Things to Do in Keflavik: Your First and Last Stop in Iceland

You've landed. The bag is off the carousel, the coffee from the plane was bad, and your Camper Rental Iceland van is ready, a five-minute walk from the terminal.

Most people who rent a campervan in Iceland drive straight onto Road 41 without giving Keflavík a second thought. That's a mistake. There are things to do in Keflavík and on the Reykjanes Peninsula that most renters drive straight past on the way to Reykjavík.

We will cover two different things here, namely what to do on arrival day before you head north, and how to fill the last few hours on departure day before you hand back the keys.

Arrival Day: What to Do After Picking Up Your Campervan

Arrival day in Keflavík, Iceland has one job. Get moving without making bad decisions. Collect the van, sort groceries, do one or two stops on the peninsula, then drive to your first overnight.

The Camper Rental Iceland office runs 24/7, so late landings are not a problem. The jet lag is your problem. Most first-day mistakes happen because people try to cover too much ground. If you are running a 5-day itinerary, day one is not for sightseeing. 

It is for getting the van stocked, getting comfortable behind the wheel on the left side of the road, and getting somewhere to sleep.

Stock Up on Groceries

Bónus and Krónan are both in Keflavík town, about 10 minutes (8 km / 5 miles) from the airport. Both are worth hitting before you leave the area. Bónus is the cheaper option. Good for bulk basics: eggs, bread, pasta, tinned goods, coffee, and snacks. 

Stock up for the first two to three nights here. Anything heavy or bulky is cheaper now than at a rural petrol station 300 km (186 miles) up the ring road. Krónan has better fresh produce if that matters to your setup.

Most Camper Rental Iceland vehicles include kitchen utensils, so you do not need to buy gear. Check your specific vehicle inclusions at booking to confirm what is already in the van.

Blue Lagoon (Book Ahead)

The Blue Lagoon is 20 minutes (16 km / 10 miles) from KEF and is one of the most practical things to do near KEF airport on arrival day. Book online before you land. Walk-ins are not accepted, and during peak season, slots fill weeks out.

There are three entry tiers: Comfort, Premium, and Retreat. Comfort covers the essentials. The upgrades add spa treatments and private areas, but most campervan travellers do not need them. Parking is large and free. Leave your bags in the van.

It is busy and also expensive. The sulphur smell gets into your hair and stays there for a while. Still, soaking in 38°C (100°F) water after a transatlantic flight before a week of driving is a reasonable way to use a few hours. Check the official Blue Lagoon site for current prices and availability before booking.

Reykjanes Peninsula Quick Loop

If you are skipping the Blue Lagoon or want more time behind the wheel before heading north, the Reykjanes Peninsula loop is the best alternative for things to do in Keflavík on arrival day. 

The full loop takes 2 to 3 hours, including stops, and covers around 48 km (28 miles). The route passes Gunnuhver hot springs, Reykjanesviti lighthouse, and the Bridge Between Continents. Each gets a full breakdown later in this guide under the departure day section. All roads on the loop are paved, so you don’t need a 4WD. 

Every Camper Rental Iceland vehicle, including 2WD campervans, can handle the full route without issues. Volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula has disrupted some roads and access points since 2021. Check Umferdin.is before you drive. Some closures happen with little notice and are not always reflected on standard map apps.

Departure Day: Making the Most of Your Last Hours

Most campsites in Iceland check out at 11:00 or 12:00, which leaves a few hours to work with if your flight is late afternoon or evening. That gap is enough time to cover the best things to do near KEF airport on the way back.

The three stops below sit between the south coast and Keflavík, so the drive back to the airport doubles as a sightseeing loop without adding significant distance. Return the van to the Camper Rental Iceland office in Keflavík, and the free shuttle takes you back to the terminal. 

Build in time for a fuel top-up and the vehicle check before drop-off. That process takes longer than most people expect.

Gunnuhver Hot Springs

Gunnuhver Hot Springs sit about 30 minutes (28 km / 17 miles) from Keflavík, Iceland, and cost nothing to visit. There is no booking required and no entry fee. What you get is an active geothermal field with boiling mud pools and steam vents pushing through cracks in the ground. 

The sulphur smell hits before you reach the car park. Boardwalks are in place, but the ground around them is genuinely unstable. Stay on the marked path. Plan for 30 to 45 minutes on site. Morning visits get better light before the cloud rolls in, which works well if you are doing this on departure day before heading to the airport.

One hard requirement: Grindavík access has been disrupted by volcanic activity since late 2023. Check Umferdin.is and SafeTravel.is before you route through here. Some closures happen fast without warning

Bridge Between Continents

The Bridge Between Continents is a footbridge spanning a fissure on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are actively pulling apart. It is free to visit, always accessible, and takes about 20 minutes, including the walk from the car park.

Set realistic expectations before you stop here. The bridge is small, the rift is a rocky gap in the ground, and the surrounding landscape is a flat lava field. The geological reality is genuinely interesting. 

Recent seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula has opened new cracks near the site, some of which are hard to spot. Stay on marked paths and keep clear of any visible cracks or edges, particularly near cliffs.

