We had the best time with our almost 2 year old on this bucket list road trip through Iceland. We travelled with two other couples who had a 6 month old and 3 1/2 year old so this itinerary is suitable for all young ages. We rented a campervan to make the long drive days more enjoyable, but stayed in a combination of Airbnbs and hotels at each overnight destination. While possible to do this trip in a regular rental vehicle the campervan provided a mobile base with a fridge for grocery’s, room to unpack clothing (especially the many outer layers you’ll need for Iceland’s temperamental weather), and overall was well worth the extra cost to have more room and flexibility with little ones on long drive days. You can add in a few campground stays to make it more cost effective.

Why visit Iceland with kids?

Iceland was a fantastic trip to take with little ones. Top reasons why it’s such a kid friendly destination:

• Direct flight options from multiple US airports (Seattle, Chicago, New York, Boston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Denver) and a shorter flight duration then the rest of Europe. Our flight from Chicago direct to Reykajavik was less than 6hrs.
• Long summer daylight hours allow you to remain relatively on your timezone and not disrupt sleep schedules.
• Outdoor bouncepads and playgrounds are scattered all across Iceland which the kids loved.
• This is a relaxed roadtrip with enough incredible stops that you can adjust the exact itinerary daily to fit how little ones are doing.
• You can pull over literally anywhere and be surrounded by breathtaking scenery so if you run into a meltdown situation, pull over, have a snack break, and regroup.
• Restaurants were all very kid friendly, most even offered toys to keep children occupied.
• Stops along this itinerary are all outdoor, nature walks that older kids could easily walk or younger ones can go in a carrier without a demanding amount of effort from parents.

** I was also 30 weeks pregnant with our second when we took this trip and found the whole itinerary to be so enjoyable even while pregnant.

Our Exact Itinerary

Day 1-2: Arrive in Reykjavik (2 Nights)

Flights from the US will arrive in the morning so you will have a full day + 1 to explore the charming coastal city of Reykjavik. Getting from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik is a 45 min drive. We arranged a shuttle service in advance. You will want to coordinate an early check-in to your accommodations. The redeye flight hit us all pretty hard so set low expectations for your first day to get caught up on lost sleep.

In Reykjavik we wandered the city which is very walkable, did some wool shopping, ate and drank our way through a few great pubs/restaurants and stopped at a little playground.

Everything was walking distance from our accommodations: Penthouse apartment right on Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street which had a small balcony overlooking the city.

Day 3: Drive to Husavik (2 Nights)

Time to hit the road. This is the longest drive day with the least amount of attractions along the way. You will quickly discover driving anywhere in Iceland is absolutely stunning. Within minutes of driving out of the city we were already in awe of the expansive views along the drive.

Stop 1: Glanni Waterfall – A nice break after 1.5 hours of driving, this small waterfall is a short trail walk from the parking area. You can definitely skip this stop if you don’t yet need a driving break. The hardpacked trail leads to an overlook with a secure railing.

Stop 2: First Bounce Pad – The start of our love for Iceland’s outdoor Bounce Pads, which were a huge hit with our daughter and a great way to get energy out along the drive. This location was quite and had a picturesque church surrounded by a field of lupin’s in June. If you can make if farther without a break save this alternate bounce pad location which also has a huge playground.

Stop 3: The town of Akureyri. We were delayed getting out of Reykjavik due to a few campervan hiccups (read Megan is not the best driver of oversized vehicles) so we had to skip this stop, but had planned to dine here and walk around this town which is the second largest city in Iceland.

Stop 4: Goðafoss Waterfall – another stop we sadly had to miss, but this waterfall which translates to the “Waterfall of the Gods” is an easy stop right off the highway. You can walk to both sides if you have time.

Arrive in Husavik. We stayed HERE – in the 3 bedroom unit. We were able to walk to the harbor and dining options.

Day 4: Husavik

The boys went golfing in the morning while the girls enjoyed an Icelandic brunch and gave the kiddos a break from driving. It rained all morning or we would’ve loved to do an easy to moderate hike. I had looked up either hiking to Botnsvatn Lake or up Husavik Mountain – both trails super close to our accommodations so very limited driving needed.

In the afternoon we went on a whale watching excursion (with North Sailing) and got to see so many humpback whales so close to our boat. The captain was very knowledgeable – an excellent Icelandic guide. It was a 3 hr trip which did feel slightly long, but that’s likely because we were so lucky to see so many whales right away.

We dined on the harbor at Gamli Baukur then had a drink at JaJa Ding Dong which had a cute little fairy house with a functioning door that opened up to fairy treats left by visitors – the girls thought it was fantastic.

We watched sunset (which never actually fully set) at Geo Sea Hot Springs. These hot springs were perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean and were kid friendly. We booked in advance here, but they were very flexible on exact timing and we were able to stay until they closed. They do require full showers prior to entering the hot springs – all your belongings will be stored in provided lockers. They had multiple pools with varying temperatures and a swim up full bar. Most people left well before closing and we had the place almost all to ourselves. It was magical – an absolute must do!

