One of the greatest adventures in Iceland has long been to embark on a road trip around the Ring Road. Iceland’s Ring Road, or Route 1 as it’s officially known, circles around the island for 1,339 kilometers (832 miles) and connects many of the best attractions in Iceland. For most of its length, it is two lanes but some portions of the road are still the original 1940s country roads, and contain hazards such as blind curves and blind hills, one lane bridges, and narrow passes. Most of Route 1 is paved, but there are some portions on Iceland’s rugged east coast that are gravel. Driving Iceland’s Ring Road is really an adventure best suited for a trip anytime between March and November, but it’s definitely possible to do if you’re visiting Iceland in the winter.
In Iceland in winter, icy road conditions and high winds blasting across the plains are typical and can make winter driving in Iceland hazardous. We’re two people that have driven Iceland’s Ring Road more than once, and one of those times in the dead of winter. We’ve had a few scary moments now, so we compiled these tips for driving Iceland’s Ring Road to help you stay safe while having the adventure of a lifetime. Most apply no matter what time of the year you decide to go on this Icelandic adventure, though it’s best to take some extra precautions when driving in Iceland in winter.
1. Don’t drive Iceland’s Ring Road in winter.
Driving Iceland’s Ring Road in winter is not for the faint of heart. In Iceland the weather can change in the blink of an eye. Roads can become impassible and distances that Google Maps say are 5 hours easily become 10 hours.
We have to do our due diligence to try to deter you, but if you’re anything like us, you’ve landed here because you already made up your mind to go on an Iceland winter road trip. It is possible, just with a bit more planning than driving Iceland’s Ring Road in summer when you can comfortably car camp just about anywhere in a pinch.
There’s a saying in Iceland that if you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes. Iceland weather in winter is actually pretty mild for the island’s latitude. It’s mostly the temperature that really causes Iceland road conditions to become hazardous. The south lowlands have an average temperature of average around 0°C (32°F) in winter and it’s not uncommon to get snow and rain in the same day. With the Iceland temperature in winter hovering right around freezing, icy roads are common and exacerbated by the windy conditions Iceland is known for.
2. Rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle and, if it’s an option, spring for studded tires. Studded tires help driving on the slippery, and often ice covered roads.
We’ve driven the Ring Road several times and it’s either been in a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Dacia Duster. We didn’t opt for studded tires, but there were certainly sections of winding, ice covered roads (did I mention that they really don’t like guard rails in Iceland?) on which we were commenting that studded tires would have been really helpful to have. You only have to worry about needing studded tires if you visit Iceland in winter.
We’ve also driven the Ring Road at other times of the year and you’re going to want a 4WD regardless of whether it’s winter or not. There are loads of places to explore, but insurance won’t cover you when you decide to take a car on F Roads and the contract stated it wasn’t suitable for that. If there’s one thing you splurge on when visiting Iceland, let it be a 4WD rental.
3. Either purchase an Iceland SIM card or rent a portable wifi device to make sure you have service.
Iceland has an excellent cellular network spread across the entire island, but public wifi is almost non-existent once you’re outside of major cities like Reykjavik and Akureyri. A desolate Icelandic road where you might not see another soul for hours is not the place where you don’t have a cell phone to call for help if you need it.
Iceland also has an emergency alert system that sends out text messages, even to pay-as-you-go SIM card numbers. When we were in Iceland during the 2014–2015 eruption of Bárðarbunga, we received a very important emergency alert about poisonous sulfur gasses in an area of East Iceland we were traveling in and that we needed to stay inside until further notice.
Going off the grid and disconnecting sounds idyllic, but it isn’t always smart. Especially when traveling to Iceland in the winter. Do yourself a favor and rent a portable wifi device for your trip, stop in to Reykjavik to purchase a pay-as-you-go SIM card before setting out around Iceland’s Ring Road or purchase an Iceland eSIM if your phone is eSIM compatible.
4. Bookmark the Vegagerdin website.
No matter what time of the year you’re visiting, Iceland road closures happen. All Icelanders religiously keep track of Iceland road conditions on the Vegagerdin website. Vegagerdin is updated in real time and we always keep careful watch on what is going on with the road conditions throughout our entire trip. Road conditions can change quickly and we met several sections that were impassible, even with checking before we set out for the day.
Note that what Icelanders consider to be “slippery” or “spots of ice” may really mean sheet of ice by your own standards. Iceland winter driving is likely different than what you’re used to, even if you come from an place where you’ve mastered driving in snow. I’m from Erie, Pennsylvania, which is often in the news every winter as record setters for the biggest snow accumulation and snowiest place in the US. Tim is from Chicago. Driving in Iceland in January is just different – trust us.
5. Download the 112 Iceland app.
No matter what time of year you’re traveling in Iceland, the 112 Iceland is a smart app to download. The 112 Iceland app sends a signal with your coordinates to Iceland’s search and fire rescue.
Simply download the app, fill in your name and an emergency contact, and save. You can even periodically check in through the app to create a trail of breadcrumbs just in case something does go wrong. It works regardless of whether you’re driving or hiking Iceland in winter. ICE-SAR, the association of search and rescue in Iceland, would much rather you check in periodically and never need them than for you to have an accident and have to waste valuable time just trying to track your location.
It’s free, so you’re no reason not to download the app. Get the 112 Iceland app for Android and for iPhone.
6. Have a paper Iceland road map.
We usually bring our Garmin with European maps with us on road trips since it saves a few dollars per day on a rental. Or you can also rent a GPS from the car rental company for a couple of dollars per day if you don’t want the hassle of toting a GPS along with you.
But paper Iceland road maps come in handy, too. We can’t really remember how we used to function without a GPS, but a GPS can also be notorious for leading you down roads you really pause to wonder if they are truly roads. We use paper Iceland often to check if a road is a mountain road, because it will likely be impassible during times like driving in Iceland in December. Iceland road maps are also really helpful for navigating back-up routes.
7. Fill up when you see a gas station.
Many gas stations are self service and a credit card is required. Be sure you have at least two credit cards just in case your bank denies the charge. And also be sure to know your PIN, which is required to use credit cards at the self service gas stations. There’s a lot more gas stations in Iceland’s more remote parts these days than when we lived in Iceland back in 2011. But there are still stretches where gas stations are few and far between, so be sure to top up the tank when you spot them.
8. Speaking of gas stations, never leave the rental car counter without verifying what type of fuel the car takes first.
One time arriving late at night, we met the representative from SADCars once we landed. It’s a rental car company in Iceland we’ve rented with more than once in Iceland, got all the paperwork squared away and went on our way. About one mile from the rental place, we stopped to fill up and get a few groceries to stock our apartment.
I was blissfully filling my basket with Skyr when Tim came in and said: “We’ve got a problem.”
