Skaftafell Campground

About Skaftafell Campground

Skaftafell Campground is the national park campsite beside the Skaftafellsstofa visitor center in Vatnajökull National Park, on the Ring Road in Southeast Iceland. It is about four hours east of Reykjavík and 45 minutes short of Jökulsárlón, and the trail to Svartifoss starts a few minutes from your tent.

With room for about 400 tents, it is one of the largest campsites in Iceland. The ground is split into eight zones, A to H. Zones A and C have marked sites with electricity, B and D are open fields that cars can reach and also have power, and E, F and G are closed to vehicles, which makes them the quieter choice for tent campers.

Flush toilets, showers, washers and dryers are on site, along with about 100 electrical outlets for campervans and trailers, and the campground is wheelchair accessible. There is no indoor kitchen or dining room, only dishwashing sinks by the service buildings. Bring a stove and plan to cook outside, which matters in a hard wind.

Adults aged 17 to 66 pay 2,800 ISK per night, and seniors and disabled guests pay 2,300 ISK. Children 16 and under camp free with an adult, showers and laundry are included, and electricity costs 1,500 ISK per 24 hours. The Skaftafell area also has a regional parking fee of 1,110 ISK per car, so ask at reception how it applies to your stay.

You can't reserve a spot. Register and pay at the camping reception when you arrive, and come early in July and August, when the best pitches go first.

Skaftafell Campground is open year-round, though only zones A and C stay open in winter to protect the rest of the ground. Frost keeps the outdoor water taps off until mid-May, but there is water indoors. From camp, the S2 loop to Svartifoss is 5.8 kilometers and about two hours.