Day 5: Drive to Seydisfjordur (1 Night)

Stop 1: Hverir – a geothermal area that reminded us of Yellowstone National Park. This was a pretty quick stop where you can walk along hard packed trails to see bubbling mud pots, steam vents, and mineral deposits.

Stop 2: Dettifoss Waterfall (West Side) – another roadside waterfall. This one has a bit of a longer hike to get to the viewing platform. It is rocky path, not stroller friendly so you’ll want to use a carrier.

Roadside pitstop: The diverse views along the ring road are a big part of what makes this whole trip so breathtaking. This travel day you will drive past the geothermal landscapes then eventually turquoise lakes filled with icebergs. We pulled over for lunch at one of the many easy pull offs right along a river.

Stop 3: Stugil Canyon. We navigated to this exact parking location which takes you to a trail along the river with access to the bottom of the canyon. Parking on the west side will only take you to a viewing platform above the canyon. This route was a dirt road: a bit bumpy, but still very drivable without 4 wheel drive in June. The trail was a beautiful, easy walk along the river with lots of sheep. It starts by passing Stuðlafoss Waterfall. It was about 2 miles each way by the time we explored all the way to the bottom of the canyon. This was definitely the best stop of the day so worth the minor detour from ring road.

Arrive in Seydisfjordur. Driving into the town of Seydisfordur will take your breath away as you ascend from the mountain pass. We stayed at this house (booking.com link) which had a sauna and was close enough to walk to dining options in town.

Day 6: Drive to Hofn (1 Night)

Stop 1: The Seydisfordur bounce pad. Penelope got to play with some Icelandic kids who were so friendly and the expansive mountain views from the bounce pad & playground area felt surreal. It was a great way to start the day, located directly in town.

Stop 2: Vestdalsfossar. This roadside hike is located 5 min from Seydisfordur so you can do it in the morning or if you arrive earlier in the afternoon the day prior. It was a must do easy walk (less than 1 mile) with breathtaking waterfalls and zero other people which we really loved. It felt like our own little paradise discovery in Iceland.

Stop 3: Hengifoss Waterfall. This was one of my favorite waterfalls of the trip- its the second tallest in Iceland and is framed by basaltic strata with thin, red layers of clay between the basaltic layers. The hike to the falls is a steady incline at 3.1 miles roundtrip. You will pass Litlanesfoss Waterfall which is also beautiful. From the carpark you can take the trail along either side of the outflow river – we opted to go up the left side and back down the right side. The views were better on the left trail, but it was nice to switch it up on the return trip. This trail didn’t feel overcrowded at all (a nice break from the crowds at the closer roadside waterfalls) and there was plenty of room at the falls to have our own space for a snack break.

Look out for Reindeer along your drive. This portion of the drive is known for reindeer sightings. We were lucky enough to pass a whole herd just off the road. Keep your eyes peeled as they do somewhat blend in especially if they are laying down at the time.

Stop 4: Stokksnes. This fun black sand beach has a long stretch you can drive out on and park at the many pull offs. You will need to pay to enter. It was a great place for happy hour and to let the kids splash in puddles and run around in the wide open stretch of sandy beach.

Arrive in Hofn. We stayed at a little apartment that was big enough to accommodate our crew. It was nothing special just close to town. For dinner we tried to go to Pakkhús Restaurant. The wait was too long and we ended up in the most charming little restaurant across the street: Otto Matur & Drykkur. They brought out toys for all the kids to play with at dinner and were lovely host.

Day 7: Drive to Vik (2 Nights)

Stop 1: Jökulsárlón Glacier. This was a very quick stop for us as the weather was rainy and miserable. On a nice day I imagine it’d be much more picturesque and you can also do boat tours at this location to explore the icebergs from the water.

Stop 2: Diamond Beach . Just across the bridge from Jökulsárlón Glacier is a black sand beach with icebergs that floated up to shore. It was cool to see the contrasting icebergs on the dark sand and another very quick stop right off the road. We parked at Diamond Beach Lookout.

Stop 3: Fjallsjökull Glacier. This glacier was similar to Jökulsárlón Glacier, but had almost no visitors and a nice walking path to a viewpoint. The weather was still rough for us, but this stop would’ve been even better on a sunny day.

Stop 4: Mulagjufur Canyon viewpoint hike. This 3 mi roundtrip hike was one I was most excited about and should definitely be on your list. It is supposed to be breathtaking. Unfortunately the conditions were so bad for us we ended up turning around after less then half a mile in. We waited awhile in the campervan hoping the rain would pass to no avail – Iceland weather can be temperamental.

Arrive in Vik. Dinner and beers at Smiðjan Brugghús – kid friendly with a wide selection of great food and brews. Accommodations were limited in Vik so we opted to stay at Hotel Katla . The Hotel bar and complementary breakfast were great.