I thought he was going to tell me that the machine wasn’t accepting our debit or credit cards. No, this was a much bigger problem. Our Toyota Land Cruiser took diesel and we had just filled it up with around $100 of gasoline.
F%#$!
We didn’t ask what type of fuel the Land Cruiser took at SADCars and we missed it on the gas cap in our haste to get out of the sideways sleet. It wasn’t until Tim was screwing the gas cap back on that he noticed it said the car was diesel.
Luckily, SADCars has emergency roadside assistance available 24/7 and one easy phone call (boy did I feel stupid explaining why I needed emergency roadside assistance just 20 minutes after picking up our rental) and help was on the way. We didn’t have to wait long and a tow truck showed up to tow our Land Cruiser to a nearby garage where the gasoline could be drained.
After draining all the gasoline from the Land Cruiser, the garage towed us back to the nearest gas station, made sure we filled up with diesel this time and waited to see that everything was in running order before sending us on our way.
$100 of gasoline down the drain (literally) and a $150 tow later, we had no one to blame but ourselves. We should have made sure we asked what type of fuel the Land Cruiser ran on. At least we did the smart thing and didn’t try to drive it anywhere; the lesson could have been a much more expensive one.
9. Maximize daylight hours.
Days are as short as just 6 hours of daylight in Iceland in the winter. The road conditions can already be dangerous when it’s light out. Navigating icy roads in the middle of nowhere in pitch black conditions can be really stressful.
You don’t have to plan every waking second of your trip, but at the very least have a rough itinerary when visiting Iceland in winter. Don’t try to pack too much in and travel shorter distances so that you still have time to sight see, but avoid driving in the dark as much as possible.
10. Watch for reindeer on Iceland’s East Coast.
Reindeer roam Iceland’s East Coast, the only place in Iceland where they’re found. During the summer it’s unlikely to encounter any reindeer along the Ring Road since they go up in to the highlands to graze. But when traveling to Iceland in winter, it’s important to keep an eye out for them. The reindeer come back down from the highlands during the winter months in search for the more access lichen in the lowlands.
Reindeer ran across the road twice right in front of us. One second sooner and we would have had dinner, and probably some injuries since the roads were iciest on the East Coast side of the island.
11. Bring toilet paper.
Remember tip #8 about how sparse the gas stations are in some areas? And the self service gas stations are literally a tank and a credit card machine. It’s almost certain that you will need to pee on the side of the road at some point. And believe me, I can hold my bladder with the best of them.
12. Have a back-up plan.
It’s important to have a back-up plan, especially if you plan to travel to Iceland in winter. Order an Iceland road map online before your trip and spend some time studying your route. Realistically create an itinerary, budgeting driving time and the amount of time you plan to spend stopping at each attraction. Note down some extra hotels and accommodations along your route just in case you can’t make it to the hotel you booked. And even keep some provisions in the car like some snacks (don’t leave drinks in the car for long periods if you can avoid it so that they don’t freeze) just in case you’re forced in to some unplanned Iceland winter camping along the side of the road.
Thankfully, we were able to reach each of our planned Iceland Ring Road accommodations throughout our trip. We met two girls that were not as lucky. Iceland winter weather changes quickly and our sunny afternoon at Jökulsárlón quickly turned in to a full blown snow storm.
The two girls were not driving a 4WD, which is essential for Iceland winter driving if you plan to drive anywhere outside of Reykjavik. The road and weather conditions became bad enough that they just couldn’t make it any further. Unfortunately, they had not planned for stops and didn’t have enough money for a room and dinner at Hali Country Hotel. They were really lucky that Icelanders are so kind and understanding. The owners of the family-run farm worked out a deal with them, and they both heaved huge sighs of relief as they sat down next to us for a much needed hot dinner.
The weather changes so quickly in Iceland. Even high winds will shut down some of Iceland’s most traversed stretches of road, like the time we had to wait out some wind just to make it from the airport in Keflavik to Reykjavik. It’s entirely possible that if conditions become bad enough, you may not be able to make it to your destination or an alternate guest house or hotel at all. Never travel without access to some emergency funds, like tucking away that credit card you never actually use and hope you never need to use. Be prepared with appropriate clothing, plenty of snacks and water in case you need to spend the night on the side of the road.
The Best Places to Stay in Iceland
13. Know how to change a tire.
We have yet to visit Iceland and not get a flat tire. No, really. Five trips plus some time living there has added up to more flat tires than in our more than 20 years of being licensed drivers. The basalt rocks can slice through tires just as easily as if they were a knife, so you definitely want to be in the company of someone that knows how to change a tire.
Also, be sure to check that you have a spare tire in your rental and that it is in good condition before you leave the rental car place.
14. Just book some Iceland tours in winter.
Even though we drove the Ring Road in winter, we still booked some tours to give us a break from being the ones always navigating the Iceland winter conditions. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit back, relax and let a local do the driving. Plus, tours in vehicles like Super Jeeps can get to places that are otherwise inaccessible.
Some of the best Iceland tours in winter that we recommend and have done:
- Sólheimajökull Glacier Ice Climbing: get picked up from Reykjavik and drive south to Sólheimajökull glacier with stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls along the way. Once at Sólheimajökull glacier, you’ll be able to try out ice climbing. Absolutely no prior experience is necessary.
- Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike: if ice climbing doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, try the glacier hike on Sólheimajökull. All the blue ice and looking out to the black beaches fringing the Atlantic is truly spectacular.
- Golden Circle Day Trip with Snowmobiling: you don’t really have to worry about driving the Golden Circle Iceland in winter, since this is one of the most traversed areas in all of Iceland. But if you want to go snowmobiling up on Langjökull glacier, you actually can’t reach the base camp on a self-drive Golden Circle trip. Extra experiences like this make booking a Golden Circle tour worth it.
- Silfra Snorkeling Between the Continents: the water temperature at Silfra stays consistently just above freezing year round and we did this tour on one of the coldest winter days. It’s kind of extra magical when the world around you is snowy and frozen.
- Northern Lights by Super Jeep: a big draw to travel Iceland in winter is the opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Head out in a Super Jeep and get far away from the light pollution of Reykjavik.
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SADCars provided us with a Toyota Landcruiser for our Iceland adventure in order to bring you this story. However, Luxe Adventure Traveler maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm for travel are entirely our own. This article contains affiliate links. When you shop on Amazon or book on Viator through our affiliate sites, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Salva says
It looks like you had a great 2012 traveling. Your biggest mishap seems a small one compared to all the beautiful things you were able to experience through out the year. All the best wishes for 2013!
Kiefer says
Aww i hope its worth it!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Our mishap was definitely worth the amazing road trip we just had around Iceland!
