The ultimate Iceland road trip guide with kids

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 my Iceland road trip guide in case you want to create your own itinerary!

Best time to do an Iceland road trip

The first question is when to plan your Iceland road trip itinerary with kids. The summer months of June, July and August are one of the best times to road trip Iceland with kids as this period is warmest.

You’ll enjoy long days (including the midnight sun in June – although that’s not necessarily ideal with little ones who won’t sleep) but it’s also the busiest and priciest time of year for an Iceland road trip with kids.

The roads are also easier to drive and so it’s safer for visitors then, although you can also expect more people to be exploring.

If you’re hoping to see the Northern Lights and the icy landscape, the winter months are often the best time to see them, but 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 challenging road conditions and closed roads, especially in the centre of the island and parts of the north and east coast, although much of south Iceland is still accessible if you stick to a main road.

The best time to visit Iceland is often during the shoulder months for a good compromise of price and practicality – visiting outside the coldest winter months means there are still plenty of adventurous things to do in Iceland with kids but it’s a bit easier than January when outdoor activities are few and far between.

If your kids are at school and you don’t have the flexibility to travel during term-time, Easter is often quieter than the peak summer months and with more daylight to explore than winter (though the closer to March you can go, the more chance of seeing the Northern Lights).

Otherwise October half-term is worth considering: although 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, to allow yourself enough time and to avoid a long drive in the dark.

Whenever you choose to go, make sure you 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 so it’s easy to tailor your Iceland ring road itinerary depending how much time you have.

If you start the drive in Reykjavik, it’s easy to set aside a few days to explore the capital’s 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, the best way may be to 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.

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 if your kids need a break too.

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.

You can also stop at round Akureyri and Husavik (or Holmavik) for a whale watching tour, with humpback whales found here between May and September.

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is another popular Iceland route. This road trip is much shorter (and there are tours from Reykjavik which can cover it in a day trip) 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 road trip, or 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 – plus you can visit destinations like Geysir before the crowds arrive.

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 first 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.

You can discover how glaciers are formed and travel through sub-zero tunnels to learn more about ice caves and their ecosystems.

There’s also a planetarium built inside one of Perlan’s hot water tanks, for guaranteed views of the northern lights, and some fantastic 360-degree views from the observation deck.

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 and a family room with objects from the museum’s collection, as well as games and colouring. There are also orienteering games to help kids explore the museum displays, which you can pick up on entry, as well as a children’s audioguide.

Don’t miss the figure of Thor, which is over 1,000 years old. You can also book tickets with free cancellation.

Reykjavik 871 (Aðal­stræti)

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.

It was only in 2001 when construction discovered archaeological remains, which turned out to date from around 871, the oldest evidence of human settlement in the city, along with a 10th century hall or longhouse.

The exhibition was created around the genuine archaeological site to learn more about the earliest days of what would become Iceland’s capital city.

Reykjavik Saga Museum

Want to bring Iceland’s Viking past to life? Head to the Saga Museum in Rekyjavik, a waxwork museum covering the days of the earliest settlers in the country.

You can dress up as a Viking yourself, hear some of the key stories in Iceland’s culture, and see 20 important moments in the country’s history, from those early settlers who gave Reykjavik its name, to the founding of Parliament nand more.

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.

There are arctic foxes, and a small number of exotic animals as well as farm animals and play areas, including a summer funfair.

Entry to Reykjavik Zoo is included in the Reykjavik card

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 and it’s a definite contender for the title of best geothermal pool in Iceland.
• 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, blasting water around 15-20m into the air like clockwork every five to 10 minutes. It can even gush higher, as much as 40m at times.

There are various others which are less predictable but equally impressive too. The Great Geysir is the one which gave its name to geysers around the world.

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.

With older teens, you can even snorkel and dive (in dry suits) between the tectonic plates. This is one stop which is likely to be more interesting to older kids than a three-year-old, but it’s a fantastic place to wander at any age.

Lake Myvatn

This volcanic lake in northern Iceland is part of some of the country’s most dramatic landscape – and there’s plenty of competition – with bubbling mud pools and vibrantly coloured water in the thermal water.

The name literally means Midge Lake, so if you’re visiting in summer, you’ll need to go prepared with netting for your head, but the scenery is well worth looking a bit daft, with deep blue creater lakes and vents hissing steam.

Vik

The small town of Vik is located on the southern coast of Iceland that’s famous for its dramatic black sand beach, as well as other nearby stretches of black sand such as Reynisfjara 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.

Don’t miss a quick stop at the 60m plunging Skogafoss waterfall, around a 30 minute drive from Vik on the way back to Reykjavik, with some great views from the viewing platform.

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 Snaefellsnes 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. If you’re planning an Icelandic road trip with teens, you could even tackle a glacier hike.

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. Bear in mind you’ll get a better effect if you look through a camera (including your phone) than with the naked eye.

Go whale-watching

You can also take whale watching trips to see some of the different species which come to Iceland’s waters, including humpback whales in the north around Iceland’s second-largest city Akureyri or in Husavik from April to September, as well as orcas in Snaefellsnes from February/March to June/July.

One of the easiest ways to go whale-watching in Iceland with kids is to pick up one of the many boats in Rekyjavik harbour, which is a good option with younger children – heading further off the beaten track, it’s better with older ones. Most whale-watching tours in Reykjavik run from around April to October.

Spot puffins

More than 60% of the world’s puffins head to Iceland between late April and August, to mate and lay their eggs, with pufflings hatching mostly during July and August.

There are several places to see the birds, with their famously colourful beaks, around Iceland but one fo the best options is to take a boat trip to the Westman islands to spot them (from a safe distance), with a ferry taking you over from the mainland.

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 essential 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. DiscoverCars is also a good option to compare rates and models, including the option to filter by 4X4 only.

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.

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 around the entire island.

This fun Iceland Travel Map and Activity Book is also fun for kids and makes a great souvenir.

Top 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

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