Road tripping round Iceland is among the greatest methods to see this unimaginable nation. The Ring Road (Þjóðvegur 1, or just Route 1) circles all of Iceland in 821.5 miles (about 1322 kilometers), permitting you to stand up near all the things from waterfalls to volcanoes to glaciers in a single journey.
And whereas Iceland is not essentially a difficult place for a street journey from a planning perspective, there ARE a number of issues you must know forward of time as a way to have an pleasing journey.
If you are in search of an in depth Iceland street journey plan, then try my 10-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary. Otherwise, maintain studying for some Iceland street journey ideas, and the important issues you must know earlier than you go!
Road tripping in Iceland FAQ
First, a number of commonly-asked questions on doing a street journey in Iceland usually:
You do not essentially NEED a automobile in Iceland. You can definitely plan a visit with out one if you’re completely happy to base your self in Reykjavik and take day journeys/in a single day journeys from there. (I’ve accomplished this a pair instances earlier than, and truly favor it through the winter months!)
But public transportation will not be nice outdoors of the capital space, and clearly if you wish to do an Iceland street journey you’ll undoubtedly have to hire a automobile!
On the entire, no, driving in Iceland will not be tough. Iceland is a right-hand visitors nation (just like the US and most of Europe), and the principle roads are effectively marked and fairly effectively maintained. And when you’ll run into roundabouts in greater cities, Iceland doesn’t have main highways with tons of visitors to emphasize about.
The solely instances when driving in Iceland can get difficult are:
1. If you are headed up into the Highlands on unpaved F-roads. These roads can get gnarly and generally require river crossings – you MUST have a 4×4 car and ideally some off-road driving expertise for these roads. (But you will not encounter any of them when you’re simply sticking to the Ring Road and essential sights.)
2. During the winter months. From October by means of March, Iceland continuously will get hit with icy storms with gale-force winds. Driving in these circumstances is extremely discouraged (roads typically shut fully throughout excessive wind occasions), and doubly so when you’re not used to driving in snowy/icy circumstances.
Yes you should utilize your US license to drive in Iceland! You don’t want any particular license to drive in Iceland so long as your US driver’s license is legitimate. The identical goes for UK and EU driver’s licenses, too. (But you do must be not less than 20 years previous to hire a automobile in Iceland, or 23 to hire a 4×4.)
1. Like in most nations, you must obey pace limits or danger a positive (extra on this later).
2. Seatbelts are required to be worn by everybody within the automobile.
3. You have to drive along with your headlights on always.
4. Driving whereas speaking on/utilizing a cellphone with out assistance from a hands-free gadget is against the law.
I personally suppose you want AT LEAST 8-9 days to drive the Ring Road in Iceland, however 10-12 days (and even longer) could be best. I’ve a 10-day Iceland street journey itinerary you should utilize.
And now on to all of the important Iceland street journey ideas!
Iceland street journey ideas: what you must know
Here are all of the issues you must know earlier than your Iceland street journey, and may have in mind when you’re there!
1. Rental automobiles in Iceland usually are not low-cost
First issues first, let’s get this matter out of the best way: Iceland will be an costly place to journey. Don’t let a budget flights idiot you; when you’re there, you may be paying so much for all the things, from fundamental accommodations to restaurant meals. And this undoubtedly extends to rental automobiles, too.
In truth, a rental automobile may find yourself being your greatest expense in Iceland when you’re taking an extended street journey. Because of excessive taxes, excessive demand, and simply total increased costs in Iceland, you may undoubtedly be paying extra to hire a automobile right here that you’d in, say, the US.
There are mainly three varieties of automobiles you may hire in Iceland. From least expensive to most costly they’re:
- An everyday 2WD automobile – You can completely hire a small automobile in Iceland, and will probably be the most affordable possibility with the widest number of selection (nearly each rental firm in Iceland will supply these). Manual automobiles shall be much more inexpensive than automatics, and you’ll anticipate to spend anyplace from $40-$100 per day for simply the automobile rental with none extras.
- A 4×4 (4WD) car – Lots of people wish to hire bigger 4x4s for driving in Iceland, and in some circumstances they’re beneficial (like for winter driving, or for touring up into the Highlands). These bigger automobiles clearly include the next price ticket; you’ll be able to anticipate to pay $100-$250 per day or extra.
