If I was going to drive across Iceland again, there are so many things I’d do differently. Don’t get me wrong, Iceland was one of the most incredible road trips we’ve ever done.
We drove through black sand beaches, massive waterfalls, glacier lagoons, lava fields, tiny fishing villages, and some of the weirdest landscapes I’ve ever seen in my life. But after spending all that time driving around the country, there are definitely a few things I’d change if I could go back and do it all over again.
And honestly, I think these are the kinds of things people don’t really realize until they’re already there.
A lot of Iceland travel content makes it seem like you can just throw together a Ring Road itinerary, hop in a camper van, and effortlessly stop at every single attraction you see on the map. In reality, driving around Iceland takes way longer than people expect, the weather changes constantly, food is unbelievably expensive, and some attractions are way more worth your time than others.
So if I was planning another Iceland road trip tomorrow, here’s exactly what I’d do differently.
I’d Pack Way More Food From Home
This is probably the biggest thing.
I knew Iceland was expensive before we went. I mean, everybody says Iceland is expensive. But, I still don’t think I fully understood just how much food would cost until we got there and I started seeing the prices with my own eyes.
Even basic snacks were wild. I’m talking $14 USD for a banana and small hot drip coffee at a gas station.
There were moments where I picked up a tiny snack or a drink and immediately put it back down because I could not justify spending that much money on it. I genuinely preferred to go hungry at points over paying those prices (I know this may seem frugile, but I’m Italian so it’s just who I am).
And when you’re road tripping around Iceland, you end up stopping at gas stations and little convenience stores constantly because there are long stretches without many food options.
If I did it again, I would bring way more shelf-stable food from home.
Things like:
- Protein bars
- Instant oatmeal
- Trail mix
- Jerky
- Electrolyte packets
- Peanut butter
- Crackers
- Easy pasta sides
- Tuna packets
- Granola
- Coffee packets
Not because Icelandic food is bad, because it’s not. We had some great meals there! But when you’re driving all day long and stopping constantly for hikes, waterfalls, and viewpoints, you burn through snacks so fast.
I’d rather spend money on experiences in Iceland than spend $18 on a mediocre sandwich and a drink at a random gas station.
I’d Bring A Reusable Water Bottle
The tap water in Iceland is some of the cleanest water in the world. You can refill your water bottle almost anywhere, and the water tastes incredible. There’s absolutely no reason to constantly buy bottled water there unless you forgot a reusable bottle.
And bottled water is expensive.
If I went back, I’d probably bring:
- My own reusable water bottle
- A large refillable jug for the car
- Maybe even insulated bottles for hot drinks
When you’re spending long days driving around Iceland, having extra water already in the car makes life so much easier.
👉 Side Note: some hot water in Iceland smells a little sulfur-y because of the geothermal water system. It freaks people out the first time they smell it. The cold drinking water is completely fine and tastes amazing.
I’d Plan Fewer Stops
This is probably the advice I’d give almost everyone planning Iceland for the first time. People massively overestimate how many stops they can realistically do in one day.
Iceland looks small on a map. But, it is NOT small when you’re driving it.
You end up stopping constantly because every thirty seconds there’s another waterfall, canyon, glacier view, or black sand beach that makes you slam on the brakes. Then add weather, construction, sheep wandering into the roads, gravel sections, parking lots packed with tourists, and wanting to spend more than twelve seconds at a location before rushing to the next one.
I think our itinerary would have been way more enjoyable if we slowed down more. There were places where we stayed for maybe 20 minutes that I now wish we had given half a day to.
Instead of trying to see absolutely everything, I’d focus on fewer areas and spend more time really experiencing them.
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I’d Spend More Time in Southern Iceland
I mean the southern portion of the Ring Road, not the full circle around the island because Southern Iceland was, without question, my favorite part of the country.
I never made it all the way through Northern Iceland, so I can’t fairly compare the entire country. But from the parts of Iceland we did drive through, Southern Iceland completely stole the show for me.
That stretch between Reykjavik and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is packed with some of the most incredible scenery in Iceland. Waterfalls everywhere. Black sand beaches. Massive glaciers. Moss-covered lava fields. Ice caves. Puffins, depending on the season.
There’s just so much concentrated beauty in that area.
If I went back, I would dedicate way more time there instead of trying so hard to push through more of the Ring Road just to say we drove all over Iceland.
I’d Visit Popular Stops During Off-Hours
This one makes such a difference. Some Iceland attractions get unbelievably crowded during the middle of the day, especially in summer.
Places like:
- Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
- Diamond Beach
- Skogafoss
- Seljalandsfoss
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
At certain times, these places can feel less like remote Iceland and more like Disney World parking lots.
If I went back, I’d structure my days differently and intentionally visit the busiest attractions either super early in the morning or later at night.
