Iceland Road Trip Tips: What We Learned Driving the Ring Road for 2 Weeks
- Jillian and Jeremy
- Jul 26
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Why This Isn’t Just Another Iceland Blog
We’re Jillian and Jeremy, muSiK YouTube Hosts, HS Advocates, and travel junkies who spent two weeks driving the entire perimeter of Iceland. This post isn’t a travel diary. It’s a no-fluff, straight-to-the-point set of tips based on what we wish we knew before starting our journey. We made mistakes so you don’t have to—and trust us, Iceland will humble you fast.
Whether you're actively planning your own Iceland trip or just dreaming about it, these are the practical, must-know tips that can make or break your trip. Want to see all of this in action? Be sure to check out our full Iceland vlog series on YouTube.
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BEFORE YOU GO: MUST-DOs
🚙 Booking A Rental Car
No special driver's license required (yes!). Your valid U.S. license is just fine. Proof here
Where to rent: On-site airport vendors (Budget, Avis, Europcar, Hertz) are more convenient but cost a bit more. We saved $150 going off-site, but it added nearly 2 hours to our pickup experience. Next time? We’d pay the extra for convenience. Read more here.
Rent an SUV. Even if you’re not planning to drive on "F-roads," Iceland’s gravel, potholes, and weather make low-clearance cars a gamble. One 20-minute stretch nearly broke us. We’ll never visit without an SUV again. Please save yourself the peace of mind and do the same.
Don’t be fooled by low prices. Most rental car companies in Iceland bank on you getting their insurance—and you should. ⬇️ Build this into your budget upfront, don't be surprised.
Get the full insurance package. I have nothing to sell you here, and no ulterior motive. Just pure experience. Absolutely do not rely on your random credit card’s rental insurance coverage. Iceland’s rental terms are different, and sand, ash, and gravel damage are extremely common. We had a wheel issue (gravel stuck in the wheel / rim) and thanks to insurance, we paid nothing for our after-hours repair.
For reference, our 2-week sedan rental cost $690, including $170 in insurance. Without it, they would’ve placed a $2,500 hold on our card.
✈️ Airline Tickets (Baggage Fees)
Double check your ticket for baggage fees and seat selection charges. Our “cheap” Air Canada fare ($430 per person, roundtrip) ended up costing an addition $300 in roundtrip luggage fees.
Use filters on Expedia, Priceline or Skyscanner to understand the total trip cost.
🏨 Accommodations
Outside of major cities like Reykjavík, Akureyri, and Vík, hotel options are extremely limited.
Many guesthouses and inns are hostel-style with shared bathrooms.
We learned the hard way upon arrival that we shared a bathroom with four other guest rooms. It was fine, just unexpected. Know before you go, book early and read that fine print!! On a positive note, said accommodation had the most comfy bed we ever slept in.
In Reykjavík and Akureyri we stayed in terrific VRBOs. Everywhere else we booked through Expedia. Let me know if you want the nitty gritty details.
💳 Credit Cards: Get That PIN!
Iceland is nearly cashless. We only needed coins once or twice for a paid restroom.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!: You’ll need a 4-digit credit card PIN for many places, including gas stations and some vending machines.
We did NOT have a pin, as we never need this in the US for credit cards. Typically, you cannot call and get the PIN, it's mailed in advance. So get that PIN before you go.
Bring at least two backup cards with travel notifications enabled.
True story: nearly out of gas, we arrived at a self-serve gas station that would not take our main credit card. There was no attendant, no one around. Thankfully, another card DID work, or we would have run out of gas before the next station.
Be sure your credit card doesn't charge international transaction fees - this adds up fast!
🍫 Smart Packing Tips: Iceland Essentials
Clothes: In October, we experienced sunshine, wind, rain, snow, and fog—in a single day. You have to be prepared for anything. We suggest these items any time of year.
Food: You can’t bring meat or dairy, but you can bring packaged protein bars from the U.S. (like Quest, Pure Protein, or Built Puff bars).
If you land before 11am (like us), grocery stores (like Bonus) near the airport aren't yet open. Protein bars saved us until we could find real food.