- A campervan – Campervans are common in Iceland, as they will double as each transport and lodging (although you continue to want to remain in designated campsites!). These vans will be fairly dear although – particularly if you need one which’s additionally 4WD. You can anticipate to pay not less than $100-$350 per day or extra.
Note that each one of those costs are a spread as a result of costs can range so much relying on what time of 12 months you are visiting (i.e. how excessive demand is), how massive of a car you want, whether or not you must ebook an automated, and many others.
I did a 15-day street journey in Iceland in August in 2022 (excessive season in Iceland), and we spent slightly below $2000 on a 2WD automobile with two drivers – averaging out to about $130 USD per day.
Need to seek for a rental automobile in Iceland? For all the things apart from campervans, I like to recommend utilizing Discover Cars. And Iceland is one place the place it’s vastly simpler to choose up/drop off your rental automobile on the main airport (KEF or Keflavík International).
2. You solely want a 4×4 for F-roads
Having seemingly shocked you with how costly it may be to hire a automobile in Iceland, I do have some excellent news: it’s possible you’ll not have to hire a 4×4 in Iceland in any respect.
The majority of roads in Iceland (just like the Ring Road, all of the roads between main cities, and even the roads across the Westfjords and Eastfjords) are both absolutely paved or well-maintained sufficient you could drive them with a 2WD automobile from May by means of September.
The solely roads in Iceland that you’re legally required to have a 4WD car to drive are F-roads. These are largely roads that go into Iceland’s inside (AKA the Highlands), and so they’re all indicated with the letter “F” in entrance of the street quantity. F-roads are clearly marked on maps, and in addition on street indicators.
F-roads are nonetheless official roads, however driving them often appears like off-roading. These unpaved roads will be pitted, muddy, and tough to drive. Some F-roads additionally require river crossings, which will be tremendous harmful within the improper form of car (and generally even in the fitting form of one!).
For these causes, you aren’t allowed to drive any 2WD automobiles on F-roads, and when you do will probably be a breach of contract along with your rental automobile firm.
Most individuals doing street journeys in Iceland won’t ever have to enterprise onto F-roads, although, so renting a 4×4 is not essentially important. (And when you actually wish to get a glimpse into the Highlands, you’ll be able to all the time ebook a day tour with an organization that is aware of navigate F-roads safely like this one to Landmannalaugar.)
Note: You may additionally want (or not less than be higher off with) a 4×4 within the winter months, when Iceland continuously will get hit with icy storms that deliver gale-force winds. Personally, I might not suggest planning a winter street journey in Iceland until you’re VERY snug driving in snowy/icy circumstances.
3. Know what’s not insured
When you are renting a automobile in Iceland, paying for Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance coverage is necessary – and the value is often baked in to the full value of your rental. This fundamental insurance coverage basically implies that when you’re concerned in an accident, there is a restrict to how a lot you may be answerable for (the deductible/extra quantity is often round $2500 USD).
But fundamental CDW in Iceland does not cowl all the things you may encounter on a street journey, and so it is essential to know what’s NOT insured.
Common issues that you simply might need to pay further to have insured in a rental automobile embrace:
- Tires (when you’re renting a 4×4 and planning to drive F-roads, pay to insure the tires)
- Gravel harm (to issues just like the windshield, undercarriage, and many others.)
- Wind harm (an actual danger in Iceland; dangerous winter wind storms continuously blow out automobile home windows and may rip automobile doorways clear off)
- Sand harm (one other actual danger, particularly throughout these dangerous wind storms)
- Damage attributable to hitting animals (there are LOTS of sheep in Iceland)
- Towing when you break down or get in an accident
You can improve the essential CDW insurance coverage to cowl extra issues along with your rental firm – simply ensure you know what’s NOT coated in no matter insurance coverage bundle you select.
4. Don’t underestimate the climate
Why may you wish to add some insurance coverage protection to your rental automobile in Iceland? Because Iceland’s climate is INTENSE. Iceland will be hit with savage storms that include robust winds, rain, and snow mainly any time of 12 months (although the worst storms are extra frequent within the winter).