D.J. says
They make the diesel pumps now with a bigger nozzle so they don’t fit into a standard automobile intake, but I’ve never wondered what if it happened the other way around! Just one of those stories you’ll laugh at years down the road 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’re already laughing, D.J.! That was the joke on the rest of the road trip – be sure we put in DIESEL.
Deb says
That sucks. I used to be a huge fan of the Amazing Race and I watched many a participant make that same mistake. Because of that, we always check the tank. I’m paranoid about it. But if I didn’t watch the Amazing Race, I probably never would have thought about it and would have done the same thing at some point. I’m glad you had road side assistance. If you didn’t have the insurance, I’m sure it would have been a huge expense. Great advice for everyone and thanks for sharing what you learned. We all make mistakes traveling and when we share when things go wrong, we can keep others from doing the same. All the best for 2013.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Deb! You are right. It definitely could have been worse and more expensive had we not realized when we did. As you said, it was a lesson learned and now an important tip we can share.
Sonja says
Oh my goodness! That looks like something I would do! But how lucky you were to make it all the way to December 29 with no disasters. You were also lucky with being in an area with roadside service. We weren’t so lucky on our trip to the Badlands.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s too bad, Sonja. Yes, we were very lucky to not only go nearly a full year with no big travel mishaps and to also have this one be as small as it really was. Thankfully we noticed right away and there was a lesson to be learned here.
Larry says
This sounds like the driving is an adventure in and of itself. Very cool though.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Driving was definitely an adventure in and of itself. The winds were actually so high the day we arrived that you couldn’t even leave the Reykjavik area. We really got lucky with the weather on the days we had long distances to drive.
Felipe says
Do the driver had any experience in snow driving before?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Felipe,
Yes, we both have previous experience driving in snow and ice. Tim is from Chicago and I’m from Erie, Pennsylvania, which is the snowiest place in the United States.
Cathy Sweeney says
I think it would be a fantastic experience — as long as I was totally prepared and driving a totally reliable vehicle. It certainly looks like a worthwhile challenge.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We weren’t totally prepared, Cathy. But we learned about the 112 app and downloaded it right away and checked the road conditions regularly. The locals were a lot of help in sharing these tools with us and we’re happy to be able to pass along these great tips now.
Laurel says
Great tips! I don’t think I’d be brave enough to drive in Iceland in winter, I’m such a granny driver in winter.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I was more than happy to list Tim as the one and only driver, Laurel. And we definitely did some granny driving over icy patches. I may even have whiplash from his regular brake checks.
Ali says
Um…. I don’t think I could handle this! When I first saw the title I thought, I’ll save this for whenever we actually go! But now I’m not so sure I want to be driving around in those conditions, especially since I’m the one who would end up driving (Andy never got a driver’s license when he moved to Germany) and I have almost no experience driving in winter conditions. Definitely sounds a bit scary, even the idea of having to drop my pants to pee on the side of the road in those freezing temps!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Most people visit Iceland and drive the Ring Road in the summer when the road conditions would be much better. But since we really couldn’t find information about driving it in winter, we thought these types would be very practical for people that do want to give it a go.
Jarmo says
Great tips! Yeah, it’s not easy driving on icy roads where conditions can change quickly. The studded tires can help in some cases if the road is properly icy.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The roads were definitely properly icy, Jarmo! High winds and an icy patch nearly didn’t end well for us and another icy patch coming down a hill had our hearts racing. You certainly need to be comfortable with winter driving to take on a challenge like this.
Signy says
Love your blog and photos, the Icelandic roads in winter really are not for the faint of heart. 🙂 I hope you had a great trip!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Signy! We had a fantastic trip to Iceland and it remains one of our all time favorite countries. We can’t wait to return again!
Andrea says
This looks like quite the drive indeed! Great tips – I’d love to see Iceland
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I think you guys would love Iceland, Andrea! And it’s less expensive than Norway. 😉
Willson says
I want to be driving around in those conditions
Ritchie says
Hey, what time of year was this? It looks amazing! But I’m not confident to drive that… we’ll be there late September till early October… hoping it won’t be as bad!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We took these photos the first week of January and Iceland was having a pretty snowy winter. September/October will be fine. We’ve also been there at that time of the year. It’s entering the rainy season so you’ll likely experience everything from sun to rain to even snow (if you go glacier trekking) all in the same day. You might like to check out our whole Iceland category for tips. 🙂
Krzysztof says
Great tips. I’m planning to visit Iceland with kids next January. Fortunately winters in my region are also snowy, so I have some experience in winter-driving, but your film looks a little bit scary.
Can you tell me which parts of Ring Road are worst?
I want to drive only distance from Reykjavik to Jokulsarlon and back, (and some roads closer to Reykjavik including Golden Circle). Is this part of road very winding and/or steep?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Reykjavik to Jokulsarlon is relatively flat and there was actually no snow at all for a good part of this section of the drive. The first few days we were in Reykjavik though, there were such high winds that it was advised not to leave the immediate area. It really can change quickly, so the best thing to do is regularly consult the road conditions website and have a back-up plan.
Jenny Jefferis says
Helpful, thanks
Graham J White says
Jeeez!
Jenny Jefferis says
I just clicked that I liked that page, found it useful. Now it looks to the world that I might be going rally driving in Iceland!!
Jennifer says
Glad you found the tips helpful, Jenny! We hope you do get to drive Iceland's Ring Road some day.
Heather says
Hi There,
Very helpful information! I’m looking a possible ~6-7 hour layover in Iceland for one day at the end of January. Am contemplating renting a car and driving around for a few hours by myself. Do you think there is enough to see during one day that is worth renting a car? Are the roads pretty icy during the end of January?
Any info you can share would be very much appreciated – thanks!! Heather
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Heather,
There is definitely plenty to see and do! The airport is in a town called Keflavik. It’s near the Blue Lagoon and you could also easily see most things around the Reykjanes Peninsula if you rent a car. Here’s what you can see: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/reykjanes-peninsula-iceland/
You probably don’t have time to see anything on the Golden Circle as Reykjavik itself is about an hour drive from the airport.
As far as the road conditions, I would have a plan and then just ask how the roads are the day you arrive. Weather can be pretty unpredictable and I know there is already snow now.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You might also like to join us on a live Google Hangout tomorrow. We’ll be talking all about Iceland!
https://plus.google.com/app/basic/events/c178urabn37pc49u0b5lmeee538
Daniel says
Hey, we want to do this adventure, we are going on february and i believe its full winter there in that time. The question i have, is how much days do you guys did for the whole trip?
