I spent three weeks traveling around Iceland in a campervan here’s what I learned along the way.

I’ve never beencampingbefore.

Choose the Right Camper

Travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to camper companies in Iceland.

Katie Lockhart in front of Kirkjufell Mountain

Courtesy of Patrick Sgro

There are dozens to choose from, and they all seemingly offer the same things.

We went with the family-ownedHappy Campers, the first mini-camper rental company in the country.

The clincher for us, though, was the free 4G Wi-Fi on tablets and all the positive reviews.

Exterior of camper at Westfjords

Courtesy of Patrick Sgro

Although we picked the right company, we did not snag the right camper.

We chose theHappy 1 Auto, a VW Caddy.

When in doubt, opt for more space.

Rainbow road in Seydisfjordur

Courtesy of Patrick Sgro

When to Travel

There’s no question, Iceland is at its tourism peak during thesummer months.

Travelers can take advantage of the midnight sun, driving, and sightseeing until, well, midnight.

We opted for the shoulder season of September.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Courtesy of Patrick Sgro

There was still plenty of sunlight and much less traffic at the campsites.

However, the majority of the country’s campgrounds close on Sept. 15.

But earlier sunsets allowed us to slide kick off the camper door and search for thenorthern lights.

Skogafoss waterfall from our camper

Courtesy of Patrick Sgro

We arrived right as the autumn colors started to emerge and the weather began getting colder.

Tip: Always checkroad.isfor updates on road closures anden.vendur.isfor accurate weather forecasts.

We discovered a few items we couldn’t live without during our trip the first, quick-drying microfiber towels.

Not All Campsites Are Equal

We referenced the Happy Campers’campsite mapfor all of our stays.

We took advantage of a long, hot shower at the plushHotel Ranga.

Their aurora wake-up call also made it much easier to spot the northern lights.

Why Travel in a Campervan?

Camping is ideal for the adventurous soul.

There’s no check-in or checkout, either.

Renting a campervan offers the ease of waking up, rolling over, and starting your day exploring.

Next time, I’ll ensure to book a bigger van.