Don’t Freeze, Don’t Forget: The Only Iceland Camping Checklist You’ll Ever Need

Planning a wild camping adventure in Iceland?

Buckle up, buttercup – you're heading to a land where the wind slaps harder than your ex and the weather changes more often than your Spotify playlist.

If you want to make the most out of your Iceland campervan trip, you better pack smart and plan like a pro.

This isn’t your average “throw some socks in a bag and go” kind of journey: This is van life in Iceland, and it comes with its own set of rules.

So here it is – your gloriously unfiltered, absolutely essential, KuKu-approved Iceland camping checklist.

No fluff. No nonsense. Just what you actually need to survive (and thrive) in the land of volcanoes and sheep.

💳 Cash or Card? Spoiler: Mostly Card

Let’s talk money, because unless you plan on paying for gas with dried fish or Viking sagas, you’re gonna need some.

The local currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK). You can exchange your money at Keflavík Airport (they’ve got both a bank and an ATM ready for action), but honestly? You probably won’t need much of it.

Here’s the truth:

In Iceland, everyone takes cards. Gas stations? Check. Campsites? Yup. Tiny farm cafés in the middle of nowhere? You bet.

That grandma selling hand-knitted wool socks on the side of the road? Tap to pay, baby.

👉 So do yourself a favor:

Memorize your PIN.
Keep a little bit of cash just in case.
Check with your bank if your card has a “no foreign transaction fee” option – because nobody wants to pay more just for the privilege of swiping their card.

The króna might fluctuate like crazy (thank you, 2008 financial crisis), but one thing’s certain: your credit card is king in Iceland.

In Iceland, cash is out and cards are king – even in remote gas stations and campsites. A credit card and a PIN are all you really need on the road.

🍕 Food: Cook Like a Viking (or at Least Like a Broke Tourist)

First rule of camping in Iceland: don’t rely on gas station food unless you enjoy spending €20 on a soggy burger that tastes like regret.

Instead, do yourself a massive favor – rent a cooler with your KuKu campervan. It's your best friend on the road, second only to wool socks and maybe the playlist you’ll blast while cruising past glaciers.

Stock up on essentials at bigger supermarkets before you hit the more remote areas, and if you're feeling adventurous (and sustainable), buy local as you go.

The tomatoes from Icelandic greenhouses? Chef's kiss. That roadside farm cheese? Probably life-changing.

And don’t forget the free food shelves at many campsites – a magical place where fellow campers leave behind edible treasures.

We've seen everything from instant noodles to unopened jars of peanut butter and mystery spices. It’s like Christmas, but in a fridge.

A quick photo stop on the road – camera in hand, beanie on, and Iceland’s dramatic scenery doing all the heavy lifting in the background.

💧 Water: Don’t Be That Tourist

Let’s set this straight once and for all: tap water in Iceland is pure, clean, and basically glacier juice.

It’s free. It’s everywhere. It’s probably better than whatever you’re drinking back home.

So no – you do not need to buy bottled water! Unless you enjoy being side-eyed by locals and spending money for no reason, that is.

Just bring a reusable bottle and fill it up at any tap, any campsite, any river (seriously, even rivers are drinkable here – but tap is safer if you're squeamish).

Packing for a campervan trip in Iceland? Add "water bottle" to the top of your checklist and skip the overpriced plastic.

🍺 Alcohol: It’s Complicated

Thinking of cracking open a cold one after a long hike? You better plan ahead.

In Iceland, the state controls alcohol sales (nope, still not North Korea, we checked).

Here’s the deal:

Regular shops only sell "near beer" – i.e., soda that wants to be beer.
Real alcohol is sold in Vínbúðin, the official state-run booze shops.
These shops close early, open late, and can be harder to find than puffins in winter.

🛬 Pro tip for campers in Iceland: Stock up at the duty-free store at Keflavík Airport when you land.

It’s cheaper, easier, and your only chance to buy booze without solving a riddle and finding a Vínbúðin that’s actually open.

Also, always buy more than you think you’ll need. Because nothing ruins a romantic campervan night like running out of wine 50 km from the nearest town.

Bundled up for Iceland’s winter wonderland with a puffer jacket, scarf, and beanie – this is how you stay warm while camping near glaciers.

🎒 So, what to pack for camping in Iceland?

Ah yes, the million-dollar question: what should you actually bring for camping in Iceland without ending up cold, wet, or deeply fashion-confused?

🧥 Clothing: Embrace the Layers, Ditch the Runway

Let’s get one thing straight: Icelandic weather does not care about your plans or your outfit.

It’s unpredictable, wild, and will likely throw all four seasons at you in a single day – sometimes in a single hour.

That’s why your Iceland camping checklist better include:

Rain pants (yes, they’re real and yes, you’ll thank us)
A waterproof hooded jacket
A fleece or three
Gloves, scarf, beanie – aka your new best friends
Layers, layers, layers (did we mention layers?)