Lloyd says
5. Fill up when you see a gas station.
This was a good common sense suggestion! It certainly would have came in handy this week as thousands of commuters in Atlanta were stranded on the roads after running out of gas during winter storm Leon!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That winter storm was crazy and certainly when a city such as Atlanta isn’t used to such weather, it can easy to think “I’ll just get gas tomorrow because I’m tired tonight.”
Jas says
I live in canada so by my standards, I’ve been through weather equally or even more demanding. Thanks for the tips. Will definately rent a 4×4.
Sherry says
Our 40th wedding anniversary is in January 2015. Everybody “does” Hawaii so we thought we would do Iceland. Thank you so much for your sound advise. I guess we will just wait to see what the weather is when we get there before we decide to rent a 4 wheel drive.
Daniel says
We went, my girlfriend and I, there this winter and let me tell it it’s as beautiful as you can imagine, I know it’s a different kind of beautiful from Hawaii and this afrodiasiac beaches, but Iceland has some certain magic that makes you just felt in love for the place. You’re gonna love it and congratulations on your 40th anniversary.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Happy 40th Sherry! As for the 4 wheel drive, it has to do with the roads more so than the weather. If you plan to stick to the Ring Road and the Golden Circle around Reykjavik, then a 4 wheel drive isn’t necessary. But if you want to get off the beaten path and explore more than the roadside attractions, you’ll need a vehicle approved for driving on the gravel roads and what Icelanders call F Roads.
Noelle says
Thank you for the info! My husband and I are planning a trip in December, and this will definitely help us make better decisions!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’ll love it Noelle! December can be tricky depending on the weather, so definitely have a back-up plan. Even if it doesn’t snow, the roads can be closed at any time for high winds, floods, or other forces of nature.
steve gwilliam says
We are hoping to do the orca sight on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in February, my wife is a little worried about doing a self drive, have you any tips on the driving conditions that we may encounter.
Thanks for any reply
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Steve! Yes, the conditions in this post are very likely what you’ll encounter. No one can say what the weather will do, so just be prepared. Rent a 4×4 and be sure to regularly check the road conditions website.
Diber says
Pretty nice blog you have. I’m planning to go there for a couple weeks at the end of December into January with a close friend. The 4x4s get pretty pricey if you rent them for 11-12 days. If we have 12 days to go about 800 miles, we shouldn’t be in a hurry at all. We’ll have a tent for emergencies and for camping. I’ve had plenty of experience driving in the snow, but even with that said, is that a realistic plan to do without a 4×4?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It’s really hard to say Diber as no one can predict what the weather will do. Even the main road, Route 1, is not 100% paved and from our own winter Ring Road experience I would not do it without a 4×4.
Yuru says
Hello!
I went to iceland in mid october this year and I just want to say a huge thank you for all your tips! I book marked this page and the tips all came in handy! It was just the start of winter and we had the first snow fall of winter and the roads were pretty much crazy from then on. The 4WD with studded tyres really paid off and gave us a smooth ride when the roads were super icy even though at some parts the visibility was so poor we couldn’t even see the next reflector! It was crazy and I come from a tropical country with zero snow. The website was really useful for the road conditions! We did manage to find toilets along the way and thankfully didn’t have to pee at the side of the road! But the toilet paper sure came in handy when we spilt drinks and food crumbs in the car hahaha.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
So glad to hear that you had a great trip and that these tips were helpful to you Yuru! Iceland is so fantastic and we’re always so excited when others get to experience the beauty there.
Alana says
Hello!
These tips of yours are quite useful!
I’m going to Iceland in February, so, as you mentioned, the driving conditions must be similar to the ones you’ve faced.
I’m a bit scared because I’m used to drive in Brasil! I’ve never driven in snow and high winds.
I’d like to ask you something: How did you plan the accomodations? How far can this trip be planned anyway, considering the weather changes to much?
John says
Thank you for your tips. These have come in handy for me. Here in the UK there is set to be some really strong winter weather coming up. Certainly the weather will not be as bad as Iceland but it is good to have knowledge of how to drive within certain conditions.
Rouven says
Hi & thank you very much for these tips.
We drove around Iceland last month and found this article to be quite useful.- in fact, we decided to start a travel blog ourselves after the journey.
Regards
R.
Gaelen says
Thank you so much for these tips! I’m planning on going the third week of December. I was wondering if you could send over your itinerary. And where you guys planned to stop and see during your trip. Especially since a lot of the day is darkness.
Thanks again!
Sophia Fey says
Hello,
I have booked a trip to Iceland from December 14th- 22nd. We were looking at driving from Reykjavik, to stay in Borgarnes, Reykholt, Akureyri and Husavik. Then we have booked to go on a tour of Dettifoss, Godafoss and Myvatn.
After that, we’re planning on driving down and staying in Egilsstadir, Hofn and near Jokulsarlon where we have booked a Glacier tour.
Finally, we were going to stay near Selfoss/Laugarvatn and drive to Thingvelir National Park and then on to see Geyser and Gulfoss.
We are aiming on hiring a 4×4 with a GPS- but our only tiny amount of experience of driving in snow is in England! Do you think that this itinerary is over ambitious for us to drive it in December? Or do you think that this could be safe?
Also, do you know whether there would be any Christmas festivities over that period? Or anything else that we should maybe explore (providing that it is safe enough for us to go!)
Thank you! This blog is very interesting and helpful- so I thought that you’d be the right people to ask for advice.
Thank you!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Sophia,
No, so long as you follow our tips and constantly check the weather while on your trip we don’t think there’s any reason not to drive the Ring Road. From Husavik, you really need to stop somewhere on the East Coast at least overnight as the drive from Husavik to Egilsstadir is really long and you’d be driving a good part of it in the dark. I really don’t recommend that for first time visitors to Iceland. We recommend staying at Silfurberg on the East.
Have you checked out our Ring Road itinerary for our recommendations on what to see and do? https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
Let us know if you have any other questions! You’ll love Iceland!
Wendy says
Hello, I am thinking of doing this trip in December with my daughter. A little nervous about driving in bad conditions, we are Australian so not used to bad weather driving. Do you think it safe enough for two women to travel alone there?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Wendy! I honestly think you will be fine. I’ve driven the Ring Road by myself also on another trip and safety was never even a concern. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world and people will be willing to help if you do find yourself in a bit of trouble, like when I got a flat tire out in the middle of no where. Just be sure you rent a 4WD and stay on top of the weather conditions. Don’t try to tackle too many miles in one day and you’ll be fine. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Wendy says
Jennifer, Thank you so much for the reply and for the speed of it too 🙂 I am definitely going to hire a 4×4 and drive, a little nervous for sure though 🙂 What circuit do you recommend if we only have 5 days total perhaps please? What should we see for sure? I’d like to do Dog Sledding, do the flotation thing whilst listening to classical music, not sure if this is where the Whale museum is that has huge whale replica’s or if the Ice Hotel is here? Getting a little confused with all the places I’ve been searching lol.
