East of Vík, the villages thin out, the farms stand far apart, and you can drive for an hour between one gas station and the next. This is also where the best campsites on Iceland's South Coast are, because you pitch beside a waterfall, below a glacier tongue or at the foot of a lava-covered cliff instead of in a parking lot.
Here is the short answer. Skógafoss is the best campsite for the western waterfalls, Kirkjubær II is the best all-round stop in the middle, Skaftafell is the best base for glacier hikes, and Höfn is the best choice in the east, with a winter service for campervans.
South Coast campsites at a glance
These are the campsites in this guide, in driving order from west to east. Check the opening dates on the campsite's own page before you plan around them, because several sites only run in summer.
- Þykkvibær: a small, quiet site south of Hella, open from 1 June to 31 August.
- Skógafoss: camp within walking distance of the waterfall. Open all year, no reservations.
- Kleifar: a basic site beside Stjórnarfoss waterfall near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, generally open early June to early September.
- Kirkjubær II: the full-service campsite in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, with a kitchen, showers and small cabins.
- Hörgsland: a family-run farm campsite about 10 minutes east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
- Skaftafell: the Vatnajökull National Park campground, with room for around 400 tents. Open all year.
- Svínafell: a farm campsite about 7 km from Skaftafell, open from 1 May to 30 September.
- Höfn: the town campsite in southeast Iceland, open all year with a winter service for campervans.
- Stafafell: a farm campsite in the Lón district, about 25 minutes east of Höfn.
Campsites between Hella and Vík
The western half of the South Coast has the biggest waterfalls and the busiest roads, so a campsite here mostly means a short drive to the sights and a quiet night afterwards.
Þykkvibær campsite
Þykkvibær is a small village south of Hella, and the campsite is a low-key alternative to the larger sites along Route 1. It has tent pitches on grass, spaces for campervans and caravans, showers, electricity hook-ups, a washer and dryer, and a playground. It is open from 1 June to 31 August.
Online bookings need at least 20 hours' notice, so phone or email the site if you are arriving on short notice. From here, the waterfalls Ægissíðufoss and Urriðafoss are within reach by car, and Seljalandsfoss is further east along Route 1.
Skógafoss campsite
The campsite at Skógafoss is the one most travelers want, because you sleep within walking distance of the waterfall. It is open all year, and pitches are first come, first served. In 2026 it moved to a new spot in a small grove of trees nearby, so follow the signs for the camping zone after you leave the Ring Road.
Facilities are basic: toilets, coin-operated hot showers, drinking water, limited electricity and waste disposal for campervans. There is no indoor kitchen, so bring your own cooking equipment. The Skógafoss car park charges its own parking fee, and campers pay it too.
Campsites around Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is the only real village between Vík and Skaftafell, and it has a shop, a pool, a gas station and restaurants. Three very different campsites sit within a short drive of it, which makes it the easiest place on the coast to match a campsite to your style of trip.
Kleifar campsite
Kleifar is a small, basic campsite about 2.5 km from the village, on the side road toward Geirland. It sits on a grassy flat beside Stjórnarfoss, a broad, low waterfall, and the waterfall is the reason to choose it. There are two toilets, cold running water, picnic tables and a place to wash dishes, but no showers, no hot water and no listed electricity.
It suits tent campers and self-sufficient campervans. For a hot shower, the Kirkjubæjarklaustur pool is a short drive away. Do not confuse it with Kleifarvatn lake on the Reykjanes peninsula.
Kirkjubær II
Kirkjubær II is the best-equipped campsite in this part of the coast. It lies at the foot of the Klausturheiði cliffs, within walking distance of the village, and it takes tents, campervans, motorhomes and caravans. The service house has a kitchen, a dining room, toilets, showers, a washing machine and a dryer, and there are seven small heated cabins that sleep four.
Showers run on tokens bought at reception, and electricity hook-ups can run out when it is busy, so arrive early. You can book online by license plate, and the gate opens automatically. The gate is closed from midnight, quiet hours run from 23:00 to 07:00, open fires are banned and dogs must be on a leash. The campsite closes for the winter, with the 2026 season ending in November.
Kirkjubær II sits at the foot of the Klausturheiði cliffs, a short walk from the village.
From here, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is about 6 km away, with a rim path of a little over 2 km return. The Eldhraun lava field, Kirkjugólf and the Systrafoss waterfall trail are also close.
Hörgsland campsite
Hörgsland is a family-run farm about a 10-minute drive east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, with a campsite, 13 cottages and a guesthouse. The campsite has toilets, showers, hot and cold water and electricity. It is a quieter option than the village sites, and a good overnight stop between Vík and Skaftafell if you would rather not drive into town.
The farm runs guided horse tours and sells fishing permits for nearby rivers. The operator does not publish current season dates or prices online, so phone before you arrive. In winter, the dark, open land away from town lights is good for seeing the northern lights.
Campsites around Skaftafell and the glaciers
East of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the Ring Road crosses the Skeiðarársandur outwash plain and arrives at Öræfi, the district below Vatnajökull. Two campsites here put you within a short walk or drive of the ice.
Skaftafell campground
Skaftafell Campground sits beside the visitor center in Vatnajökull National Park, just off Route 1. It is one of the largest campsites in the country, with room for around 400 tents in eight zones, lettered A to H. The trail to Svartifoss starts at the campground, and so does the flat walk to the snout of Skaftafellsjökull.
Facilities include flush toilets, showers, laundry machines, drinking water, dishwashing sinks and around 100 electric hook-ups, and the site is wheelchair accessible. There is no indoor kitchen or dining area, so bring a stove and be ready to cook outside. Reservations are not taken: you register and pay at reception when you arrive, and July and August are the busiest months.
