Despite its small size, Iceland is a country you could spend months exploring and still barely get to scratch the surface – and one of the best ways is to plan an Iceland road trip with kids.
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Because if you love adventures and unusual landscapes, glaciers, geysers, volcanoes, black sand beaches, rolling hills, and hot springs are just a few of the things this fascinating country has to offer – and travelling with your own wheels is one of the easiest ways to explore Iceland for families.
If you’re currently planning a road trip through Iceland with kids, here’s some information on the best routes to follow, as well as must-see destinations in case you want to create your own itinerary!
Best time to do an Iceland road trip
Summers (June, July, and August) are one of the best times to road trip Iceland with kids as this is the time of the year when the country experiences long days, midnight sun, and warmer weather.
The roads are also easier to drive and so it’s safer for visitors then, although can also expect more people to be exploring.
If you’re hoping to see the Northern Lights and the icy landscape, bear in mind that hitting Iceland’s highways in winter is only recommended if you have experience driving in the snow and days will be extremely short in midwinter. If you choose to drive in Iceland during this time of the year, you may also encounter closed roads.
If your kids are at school and you don’t have the flexibility to travel during term-time, Easter is often quieter and with more daylight to explore than winter (though less chance of seeing the Northern Lights).
Otherwise October half-term is worth considering: while you may be limited to a week, you might spot the Aurora and while it’s already cold, the weather is unlikely to limit you as much as midwinter. Do set off early each morning though as the sun sets early.
Whenever you choose to go, do pack a paper map of Iceland rather than just relying on GPS or Google Maps – while data coverage in Iceland is generally good, the further you head off the beaten track, the more likely you are to struggle (at precisely the point you don’t want to get lost!)
Top Iceland road trip routes
The Iceland Ring Road Route
The Iceland Ring Road Route is one of the most popular road trips through Iceland because Route 1 covers some of the top highlights of the country – the perfect way to explore Iceland with kids.
This route is 837 miles long and lets you loop your way around the country, all while making stops at some of the top attractions and destinations.
If you start the drive in Reykjavik, it’s easy to set aside a few days to exploring its landmarks and museums, including the eye-catching Hallgrimskirkja Church, as well as using it as a base to see some of the nearby attractions such as the Blue Lagoon.
As the ring road forms a circle around Iceland, you can choose which direction you prefer to go in, but if you’re wondering whether it’s best to drive Iceland’s ring road clockwise or anticlockwise, there are a few points to bear in mind.
- Follow the sun – if the weather is mixed (and your Iceland itinerary is flexible enough), then check the forecast and see whether the north or south coast is set to get sun. If one looks better that the other, let that dictate your route.
- Start with the southern attractions – a lot of the ring road’s key attractions are along the south coast, so it can be best to start here (heading counter-clockwise from Reykjavik). You’ll have more energy at the start of your Iceland road trip, plus there’s less danger of running out of time and missing something.
- Consider where to finish – eventually the loop will bring you back to your start point, of course, but if you want to spend longer in one area, it can make sense to finish your trip here. For example, if you want to save time for the Golden Circle or relax in the Westfjords for a few days, travel anticlockwise to keep these towards the end.
The Route 1 road trip can be done in a week, but if you’ve got the time, spend two weeks or more in order to be able to fully take in every destination along the way and check out any detours which take your fancy along the way.
If you’re planning an Iceland road trip with younger kids, it’s always a good idea to allow some time to slow down or have a day or two chilling out along the way as well if your kids need a break.
Whichever direction you take, don’t miss these must-do stops: Reykjavik – Vik – Hofn – Fjalladyrd – Heiðarbær – Hvammstangi – Skjol.
In between, you’ll make plenty of stops at some of the biggest natural attractions in the country, which range from geysers to waterfalls and icebergs, plus the black sand beaches of Vik before returning back to the capital.
The Seljalandsfoss and Godafoss waterfalls are two unmissable highlights, along with the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Lake Myvatn and some of the thermal pools.
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is another popular Iceland route. This road trip is much shorter but what it lacks in length, it makes up for with glorious nature!
This route covers loops about 230 miles from the capital and back, all while visiting three of the most popular destinations in Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir area. and Gulfoss.
Thingvellir – or to use its Icelandic spelling, Þingvellir National Park is where visitors can see the divide between the European and North American tectonic plates, and snorkelling or diving here is an experience to cross off your bucket list if you’re visiting Iceland with teens.
