Have you ever dreamed about renting a campervan and going on a road trip across the Big Island of Hawaii? The trip planning might seem overwhelming at first. However, this travel guide has everything you need to kickstart your planning, including campervan rental information, campground recommendations, a sample itinerary, phenomenal sites to see, and the best places to eat and drink.

Planning an Epic Camper Van Trip Across the Big Island of Hawaii

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Wilderness

Iceland is one of those places that is simply PERFECT for road tripping! The size is manageable, the landscapes are awe inspiring, and the culture is truly amazing. And, the camping culture is particularly awesome. If an Iceland road trip is moving off of your bucket list and onto your to-do list, this post will help you plan your trip, as we share our itinerary, tips, and first-hand experiences from our recent trip.

If you can't tell, Iceland simply knocked us off our feet, so we are bringing you a 3-part series all about our trip. Click here to find out 53 Things To Know Before You Go, then read this post to hear about the first part of our trip (Reykavik and the Golden Circle), and then check back for the next post to hear about the rest of our trip along the South Coast.

We had so much help planning our itinerary from Icelanders and those experienced visitors, and we just want to pay it forward! We hope this helps inspire you to plan your own Iceland road trip.

Use code rvatlas10 for 10 percent off a motorhome rental with Rent Easy Iceland AND free pickup and drop off from and to the KEF airport. Do not book the transportation as part of your reservation or you will be charged for it. Send an email or direct message on social media with arrival and departure dates and your pickup and delivery will be arranged from there. Our code CAN be combined with any other discounts available on their website. This is not an affiliate code and we do not earn a percentage from your reservation. We truly hope to inspire you to go to Iceland and we loved our experience with Rent Easy Iceland.
How Much Does an Iceland Road Trip Cost?


The number one question we have received about our Iceland RV road trip is: How much did it cost? We always hate to put a number on things since costs greatly vary by your own tastes, the time of year you visit, location, and so much more. But, here are some facts:

 	AIRFARE: We only paid $500 per person for airfare from JFK since we live on the East Coast. Obviously, you'll pay more if you have to fly from the other side of the country or a more remote location. TIP: Use Google Flights to find out the typical airfare and to set up alerts if prices go up and down. We flew Delta, but we've heard you can find good deals from PLAY, which is a budget airline.
 	MOTORHOME RENTAL: For a ballpark figure, expect to pay around $300 per night as a very general figure.  Again, costs will vary by season and many other variables. The best way to get a cost idea is to go to the Rent Easy Iceland website and punch in some dates and options to get true costs.
 	CAMPSITE PRICES: Prices seemed to be around $20-$70 a night, with our costs more often being $40-50. So, all in with the RV rental, you are under $400 a night, which definitely near the same price or less than most hotels in Iceland. Aside from the price, road tripping in a motorhome is a great way to explore the country because you can easily move from stop to stop with your home on wheels.
 	DIESEL: We paid around $8 per gallon and got 23 miles per gallon. So, this was also a cost, but it was less than we expected.
 	MEALS: We ate out and thought the prices were quite comparable to home, so food likely won't cost more than a usual road trip in the U.S. One great thing to note is that there are no tips. So, the costs may look high up front, but they actually aren't. If you are looking to save money, plan to cook in the motorhome.
 	ACTIVITIES: This is another spot where costs will really vary. Some people add a lot of tours and day trips, which can be pricy. As we discuss our itinerary below, we'll try to share some of the costs of these popular stops and activities.

If you want to hear all of the details from our recent Iceland road trip, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas in your favorite podcast ap...

Iceland Road Trip Part 1: Reykavik and the Golden Circle

Have you ever dreamed of booking an Iceland RV Rental and taking an epic road trip across the country? We have had that dream for many years--and recently turned it into a reality. The kids stayed at home for this one--and the trip was very much a sneak peek of what travel might look like for us when they fly the coop. We booked a 22 foot (automatic) motorhome rental from Rent Easy Iceland and had an incredible experience with them from start to finish. Below are are 53 things you should know before you go. Read this post so you are prepared and ready to have the trip of a lifetime.

To listen to Jeremy and Stephanie talk about 53 things you need to know before you take an RV rental  trip to Iceland--click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows.

Use code rvatlas10 for 10 percent off a motorhome rental with Rent Easy Iceland AND free pickup and drop off from and to the KEF airport. Do not book the transportation as part of your reservation or you will be charged for it. Send an email or direct message on social media with arrival and departure dates and your pickup and delivery will be arranged from there. Our code CAN be combined with any other discounts available on their website. This is not an affiliate code and we do not earn a percentage from your reservation. We truly hope to inspire you to go to Iceland and we loved our experience with Rent Easy Iceland.
Icelandic Culture
Blue Lagoon

1. Iceland is easy to get to. We flew direct from JFK for $500 each. For us this is closer, easier, and less expensive than flying to Yellowstone, Glacier, and California. Iceland is not Antarctica. It's easier to get to than most people think.

2. Almost everyone speaks English in Iceland. Every single Icelander we met spoke English--and very good English at that. Iceland may look like another planet--but communicating there is very easy.

3. Iceland is (for the most part) very welcoming to tourists. Generally speaking--Icelanders like tourism. It is currently the number one driver of their economy. They also like Americans and American culture, music, and television. Iceland is a European country but very different than other  European countries we have visited.

4. Iceland is one of the cleanest countries we have ever visited. Period! End of story. Every town and national park we visited was meticulously clean. This is partly due to the small population of the country--but also due to a love of neatness and order.  Almost every restroom, shower, and spa we visited was spotless.