Skaftafell Campground, with the glacier tongue visible behind the pitches.
Guided glacier hikes and ice cave trips leave from the visitor center area, so you can walk to the start of most tours. An easy Skaftafell glacier hike takes about three hours and includes all the safety gear. Learn more about the area on the Skaftafell page.
Svínafell campsite
Svínafell is the farm campsite in Öræfi, about 7 km from Skaftafell, and a practical alternative when the national park campground is full. The Svínafellsjökull glacier tongue is about 3 km from the farm. The campsite, huts and service building are open from 1 May to 30 September, and pitches are first come, first served.
The Skáli service building has shared toilets and showers, basic cooking facilities with small electric stoves, hot water for washing up, and a dining area. Cooking equipment is minimal, so bring your own pots and utensils. Four-person huts are also available, and booking them ahead is sensible in peak season.
Campsites around Höfn and Lón
Past Jökulsárlón, the road swings east toward Höfn, the only real town between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the East Fjords. These two campsites are the base for the glacier lagoon and for the mountains of Lón.
Höfn campsite
Höfn Campsite is at Hafnarbraut 52, beside the main road into town, and it is within walking distance of the supermarket, the swimming pool and the harbor restaurants. It takes tents, campervans and caravans, with electricity hook-ups, toilets, showers, cooking facilities, washing machines, Wi-Fi and a waste-water dump station. Dogs are allowed.
Höfn campsite is a walk from the town's shops, pool and harbor.
The campsite is open all year and offers a winter service for campervans, which makes it one of the more reliable places to stay in the region outside summer. Jökulsárlón is about 80 km west, roughly an hour's drive, so it works as a base for a day of glacier sightseeing. Plan the day with our guide to the Diamond Beach.
Stafafell campsite
Stafafell is a farm campsite in Lón, close to the Ring Road about 25 minutes' drive east of Höfn. It sits at the foot of the Stafafellsfjöll mountains, the gateway to Lónsöræfi, and several hiking trails start directly from the campsite. There are eight pitches with electricity, toilets, showers, cooking facilities, drinking water, a washer and dryer, and Wi-Fi at reception. Horse rental is available at the farm.
Listings disagree on the season, giving either late April to the end of September or mid-April to 1 November, so confirm with the campsite before an early or late trip. Longer routes into Lónsöræfi are serious walks in remote country, so carry good maps and check the weather first.
Which South Coast campsites are open in winter?
Most South Coast campsites close from the autumn to the spring, but three stay open for part or all of the winter. Skógafoss is open all year. Skaftafell is open all year too, although only zones A and C operate in winter and the outdoor taps are turned off until about mid-May because of frost. Höfn is open all year with a winter service for campervans.
Kirkjubær II, by contrast, closes from November to March. If you are camping in winter, expect wind, ice and short days, and check road conditions on Umferðin every morning. Our guide to camping in Iceland covers the gear you need.
How much does camping cost on the South Coast?
Prices on this coast run from roughly 1,500 to 2,800 ISK per adult per night, with children usually free and electricity charged separately. These are the most recent figures we could find, and several sites do not publish current rates, so confirm before you arrive.
- Skaftafell: 2,800 ISK per adult per night under the national park price list, with showers and laundry included. Electricity is 1,500 ISK per 24 hours.
- Svínafell: 2,300 ISK per person per night in the most recent published rate, which dates from 2024.
- Skógafoss: 2,200 ISK per adult per night in reported 2025 rates, plus the parking fee.
- Kirkjubær II: 2,000 ISK per person per night, plus a 400 ISK lodging tax per unit.
- Stafafell: 2,000 ISK per adult per night, plus a 400 ISK accommodation tax per tent.
- Þykkvibær: 1,500 ISK per adult in third-party listings, which may be out of date.
Kirkjubær II does not accept the Camping Card, so check each campsite before you rely on it for your trip.
Do you need to book a South Coast campsite?
For most of these sites, you do not. Skógafoss and Skaftafell take no reservations, and Svínafell pitches are first come, first served. Kirkjubær II lets you book online by license plate, and Þykkvibær takes online bookings with at least 20 hours' notice. Cabins and huts are different: book the cabins at Kirkjubær II and the huts at Svínafell ahead in summer.
In July and August, arrive by mid-afternoon at Skaftafell and Skógafoss. Later in the day, the best pitches are gone.
Wind, weather and tents on the South Coast
Wind is the real hazard on this coast. East of Vík, the road crosses long sandy plains with strong crosswinds, and the same wind can flatten a badly pitched tent. Use every guy line, pitch with the door away from the wind, and move your tent to a sheltered corner if the forecast turns.
Check the forecast and Safetravel's alerts before you set off each morning. If you plan to drive the whole coast, our Reykjavík to Diamond Beach guide has drive times for every leg.
Tours to add to your camping trip
Camping gives you the evenings, and a tour can give you the days. If you would rather not drive every kilometer yourself, a private South Coast and glacier lagoon day tour runs from Reykjavík and returns the same day. In summer, kayaking among the icebergs on Jökulsárlón is a quieter way onto the water.
For a trip that mixes both, a two-day minibus tour of the South Coast includes a guided glacier hike and a hotel night, so you can pitch a tent for the rest of the journey.
Planning your South Coast camping trip
Pick one campsite in the west for the waterfalls, one in the middle for Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the canyon, and one in the east for the glaciers. That gives you a nightly drive of about an hour to two hours, which leaves time for the stops that make this coast worth the trip.
If you want a route built around your dates and the campsites that are open, talk to our team and we will suggest the right stops and overnight bases.