Thanks Jennifer 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
With 5 days total, we’d recommend that you do the Golden Circle, the Reykjanes Peninsula (both which can be done in 1 day each) and then spend a few days along the South Coast discovering Vik and the Glacier Lagoon. You can book the dog sledding tour with transfer from Reykjavik and that is in the South. You honestly won’t have time to drive to the North, which is where the whale museum is, and weather in the north can be more snowy. It just gives you a reason to return for another trip!
Iceland doesn’t have an ice hotel – that is in Kiruna, Sweden, which is another fantastic trip.
Sasha says
Good info, thanks. We’re booking our ticket now, 2 adults and three relatively small kids. 4×4 seems the way to go, as well as the 5 day agenda above. Good to see information like this on the net.
Joan Edmonds says
Can Ring Road realistically be done in January? I’m going to be there for six days. I’m torn between going on excursions based out of Reykjavik and driving.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Joan,
Yes, the very first time we drove the Ring Road was in a very snowy January. We’ve also done it in September. If you’re concerned about it at all, you can still have a fantastic trip exploring the Rekjanes and South Coast. You could even add the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Check out our Iceland Ring Road itinerary https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/ and Snaefellsness posts: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-road-trip-snaefellsnes-peninsula/
Ophelia says
Hi Jennifer,
It’s a really helpful information! Me and my husband are gonna drive on Iceland in mid February. He has some experience driving in the snowy condition, but I don’t.
I just booked a 4×4 SUV, although for two people it’s bit pricy, but no one can be 100% sure about the weather condition. But I am still worried about the weather and snowy road condition, could u tell me what kind of weather we will expect in February? Is it more snowy than January or it will get better?
Also I heard ring road around golden circle can be really slippery, do u recommend us to skip it?
Thank you!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Ophelia, the Golden Circle is very well traversed and the roads are almost always well maintained unless the roads have been closed for high winds. I wouldn’t worry about driving the Golden Circle at all. Just keep an eye on the website and ask at your hotel about road conditions.
February should be better than January, but there’s only one sure thing about Iceland weather – that it’s unpredictable. I can guarantee that you will have all kinds of weather just in one day.
Enjoy your trip and let us know if you have any other questions!
Chris says
Hi There,
I am currently going to go Iceland with a group of friends and we have decided to drive but some of my friends saw your blog and have decided to not drive, but half of us are still very inclined to drive. Just a few questions, hope you can help us solve some curiosity that we have.
We are not exactly going to drive the ring road during our trip (12Feb 2015) we are just planing to drive along the south coast part, the furthest being Jokulsarlon. As this is my second time to Iceland, (The first time we took a tour and the tour guide recommended us to self-drive as it would be a much better way to see iceland) I read from quite a few website stating that, the weather along the south coast is of a much better condition, the roads are properly paved is that true?
During your entire drive in Iceland, which region, you guys would say has the worst road conditions and most erratic weather? Is there also anything we should look out for when we drive along the south coast? Really appreciate if we can get some information on this!
Steve says
Hi
my wife and I did the Orca trip last year in February, we had horizontal snow at times and also it was as though someone had thrown a white blanket over the windscreen. Even though the roads were designated as slippery on the weather website we did the trip with not much problem and I had never driven in wind and snow like it.
Make sure you get a good car with snow tyres and you shouldn’t have much of a problem.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Chris! If there’s one thing you can be sure of in Iceland, it’s that the weather is always unpredictable. The South Coast in particular is very unpredictable when it comes to the weather. The road, which is Route 1, is properly paved but this is the section where you are sure to have the most erratic weather because of its position with basically nothing between Iceland and Antarctica. But it also the most traveled by tourists so you’ll see other cars, tours buses and plows in the case of snow. You only really need to be concerned in the case of high winds, and they will close the roads in that instance.
There’s nothing to look out for except for awesome attractions. You should be sure to visit these ones: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-south-coast-attractions/
Sandra says
We just returned from Iceland, where we did quite a bit of self driving. I totally agree that studded tires in the winter are a must as well as a 4×4 if you plan on going much further beyond Reykjavik. We hit quite a few icy roads (as in fully covered in ice) and high winds on our way to Vik. When in doubt just slow down. Most people will anyway.
Also, pay attention to the electronic boards posted around, especially near entrances to mountain passes. If the letters are red, just drive incredibly slow or, even better, wait it out! We did what must have been some of the scariest driving I have ever done in my life trying to get through the snaeffjellesnes peninsula – I can honestly say our life was saved by a lovely Icelander who stopped her car, probably looked at my panicked face, and told us to drive super slowly and that she had just got through it so we wouldn’t be blown off the road. Weather really can change very quickly, vedur.is and road.is became our best friend. Definitely make sure that you have access to mobile internet as you drive. SIM cards are pretty cheap and the service throughout the country – even in remote areas – is excellent.
I didn’t have much experience driving in snowy or icy weather so don’t be scared but do apply caution and common sense. Also, I wouldn’t have wanted to do Iceland any other way, especially being able to do and see things at our own pace, stop wherever we wanted and being able to veer off at pretty much every ‘rest stop’ to take pictures was really worth it. It is a breathtaking place at every turn! Enjoy it 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us, Sandra! We’re glad to hear that you had a wonderful time and enjoyed every bit despite the icy roads.
Gunita kohli says
Hi . Where exactly was this last photo taken .. The one under point 10 ? If the roads to drive on are such .. Then I don’t think we would be able to do it . We are planning on going 1st week feb and only doing the part from Reykjavik to jokulsarlon . Never driven on snow or in high winds .. We are most particularly scared about the rental car insurance coverage not being valid for most things . .. (Read a couple of horror stories) .
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Gunita, the last photo was taken in the very north of Iceland and that was not Route 1, which is the main road. The road between Reykjavik and Jokulsarlon is the most traversed part of Iceland and the roads are pretty well maintained. There’s really no reason to be scared or nervous. We’ve rented cars in Iceland on four separate occasions and never had any problems with any of the companies we’ve rented from. We’ve experienced multiple flat tires and other incidents. We’ve also not heard any horror stories. Iceland is a great country and the people are some of the friendliest we’ve encountered anywhere in the world.
Rocio says
Hi,
My best friend and I are planning a weeklong trip to Iceland this February. I would love to do this itinerary but I’m not sure I have what it takes to drive in these conditions (and I’m almost sure I would be the one doing the driving). Do you have an alternate itinerary or ideas in order to have the same “freedom”? I would love to see as much as possible during the trip but I want to avoid large tours.