Gullfoss is another exciting place to visit, as it contains one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Iceland while Geysir is known for its geothermal activity and geysers.
The Golden Circle can easily be completed in a day, with tours galore from Reykjavik, but if you allow three or more days, you’ll be able to get to know each place more fully, beyond just the main highlights. There are plenty of hotels and other accommodation options spread throughout the route.
Must-visit Iceland destinations for your road trip
Check out my post on the best places to visit in Iceland with kids for more inspiration, but whatever route you choose and however long you stay, here are some of the top destinations to consider for your Iceland road trip itinerary.
Reykjavík
After flying into Keflavik airport, you’ll almost certainly plan to head to Reykjavik to start your Iceland road trip – so it’s not a stop as much, rather the beginning and end point of most visits to the country.
With that said, if you are tempted to skip the capital and drive on to Iceland’s natural destinations as soon as you land, think again, as lingering in the city for at least a day or two is highly recommended.
For starters, Reykjavík is gorgeous. Its colourful houses and picturesque streets are a treat to stroll through, and there are plenty of museums worth checking out in order to understand Icelandic culture better.
Take a tour
We loved this bike tour of Reykjavik, which is also a great option with older kids, plus a hop-on hop-off bus tour, which is ideal for younger kids or if the weather isn’t great.
Or there are some great animal-spotting options – try a puffin-watching tour or one of the many whale-watching tours, including a three-hour option with a return trip for free if you don’t spot whales.
Enjoy the views
For some fantastic views, take the lift up the Hallgrimskirkja church to look out across the city.
Or head over to the Perlan building, which sits on a hill just over a mile beyond the city with artificial geysers, fantastic views and a mirrored finish to make kids think of spaceships.
The National Museum
The 2,000 exhibits at the National Museum take visitors on a journey through time from the first settlers on the island to the modern day.
Along with thousand-year-old artefacts, there are two very hands-on rooms to explore with kids as well.
Reykjavik 871
Stop in at The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavik 871 10 minutes away from the National Museum, which tells the tale of the early settlers near where they’d have first made landfall.
Reykjavik Zoo
Reykjavik’s zoo might be small but you can see reindeer and seals here which is sure to delight – and a good option if you’re not venturing too far off the beaten track and unlikely to see them elsewhere on your Iceland road trip.
Blue Lagoon
Located outside of the capital, the Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular destinations in Iceland for good reason, a geothermal pool with bright milky blue water that steams in the chilly air.
Thanks to its warm temperatures, swimming here is possible year-round, even when there’s snow on the ground.
Despite its popularity, the lagoon is still absolutely worth considering for your Iceland road trip with kids, although it is both pricier and more crowded than other similar pools.
Alternatives to the Blue Lagoon
While the famous Blue Lagoon is one of the best-known geothermal pools in Iceland – and an easy option if you’re staying around Reykjavik – it’s also inevitably one of the busiest and most expensive.
So if you’re setting off to explore Iceland on a road trip with kids anyway, you could also stop at the following.
- The Secret Lagoon – the Secret Lagoon is less of a secret these days, but Iceland’s oldest pool is still tempting. Near Fludir, there’s even a geyser that erupts while you’re enjoying the warm waters.
- Fontana – Fontana is easy to combine with the Golden Circle, not far from Lake Laugarvatn, with a series of pools to try.
- Mývatn Nature Baths – Myvatn Nature Baths in northern Iceland are a great option if you’re travelling the Iceland Ring Road, with similar milky blue waters to the Blue Lagoon – but smaller and quieter.
For more alternatives to the Blue Lagoon with kids, check out this post by Travelynn Family
Gulfoss
A breath-taking 32 metres of cascading waterfalls, with rainbows reflecting in the sunshine or halted mid flow as it turns into eerily frozen icicles in winter.
Definitely somewhere to keep tight hold of littler ones… It’s far from the only waterfall to see in Iceland with kids, but there’s a reason it’s one of the classic stops on a Golden Circle tour.
Geysir
With several geysers of different sizes, you’re guaranteed an eruption of water from Strokkur which gushes into the air like clockwork.
There are various others which are less predictable but equally impressive too.
Walk through Thingvellir
The dramatic landscape here is caused by the meeting of two tectonic plates, plus it’s also the site of the world’s oldest existing parliament.