Day 8: Vik

We spent a relaxing day exploring the town and beaches of Vik.

Stop 1: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. This popular beach boast towering basalt columns which make for some fun, very Icelandic photos. It does get pretty crowded and you will have to pay for parking. You can keep walking beyond the first cliffs and find less people and more cool caves/beach area. We could also see a humpback whale from the shore.

Stop 2: Myrdal Church. This church is perched on a hill overlooking the town. You can park at the church and walk up the hillside to a large opening with ocean views and fields of flowers. This was a great place to let the girls run around and pick wildflowers. Lupins are actually considered invasive to Iceland so picking them is encouraged rather then frowned upon. We came back to this spot before dinner to capture some family photos amongst the lupins.

Stop 3: Pizza Party at Vik Beach. We picked up pizza from Black Crust Pizzeria and enjoyed it at this beach spot right in town. It was a quiet beach with Jurassic park vibes.

We ended the day at this playground/sports area and coastal walking path. The walkway out to the ocean had more beautiful lupins and a great view looking back at Myrdal Church. The playground had a super fun zip line!

Day 9: Drive to Keflavik (1 Night)

Breakfast at Skool Beans Cafe – an old school bus turned coffee shop with bagels and danishes.

Stop 1: Kvernufoss waterfall. This is a less popular waterfall just south of Skogafoss (our next stop). It is far less crowded and you can walk behind it without getting wet. There was also a great spot on the river to sit and have a snack break. This was my favorite stop of the day due to the significantly less crowds then the next two super popular waterfalls and the trail through the canyon was glorious.

Stop 2: Skogafoss waterfall. This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland. It is quite grand and located right off the road, but it gets extremely crowded. We ventured across the small stream to the rocky area which was a bit less crowded- wear waterproof shoes if you don’t want to get your feet wet.

Stop 3: Seljalandsfoss waterfall – Another very popular roadside waterfall. This one you can walk behind if you are prepared to get very wet. There is a trail to the left that leads to Gljufrabui waterfall which you enter through a slot canyon. It is worth the extra walk which is quiet pretty and passes a few other small falls. A rain jacket is a must for this stop.

We stayed at the Marriot right by the airport so we could utilize the hotel shuttle service for our early flight out in the morning.

Day 10: Fly home first thing in the morning

When is the best time to travel to Iceland?

We visited in June which was ideal. The entire country was covered in Lupin flowers which made every view that much more beautiful. It was also slightly prior to busy season which is July/August. Although we experienced a couple days of rainy weather most days were sunny just rather cold with the wind chill.

Must have items for travelling with a ~2year old:

The below items are travel must haves I use for all our adventures and highly recommend. This list contains affiliate links.  There is no additional cost incurred by you, but I may earn a commission for qualifying purchases.

• Slumberpod– the nearly 24 hours of daylight can really affect little ones sleep. The slumberpod was a life saver. We use it on all trips. It’s great because once they get used to it they are sleeping in the same environment no matter how many times your accommodations change. This one comes with a fan so you can be sure they are getting enough air flow. Worth the investment if you are travelling anywhere with little ones.
• Snackle box– Snacks are the key to success with toddlers. I kept this snack box constantly full by adding new healthy bites at every stop. With long drives and sometimes sporadic meals this was a great way to ensure she always had something to eat. We use this on all our hikes since it’s so lightweight and the perfect size to pack.
• Indestructible Paper books– Bedtime wouldn’t be the same without a few stories, but who wants to take up valuable space and weight in bags toting a bunch of kids books. These Indestructible paper books are the perfect solution. I brought 5 of them with us to read in the car and at nap/bedtime. The paper is strong so it doesn’t tear, but remains paper light so you can easily throw them into your bag without taking up any room.
• Magnetic Drawing pad– a favorite roadtrip item to keep littles busy in the car. We traced our hands and feet countless times to avoid carseat meltdowns and it always did the trick.
• Buckles Toy– perfect entertainment for the 18month – 2 yr age range who loves buckles.
• Magnetic People– an easy throw in the purse entertainment item to pop out at restaurants. Its always fun to see what they will stick to and climb up on the table.
• Sunglasses– is there anything cuter then a baby in sunglasses?! I think not. These are polarized so they protect our little ones eyes while looking absolutely adorable. They have held up so well compared to all other pairs that she would easily snap an arm off. They are worth the cost – I’ve been pleasantly amazed at how indestructible and scratch resistant they have been.
• Hiking Backpack Carrier– This osprey hiking backpack is super comfortable for our daughter and works from about 8 months to 4 years old! We love the built in shade cover and ample storage/pocket space it has. *Note: for airplane travel this is tough to fit in the overhead bins if the storage compartment has anything in it. You can check it or just make sure you’ve collapsed the bottom storage compartment and seating section prior to boarding.

We had the best time in Iceland making memories that will last a lifetime. Drop a comment if you have any questions – we hope this inspires you to plan a trip to the land of Fire and Ice!