Thanks!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Rocio, if you’re concerned then we would suggest that you stick to the Golden Circle and South Iceland as far as the Glacier Lagoon. This is all a very well traversed area by travelers all year round. It’s beyond the Glacier Lagoon in East Iceland where the roads can get tricky and of course the North. There is so much to see and do around the Golden Circle and to the Glacier Lagoon that it will more than occupy your time for a week long trip. Have you checked out our itinerary for things to do? https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
Rocio says
HI Jenniffer,
Thank you for your quick response. Is it possible to do that tour and the west peninsula?
Thanks,
Rocio
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Yes, it would be possible to go around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Just be sure to verify road conditions with the locals before you head out there. There are far less tourist services available, especially in the winter months. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-road-trip-snaefellsnes-peninsula/
We don’t recommend that you go to the Westfjords in winter. It is very seasonal and most tourist services are closed from October – May. The roads are also treacherous as many are not even paved.
Sue says
Hi,
My hubby and I are travelling to Iceland from 1 Dec to 18 Dec… Is that alright to go for the fill Route 1 circle?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Sue, I think that depends on your comfort level with driving in the conditions we mentioned in this article. Keep in mind that Iceland receives the majority of its snow in December and January, so the conditions will be totally unpredictable just as when we did the Ring Road in winter. I’d have back-up plans and allow yourself plenty of time.
Hayley says
Hi, I really want to go to iceland this winter with me and my children! They will be 9, 13 and 14 in winter. We had done thousand of miles in road trips in europe but want a different adventure. I plan to self drive, I am a confident driver in ice and snow (cornish snow so little layer). Any advice, I was thinking december january time, would whale watching be available this time of year?
Thank in advance!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Hayley, the whale watching season ends in September. It’s not a winter activity but there is so much else to see and do that I’m sure you won’t miss it. We have been to Iceland in December and January and these are wonderful times to visit. In December, Iceland has a lot of fun traditions leading up and just after Christmas. We also celebrated the most awesome New Year’s Eve we’ve ever had in Reykjavik. Plus, the Northern Lights just may come out and dance for you.
Wendy says
My daughter and I had an amazing time driving in Iceland. We arrived beginning of December. It absolutely bone chilling cold when the winds hit, It was lovely but dangerous driving. We hired an all wheel drive and lost control of our car at one stage and thought we were going to end in a lake, terrifying. The roads off the main roads were like ice. We passed an accident while out one night, you just couldn’t stay on the road and we crawled along like a snail. We were on back roads though. All in all though, it was a beautiful and absolutely breathtaking trip, with most awesome scenery. We got to see the northern lights too 🙂 I honestly cannot wait to return with my husband. Make sure you get an all wheel drive car.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Wendy! It sounds like you had a scary moment there with the car. We did too. Those winds can blow you all around and when the roads are icy, it can be harrowing.
Wendy says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for your blog well-written and super informative blog. Now I am both scared and thrilled about my trip to Iceland this December. There will be 6 of us traveling together, and we plan to rent two 4WD so we have plenty of room for luggage. I have a few questions and will be really grateful if you could help answer them:
– We are thinking of covering the entire ring road in 10 days. Is that sufficient or should we allocate more time?
– When planning the itinerary, what should be the average driving distance allowed per day so we are not pushing the limit?
– Would you mind looking at my itinerary and let me know if this is feasible:
Day 1: Reykjavik
Day 2 and 3: Golden Circle, staying near Selfoss
Day 4 and 5: Glacier Lagoon, ice cave, staying near the glacier lagoons
Day 6 and 7: East Coast, staying at Egilsstadir
Day 8 and 9: Myvatn, staying at Akureyi
Day 10: Laugarbakki
Day 11:Reykjavik
Thank you so much for your help!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Wendy,
Sorry to scare you! The roads are well maintained, but we wanted people to be aware that they should plan for storms and slow going.
10 days is plenty of time to cover the Ring Road. Have you checked out the Ring Road itinerary we put together? https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
For December, keep in mind that the days are the shortest then. Since this is your first time to Iceland, you won’t know what to expect so you don’t want to be driving in the dark like we were. You’ll have about 5-6 hours of light each day and you want to plan for double whatever the amount of time Google maps tells you between distances for potential slow going and all the stops you’ll want to make for photos.
Your itinerary looks good. If I may make a few suggestions, you definitely don’t need 2 days for the Golden Circle. Everything on it can be seen in a few hours. I would allot one day for the Golden Circle and then stay on the South Coast. Wake up on Day 3 on the South Coast, visit the attractions we highlighted on the way to the Glacier Lagoon and then spend the two nights at Hali Country Hotel. I’d also suggest staying at Vogafos in Myvatn instead of Akureyi. Akureyi is just a big city and being out in Myvatn, you have great opportunity for Northern Lights viewing. Also, visit the Myvatn Nature Baths. It’s like the Blue Lagoon but far less crowded and actually natural instead of man made.
Hope these suggestions help! Let us know if you have any other questions.
Wendy says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. We will definitely take your suggestion into consideration and tweak the itinerary. Can’t wait to start my adventure in Iceland!
Ee Lin says
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for tips. I am going iceland with my hubby in Nov for 10 days but we will be arriving at night on day 1 so we will only have 9 full days. Have plan out on the following and was wondering if you can take a look and see if its alright:
Day 1: Reykjavík – walk around the town.
Day 2: Pingvellir National Park, do you all know where I see the tectonic plates, Geysir, Gullfoss Falls and Kerid Crater (will skip this if its too late) and staying over in Hella
Day 3 Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skógafoss, Plane Crash Site and Black Sand beach, stay over at Vik
Day 4: Svartifoss waterfall, was thinking if I should hike to the waterfall or walk to a close proximity of Skaftafellsjökull glacier. Thereafter, proceed to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. Was thinking if I should stay over along Country Hotel Smyrlabjörg or Hofn. My only concern is, hofn is a very long drive from the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and am worried that the road to Hofn might be close due to bad weather.
Day 5: Visit Fossardalur and stay at Egilsstaðir. if there is sufficient time, can drop by Seydisfjordur for a quick visit. (Any other must visit site which is along the way?)
Day 6: Dettifoss, Viti Crater at Krafla (can I visit this place during winter?), Hverir geothermal field Myvatn Nature Baths and Lake Mývatn and stay over around Lake Mývatn or Reykjahlíð
Day 7 and 8: Góðafoss Waterfall, stay in Akureyri for 2 nights (is it too long? What else can I do that? Would I be able to arrange for ice cave visit from there or glacier hike? choose to spend more days here cos I heard the chances of seeing northern light here are higher) fly back to Reykjavík in the evening
Day 9 and 10: Am taking a morning flight on day 10 so was thinking maybe I can spend the day 9 in the city or take a tour to Snaefellnes Peninsula.
