Why We Chose a Campervan

We decided early on that renting a campervan would give us the flexibility we needed. Travelling with a toddler means plans change quickly and having everything with us made a huge difference.

We rented ours through Rent.is, and honestly, it simplified things more than I expected. The van came properly equipped, which meant we didn’t need to bring bulky items like cooking gear or bedding. That alone saved us a lot of space and stress.

It also meant that when naps needed to happen, or the weather turned suddenly (which it does, often), we had somewhere warm and familiar to retreat to.

What You Don’t Need to Pack

This was one of the biggest lessons for me. I had initially started making a list that included nearly everything we own, just in case. But once we saw what was already included in the campervan, we realised we could strip things back quite a bit.

With Rent.is, most of the essentials are already there, basic kitchen equipment, the sleeping setup and practical bits that make day-to-day life on the road manageable. That allowed us to focus on what actually matters when travelling with a toddler, rather than trying to recreate our entire home on wheels.

The Essentials We Were Glad We Brought

Even with a well-equipped campervan, there are a few things I wouldn’t travel without. Layers of clothing were at the top of the list. Iceland’s weather changes quickly and dressing a toddler in layers made it much easier to adapt throughout the day. We packed waterproofs, warm jumpers and more socks than I thought we could possibly need.

Snacks were another essential. Not just for hunger, but for those moments when you need a quick distraction or a bit of calm. We also brought a few familiar comfort items like a favourite blanket and a couple of small toys. It doesn’t sound like much, but having something familiar in a new environment makes a real difference.

Things That Made a Bigger Difference Than Expected

I hadn’t realised how important simple routines would become.  Even though we were moving around, we kept certain parts of the day consistent. having meals at similar times and a familiar bedtime routine, helped everything feel more settled.

I also found that having a small “grab bag” for daily use saved a lot of effort. Instead of unpacking everything each time we stopped, we had the essentials ready to go. And if I’m honest, the campervan itself ended up being the biggest comfort. It gave us a sense of control in an environment that can feel quite wild and unpredictable.

A Few Things I’d Do Differently

If I were to do it again, I would pack less.  There were items we carried the entire trip and never used. It’s easy to overpack “just in case”, especially with a toddler, but most of the time, you end up relying on the same core things every day. I’d also trust the setup more from the start. The campervan really did have what we needed.

Camping in Iceland with a toddler isn’t the easiest trip you’ll ever take, but it is one of the most memorable.  For us, it was about finding that balance between being prepared and staying flexible.  In the end, it wasn’t about having everything packed perfectly. It was about having enough of the right things to feel comfortable and then just getting on with the adventure.