Thinking of renting a campervan in Iceland? Check out our Happy Campers Iceland review.
One of the best ways to explore Iceland is by renting a campervan. There are so many places to see around the island that it’s nice to be free to roam, change locations each night, and not have to return to a home-based location after a few days of exploring.
Plus, compared to Canada and the USA, there is no need to book campgrounds months in advance in Iceland. Most campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, perfect for last-minute planning and itinerary changes (which I am sure will happen).
With my husband and two boys, we visited Iceland this April for eight days and eight nights with Happy Campers, and it couldn’t have been better. We had the family Happy Campers 3, which was perfect for families. It’s a model with a high roof (my husband was so happy to be able to stand up!), two double beds, and five seats (three at the front, two at the back).
Let me give you my honest Happy Campers Iceland review!
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What is Happy Campers and why trust them when visiting Iceland
Happy Campers is the first campervan rental company that opened in Iceland over a decade ago. They now have a fleet of over 200 campervans.
So they have lots of experience and are well-established in Iceland.
Plus, it’s a family-owned business.
Happy Campers Iceland Review (from a traveling family)
As mentioned above, we used one of Happy Campers’ campervans for a family trip to Iceland this April. We had the Happy Camper 3 model, which has five seats and a high roof. So, this review is based on this campervan model and the company in general. I haven’t tried any of their other models.
In a nutshell, we LOVED our experience with Happy Campers. From the time they picked us up at the airport to the preparation phase at their facility to the road trip and return of the campervan, we only have great memories and words about the company.
The family-owned business goes above and beyond to ensure all its customers have a wonderful experience visiting Iceland. Their website has a lot of information available to help plan your trip, including a map with all the campsites around the country (and the ones that are open all year round).
They also have pre-made detailed itineraries already loaded on the tablet they provide with all the vans.
🚐 Find the perfect campervan for your Iceland trip with Happy Campers.
What we loved the most about our Happy Campers campervan:
✅ High roof to comfortable stand up when in the van (my husband was really happy about it at 6’ 2”). Note that some of Happy Campers’ van models have a low roof
✅ Space for relaxing, with a campervan set with a dinner table and benches. The kids loved filling out their road trip activity book at the end of the day.
✅ A Webasto heating system that doesn’t rely on electricity (so fully independent)
✅ A wifi hotspot to stay connected or watch a family movie all bundled up in the van (great memory for us… The kids asked us to watch Kungu Panda together one evening. It was a lot of fun!)
✅ Relatively gas efficient (we drove about 1000 km. We paid $158.06 + $174.23 CAD total for the trip… It’s not too bad to know that the gas price in Iceland is about $ 3.15 CAD per liter!
✅ A free zone available at the Happy Campers facility to stock up on some free pantry items and other essentials for cooking, such as oil, sugar, …
✅ Super friendly and helpful staff. Plus, it was easy to contact them on the road via their table system. They also kept us informed of the road and weather warnings during our trip, which really helped us plan our itinerary in a less stressful way.
✅ No milage limitation. You can explore Iceland as much as you want and drive as much as you want. Happy Campers doesn’t limit kilometers driven. This was pretty cool. Even though we did not drive that much, we didn’t have to worry about it!
Some little downsides to Happy Campers campervan:
❌ The tablet provided was a little glitchy and ran out of battery fast (but that wasn’t something we were expecting to have, so not a big deal at all).
❌ The back passenger seats are not really suitable for child car seats. Our boys are in booster seats, so it was ok, but it wouldn’t have been totally fine if our kids were younger. The seats had no Isofix or back tether anchors to safely install child car seats like the van from Escape Campervan had when we road-tripped around Las Vegas.
Other than that, I can’t think of any other downsides. The campervans are pretty awesome.
Note on bathroom and shower
The camper didn’t have portable toilets or showers, but we had a sink and a water tank (to brush our teeth or do a quick hand wash).
All campsites had public restrooms and shower facilities. Honestly, for most of the trip, we took our showers at the public pools after soaking in hot pools for a few hours! It was the perfect morning routine.
🚐 Find the perfect campervan for your Iceland trip with Happy Campers.
Happy Campers offer a unique experience in Iceland
Traveling in a Happy Camper is a unique and unforgettable experience. You get to:
- explore the open road,
- discover Iceland fully, and
- create memories with your family.
It’s a great way to disconnect from your daily routine and connect with nature and each other.
Family bonding and quality time
One of the best benefits of using a Happy Campers campervan for families with young children is the opportunity to bond and spend quality time together. You can play games, slowly discover Iceland, tell stories, and share experiences that will bring your family closer together.
You can even watch a family movie at the end of a day filled with waterfalls, beaches, and beautiful Icelandic landscapes.
What are the different Happy Campers models?
Happy Campers offers various customization options to meet your needs, budget, and preferences. You can choose from different types of vans, including the newer models (2020-2023):
- Happy 1: Sleep 2 – Automatic – starts at 120 euros
- Happy 2: Sleep 2 or 3 – Automatic – starts at 150 euros
- Happy 3: Sleep 5 – Automatic – starts at 165 euros
- Happy 4×4: Sleep 3 or 5 – Automatic – starts at 210 euros
They also have older models (2017-2919) at discounted prices. They called then the EXperienced vans. Most of them have manual transmission (not like the automatic transmission new models)
🚐 Find the perfect campervan for your Iceland trip with Happy Campers.
F.A.Q
What is Happy Campers cancellation policy?
They offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours before your rental.
What is the mileage allocation per rental?
Happy Campers offers unlimited milage per rental
What is included in the rental?
Everything you need is included in the rental:
You can purchase additional non-essential items such as sleeping bags, an inverter, a BBQ, …
How much does a Happy Campers rental cost?
The price varies depending on the model you rent and also when you plan your visit. Happy Campers has a dynamic pricing model, which varies depending on the season.
But here is a fun way to save on your Happy Campers” rental: you can get up to 30% off your rental if you participate in the Happy Campers’ challenge, where you need to visit 20 spots around Iceland and post them on social media (and tagging @happycampers_).
Here is all the details for the challenge.
Final Thoughts:
Renting a campervan is a fantastic way to see Iceland and our experience with Happy Campers was amazing. If we revisit Iceland, we will rent with them again.
The campervan we had had a high roof, which was perfect for my tall husband to stand up inside, and it came equipped with a dinner table and benches, making it cozy for meals and relaxing.
The Webasto heating system kept us warm at night, and the Wi-Fi hotspot was a hit for watching movies as a family. The campervan was also gas efficient, which was a relief given the high fuel prices in Iceland—around $3.00 CAD per liter.
The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, which made getting help and receiving road and weather updates easy.
Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.