Describe a road trip in Iceland in just one word? No word in itself can do justice to the natural beauty of Iceland, but if we have to stick one, then “extraterrestrial” might be the most appropriate. It’s a feeling you will often experience when you are once again blown away by the umpteenth extraordinarily beautiful landscape that lies behind every corner.
We take you on a road trip through Iceland where you will fall from one surprise to the next. Iceland actually only has 1 major road and that is the “route 1” or “ring road”.
It is the main road of Iceland that runs through Reykjavik and runs almost around the whole country. Only the Icelandic West Fjords ignore the ring road.
There is not really a line to be drawn in the Icelandic landscape. Or maybe one: trees or rather the lack of. So you don’t have to go to Iceland for vast forests. Trees are perhaps even rarer than people.
On the other hand, on your journey along the “ring road” every 150-200km you will be treated to another unique landscape. The “ring road” is “only” 1322 km long.
But don’t be surprised… it may be the only main road in Iceland, but you can go a maximum of 90 km/h. Not only because this is the maximum allowed speed, but also because of the speed limit. the road and weather conditions (wind, snow, fog) so that faster driving is actually not possible.
Here and there you also drive off the “ring road”, so that we eventually covered almost 3000 km.
Ready for your 10-day trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world? Ready-set-go!
Day 1: Reykjavik, the start of your Iceland road trip
In principle you can choose in which direction you leave. The north of Iceland is also beautiful, but the “wow” moments are more dense in the south. Hence I would recommend to let the choice depend on the weather forecast
Does the forecast look good in the South for the first days of your Iceland road trip? Then head south. You really have to see the south in the best possible weather.
In our case, we immediately set course for the South. If you plan your trip in the other righting, skip to the end of this article and read up.
Once you’ve set foot on Icelandic soil, it’s time to pick up your campervan or motorhome in Reykjavik. Below we have added some options for you where you can rent your campervan for your Iceland road trip.
Campervan picked up? Then stop near Reykjavik at the supermarket to stock up on some supplies. The supermarkets are not very richly strewn along the ring road. For those who want to reduce the costs a bit, it is best to go to a “Bonus” for purchasing. That’s an Icelandic low budget supermarket.
All loaded and ready to hit the road? It may only be the first day, but we are still heading towards the first highlight of the trip: Seljalandsfoss! This is a breathtaking waterfall that shows its most beautiful view at sunset. From Reykjavik it is about a 130km drive.
You can spend your first night here in your campervan. There is also a log cabin at the waterfall where you can prepare your evening meal. Keep an eye on the waterfall once the night has set in. The full moon rising from behind the waterfall is breathtaking!
Day 2: Another iconic waterfall in the south… the Skógafoss
Time to get up, because not far from Seljalandsfoss (+-30km), along the ring road, is that other famous Icelandic waterfall: Skógafoss!
At 25 meters wide and 60 meters high, the Skógafoss is even more majestic than the Seljalandsfoss. The story goes that one of the settlers of Iceland hid a chest of gold behind it at the time. Unless you want to get a few tons of water on your head, I wouldn’t immediately recommend looking for this ;).
You can hike all the way up and walk upstream.
From the Skógafoss you continue via “route 1” to “Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck”. This American DC plane crashed on the South Icelandic coastline in 1973 when it ran out of gas en route. You cannot reach the plane by car and you cannot see it from the “route 1”.
Navigate to “Parking for Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck” and leave your car there. It is then about a 4 km walk until you reach the plane. There is no route signage so ideally only do this in good weather.
The next stop on the daily schedule at (35 km from Skógafoss) is the region around the village of Vík. This is known for the dramatic coastline with pitch black lava beaches.
You first pass Dyrhólaey, a peninsula that offers beautiful views over the coastline around Vík. From there you continue to Vik.
We then leave the “ring road” and drive a bit inland via the 209 > 208 > F208 into no man’s land towards Huldufoss. These are mainly gravel roads so depending on what season you take your Iceland road trip, these roads may be inaccessible.
Find a suitable spot along the F208 to spend the night and enjoy your dinner with a view of a fantastic landscape!
Tijd om op te staan want niet ver van Seljalandsfoss (+-30km), langs de ringroad, ligt die andere bekende Ijslandse waterval: Skógafoss!