You will look like the Michelin Man. That’s just part of the deal. But hey, a puffy silhouette is in when it comes with glacier views.

Forgot your wool sweater? Perfect excuse to snag a Lopapeysa, the iconic Icelandic wool sweater. It’s warm, it’s stylish-ish, and it makes a great souvenir you’ll actually use.

👟 Shoes > style

Let go of the fantasy where you're strutting through Iceland in stylish city shoes.

Pack good hiking boots or grippy sneakers – your feet will be battling lava fields, gravel roads, mud, and possibly some sheep droppings. Heels? Loafers? Into the void.

🩱 The wild card: swimsuit

Sounds weird? Trust us.

Iceland is full of steamy, natural hot springs and geothermal pools that are begging for a dip – even when it’s snowing.

So yes, pack that swimsuit, even if it feels ridiculous at first. It’ll be the most used item you brought.

Tightening up hiking boots before hitting the trails – a classic campervan moment before exploring Iceland’s rugged terrain.

🏕️ Camping equipment: You bring the vibes, we'll handle the rest

Sure, you could drag your own sleeping bag, camping chairs, and half your garage with you...

But why travel like a pack mule when we’ve got everything you need for your Iceland camping adventure already waiting for you?

🎒 Rent it, don’t regret it

At KuKu HQ, we’ve got a whole stash of camping gear for Iceland ready to roll. Just a few clicks on our website and you can rent:

Sleeping bags & pillows
Blankets that hug you better than your ex ever did
Camping chairs & foldable tables
Towels (because even in the wild, you deserve to be dry)

And so. much. more. Seriously, your back will thank you.

🚐 What’s already in your KuKu Camper?

Glad you asked. Your KuKu campervan comes locked and loaded with:

A comfy mattress for dream-worthy sleeps
A gas burner/stove to unleash your inner camping chef
Cooking & eating utensils (yes, even a corkscrew)
Cleaning tools (you’re not a savage)
And the legendary KuKu frisbee, because why not?

Running out of gas? No worries – we’ve got you covered at pick-up, and you’ll find more at most gas stations along your road trip route.

🧠 What you should bring yourself

Some essentials are better when they’re yours:

A refillable water bottle (because, as we said. Iceland’s tap water = liquid gold)
Zip-lock bags (for leftovers, wet swimsuits, or rogue skyr explosions)
A clothesline for drying that rain-soaked gear
Hiking poles if you’re planning to conquer some serious trails
A tripod, especially if the northern lights decide to make an appearance ✨

A full spread of camping and photography gear laid out before takeoff – from hiking boots to camera lenses, this is what serious Iceland packing looks like The aurora puts on a surreal show above Iceland’s winter wilderness – one of those campervan-night moments you’ll remember forever.

☀️ Daylight Drama: too little or way too much

Let’s talk about one of Iceland’s most underrated plot twists: daylight.

Depending on when you visit, you’ll either be fumbling in the dark or wondering if the sun ever plans to leave.

🌑 Winter: The fast and the furiously short days

Coming between November and February? Pack a flashlight (or three).

Daylight hours? A generous 4 to 5 if you're lucky. That means by 4 PM, it’s already pitch black and your brain is screaming bedtime even if you just had lunch.

Pro tip: add “headlamp” to your Iceland camping checklist – because cooking pasta in total darkness is a vibe... but not a good one.

🌞 Summer: eternal sunshine of the Icelandic mind

June? July? Welcome to 24-hour daylight. The sun barely sets – it just kinda takes a quick coffee break and keeps shining.

Great for road trips, midnight hot spring dips, and pretending you're in a post-apocalyptic light dimension.

Worried about sleeping? We’ve got you. Just swing by the KuKu office and grab a sleeping mask so you can actually rest in your campervan, even if it looks like noon outside at 3 AM.

As a summary :

✅ You’re packed, prepped, & ready to roll

Boom. That’s it. You’ve officially got everything you need to survive and thrive during your camping trip in Iceland.

You know what to wear (hint: layers), what to eat (not gas station pizza), what to pack (yes, the swimsuit), and when it’ll be dark (either always or never).

And the best part? You’re doing it all with KuKu Campers, which means:

🛏️ Your campervan comes fully equipped with a mattress, kitchen tools, gas burner, cleaning gear… and yes, the iconic KuKu frisbee.
🎒 You can rent all the Iceland camping gear you don’t want to fly with – sleeping bags, chairs, towels, even a cooler to keep that skyr nice and cold.
😴 We’ve got sleeping masks for those endless summer nights.
🧼 There’s a KuKu office full of extras, tips, and possibly bad jokes (free of charge).
🧭 You’re set for the road trip of a lifetime and ready to chase waterfalls, glaciers, or sheep that stare into your soul.

So what are you waiting for? Toss that last hoodie in your bag, fill up your water bottle, and fire up your playlist.

Iceland is calling, and your KuKu campervan is waiting out front with the engine purring.

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