The history and geology is more fascinating to older kids than a three-year-old, but it’s a fascinating place to wander at any age.
Vik
Vik is a small town located on the southern coast of Iceland that’s famous for its dramatic black sand beach.
The black sand you’ll find here is a result of volcanic activity on the island, and when you see the contrast of black, blue, and green colors from the landscape, you’ll understand why it was rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
This is the deepest lake in Iceland and a glorious stop to make on your Iceland road trip – especially if seeing glaciers is on your bucket list!
At Jokulsarlon glacial lake, in Iceland’s south east, thousand-year-old ice floats across the lagoon. There are boat tours to get a close-up view, and you might even spot seals.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a place where you’ll find yourself in a world of black sand beaches, strange rock formations, glaciers, and spanning lava fields.
If you want to see landscapes that look out of this world, it’s unmissable. In fact, there’s so much to see and do here that you could actually plan an entire road trip just in the area.
Some of the best things to do include (but aren’t limited to) soaking up in geothermal pools, walking over lava fields, birdwatching, and spotting seals.
It’s also home to the Snæfellsjökull National Park, right on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which is one of the three National Parks in Iceland.
As a bonus, make sure to do a quick pit stop at Stykkishólmur, the peninsula’s main town.
See the Northern Lights
Specialist tours will check the best places to sight the magical aurora, with various options around the country but especially in Reykjavik – although with long drives out of the city and late nights, these are another option that’s better for older children.
Alternatively, check into a hotel with a Northern Lights wake-up services, so you’ll be told if they’re shining. There are also Aurora apps to download, so you can get an idea of whether it’s a good night to step out and scan the skies.
More tips for planning an Iceland road trip with kids
Hiring a car for an Iceland road trip
If you’re travelling in winter, a 4×4 is essentials not optional for an Iceland road trip with kids, but with the often rugged conditions in the north of the country and sometimes unpredictable weather conditions, it’s good to have a vehicle that can cope year-round.
Car rental companies at Keflavik airport include Europcar, which has a string of different 4 wheel drive options, as well as big names including Avis, Hertz and Budget. Travelsupermarket is also a good option to compare rates and models, although filtering for 4WD cars isn’t always easy.
One of my top Iceland travel tips is to always pack a paper map of Iceland rather than just relying on GPS/Google Maps in case you lose data coverage (or your battery goes flat).
Don’t forget booster seats too (as well as safety, you don’t want your kids to miss the scenery!) The Bubblebum inflatable booster seat is a good option for kids aged 4+, or Trunki Boostapak as well as the Mifold range.
Where to stay in Iceland with kids
There are companies which will package up an Iceland road trip with kids for you, including car, accommodation, itinerary, special GPS devices and more. But if you’re planning your route independently, it’s easy to book family-friendly hotels or self-catering accommodation along the way.
Booking.com is a good place to start, with options in the Golden Circle as well as Reykjavik and its surroundings, plus the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Lake Myvatn, among other options.
Otherwise companies like Hey Iceland, which specialise in self-drive tours of the country, or Stubborn Mule, who are great for family adventures, are also good options.
The best guidebooks for a family road trip in Iceland
There are some great Iceland travel guide books if you’re planning an Iceland road trip with kids, including Lonely Planet Iceland which has a whole section on the ring road or the Lonely Planet Iceland’s Ring Road guide which is tailored to road trips.
Alternatively Lonely Planet Experience Iceland which has tips on the unmissable experiences to find in the country as well as places to discover.
This fun Iceland Travel Map and Activity Book is also fun for kids and makes a great souvenir.
Tips for a road trip with kids
Wondering what to pack for your Iceland road trip with kids? Check out my complete road trip packing guide, including advice on what to take with you, keeping kids entertained and the essentials, from paperwork to clothing.
I’ve also got ideas for 55 road trip activities for kids – Iceland’s scenery is amazing, and you won’t be short of impressive places to visit, but it’s always good to have a back-up plan to avoid kids getting bored.
Iceland is also renowned for being pricy – a reputation that’s sadly deserved – so it’s worth making a plan for food in advance, and ensuring you’ve got plenty of snacks as you go. Check out my tips for some of the easiest, healthiest and least messy road trip snacks for kids.
For more tips on planning a road trip with kids, I’ve rounded up my advice in this post
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Images courtesy of Depositphotos
