Essential Iceland Road Trip Packing List for the Summer Months

So you are going on a road trip to Iceland but you have no idea what to pack? No problem, we have put together an essential Iceland road trip packing list. Pack these essentials and you will have everything you need for your own Iceland road trip!

Iceland Road Trip Packing List Essentials

Food/Water

Collapsible cooler– Iceland is very expensive. Going out to eat for every meal will cost you hundreds of dollars. We found that the Bonus Grocery stores in Iceland were reasonably priced. We bought yogurt and granola bars for breakfast and sandwich deli meats and cheeses for lunch. Find a grocery store each morning and buy food for the day with ice. We used the Coleman collapsible cooler because it folded up nicely and fit perfectly in our checked bag. Click for the link to buy your own collapsible cooler -> Collapsible Cooler.

Refillable water bottle – The water in Iceland is so clean that you can fill up your water bottle from any faucet. Include a large refillable water bottle on your Iceland road trip packing list in order to stay hydrated. We both use the Mountop refillable water bottle because it has a clip on the top that you can attach to backpack which is very convenient while hiking. Click the link to get the same one -> Water Bottle.

Check out our blog, “Iceland Travel Tips – Need to Know Before You Go” for more details on food and water!

Safety

Band-Aids/Ibuprofen/First Aid Kit– Make sure to include Band-Aids, Ibuprofen, and a first aid kit on your Iceland road trip packing list because lots of hiking calls for blisters, scrapes, and scratches.

Money

Credit card/debit card – You can use your credit card/debit card to buy everything. There’s no need mess with cash but do make sure to call your bank and let them know you are going to another country so they won’t cancel your card.

 

For the Road Trip

Car Essentials

A good playlist/AUX cord – Make sure you have a good playlist for the car rides. You will be spending a lot of time in the car and the music sets the mood for the trip! Shout out to @KevinHansen for being our dedicated DJ and making the most badass playlist!

Google Maps/GPS – Google maps are great because it allows you to download a map of an area and use it in offline mode. Make sure to do this before your trip or when you are on wifi. Check out google’s directions on how to download the map via Android or iPhone. We also rented a GPS for $40 from the car company and found both to be helpful because sometimes the GPS and the google maps gave us different directions. We compared both and chose the best option.Check out our blog, “7 Day Travel Itinerary“ for the ultimate 7 day road trip itinerary!

Neck Pillow– A 7 day road trip around Iceland calls for a lot of driving and not a lot of sleeping. Bring a neck pillow in order to get some shut eye if you are stuck in the back seat!

Eye mask– Now if you didn’t get a neck pillow that covers your eyes like the picture above, invest in an eye mask. Iceland gets 22 hours of sunlight so an eye mask is very helpful when trying to get sleep. Some of the hotels and hostels had thick shades but some did not.

Check out our blog, “7 Day Travel Itinerary“ for the ultimate 7 day road trip itinerary!

Toiletries

Toiletries – This is pretty obvious bring the toiletries you use on a daily basis. Bring shampoo and conditioner some places had these but some did not. Don’t forget a razor and some face wipes. Girls, bring a roll of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. You never know where the next bathroom is! Luckily, we found a bathroom almost every time we needed to go.

Outerwear – Jacket & Boots

Water-Proof Jacket – Rain is pretty common in the summer months, so if you do not want to get stuck inside be sure to include a waterproof jacket on your Iceland road trip packing list. We wore our jackets every day to keep warm and to keep dry from all the waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall in Southern Iceland that you can walk under so you definitely get sprayed here.

Waterproof jackets also serve as wind breakers. TRUST ME, there’s a ton of wind especially on top of cliffs and craters. Lisa got the Nautica yellow raincoat specifically for our trip and thought it was perfect for the weather. Click the link to get the same one – > Rain Coat.Water-Proof Boots – Boots are a must-have. We hiked miles every day in all different kinds of landscapes. Get water proof boots with rigged soles. If you are questioning if sneakers will do. I promise they won’t do the trick. The ground can be steep and muddy. The first day Lisa climbed a small hill in sneakers and face planted on the way down. The sneakers didn’t make it out of the car after that incident, so definitely include boots on your Iceland road trip packing list. If you do buy new boots, make sure to break them in before you go because you will be doing a lot of walking. Both Lisa and Faris got Sorel hiking boots for the Trip. Click the links to get the same boots -> Boots for Her and Boots for Him!

Outerwear – Hats/Gloves & Backpack

Hats and Gloves – The weather changes almost every hour in Iceland. It can be sunny then turn to rain within a minute. We wore a hat every day and used the gloves in the West Fjords/Northern areas.

Small Backpack – We would pack a small backpack with everything we needed for the day so we didn’t have to repack the car every time we needed something. We always brought our water bottles, hats and gloves, and an extra hoodie just in case it got cold. We love the Osprey day backpack because it has plenty of compartments but is small enough for a day pack. Click the link to get the same one -> Backpack.

Clothing

Clothes – It’s all about the layers here. The weather changes so much that layers are truly the way to go. You can add layers if you are cold or take them off if it gets too hot. This is where the backpack comes in handy! 

• Boys
  • 2 Pair of Jeans
  • 2 Pair of Sweat Pants
  • 7 T-shirts
  • 3 Fleece Shirts
  • 2 Sweatshirts
  • 9 Pair of socks/Underwear – Never know when things are going to get wet
  • 1 Button Down Shirt/Evening shoes (Optional) – For a night out in Reykjavik
  • 1 Bathing Suit/Towel -Iceland has hot springs all over the country. The towel will come in handy for the hot springs and when you get rained on/sprayed by the waterfalls.
• Girls
  • 2 Pair of Jeans
  • 2 Pair of Yogas (Lisa loves the Victoria Secret VSX leggings with the pockets)
  • 4 T-shirts
  • 2 Tank tops
  • 2 Sweaters/Fleece shirts
  • 2 Sweatshirts
  • 9 Pair of socks/underwear – You never know!
  • 5 Bras – 2 T-shirt Bras, 3 Sports Bras
  • Evening top & shoes (Optional) – For a night out in Reykjavik
  • PJs
  • Bathing Suit/Towel – Iceland has hot springs all over the country. The towel will come in handy for the hot springs and when you get rained on/sprayed by the waterfalls.

Iceland Road Trip Packing List Conclusion:

This Iceland road trip packing list will provide everything you need! Other than these packing essentials bring a good attitude and great friends because you are about to go on an amazing road trip around a beautiful country!

Check out our blog, “7 Day Travel Itinerary“ for the ultimate 7 day road trip itinerary! The blog includes an itinerary, accommodations we stayed in (with links), costs, tips, and the best things to do in each area!

Check out our blog, “Iceland Travel Tips – Need to Know Before You Go, for everything you need to know before you book an Iceland Road Trip. The blog includes information on exchange rates and prices, tips on booking accommodations and cheaper alternatives, meal/drink costs and cheaper alternatives, tips on renting a car & getting gas, and the best time to go on a 7 Day Iceland Road Trip!