Icelandic campsites fill up rapidly amid tourism surge

Campsites throughout Iceland are struggling to accommodate visitors, with a particular strain on facilities in the eastern part of the country. The situation highlights a significant surge in tourism impacting available accommodations.

At the Höfn campsite in Hornafjörður, the scene shifted dramatically within hours. While ample space was available on Saturday morning, the site became completely full by the evening. "Today there has been plenty of free space, but last night it was completely packed," said Árdís Jóna Pálsdóttir, who is staying at the campsite.

Many travelers are finding it difficult to secure a place to stay. One group reported attempting to stay at the campsite near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, only to find it fully occupied. Their subsequent drive to Skaftafell also resulted in a cramped camping experience, with limited space and no access to electricity.

Despite the current fullness at some popular locations, Pálsdóttir expects more visitors to arrive as the day progresses, especially with the favorable sunny weather. The high demand underscores the popularity of Iceland as a travel destination, even as it presents challenges for infrastructure and visitor planning.

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Today there has been plenty of free space, but last night it was completely packed.