Day 3: Jökulsárlón… possibly the highlight of your Iceland road trip!
We drive back via the road we came to the “route 1” and set course for the Skaftafell national park. You can expect volcanoes, glaciers and camping spots, plus adventurous hiking trails for all levels. We have set our sights on the Svartifoss. This waterfall is also completely different and unique.
After a visit to the national park we resume our drive along the “ring road”. Just behind the corner is already another highlight waiting for us.
Maybe it is even the most beautiful place in Iceland? We are approaching the largest glacial lake in Iceland: Jökulsárlón! It is located south of the Vatnajökull Glacier between Skaftafell National Park and the town of Höfn.
On the route you first come across Fjallsárlón, a smaller glacial lake. As a warm-up, it is certainly worth a stop along this lake.
But then it’s time for the main act… A little further on, behind the bridge you turn left and you arrive at Jökulsárlón. Few words can describe this experience so I won’t even try.
Be sure to cross the street (or turn right after the bridge). You can walk through the estuary to the beach where the thousands of years old ice blocks wash ashore. Iceland at its best!
The beach at Jökulsárlón is the perfect place for an overnight stay with the camper(van).
Day 4: Off to the East Fjords!
The “ring road” takes you towards the East Fjords. You first pass the village of Höfn. This is a charming fishing village well known for its lobster restaurants. So well-known that everywhere you will find pictures of world famous stars who once passed by for a portion of lobster.
Before entering the East Fjords we take the exit towards Stokksnes. The place is known for its black sand and dramatic mountain scenery.
It is gradually time to find a nice place to sleep and we drive towards Fossardalur camping. Just before we arrive at the campsite we turn right on a small forest road. We arrive at a beautiful spot in the middle of nature on top of the “mountain”.
Day 5: The only forest you will encounter on your Iceland road trip
We continue the route through the East Fjords. In terms of landscapes, it also looks completely different. This region of Iceland is somewhat reminiscent of Norway. It is noticeably more desolate compared to the more popular south.
After winding through the fjords, it’s time to follow our navigation to Egilsstaðir. This is the largest village in eastern Iceland.
In this region you will also find the only Icelandic forest: “Hallormsstaður National Forest”. Iceland used to be an estimated 40% forested. In just a few hundred years, almost nothing is left of it.
The trees were cut down for wood by the Vikings. This was necessary for the construction of eg. ships but also as fuel to survive the very harsh winters.
The ideal setting to find a good place to spend the night.
Day 6: Over the snowy plateau
We leave the East Fjords behind and follow the “route 1” to the North. The road is breathtaking! You will be treated to vast plains where volcanoes and mountains show off on the horizon. You will certainly stop the car here a number of times.
We leave the “1” and turn right on the “864”. This road takes you to Dettifoss, a gigantic waterfall in the north of Iceland.
When we visited the waterfall there was still snow on the hiking trails. You are a lot higher on the North Plain compared to the South. So adjust your clothes accordingly.
Not immediately the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland, if you have not seen it yet, it is worth a visit.
We drive back to the “ring road” and set course for Mývatn. This is a lake in the north of Iceland that is located in the middle of a very volcanic area.
On the route you first come across Hverir. This is a plain where hot springs and sulfur fumes rise from the ground like plumes of smoke. The ground has a bright orange color and the sulfur leaves behind red/white circles that make it look like you’ve landed on Mars.
Not sure if you are in the right place? Don’t worry, based on your sense of smell you will soon know whether you are in the right place or not! 😉
Nearby is also the volcano crater Hverfjall. You can walk all the way to the top of the crater via a trail.
We’ll hold it for today. We will spend the night at the beautiful campsite of Mývatn right next to the beautiful lake!
Day 7: Mývatn hot springs
If you go to Iceland, you should definitely take a dip in a natural hot water bath. You can do this near Reykjavik (Blue Lagoon) of course, but if you opt for the less touristy option, the natural hot springs of Mývatn are a better choice.
For entrance tickets you can take a look at the website of the thermal baths: https://myvatnnaturebaths.is/?lang=en
After a few hours of wonderful bathing in the open air, we continue our journey. Before we leave Mývatn we pay a quick visit to Grjótagjá. That is a small warm water cave that is located nearby.