5. Icelandic people are “can do” entrepreneurial but also easy going and relaxed. Life moves at a more relaxed pace in Iceland (when compared to America at least) even though they are “can do” people.  Their unofficial national saying is "Thetta Reddest" which translates to “It will all work out.” This saying really does crystalize the essence of the Icelandic people--at least in our eyes.



6. Icelandic spa and thermal bath culture is amazing. There are big (heavily) touristed thermally heated spas like Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon--and then there are smaller community pools that also have warm water and showers. There is also everything in-between these two extremes.  If you don’t go to a spa or community pool--did you really go to Iceland?

7. The population of Iceland is 382,000--the country is not crowded when it comes to driving, parking, etc... 60 percent of those people live in in the greater Reykjavik area.

8. Free drinking water is available everywhere and it is fresh and good. Icelanders are proud of their drinking water and they should be.

9. Clean bathrooms are available just about everywhere that tourists might go. At least along the Golden Circle and along the south coast where we visited.

10.

Iceland RV Rental Adventures: 53 Things To Know Before You Go

In the first segment of the show we have a huge announcement to make about an upcoming international RV trip that we taking this month. You will have to tune in to the podcast to find out more. And in the second (much longer) segment of the show we will be covering four major trends from KOA's 2024 North American Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report (which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024.) We have covered major trends from the report since its inception 10 years ago and always love digging into the data.

Stephanie summarized some major trends in this year's report over on the blog at Park Vendor Review. You can read that summary of major trends right here.

To read a high level overview of the report itself --please click here.

On the podcast we discuss the rise of "blended trips" where campers stay at more than one type of accommodation during a single trip. Then we discuss the decline of tent camping and the meteoric rise of glamping. We end the show by discussing how the boomers are back! Many boomers stayed away from camping and all kinds of travel during the pandemic--but they are returning to campgrounds in droves this year!

To listen to Jeremy and Stephanie discuss all of those trends and more click on the media player above--or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows!

Huge Announcement! + 5 Trends from KOA’s 2024 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report

The Pacific Northwest is one of the greatest places in America for camping and outdoor adventure. Our 26-day trip to Washington State, Oregon, and the California Redwoods was one for the record books. We are definitely jonesing for a return trip. When we do return we definitely want to camp at Champoeg State Heritage Area. On this week's episode of The RV Atlas podcast we are thrilled to welcome Kristy Dobie from Willa Wanders on to the show for a terrific review of this campground and all of the awesome things you can see and do (and eat and drink) nearby.



To listen to Jeremy interview Kristy please click on the media player above--or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows! Or just read on for this guest post from Kristy. It has all of the details you need to plan a trip to Champoeg and the Willamette Valley. Thanks to Kristy for sharing her knowledge of the area and for sharing her wonderful photos!
Kristy Dobie from @willawanders
Photo by Kristy Dobie

Since 2019, Kristy Dobie has hit the road with Willa, her Airstream Trailer. With her adventurous pup, and Sony camera by her side, she has documented the journey on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media accounts. @WillaWanders is an RV and outdoor travel account that features landscape, wildlife, travel, and lifestyle photography, as well as travel itineraries and tips. Since Kristy also worked as a teacher for over a decade, conservation education is woven into her travel content with the hopes of inspiring action and respect for nature. More recently, Kristy has added international travel to her list of adventures by hosting group trips with likeminded travelers.
Champoeg State Heritage Area and The Willamette Valley
Photo by Kristy Dobie

The Willamette Valley is a large region of Oregon that includes fertile farmland from outside of Portland down south of Eugene. Champoeg State Heritage Area is perfectly situated 7 miles east of the town of Newberg and is surrounded by wine country and some excellent dining. This is a great spot to use as a basecamp to explore Northern Oregon, including day trips to the Oregon Coast or the Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood.

Champoeg State Heritage Area is special because it helps preserve the history of the region. Unlike many other mountainous parts of our state, this campground is in a more pastoral setting along the Willamette River.

There are lots of walking and biking paths that wind through groves of trees and pastures that are home to deer and many bird species. Families may also enjoy visiting the historical museums on site or making use of the fishing and boating dock. The campground is great for a variety of campers since it includes cabin and yurt rentals as well as tent and RV camping. 

Photo by Kristy Dobie

There are three different aspects of history that local museums like to focus on: the time prior to 1840, the start of Oregon’s state government, and the area’s historical importance as a transportation hub.

Prior to 1840: The Champoeg prairie was home to Kalapuya Indians. Their tribe used the area for hunting, fishing, and gathering camas bulbs, which were a staple in their diet. In 1811, fur trappers first visited the area.

The Seeds of Government: Let’s flash forward to 1841 -  area settlers began holding meetings that were appropriately known as “wolf meetings” so they could discuss problems with predators. Eventually, the meetings began discussing larger issues, and in 1843, the settlers narrowly voted to establish a new provisional government for the area.

Transportation Hub: Champoeg is also known as a historical transportation hub. Although this provisional government moved in 1844, Champoeg’s location on the river made it a regular stop for stagecoaches and steam boats.

Oregon’s Champoeg State Heritage Area Campground (With Kristy from Willa Wanders)

Heading to Shenandoah National Park and looking for a scenic camping experience with all of the conveniences and amenities? Put Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views at the top of your list. This bucolic campground offers panoramic mountain views, easy access to national park highlights, and tons of family-friendly activities.

Planning an Epic Camper Van Trip Across the Big Island of Hawaii

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