Rent a car to chase the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse

So you've decided to travel to Iceland for the total solar eclipse in 2026. Great choice! The best way to explore this alien place is to rent a car and drive around.

Renting a car allows you to travel at your own pace to any location within the path of totality you wish. This is especially important if you're a photographer with solar telescopes and cameras and need time to find the perfect, most photogenic locations.

Iceland is known for being a cloudy place. However, it is seldom completely overcast everywhere. Conditions can be vastly different between short distances, even only one or two hours drive away from where you are staying. This means that being mobile improves your chances of seeing the total solar eclipse immensely.

There are few important things to keep in mind.

Tips for eclipse chasing by renting a car

• Rent a car from carrental.is and use the coupon code eclipse2026 for a 10% discount and by that, support this website
• Start driving early. We expect heavy traffic after noon on August 12 to the best locations.
• Be patient afterwards. Expect heavy traffic on the way back from your viewing site.
• Find a safe place to park. Never park on the edge of a road and never drive off road. Icelandic nature is delicate and you don't want to leave marks for years to come.
• Take really good care of nature.
• Bring warm clothes, snacks and loads of patience. Iceland can be windy and chilly, even in August.

Want to visit the highlands afterwards? Rent a 4x4

The Icelandic highlands are stunning and August really is the perfect time to visit. To go there, you need to rent a 4x4.

In the highlands, late summer nights are especially beautiful. Just after midnight, there's sufficient darkness to see the Northern Lights. We highly recommend Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll.

Rent an electric vehicle

Iceland's electricity generation is almost entirely from renewable sources, primarily hydropower and geothermal energy. So make your travel a little bit more eco friendly by renting an electric car. There are numerous charging stations in multiple locations, even at many hotels. Easy, comfortable and environmentally friendlier.

Where to go and what to see?

• Beyond Totality: 10 things to see in Iceland before and after the total solar eclipse by Jamie Carter
• The Westfjords Way from Visit Iceland
• The Snæfellsnes Peninsula from Visit Iceland
• The Volcanic Way from Visit Reykjanes
• Arctic Coast Way from Visit North Iceland
• Vist East Iceland

This story is written in cooperation with carrental.is. Please use the coupon code eclipse2026 for a 10% discount.