Greatly appreciate your comment.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Ee Lin,
I think your itinerary looks fine and I made some notes about specific days below. You can find all of our recommendations for things to do, where to stay and where to eat here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
Day 2: The tectonic plates are all over the place with rifts. The best place to really see them is snorkeling or diving between the plates at Silfra. But if you don’t want to do that, you’ll see the rocks and rifts caused by the plates.
Day 3: Note that you can no longer drive out to the plane crash site and you should allot between 2-3 hours for the walk out to and back from the plane.
Day 4: If the road is closed for bad weather, you won’t make it to the Glacier Lagoon either. I really wouldn’t worry about this in November.
Day 6 – 8: I would recommend basing in Myvatn at Vogafos Guest House. http://www.booking.com/hotel/is/vogafjos-guesthouse.html?aid=1143113 You can see the Northern Lights there just by walking out your door. Akureuri is a major city in the North and you’ll have to go quite a bit away from the city each night to look for the Northern Lights.
You would have to visit the ice cave and do the glacier hike from the South. Both are located between Hella and the Glacier Lagoon, so you would do these activities on Day 3 or Day 4.
Day 9: The Reykjanes Peninsula is well worth a visit and you’ll have plenty to see and do before heading to the airport. I’d also recommend staying out there instead of heading back to Reykjavik. I recommend Hotel Berg http://www.booking.com/hotel/is/berg.html?aid=1143113 or the Northern Lights Inn http://www.booking.com/hotel/is/northern-light-inn.html?aid=1143113
Ee Lin says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much for your reply!!!!!!! Your suggestion sound great.. Thanks.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Feel free to let us know if you have any other questions!
Ee Lin says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for your encouragement to continue with my initial plan. I just came back from my iceland trip and thought I would like to share some of my experience and also thank you for your encouragement. Its one the best roadtrip I have ever been to and the most memorable one.
There were days where it was snowing so badly that we can’t really see the road and the road were slippery but we survived. We also drove on days where the wind were so strong that I couldn’t even walk and my car was dented. Despite all this, we survived and I think the rule of thumb is drive slowly and be alert. I was lucky that none of the road were when I was there. Thanks for the recommendation to stay at Lake Myvtan, I saw the northern lights there and it was the most beautiful thing I ever seen.
I visited Reykjanes Peninsula but it was raining the whole day and we couldn’t visit a lot of place but it is still a very beautiful place.
Thank you so much for your advise and I really grateful for that.
Mary says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for these helpful tips! I will be in Iceland February 3-12 next year with a friend and we are planning to rent a 4WD and drive the Ring Road. Hopefully we will come out of driving there in the winter alive haha!
My main question is – how did you plan for where to stay? My concern is that we will book accommodations for each city I plan to stop at and then the weather will end up making it impossible to get to a few of them. Did you book accommodations in advance or was it pretty easy to find affordable places to stay at the last minute? I prefer to couchsurf, stay in hostels, or do AirBnB as I will be traveling on a budget.
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Mary, yes you definitely need to book accommodations. Once you leave Reykjavik, you’re dealing with small guest houses with only a handful of rooms. If the proprietors aren’t expecting any guests, they could be closed. I really wouldn’t worry about the weather much in February. Iceland receives the majority of their snow in December and January. It’s the winds that cause the problem and if for some chance you couldn’t make it to your next accommodation because the road has been closed, you won’t be penalized. Icelanders understand!
Mary says
Thank you so much for your response! I have been really nervous about the weather and the winter driving, so it’s super comforting to hear that February shouldn’t be too challenging, And I will book the accommodations in advance; thanks for letting me know! I am so looking forward to this trip!!!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It will be an amazing trip! Let us know if you have any other questions we can help with.
Masuma says
Thanks for this post, now I’m super scared to drive on my trip to Iceland at the end of November! Any tips for newbies driving on the right side of the road (I’m from the UK)?
My current itinerary is below. I know that you possibly can’t predict the weather and I would have to just find out on the day but what I would love to know is whether you think id struggle at any part of my journey in terms of the roads?
Saturday night – arrive at Keflavik airport 18.30
Sunday – Snorkelling in Silfra, Geysir, Strokku, Gulfoss (Secret Lagoon maybe)
Monday – Snowmobiling (Arcanum) – £165, Vik (black sand beaches), Seljavallalaug
Tuesday – Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Solheimasandur (plane wreck), Fontana spa
Wednesday – Blue Lagoon
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I honestly don’t know about driving on the right side of the road, Masuma. It’s just natural. I’m terrified about moving to the UK next year and having to drive on the wrong side of the road, myself!
I wouldn’t worry about the weather too much. It’s the wind that closes down the roads and the majority of snow comes in December and January. We also had pretty terrible weather with high winds and we came out of it just fine. Also, you’re sticking around Reykjavik and the most touristy part of the South Coast, so you will have plenty of other people around even in winter.
Nadia Razzaq says
Hello Jennifer,
How are you?
We are visiting Iceland for the first time during the Christmas period (22nd – 27th Dec) We are super excited and looking forward to spending Christmas in Iceland!
We are keen to do and see a lot whilst we are there. We both LOVE the outdoors so we are keen to do a lot of hikes, see some amazing volcanoes and glaciers and generally make the most of the 5 days that we are there.
We were thinking of hiring a car and doing the Golden Circle by ourselves. Do you think that this is possible in December? I understand that the weather is very unpredictable but I have read that this can be done in a day? It has been a long time since I have driven on icy roads so I would not be so sure to expect.
We don’t have much or an itinerary at the moment – All we know is that we want to do the Golden Circle tour, The Blue Lagoon, Visit the Geysers and get involved in all of the traditional Icelandic Christmas festivities!!
Any recommendations and advice would be so appreciated!
Many thanks,
Nadia
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Nadia,
The Golden Circle (we’ve got a self-drive itinerary here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/the-golden-circle-iceland/) is very close to Reykjavik and the roads are well maintained. You’ll have no problem with exploring it on your own in December. The diciest part of Iceland is the East Coast mainly because there’s just not much traffic and a section of Route 1 is not paved, but you’re not exploring that part of Iceland so don’t worry about it.
We have all of our recommendations for Iceland here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/ You’ll have plenty to fill your 5 days in Iceland. Days 1-4 and Day 9 are what you could cover on your trip.
Laura Ricci says
How is the weather/road conditions towards the end of March? I am looking at March 19-26 doing the ring road.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
With Iceland, it’s always hard to say because the weather is just unpredictable. That said, Iceland gets the majority of their snow in December and January. You’ll need longer than 8 days to do the Ring Road though. There still isn’t much daylight in March and you’ll spend a lot of time just in the car trying to push it in to 8 days.