And do not assume that simply since you stay someplace the place it rains or snows so much that you’re going to be robotically ready for driving in Iceland. Iceland’s climate – and particularly its winds – are seemingly in contrast to something you have skilled earlier than! Think sideways rain and blowing black sand and wind robust sufficient to blow out automobile home windows or actually knock you off your ft.
Road closures in Iceland within the winter months are frequent. The F-roads within the Highlands shut as a result of snow, which is fairly commonplace. But different roads within the nation (together with even the Ring Road) shut generally, too – often due to that wind.
Don’t underestimate the dangerous climate in Iceland. If Safetravel.is is saying it is not a secure journey day, then it is not a secure journey day and it is best to keep put the place you’re as a substitute of venturing out on the roads. (More on websites like Safetravel later.)
5. Watch out for pace cameras
You seemingly will not see many police automobiles in Iceland, however there are many visitors/pace cameras all around the nation.
Unless in any other case posted (like when going by means of cities), the pace restrict in Iceland is 90 kph on paved roads and 80 kph on gravel roads (although I am unable to picture driving that quick on most of them!). Pay consideration to your pace, and for any indicators warning of an upcoming digicam.
If a digicam catches you dashing, you’ll be able to anticipate a ticket within the mail out of your rental firm – and dashing fines are often not less than a pair hundred {dollars}.
6. You might face one-lane roads
Iceland’s essential roads are, for probably the most half, paved and well-maintained two-lane roads. But many non-main roads in Iceland are narrower – generally simply vast sufficient for one lane of visitors. You may also look forward to finding one-lane bridges, and even the occasional one-lane tunnel!
If you end up approaching a single-lane bridge in Iceland, simply be alert. At bridges, it is common courtesy for whoever arrives on the bridge first to cross first. If there is a line of visitors coming from one course, often you let the entire line cross. You can flash your headlights to point that you simply’re ready and that it is secure for oncoming visitors to cross.
On some longer bridges and in single-lane tunnels, although, you typically can not see the opposite finish. In these circumstances (and when driving on one-lane roads), maintain your eyes peeled for pull-out areas/lay-bys; one automobile pulls in to the lay-by as a way to let the opposite automobile move.
Some bridges and tunnels have indicators at every finish denoting which course of visitors has the “right of way” (i.e. which course is meant to yield and use the lay-bys). A white or black arrow within the course you are touring means you may have proper of manner; a pink arrow getting in your course means you are supposed to provide manner.
In observe, although, not everybody pays consideration to those and it’s possible you’ll simply have to make use of your personal judgement for when it is best to use a lay-by.
7. Only pull over when it is secure
Speaking of pulling over… most of Iceland’s roads (together with the Ring Road) are simply two lanes with barely any shoulder space. I KNOW the Icelandic surroundings is extremely epic and that you’re going to in all probability wish to cease so much for photographs.
But please DO NOT cease on the aspect of the street to take photographs, and undoubtedly don’t open your automobile doorways into the street to depart your car. This will be very harmful each to you every other drivers on the street.
If you completely should cease, discover a lay-by, relaxation space, parking zone, or different spot to soundly cease that will not impede visitors. (Or you are able to do what my pal Kate and I did, and designate the passenger as through-the-windshield-photo-taker once you’re driving.)
8. Make a plan for getting gasoline
If you are driving the Ring Road (or in any other case driving 4-5 hours per day as you discover Iceland), then you definately’ll in all probability have to refill your gasoline tank each 1-2 days. And when you’re touring in a few of Iceland’s extra distant areas (together with just about all of East Iceland), gasoline stations will be few and much between. So it ought to go with out saying that it is best to gasoline up at any time when you’ll be able to, simply to be secure.
There are two two essential varieties of gasoline station setups in Iceland: manned and unmanned. The first is what you are seemingly used to, with a number of pumps outdoors a small comfort retailer with cashiers inside. At these, you’ll be able to both pay on the pump or pay inside.
Unmanned stations, then again, often simply include 1-2 pumps (generally simply on the aspect of the street or in a random parking zone) and no cashiers. At these, you often want a credit score or debit card with a PIN quantity – which isn’t all the time one thing that American vacationers have readily available.
