services and opening times. Check in at Seyðisfjörður Campsite before settling in, since the office may close earlier than expected. A campervan pitch with access to bathrooms and showers is typically around 2,000–3,500 ISK per person, though 2026 rates may differ; confirm whether showers are included or coin-operated, and stock up on dinner in advance because evening restaurant choices in town are limited.
Leave Seyðisfjörður around 7:00–7:30 AM, taking Route 93 over the pass to Egilsstaðir and then joining Route 1 west toward Möðrudalur and Lake Mývatn. The drive is about 4½–5½ hours without stops, so this is the day to keep breakfast simple and fuel up in Egilsstaðir. Check road.is and Safetravel before setting out, especially for wind or poor visibility over the mountain pass; pull over only at marked lay-bys, since much of this stretch is remote. Aim to reach the Hverir Geothermal Area late morning. Allow around 45 minutes to walk among the steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots, staying strictly on the marked paths—the ground is dangerously hot, and the sulfur smell clings to clothing.
Continue a few minutes around the Mývatn shore to Dimmuborgir, where the easy lava-field paths wind through arches and dark rock towers. Give yourself about an hour, and bring water because there is little shade. Afterward, make the westbound drive toward Goðafoss, roughly 45–50 minutes away on Route 1. The waterfall is close to the main road, with viewpoints on both sides of the river; 45 minutes is enough for the falls and photographs. There are cafés and basic facilities nearby, but opening hours can be seasonal, so keep sandwiches in the van rather than relying on a late lunch stop.
From Goðafoss, continue about 35–40 minutes to Akureyri and finish with a relaxed hour at the Akureyri Botanical Garden. It is free to enter, generally open late into the evening in summer, and is a good place to decompress after the long drive; the garden sits just south of the center, with parking nearby. Then drive to Akureyri Camping Ground for the night. Check in before reception closes—summer hours can change—and confirm the current shower arrangement and any extra shower fee on arrival. Expect roughly 2,500–3,500 ISK per adult for a campsite pitch, with toilets, showers, water, and waste facilities; secure the van early, as Akureyri is a popular overnight stop in August.
Leave Akureyri around 8:00 AM on Route 1, allowing roughly four hours of driving before detours and stops. Top up the van and collect breakfast before leaving town; once you reach the open country around Skagafjörður, pull over at a safe roadside viewpoint for about 45 minutes of photographs. The valley is especially good in the morning, with broad farmland, horses, and mountain backdrops. Keep the stop flexible rather than chasing a specific viewpoint, since many pull-offs are small and parking on the road shoulder is unsafe.
Continue southwest toward Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, where short marked paths lead between the striking lava-field waterfalls. Allow about an hour, and bring a waterproof layer—the spray and wind can make this feel cooler than the drive. From there, drive to Deildartunguhver near Reykholt for a 30-minute look at Europe’s highest-flowing hot spring; stay behind the barriers and use the marked paths, as the water is dangerously hot. These stops add time to the direct journey, so expect to reach Borgarnes in the late afternoon rather than early afternoon.
Spend roughly 1½ hours at The Settlement Center in central Borgarnes, whose exhibitions explain Iceland’s settlement era and the story of Egill Skallagrímsson. Check the museum’s current August closing time before setting out—hours can change seasonally—and budget approximately 2,500–3,500 ISK for admission. Afterward, drive a few minutes to Borgarnes Campsite, where evening check-in is straightforward and facilities include bathrooms and showers; expect around 2,000–3,500 ISK per person. Ask the campsite staff about the latest shower access and quiet hours, then stock up in Borgarnes if needed, since tomorrow’s westbound route is easier with breakfast and fuel already sorted.
Leave Borgarnes around 7:00 AM on Route 1, heading south toward Vík before turning inland onto Route 214 for Þakgil. Allow 4½–5½ hours of driving, plus stops and a slower final approach on the rough gravel road. This is a demanding transfer day, so fuel up and buy breakfast before leaving; do not attempt Route 214 if conditions are poor or your rental agreement excludes it. A suitable 4x4 camper is important, and the road can be dusty, uneven, and slow even in good weather.
Break up the drive with Skool Beans in Vík, the cheerful coffee bus made from a converted school bus. Allow about 45 minutes for a specialty coffee and something small to eat—roughly 1,000–2,000 ISK per person. Check its same-day opening hours before setting out, as seasonal schedules can change. Continue west toward Hvolsvöllur for lunch or an early dinner at Ingólfsskáli Viking Restaurant, a rustic, Viking-themed spot near the coast. Expect about 5,000–9,000 ISK per person and around 1½ hours; reservations are sensible in August, particularly if you are traveling with a larger group.
Return toward Vík for a final treat at Crepe.is, where sweet or savory crepes make an easy meal before the last drive into the valley. Allow roughly 45 minutes and 2,000–4,000 ISK per person, checking the day’s closing time because late-season hours can vary. From Vík, follow the signed approach to Þakgil Campsite on Route 214 and aim to arrive well before evening. Check in, park only where directed, and take a short walk among the dramatic canyon walls if weather and daylight allow. Confirm current toilet and shower availability before relying on them; facilities can be limited, and hot water may not always be guaranteed.
On August 19, leave Þakgil around 8:00 AM to allow extra time for the gravel road back to Route 1. Refuel near Vík, then continue west toward Reykjavík, allowing roughly 3½–4 hours of driving in normal conditions plus traffic and the van-return inspection. Keep the final day simple rather than adding a distant detour: return the vehicle by 5:00 PM, with enough time beforehand to clean the living area, empty waste and water tanks as required, and photograph the van’s condition.