We follow the “ring road” and stop at what is, in my opinion, the most magical waterfall of the Iceland roadtrip: the Goðafoss! The dramatic cliff where the water plunges, with the mountain landscape beyond, is what makes this waterfall so unique to me.
We spend the night near the waterfall at the local campsite.
Day 8: The troll of your Iceland road trip
The first village we encounter is Akureyri. It is also the largest village in Northern Iceland. Nice to walk through and visit some (outdoor) shops. Stock up on some extra stock if needed.
The “route 1” then leads you through the beautiful mountainous landscapes. We have set course for another beautiful natural phenomenon of the North, the troll of Iceland or officially “Hvítserkur”. This is a strange rock that stands in the water along the shoreline.
We have to leave the “ring road” for this and follow the “717” uphill until we arrive at the iconic rock.
You can drive around the peninsula and all the way in the tip we find another great camping spot in the wild. Sleep well!
Day 9: The Snæfellsnes peninsula
We leave the North and return to the end point of the road trip in Iceland. But driving straight to Reykjavik straight away would be a shame. After all, there is still a lot of beauty in the Western part!
Unfortunately we don’t have enough time to visit the West Fjords. But a visit to the peninsula of Snæfellsnes is certainly possible! So we leave the “ring road” again and drive towards Olafsvik.
You will find the most photographed mountain in the country: the “church mountain” or in Icelandic “Kirkjufell”. In the foreground, a small waterfall cascades down, creating a beautiful composition for a landscape shot.
On the way back to Reykjavik, on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, you also pass a beautiful pitch black church Búðakirkja.
Day 10: The cherry on the cake
Myvatn’s natural hot springs are a blissful experience. But it is not 100% natural as it is an artificial complex.
We cannot leave Iceland without looking for a 100% natural hot spring in the middle of nature.
After some searching we arrive at “Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River”. For this we have to pass Reyjkjavik a piece of “ring road” that we already took at the beginning of our trip, but we are willing to pay for that!
After a hike of about an hour into the mountains, we eventually arrive at the hot spring. A small steaming river flows from the mountain where some people are bathing here and there.
It’s quite cold outside but that doesn’t stop us from putting on our swimming trunks and looking for a spot in the river. The closer to the source upstream, the hotter the water. So you can choose your own temperature. What an experience!!
Unfortunately, for those who only have 10 days, the time is up. If you have an extra day or 1-2, it is definitely recommended to also plan a day in Reykjavik. The city is not big but very cozy and beautiful so definitely worth a thorough visit.
Optionally you can do a trip along the “Golden Circle”. This is a 1-day trip for people who only stay in Iceland for a short time but still want to catch a glimpse of the natural beauty. We did this at the end of our Iceland road trip and were a bit disappointed.
You suddenly end up in a very touristy vibe. In any case, it doesn’t even come close to what you get to see on the big tour. Nice to catch a geyser with you!
Here are some final tips for your Icelandic road trip:
What season is the best for an Iceland road trip?
We traveled to Iceland in the month of May. In any case, this is a great time to visit the far north. The weather usually gets milder and the days get longer.
Keep in mind that you will have virtually no nights in the summer and very few hours of daylight in the winter months. The winter months are of course better suited for northern lights enthusiasts.
But even in the summer months you can get 4 seasons in 1 day in Iceland. So be well prepared in terms of clothing and provide good technical equipment.
How do you get there?
Fly directly to “Keflavik (KEF)” from anywhere in the world. That is the national airport about forty minutes drive from Reykjavik.
For the best flight fares to Iceland check: cheapair.com
Campervan or hotels?
A tour in Iceland is definitely recommended to do with the camper (van). You can go wherever you want at any time and it allows you to get the most out of your trip.
Are you not convinced to live in a camper for 10 days? Then you can in principle just rent a car and book an accommodation via booking.com along every stop on the “ring road”.
What should I bring in terms of material?
As mentioned before, the weather can be very changeable in Iceland. So make sure you have good material and ideally dress in layers.
Good hiking shoes are an absolute must! Don’t have one yet? Then view the review of the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 mid on this site.
And don’t forget your camera! 😉
