Rent a car in Keflavik

Inside the terminal: about half a dozen of the big international chains keep desks in arrivals. Local Icelandic operators (Blue Car Rental, Lava, Lotus, Geysir, Reykjavík Cars, Northbound) work via shuttle from the exit to their depots 1–3 km away. Most run round the clock, matched to the flight schedule.

At the arrivals exit a shuttle driver meets you with a sign and drives five minutes to the supplier's depot. There you do the walk-around, paperwork and key handover. Shuttles run 24/7 with the flights. If your flight is late, the driver waits — you don't need to phone in.

Around 15–25 minutes from passport control on average. International chains in the terminal are faster (10–15 min); local operators via shuttle take longer (20–30 min). With baggage and a peak arrival window, allow an hour rather than fight the clock.

Yes. KEF runs 24/7 and most suppliers track the flights. International chains keep terminal desks open round the clock; local operators run shuttles on demand. For very late or early slots, message the supplier before booking so the meet-up is confirmed.

Some Icelandic operators deliver to a Reykjavík hotel directly. Free during business hours, €35–100 for late-night and very early slots. Handy on a late arrival when you don't want a shuttle and don't need the car for the first few hours. Arrange it a day or two ahead.

22 km and 20 minutes via Route 41. Parking on-site is free, but the timeslot reservation is mandatory — book at bluelagoon.com weeks in advance (€70–115). Ideal as a first stop after the flight: tired body, tight schedule, the lagoon takes care of two hours.

Yes, always. Walk-ups aren't accepted at the desk, especially in summer. Slots typically sell out 2–4 weeks ahead. If you're going on arrival day, pick a morning slot at least two hours after your scheduled landing to absorb passport control and any flight delays.

Collect the car at KEF, drive 22 km to the Blue Lagoon (20 min), soak by your timeslot for 2–3 hours, then 50 km to Reykjavík (50 min). Four to five hours total. Leave the big bags in the boot — the lagoon has lockers for the smaller items.

Beyond the Blue Lagoon: Reykjanesviti lighthouse, Krýsuvík geothermal area, Bridge Between Continents, Gunnuhver hot spring and Brimketill rock pool. A roughly 150 km loop, four to five hours with stops. All accessible on a 2WD year-round, mostly paved roads.

KEF airport and rental suppliers operate normally. Eruptions stay localised around Grindavík, and segments of road on the peninsula close from time to time. The KEF–Reykjavík corridor and the Ring Road are unaffected. Check safetravel.is on the morning of any peninsula drive.

Mostly from KEF — it skips the Reykjavík loop and puts you on the south coast or the Blue Lagoon within an hour. Reykjavík makes sense if you've planned a day or two in town without a car first. Returning the car at KEF after the loop is always free.

Counter-clockwise — south first — is the popular choice. The most photogenic spots (waterfalls, the glacier lagoon) hit on days one and two while you're fresh. Clockwise works fine, just less common. Plan 7–10 days for the full loop with proper stops.

KEF → Akureyri one-way runs €200–400 depending on supplier and season. KEF → Egilsstaðir on the east coast is €350–620. One-way is worth it only if you fly out on a domestic connection — otherwise returning to KEF without a fee is the cleaner option.

At KEF itself: closer car park ISK 1,500/day (~€10), long-stay shuttle lot ISK 800 (~€5.50). Most KEF-area hotels (Northern Light Inn, Aurora, Park Inn) include free parking for guests. A week in the long-stay lot runs about €40 — useful if you're driving the loop.

Plenty: N1, Olís, Orkan and Atlantsolía in Keflavík, Grindavík, Hafnarfjörður and Reykjavík. All 24/7, chip-and-PIN card. Costco in Garðabær is usually the cheapest if you have a card; tourist-area pumps run a few cents higher. Always fill the tank before heading onto the loop.