If you do not often journey with a debit card and haven’t got a PIN quantity in your bank card (most US bank cards do not include them), another choice is to buy a pre-paid gasoline card from a manned station at first of your journey. Then you should utilize that card like a debit card at any pumps from that very same gasoline firm throughout the nation.
(Some gasoline stations/pumps settle for Apple Pay or Google Pay now, too, however I might not depend on that out in the midst of nowhere!)
Gas in Iceland is dear, too. You refill by the liter, and costs after I was there have been 320-330 ISK per liter (equal to about $2.25 USD per liter, or $8.55 USD per gallon).
Pro tip: It’s additionally value noting that many self-service/unmanned pumps in Iceland do not provide the choice to “fill up” your tank. You’ll have to pick the (financial) quantity of gasoline you wish to put in earlier than you begin pumping. So listen the primary time you fill as much as see how a lot it prices.
9. Gas station meals is nice!
And since we’re on the subject of gasoline stations, manned gasoline stations in Iceland often double as comfort shops AND cafes. In truth, among the greater gasoline stations in Iceland have full on sit-down eating places inside, the place you’ll be able to order all the things from scorching canine to fish and chips to rooster sandwiches from the counter.
Gas station meals in Iceland is definitely fairly good (Icelandic scorching canine simply hit completely different!), and is among the least expensive meals you may discover in Iceland outdoors of buying in a price range grocery retailer. If you desire a fast and low-cost meal that can style good, remember about gasoline stations.
10. You do not journey to Iceland for the meals
Sure, Iceland does have some good eating places (particularly in Reykjavik) that serve up good seafood, however on the entire Iceland will not be identified for its culinary choices. And once you’re street tripping, it’s possible you’ll go lengthy stretches – particularly within the North and East – with out seeing any eating places in any respect.
My tip? Don’t be too treasured about the place you eat, and reap the benefits of no matter you do discover.
Like I stated above, gasoline station meals in Iceland is definitely good. And any tiny roadside cafes you stumble throughout are prone to be uber cozy AND serve up easy however respectable meals.
Another tip? Stop in to a grocery retailer early on in your journey (the Bonus chain is probably the most inexpensive) and top off on issues that do not must be refrigerated you could maintain within the automobile for these instances when there simply is not the rest accessible.
11. Download apps and maps
There are a number of smartphone apps/web sites that shall be helpful for any Iceland street journey. A number of I like to recommend embrace:
- Safetravel.is (web site, app or comply with them on Instagram) for information on climate alerts, journey disruptions, closures, and many others.
- Road.is for up-to-date data on street circumstances
- Veður (web site or app) for detailed climate forecasts
- Parka to pay for parking in sure cities/at sure points of interest
- AllTrails for mountaineering assist
- Flush for locating public restrooms
I additionally extremely suggest downloading maps to make use of offline for Iceland! Even if in case you have cellular service throughout your journey, there are a number of elements of the nation the place you will not have nice cellphone sign. To be certain you’ll be able to nonetheless get instructions and use GPS, obtain maps for offline use.
You can obtain segments of Google Maps maps after which use them offline (instructions right here), or you may use an app like Maps.me that additionally enables you to obtain maps for offline use.
12. Hitchhiking is pretty frequent
Iceland is among the most secure nations on the planet, but additionally one of the vital costly to journey in. It additionally has a reasonably horrible public transit system outdoors of Reykjavik. These issues added collectively imply that many backpackers and price range vacationers to Iceland should get artistic about touring across the nation, and sometimes resort to hitchhiking.
Obviously you do not HAVE to choose up hitchhikers, however simply remember that it is a pretty frequent and accepted manner for backpackers to journey in Iceland. Use your personal judgement in fact, however do not essentially ignore everybody you move with a thumb out in search of a experience.
13. You want extra time than you suppose
This goes for any street journey, actually, however it’s particularly essential to recollect in Iceland: issues will take longer than you suppose.
Driving from Point A to Point B can typically take longer than Google Maps says it is going to, both since you discover you’ll be able to’t really drive the pace restrict on a few of Iceland’s unpaved roads, or possibly since you wish to cease a number of instances for photographs, or maybe since you get slowed down by a herd of sheep!