One of the weirdest things about Iceland in summer is how late the daylight lasts. You can still be exploring at 10PM with full daylight depending on the time of year.
And honestly? Some of our favorite moments happened later in the evening when crowds started thinning out.
The Glacier Lagoon especially feels completely different when it’s quieter. It goes from chaotic tourist stop to this peaceful, surreal landscape with giant chunks of ice floating silently through the water.
I’d Skip Thingvellir National Park
I know this is going to offend some people. But if I’m being completely truthful about what I’d do differently driving across Iceland again, I’d remove Thingvellir National Park altogether because It was one of the least memorable stops of our entire Iceland trip.
And before people come for me, yes, I understand the historical significance. I understand the tectonic plates. I understand why it’s important.
But compared to the rest of Iceland? It just didn’t wow me.
There wasn’t much to do there compared to the waterfalls, glacier hikes, black sand beaches, or canyon hikes elsewhere in the country. After seeing some of the more dramatic landscapes around Iceland, Thingvellir felt a little underwhelming to me personally.
If I had limited time in Iceland again, I’d absolutely cut it from my itinerary and use that extra time somewhere else.
Probably for more waterfalls.
I’d Add Even More Waterfalls
You would think at some point you’d get tired of waterfalls in Iceland. But, I’m here to tell you that you do not.
Every waterfall somehow looks completely different from the last one.
Some are massive and thunderous. Some are hidden in narrow canyons. Some you can walk behind. Some feel completely untouched and isolated.
And some of my favorite moments in Iceland happened at random unnamed waterfalls we pulled over for while driving. If I went back, I’d intentionally add more waterfall stops into the itinerary instead of treating them like quick roadside attractions.
Especially because some of the most famous waterfalls end up packed with people, while smaller ones nearby are practically empty.
I’d Research Hot Springs Way More Carefully
This is another thing I think people underestimate.
A lot of people assume Iceland is just covered in endless natural hot springs you can casually hop into whenever you want.
That’s unfortunately not how it works.
Some hot springs require reservations. Some are tiny and only allow a handful of people at a time. Some are very expensive. Some have weird operating hours. Some are heavily commercialized like the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon. And some require a decent hike to get to.
If I went back, I would absolutely plan hot springs in advance instead of assuming we’d figure it out as we went.
There were several we wanted to visit that either:
- Were fully booked out
- Closed earlier than expected
- Had long wait times since they were “full” when we arrived
- Or were just way more touristy than we anticipated
And Iceland hot springs are not cheap. Some of the famous ones can cost a pretty shocking amount once you factor in admission, towels, drinks, and food.
I’d personally prioritize a mix of smaller, less touristy hot springs that I planned to hike to alongside maybe one or two bigger experiences.
I’d Build More Flexibility Into the Itinerary
This might be the biggest overall lesson from Iceland because the weather changes constantly. Like constantly constantly.
There were moments where it was sunny, windy, raining sideways, foggy, and clear again all within one 30-minute drive.
If I went back, I’d leave more flexibility in the itinerary instead of trying to perfectly schedule every single stop. Some places are way more enjoyable in good weather. Some hikes aren’t worth doing in heavy rain. Some roads become miserable in strong wind.
Iceland rewards flexibility more than almost any destination I’ve ever visited.
I’d Stop Trying to “Complete” Iceland
The first time we drove across Iceland, I think part of me was so focused on seeing everything possible because I didn’t know if we’d ever go back.
But Iceland is one of those places where trying to do everything sometimes takes away from fully enjoying where you are.
If I went back, I’d slow down more. Stay longer in fewer places. Spend more time sitting near waterfalls instead of rushing to the next stop. Build in random exploration time. Leave room for weather changes and spontaneous detours.
Because some of the best parts of Iceland weren’t the famous attractions at all.
The tiny roadside waterfalls, sheep traffic jams and sitting in the car eating gas station snacks while staring at glaciers are some of my favorite memories in the country.
Final Thoughts on Driving Across Iceland
Even with all the things I’d change, driving across Iceland was still one of the coolest trips we’ve ever done.
I don’t think Iceland is the kind of destination you do perfectly the first time. There are just too many variables between weather, road conditions, changing daylight, crowded attractions, random roadside stops, and discovering places you didn’t even know existed until you passed them.
But, that’s part of what makes Iceland so memorable.
If I went back tomorrow, I’d slow the trip down a lot more. I’d stop trying to fit every single attraction into the itinerary and focus more on experiencing a smaller portion of the country really well. More waterfalls, more quiet evenings, more spontaneous stops, and way less rushing.
I’d also spend significantly less money on gas station snacks.
At the end of the day though, Iceland is one of those places that still feels surreal even after you leave. It’s dramatic, unpredictable, beautiful, expensive, chaotic at times, and completely unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been.
And despite everything I’d do differently, I would go back in a heartbeat.
