Roof Tent or Campervan in Iceland? What We’d Choose Month by Month

Are you planning an Iceland road trip and wondering whether to choose a roof tent or campervan?

If so, you're in the right place. Both options offer a fantastic way to explore Iceland, but the right choice can vary a lot depending on when you visit.

Iceland's weather, daylight hours, temperatures and road conditions vary significantly throughout the year.

A roof tent that feels perfect during the long summer days can be a very different proposition when you're dealing with cold temperatures, strong winds and limited daylight in January.

At Ring Rental, we offer both roof-tent vehicles and campervans, giving travellers the flexibility to choose a setup that suits their itinerary and the time of year.

To help you decide, we've broken down the year month by month and shared what we'd choose for an Iceland road trip.

Contact us today for further information or advice.

Roof Tent vs Campervan in Iceland: What's the Difference?

The biggest difference is simple: how you want to experience your nights in Iceland.

A roof tent gives you the freedom of travelling in a capable rental vehicle while providing a compact sleeping setup above the ground. 

At Ring Rental, our roof-tent fleet includes options such as the Dacia Duster, Jeep Renegade, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson, as well as the Maxus T-60 with an iKamper tent.

The Dacia Duster with a roof tent is particularly suited to couples or solo travellers. In our experience, this can be the most cost-effective way to combine transport and accommodation, with an iKamper tent designed for two people.

A campervan, meanwhile, gives you an enclosed sleeping and living area. Our campervan fleet includes a variety of different options including Forster Van 599 EB and VB models, with options for two or four passengers.

That enclosed space becomes increasingly valuable as the Icelandic weather gets colder, wetter and less predictable.

So while both setups can work well, the season can make one considerably more appealing than the other.

What We'd Choose Month by Month

January: Choose a Campervan

January is deep winter in Iceland. Daylight is limited, temperatures are low and snow, ice, wind and changing road conditions can all be part of the experience.

For a winter road trip, we'd choose a campervan.

After a day exploring Iceland's winter landscapes, having an enclosed space where you can warm up, prepare food, and settle down for the night makes a noticeable difference.

January can also be an excellent month for the Northern Lights. With long hours of darkness, you have plenty of opportunities to find clear skies and favourable viewing conditions.

February: Comfort Wins

February still feels very much like winter in Iceland, even though daylight hours are gradually increasing.

If you're planning to drive the Ring Road, explore the South Coast or simply make the most of Iceland's winter scenery, we'd prioritise comfort.

A campervan gives you a warm, enclosed place to return to after a day outside. And when the weather changes quickly, that shelter can become more than a luxury.

March: Still a Campervan

March is a transition month. The days are getting longer, but winter conditions haven't necessarily disappeared.

For experienced campers, a roof tent may become more appealing towards the end of the month if the forecast is favourable. For most travellers, however, we'd still lean towards a campervan.

If you're planning a longer Iceland Ring Road adventure, having an enclosed sleeping space gives you a little more flexibility when the weather doesn't cooperate.

April: Campervan for Comfort

April brings noticeably longer days and the first real signs of spring.

But Icelandic weather doesn't suddenly become predictable just because the month has changed. You could still experience sunshine, rain, strong winds and cold temperatures all in the same day. 

A roof tent could be a suitable option for experienced campers with the right equipment, particularly later in April, but we'd still favour the convenience and comfort of a campervan.

It's much easier to finish a long day of sightseeing, park up and settle in for the night.

May: Roof Tent Starts to Shine

May is when we'd start seriously considering a roof tent.

The days are considerably longer, temperatures are becoming more manageable, and the landscapes are beginning to take on their spring colours.

This is also when the flexibility of a roof-tent vehicle becomes particularly attractive. 

At Ring Rental, we offer several 4x4 and AWD with roof tents to keen travellers and adventurers alike, which allows them to combine transport and sleeping arrangements in one vehicle.

For more adventurous couples, a roof tent can be an excellent way to experience Iceland without spending the whole trip inside.

You still need to keep an eye on the forecast, but May offers a good balance between outdoor adventure and manageable camping conditions.

June: Roof Tent and Long Days

June is one of the best times of year for a roof-tent road trip in Iceland.

Around the summer solstice, daylight stretches for almost the entire day, giving you extraordinary freedom with your itinerary.

You can visit popular attractions later in the evening, spend longer hiking and make the most of quieter periods at some of Iceland's best-known sights and locations.

There's also something special about opening a roof tent at the end of a long summer day and knowing you have hours of daylight still ahead of you.

July: Peak Summer Adventure

July is peak summer and arguably the month when the roof-tent experience makes the most sense.

The weather is generally milder, the days are extremely long, and many travellers are keen to get outside and explore as much of Iceland as possible.

Our roof-tent range gives you several options to choose from depending on how you want to travel, from the Dacia Duster through to automatic options such as the Jeep Renegade, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson.

For a longer road trip, having your sleeping setup with you lets you keep your itinerary flexible, rather than being tied to a hotel reservation every night.

July is also one of Iceland's busiest travel months, so booking your vehicle and campsites well ahead is sensible.

Furthermore, July is one of the best months to venture into Iceland’s remote locations - when many of the Highland roads become accessible after the winter closure. 

This opens up parts of the country that remain out of reach for much of the year, giving road-trippers and adventurers the chance to experience some of Iceland’s most stunning and untouched landscapes.