Similarly, stopping for hikes and to see unimaginable pure sights like waterfalls and black sand seashores may take you longer than anticipated, too.
You completely can plan a jam-packed street journey itinerary for Iceland (my pal Kate and I certain did!), however simply take into account that you might have to chop some issues, or transfer your itinerary round when you run out of time – or daylight.
Pro tip: Before your journey to Iceland, you’ll want to verify on how a lot daylight you’ll be able to anticipate to have all through your journey! A summer season Iceland street journey in June, July, or August, may internet you anyplace from 16-24 hours of daylight, whereas a winter journey in November, December, or January may solely offer you 4-6 hours of daylight. You’ll wish to plan accordingly!
14. Book what you’ll be able to upfront
Iceland is a tourism scorching spot, particularly through the summer season months. But the nation does not have a ton of tourism infrastructure in the best way of accommodations and different lodging choices outdoors of Reykjavik. Similarly, there are a finite variety of rental automobiles accessible on the island, and solely so many tour operators providing issues like horseback rides, whale watching excursions, glacier hikes, and many others.
Iceland is a spot the place you actually do have to plan your go to upfront, particularly for a summer season journey.
Get your flights and rental automobile booked as quickly as doable, and do not depart lodge reservations till the final minute*. (When planning a street journey for August 2022, for instance, a lot of the lodge choices alongside the South Coast had been already booked up by early June!)
You’ll additionally wish to pre-book any must-do actions, like snorkeling between tectonic plates in Silfra, occurring a whale watching tour, visiting an ice cave, and many others. If an exercise will get canceled due to dangerous climate, it is a lot simpler for the corporate to attempt to accommodate a date swap than you attempting to scramble last-minute.
And when you needn’t ebook each scorching spring in Iceland upfront, you DO have to ebook Blue Lagoon tickets earlier than you arrive. The tickets are likely to promote out year-round, generally days and even weeks upfront.
While planning to date upfront does not make for probably the most versatile sort of journey, take it from me that it actually is important today in Iceland.
(If you are touring in winter, you’ll be able to generally be extra versatile – and also you may wish to be, in case a type of tremendous dangerous storms forces you to vary your plans – however I’d nonetheless suggest superior bookings. Look for choices on Booking.com that provide free cancelation/adjustments as much as the day earlier than you keep.)
*If you are tenting in Iceland, that is the one exception; some campsites do not take reservations, and even on the ones that do, it’s possible you’ll not want them. It IS nonetheless greatest to verify for availability earlier than exhibiting up, although, and you’ll pre-book some websites by means of the Parka app I discussed earlier.
15. Have Plans B and C, too
Iceland is a rustic you journey to to witness the superior energy of Mother Nature. But once you’re relying so much on nature in your leisure, take into account that it may be very unpredictable.
Maybe dangerous climate will make part of your itinerary unimaginable; possibly a street closure will reroute you for hours; possibly a volcano will begin erupting proper earlier than your journey that you simply determine you NEED to go see (occurred to us!); or possibly you may simply actually fall in love with one space and wish to keep longer than you deliberate.
In Iceland particularly, it is good to not less than talk about these types of conditions along with your journey associate(s) earlier than your journey. If you run into dangerous climate, will you don rain gear and push by means of when you can, or will you scrap sure stops? Are you prepared/capable of make last-minute adjustments to your plans if a tour will get canceled, a hike takes longer than anticipated, or one thing completely wonderful pops up?
I do not essentially imply it is best to ebook a number of accommodations or excursions for each day of your journey, anticipating for one thing to go improper. But it does not damage to have some further issues in thoughts to fall again on if it’s a must to.
READ NEXT: An Epic 10-Day Iceland Ring Road Itinerary for the Best Iceland Road Trip
There are so many different issues I might let you know about street tripping in Iceland (like, how the backs of your seats will in all probability flip right into a drying rack in your swimsuits after visiting scorching springs, or the way you completely undoubtedly wish to ensure you have good windshield wipers), however these are all of the essential ideas that I feel are important!
Have you ever taken a street journey in Iceland? If not, would you prefer to?