Water: Refillable water bottles are staples for most travelers these days. In Iceland, because stores are few and far between, having your refillable water bottle is a must. Jillian's reallllly picky about her water being clean, so this Lifestraw Go Water Bottle is a lifesaver for cleaning out impurities and making water taste like...well, water....no matter where you fill up.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN ICELAND
🧠 Mindset Shift + Break + Get The Rental Car
Your first time ANYWHERE can be exciting yet overwhelming, especially a new country. You might be uncertain of "how things work" and often afraid of doing something wrong, or that you will somehow get cheated (is it just us?!?). We implore you to take some deep breaths and understand this: although the geography is different, for the most part, "things" work the same in Iceland as the US. Most everyone speaks English. Just enjoy the experience.
Pro tip: take a bathroom and snack break before dealing with rental logistics. Fill up your water bottle. Take care of YOU first. Clear your head, then make your way to the rental car.
Our rental car, booked through Discover Cars (not sponsored), was ~10 minutes offsite and required a shuttle to get to the facility. This is the same as most US major cities. No issue there.
Finding the shuttle driver was cumbersome, only because it was our first time. What is communicated is that shuttles run every 20 minutes.
The reality was that we waited 45 minutes for the shuttle to take just one of us without luggage (small van, lots of passengers). Total pickup experience = 2 hours.
In hindsight, if money wasn't a factor, we would have booked an on-site rental car to avoid that extra stress and time - you'll pay an extra $100-200 for this convenience. As of today, on-site airport rental car agencies are: Budget, Avis, Europcar, and Hertz.
THRIVING IN ICELAND
🚗 Driving Around Iceland? Start Here.
Headlights must be on at all times—it’s the law, and you'll want them on in Iceland’s moody weather. Not all cars have auto high-beams, so be mindful not to blind others. ;-)
Speed cameras are everywhere, especially in remote areas. You typically won't see police.
Tickets are sent directly to your rental agency and include a processing fee. No joke. For as rural and remote as Iceland looks, the technology is top notch.
Speed limits: 90 km/h (55 mph) paved roads, 80 km/h (50 mph) gravel, 50 km/h (31 mph) in towns.
Use cruise control to avoid accidental speeding.
Off-road driving is illegal and causes major environmental damage. If you are driving on Route 1 / Ring Road, the signage is good and easy to follow. Unless you've applied for an "F-road Permit" specifically for off roading, do not to turn on any roads labeled with an "F".
Seatbelts are mandatory for everyone.
Some roads are full of potholes—go slow, and don't expect freshly paved roads everywhere.
☂️ Weather + Roads = Survival Mode
In October, we experienced sunshine, wind, rain, snow, and fog—in a single day. Pack layers, waterproof gear, gloves, and dry socks. If you missed it earlier, we recommend these items any time of the year in Iceland.
Always check vedur.is (weather) and road.is (road conditions) before heading out.
Many rentals, especially SUVs, come with tire chains. We had a sedan and never needed tire chains; however, we had to alternate plans because one of the roads we planned to take was snowed out and impassable.
🍽️ Food + Restrooms: Plan Ahead
Grocery stores near the airport (like Bónus) often open late for us Americans - after 11am.
Gas stations (Olís, N1) are your best food and restroom stops. Believe it or not, there are some really solid food options in Iceland's gas stations. Don't be picky, especially in remote areas. If you have dietary requirements, be sure to factor this in to your planning and packing.
Carry snacks, refillable water bottles, and use bathrooms when you find them.
Public restrooms sometimes charge 100–200 ISK (about $0.75–1.50). Given you don't really need cash, I'd suggest pulling out $40, breaking a bill to get coins (for the restroom), then using any remaining cash at the airport gift shop before flying home. Just a thought.
⛽ Fuel Strategy - You Need One.
Top off your tank whenever you can, as stations are very scarce in remote areas. We had a few uncomfortably close experiences nearly running out of gas and will never do that again. Use local gas maps or the 'Bensin' app to always know where you will fill up next.
As mentioned, many pumps are unmanned and require a chip-and-PIN card. And another reminder to always have a backup payment option.
This very helpful article gives a full rundown on what to expect at the pump.
Watch Our Full Iceland Vlog Series
🎥 See These Tips IRL
Watch our 4-part Iceland vlog series to experience these tips in real time.
Includes wild landscapes, real mishaps, travel hacks, and more.
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Final Thoughts
Iceland is one of the most visually stunning, soul-recalibrating places we’ve ever visited. But it’s also wild, unpredictable, and not for the unprepared. We hope these tips and our lessons-learned help make your trip safer, smoother, and more magical.
Have questions or your own Iceland tip to share? Drop it in the comments below ⬇️
Happy travels, friends.
~ Jillian & Jeremy
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