Seven days · counter-clockwise · summer
A fast but workable route for first-time couples: glaciers in the south, quiet Eastfjords, volcanic north and one protected buffer before returning the campervan.
The honest pace check
This plan averages 234 km of driving per day before weather, road works or spontaneous stops. It works only if you start early and choose the listed highlights rather than trying to collect every pin.
If you can add two or three days, do it. If conditions turn, skip a stop—not the safety margin. Check the official live road service every morning.
Start early and keep the Golden Circle focused: walk Þingvellir, see Geysir and Gullfoss, then continue south to camp near Route 1.
A shorter driving day makes room for Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the exposed viewpoints around Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara.
This is a full sightseeing day. Keep Fjaðrárgljúfur brief, choose one Skaftafell walk and protect time for Jökulsárlón before the final drive to Höfn.
Follow the coast through Djúpivogur and Breiðdalsvík. Skip the Öxi shortcut: the itinerary is designed around the main-road approach for first-time visitors.
The stops add distance and rougher approaches. Leave early, use the signed public access for Stuðlagil and check the official road service before committing to Dettifoss.
See Goðafoss before the tour buses peak, take a deliberate meal-and-fuel break in Akureyri, then continue west to shorten the final day.
Close the loop with Kolugljúfur and a service stop in Borgarnes. Keep the afternoon flexible for weather delays, vehicle return rules and the Reykjavík arrival.
Before you reserve the van
The route is about 25 hours at the wheel. The calculator adds your quote, fuel use, campsite nights and the 2026 road fees.
Route estimates use OSRM with OpenStreetMap data, checked 5 August 2026. Times exclude stops and can change with weather, traffic and road conditions. The Northbound price link is an affiliate link; we may earn a commission if you book after clicking.