With longer days and better road conditions, you can venture further from the main tourist routes and discover a very different side of Iceland. 

From vast volcanic landscapes and colourful mountains to remote valleys and glacial scenery, the Highlands offer a sense of wilderness and beauty that is hard to find elsewhere.

For those planning a self-drive holiday, July provides considerably more freedom to build an itinerary around the places you want to see. 

Whether you are taking a dedicated Highlands route or combining it with Iceland’s famous Ring Road, having access to these remote areas can turn a great Iceland road trip into something genuinely memorable.

August: Roof Tent

August remains a strong month for roof-tent travel.

The days remain long, although darkness gradually starts returning towards the end of the month. For travellers combining the Ring Road with hiking, sightseeing and camping, a roof tent offers plenty of flexibility.

Remember that Iceland's weather can change even in summer. 

A roof tent is still a tent, so checking the forecast before setting up for the night is essential.

Towards the end of August, darker nights also bring the chance to see the Northern Lights again when conditions are right.

September: The Transition Begins

September is where things become less straightforward.

Early September can still feel very much like summer, making a roof tent an attractive option for travellers who enjoy camping.

As the month progresses, however, temperatures fall, daylight decreases, and autumn weather becomes more unpredictable.

If you're travelling early in September and are comfortable camping, we'd still be happy with a roof tent. Later in the month, we'd start leaning towards a campervan.

October: Choose a Campervan

October is when we'd make the switch.

Autumn in Iceland can be spectacular. There are fewer visitors, the landscapes take on completely different colours, and the increasingly dark evenings create excellent opportunities for Northern Lights trips.

But the weather can also become considerably more challenging.

Rain, wind and colder temperatures make an enclosed sleeping space much more appealing, particularly after a full day on the road.

November: Campervan

By November, winter is firmly returning.

Daylight hours are short, and weather conditions can change quickly. If you're planning an Iceland road trip at this time of year, we'd prioritise warmth, shelter and practicality.

A campervan gives you a comfortable place to sleep and relax without setting up a roof tent in cold or wet conditions.

December: Campervan

December brings some of Iceland's longest nights, festive lights and beautiful winter scenery.

It's also one of the most challenging times of year for outdoor camping.

Unless you're an experienced winter camper with the right equipment and a very flexible itinerary, we'd recommend choosing a campervan. 

Having an enclosed space can make a huge difference when temperatures drop and the weather turns.

And, of course, the long nights provide plenty of opportunity to search for the Northern Lights.

Our Month-by-Month Iceland Vehicle Guide

If you want the more abridged version:

• January: Campervan

• February: Campervan

• March: Campervan

• April: Campervan

• May: Roof tent

• June: Roof tent

• July: Roof tent

• August: Roof tent

• September: Roof tent early in the month; campervan later

• October: Campervan

• November: Campervan
• December: Campervan

What About the Cost?

When comparing a roof-tent vs a campervan in Iceland, it's worth looking at the overall value of the trip, rather than simply comparing the daily rental price.

A roof tent can be a particularly competitive option for couples and adventurous travellers during the warmer months because it combines your vehicle and sleeping setup.

For example, we offer a Dacia Duster rental option with a two-person roof tent from around 23,000 ISK per day. However, rental prices vary depending on dates, availability and vehicle category.

We also offer larger, more premium roof-tent options, including the Maxus T-60 with an iKamper tent.

Campervans can also offer strong value when comfort is a priority, particularly because your sleeping and living space are already built into the vehicle.

If you are thinking of renting our Forster Van 599 campervan option, you can expect to pay around 40.478 ISK per day. 

However, prices can vary depending on the type of campervan you choose.

When comparing your options, we recommend you think about:

• The month you're travelling.

• How much driving you're planning.

• Whether you'll spend most of your time outdoors.

• How comfortable you are camping in changing weather.

• Whether you want an enclosed living space.
• The length and style of your Iceland itinerary.

At Ring Rental, we also provide unlimited mileage across our fleet, which can be particularly useful when you're planning a longer Iceland road trip.

Why Choose Ring Rental for Your Iceland Road Trip?

At Ring Rental, we believe renting a car in Iceland should feel personal, straightforward and stress-free.

We're a small, family-run car rental company, and we take pride in offering friendly service and being available when our customers need us.

We don't want you to feel like another booking number. We want you to feel looked after from the moment you book to the moment you return your vehicle.

Our fleet gives travellers a choice between practical rental cars, 4x4s, roof-tent vehicles and campervans. At the same time, our complimentary airport shuttle makes it easy to get from Keflavík International Airport to our rental office.

We also understand that an Iceland road trip isn't just about the vehicle.

It's about feeling confident enough to explore, knowing what you're driving and having a rental team you can contact if you need support along the way.

So, Roof Tent or Campervan?

Ultimately, the right choice comes down to the season and the experience you want from Iceland.

A roof tent shines in the brighter, milder months, when long days and outdoor adventures take centre stage. A campervan becomes increasingly attractive as temperatures fall and Iceland's weather becomes more demanding.

Whichever option you choose, check the weather and road conditions before setting out and be prepared to adjust your plans. Iceland rewards flexibility.

And if you're still unsure which vehicle is right for your trip, the Ring Rental team is happy to help you choose the right option for you.

Contact us today or explore our fleet options.