Parking is easy, and the site has no facilities. Certificates are available at the Folk Museum in Gardur or the Reykjanes Geopark visitor centre at Duus Cultural House. It works well as a quick stop between Gunnuhver and Reykjanesviti without adding meaningful time to the drive.

Reykjanesviti Lighthouse

Reykjanesviti is Iceland's oldest lighthouse and one of the most straightforward things to do near KEF airport before a departure flight. It sits about 30 minutes (28 km / 17 miles) from Keflavík on the tip of the peninsula.

The current lighthouse was built in 1907 to 1908 on Bæjarfell hill after earthquakes and surf destroyed the original 1878 structure on Valahnúkur. It stands 26 metres (85 feet) tall with a light signal height of 69 metres (226 feet) above sea level. Built from carved rock and concrete, it is still operational under the Icelandic Maritime Administration.

The walk from the car park takes 10 to 15 minutes. There are no facilities on site. Wind exposure is serious year-round. Bring a jacket regardless of the forecast. On clear days, the coastal views stretch back toward Keflavík. It sits a few kilometres from Gunnuhver, so the two work well as a combined stop on the way back to the airport.

Practical Tips for Keflavik

Most logistical problems on an Iceland campervan trip happen in the first two hours. Sorting them out near KEF before you drive north is easier than dealing with them on the road.

The practical tips below cover the things to do in Keflavík that do not make it into travel guides but matter more than most of the attractions: fuel, groceries, and connectivity. Get these right before you leave the area, and the rest of the trip will be a breeze.

Where to Buy Groceries

Fuel Stations Near KEF

The main fuel networks near KEF are N1, Orkan, and ÓB. We have a full gas station map on our website that shows fuel stop locations across the country, including near the airport.

ÓB is typically the cheapest but runs unmanned pumps that require a 4-digit PIN-enabled card. Magnetic stripe cards from certain countries do not work at unmanned stations. Sort your payment method before you leave the KEF area, not when you are low on fuel somewhere in the Eastfjords.

Check your vehicle's fuel type before you pump. It is on the dashboard sticker or the keyring tag. Camper Rental Iceland runs both diesel and petrol campervans in the fleet.

Our campervan rentals include unlimited mileage, so distance is not a cost concern. Fuel is. Prices climb noticeably in rural areas, and remote stations keep shorter hours. Fill up near KEF before heading north.

SIM Cards and WiFi

Síminn and Nova both have SIM card desks in the KEF arrivals hall. Buy before you leave the airport if you want data coverage from the first kilometre on the road. Coverage on the ring road is solid through the south and west, with occasional dead spots in remote regions, particularly the Westfjords and the interior.

Camper Rental Iceland offers unlimited mobile WiFi as an add-on for 6 USD per day. Check your booking confirmation for availability and to add it before pickup. There is an ATM at the airport. 

Cards are accepted at most places in Iceland, so cash is usually just a backup. Some rural campsites and car parks still run cash-only payment, so carrying a small amount is worth it.

Getting from KEF to Your Campervan Pickup

Camper Rental Iceland's office is at Keflavík International Airport, either a 5-minute walk from the terminal or a short ride on their free Keflavík shuttle service, depending on your vehicle type. The shuttle runs both ways: airport to office on arrival, office back to the terminal on departure. 

The office is open 24/7. Late-night landings and early-morning departures are not a problem. Call +(354) 539 65 34 when you land, and they will sort the rest. Pickup is straightforward. Collect the vehicle, complete sign-up, and get the keys. From there, Road 41 heads toward Reykjavík, and most itineraries start from there. 

A few practicalities worth knowing before you book. Minimum age is 20 to 25 for campervans and 25 or older for motorhomes. Minimum rental period is 72 hours for most campervans. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted, but confirm payment terms for the outstanding balance at booking, as Visa acceptance can vary.

FAQ

What's actually included in a Camper Rental Iceland rental? 

Unlimited mileage, CDW, PAI, third-party liability insurance, winter tires from November to April, and 24% VAT. Kitchen equipment, sleeping bags, and camp furniture depend on the specific vehicle.

What if my flight lands at 2 am? 

The Keflavík office is open 24/7. Call +(354) 539 65 34 on arrival, and someone will be there.

How do I find the shuttle at KEF? 

Call the office when you land. If your vehicle is walkable, the office is 5 minutes from the terminal on foot.

Is there anything to do in Keflavík town itself? 

The harbour area is worth a short walk. The Viking World Museum is nearby if you have time to fill before a flight.

Can I park overnight near Keflavík in a campervan? 

Designated campsites are required in most areas of Iceland. The Reykjanes Peninsula has limited overnight options compared to the rest of the country.

How far is Keflavík from Reykjavík? 

About 45 minutes on Road 41, roughly 50 km (31 miles). Worth factoring in if you are planning a city stop on departure day.

Do I need a 4WD for the Reykjanes Peninsula? 

No. All roads on the peninsula loop are paved and suitable for every 2WD campervan in the Camper Rental Iceland fleet.

Is the Blue Lagoon worth it on a budget? 

The Comfort tier covers the main experience at the lowest entry price. If budget is the issue, Gunnuhver is free and 30 minutes from KEF.

What if my early flight means I can't do anything on departure day? 

Gunnuhver opens early, and the Bridge Between Continents is always accessible. Both sit on the direct route back to the airport.