Why camp at Skaftafell
Skaftafell is a wilderness area within Vatnajokull National Park on Iceland's south coast, sitting right beneath Europe's largest glacier. The campground here is one of the best-located in the country: you wake up with glacier tongues and the Skaftafellsjokull outlet within walking distance, and the trailheads for Svartifoss waterfall and several glacier-view loops start steps from your tent. It is the natural overnight stop between the famous south-coast waterfalls and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, which keeps your driving short and your scenery huge.
The campground and facilities
Skaftafell campground is large, flat, and open to tents, campervans, and motorhomes. Facilities include toilets, hot showers (paid), sinks for dishes, and a service building, with a visitor center and small cafe nearby. There are no individual marked pitches, so you choose a spot on the grass. As a national park site it is well maintained but can fill in peak summer, especially with campervans, so arrive earlier in the afternoon in July and August.
Prices and booking
Camping is paid per person per night, with extra fees for showers and electrical hookups for campers. Rates are set by the national park and you generally pay on arrival or at the service building rather than booking a numbered pitch online. Bring a credit card. Note that wild camping with a tent next to the road is restricted across Iceland, so using a designated site like Skaftafell is both easier and legal.
Best hikes from the campground
- Svartifoss: about 1.5 miles round trip to the basalt-column waterfall, the signature short hike
- Skaftafellsjokull glacier viewpoint: an easy, mostly flat walk to the glacier snout
- Sjonarnipa viewpoint: a moderate loop with sweeping views over the glacier
- Kristinartindar: a long, strenuous full-day summit hike for experienced walkers
Guided glacier walks and ice-cave tours also depart from the Skaftafell area, and you must go with a certified guide and crampons rather than walking onto the ice alone.
Weather and what to bring
Even in summer the weather here is changeable, with wind funneling off the glacier. Bring a sturdy tent with good stakes, a warm sleeping bag, and full waterproofs. Nights are bright in June and July thanks to the midnight sun, so a sleep mask helps. Midges are mild compared with the Myvatn area but a light buff is handy. Tap water is safe and excellent, so skip the bottled water.
Fitting Skaftafell into a road trip
Skaftafell is roughly four to five hours from Reykjavik and works best as a one or two-night stop. Spend an afternoon on Svartifoss and the glacier viewpoint, do a morning glacier walk, then continue 45 minutes east to Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach. This is exactly the rhythm of the Iceland highlights loop, where Skaftafell anchors the second half of the south coast before the drive back west.
Final tips
Buy fuel and groceries before you arrive, since options near the park are limited and pricier. Carry cash or card for showers, keep your tent staked against the wind, and start popular hikes like Svartifoss early or late to dodge the day-trip crowds. Camping at Skaftafell gives you the rare chance to fall asleep at the foot of a glacier and be on the trail before anyone else.
