r/adventure

Our first family road trip with our 10-month-old son. We weren’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime.

Trip report (June 2026)

We spent 3 weeks driving around Iceland in June 2026, following the Ring Road (plus a few detours) counterclockwise, finishing in Reykjavík. In total, we drove around 2,800 km and kept a relaxed pace, staying 2–4 nights at each stop.

We stayed in self-catering apartments and houses, which gave us plenty of flexibility with a baby. We rented a Dacia Bigster, which was just the right size for all our luggage and baby gear. On longer drives, we took turns sitting in the back with our son to keep him entertained.

Our setup: a travel stroller for the airport, Reykjavík, and grocery shopping, a baby carrier backpack for hikes, and a soft baby carrier for everything else.

We mainly shopped at Bónus, and one of our favorite discoveries was Iceland’s public swimming pools (Sundlaugar). They are everywhere and were fantastic to visit with a baby after a day of exploring.

The weather was sometimes rainy, but because we stayed several nights at each location, we had enough flexibility to adjust our plans. Most driving days were only 1–2 hours (for example, we explored the Golden Circle while staying in Selfoss), with only two travel days of around 4 hours.

Overall, this was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken. The landscapes were breathtaking, the people we met were incredibly kind, and traveling through Iceland with our son made the experience even more special.

Photo locations:

1. Þingvellir National Park
2. Geysir Geothermal Area (Strokkur)
3. Gullfoss
4. Þorlákshöfn
5. Skógafoss
6. Skógafoss Rainbow
7. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
8. Hjörleifshöfði
9. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
10. Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon
11. Svínafellsjökull Glacier (guided tour from Skaftafell)
12. Diamond Beach
13. Selfoss 
14. Eastfjords near Djúpivogur 
15. Hverir Geothermal Area (Námafjall)
16. Dimmuborgir Lava Field / Herðubreið
17. Húsavík
18. Whale watching with Friends of Moby Dick
19. Hofsós Sundlaug
20. The Unknown Bureaucrat, Reykjavík

What's something everyone should try at least once?

My boyfriend and I went on a 2 week road trip from CA to WA and back that we did not plan out at all.

We scored some last minute cancellations on great campsites and camped in Hipcamp’s the other nights.

Favorites:

1. Sol Duc Rainforest Retreat (Hipcamp) - I think this rainforest was more impressive than Hoh
2. Kalaloch Campground & beach - must visit the Tree of Life

Other insights:
-Hoh Campground was also cool but could skip if stay in Sol Duc — very long wait to get in (over an hour). We did 6 miles of the river trail which were meh, hall of mosses is worth it if you visit early… I thought the drive along the meadows and river from the highway to the campground were one of the best parts of that area. Peak 6 is a cool souvenir shop and has a gorgeous meadow behind it.

-Cape Flattery is beautiful and the drive there through Neah Bay is also cool… out of the way though if you’re doing a short trip.

-We booked a night @ the Lake Crescent Lodge. Do not recommend spending the night there (Google review posted in comments). Also the restaurant was very slow at dinnertime. Worth a stopover to walk along lake and have breakfast or lunch (in the bar).

-You will be driving a lot between sites — hours— often with no service. Download maps. Bring snacks and water. There are no roads across the park, only around.

-There is dispersed camping allowed on the National Forest land surrounding the park. Apps like the dyrt will help you find spots. We didn’t actually enter the park itself until the third day, when we went to Hoh Rainforest.

-We scored campground reservations at Hoh and Kalaloch 2-3 days before we camped — last minute cancellations are often the best way to get in. Both times they were amazing sites.

Tilicho lake is the world's highest lake situated in manang district of Nepal. It is located in 4919M height from seas levels.

The trek was beautiful. The summit made it worth it. Climbing the boulders and the endless amount pf stairs was a bit challenging. Very less amount of people. Serene and Mesmerising.