Qiuling says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much for this detailed post!
My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Iceland around Christmas/New Year\’s time (Dec 26-Jan 2). We\’re both super excited about the trip, but also a bit worried about driving in bad winter conditions. He has some experience in driving in snowy weather in the US, which probably would be nothing compared to what we would be expecting in Iceland.
We plan to rent a 4×4 SUV with studded tires, and mainly tour around Reykjavik, Golden Circle, and Southern Iceland, since we only have 8 days. Do you mind quickly looking over our itinerary and let us know if it would be too ambitious?
Day1:
Arrival (6AM) – blue lagoon – start driving south on Route 1 – overnight stay at Eyvindarhólar ( explore Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Dyrholaey on the way or after check in to hotel)
Day2:
Keep on Route 1, heading east – stop by the black sand beach, Vik, and Reynisdrangar – arrive at Kirkjubaejarklaustur and stay overnight
Day3:
Drive to Jokulsarlon for a 5-hr guided tour into the ice cave – drive to Hof in Oraefi and stay overnight
Day4:
Drive to Skaftafell for a 5-hr guided tour for glacier hiking – drive back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and stay overnight
Day5:
Drive back towards the capital – stop for sightseeing (anything that we missed on Day1 & 2) – drive to Selfoss and stay overnight
Day 6:
Drive back to and spend the day at Reykjavik
Day 7:
Drive to Golden Circle – drive back and stay at Reykjavik (Is it enough to give Golden Circle only one day?)
Day 8:
Spend at Reykjavik – drive to the airport (5pm departure)
We\’ve already booked all of our accommodations for the entire trip. We were thinking that it would be impossible to book anything with short notice around our travel period. On the other hand, it seems difficult to keep our schedule flexible in this case, especially in the case of harsh weather. What would you suggest?
How rare are supermarkets and restaurants along Route 1, on our way to Southern Iceland? We try to stop and stay at small towns on our way over and back, but in case of bad weather that we couldn\’t make it to our destination, will we be able to stock up for food on our way?
Thank you and look forward to your suggestions!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Quiling,
Your itinerary looks good and yes, it really is necessary to book accommodations in advance. No, the schedule isn’t really flexible but you’re sticking to the most well traveled area in all of Iceland. Unless the roads are closed due to high winds, you’ll be fine.
There are no supermarkets or restaurants really. Once you leave Reykjavik, there’s nothing until you reach the town of Hella on the South Coast and there is a small gas station there. There is a restaurant at Skogafoss and then there is nothing until Vik. You’ll have another very small gas station in Vik and then there is nothing until Hof. There is a cafe at Jokulsarlon. You’re best off stocking up on some snacks and drinks in Reykjavik.
Jackie says
We have a group of 7 adults, staying in Reykjavik for 5 days mid November. We’ve booked our tix for blue lagoon, diving in silfra, and a glacier hike/climb (with transportation). Because it’s 7 adults with carry-on bags, we made reservations for a van. There is no 4×4 option for vans, and we would use the car to go to/from the airport to the blue lagoon, golden circle, and possibly to the glacier lagoon. Is this a terrible idea? Should we reserve two 4×4 SUVs instead? Assuming we stick to the main routes, is renting a van (vs two 4×4 SUVs) a terrible idea? TIA!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jackie,
The Blue Lagoon, Glacier Lagoon and all the attractions on the Golden Circle are roadside attractions directly off paved roads. So if you are sticking to those things, a 4×4 isn’t necessary. You’ll be fine with the van.
Jackie says
Thanks everyone!! Also, what insurance options should we select on the rental car? I was planning on getting the normal insurance plus the Gravel Protection and Sand/Ash damage insurance based upon my online research. Any thoughts? TIA!!
Masuma says
Thank you so much for your reply, much appreciated.
I’m glad that more people will be around, kind of worried going solo (I should be fine!).
In terms of car hire I’m reflecting on what you’ve said. And I’m thinking whether I actually need a 4×4?
wen says
hi can i ask if we drive to jokulsarlon in late december, its winter time.. do we really really need a 4×4 vehicle cause it quite expensive. and also will we drive halfway then if theres alot of snow on the road until we canot see the road itself, and end up driving to somewhere else? thanks very much
Kin says
Hi Jennifer!
Thanks for the tips. I am going to iceland with my boyfriend in January (from 23rd) for 11 days. We have planned out on the following. Could you please take a look and help to see if it’s alright:
Day 1: arrive KEF at around 2:30pm, pick up the car and go straight to Laugarvatn.
Day 2: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss Falls and Kerid Crater, Stay over in Hvolsvollur.
Day 3 Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Dyrholaey Arch, Kirkjufjara Beach, Reynisdrangar. Stay over in Reynivellir.
Day 4: Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. We plan to take a Ice Cave Tour in the morning. Then we will drive to the north and stay over somewhere close to Hofn. (I am wondering if we could also visit Svartifoss and Skaftafell. Are they accessible in winter? If yes should I go on day3 or day4?)
Day 5: Drvie to Egilsstaðir. If possible, will drop by Seydisfjordur.
Day 6: Dettifoss, Asbyrgi (most people say it’s not accessible in winter?). Husavik. Godafoss, and stay over at Laugar.
Day 7: Viti, Krafl. Hverir. Myvatn Nature Baths (if have enough time). Grjotagja Cave. Hverfjall. Dimmuborgir. Hofdi. Stay over at Lake Mývatn area.
Day 8 and 9: West Iceland and Snaefellsness Peninsula. Vatnsdalsholar. Blonduos. Stykkisholmur. Kirkjufell. Arnarstapi. However some people say Snaefellsness is not suitable for visit in winter. Could you please recommend some sightseeing points that’s more likely accessible? Any recommendation for staying over?
Day 10 and 11: Reykjavik downtown.
Look forward to hearing from you! Thanks!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Kin,
Yes, Svartifoss and Skaftafell are accessible in winter. Skaftafell is actually among the areas in Iceland that receive the least amount of snow and trail conditions are good. While Svartifoss is accessible, the National Park tourist office advises against visiting because of trail conditions. It can get quite muddy and you may have to leave the trail to navigate around areas.
No, Dettifoss is almost always inaccessible in winter. Some Super Jeep tours go, but they may alter the tour on the day of depending on conditions. You cannot get in there with a private vehicle though. Honestly, the road is pretty questionable even in summer.
Snaefelssnes is fine to visit in winter. The Westfjords, however, are hit by the harshest winter conditions of anywhere in Iceland and it’s not the best time to visit.
All of our recommendations for the Ring Road, including where to stay and eat are here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
And for Snaefelssnes: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-road-trip-snaefellsnes-peninsula/
Janna says
Thanks for the tips in your post. I’m googling for information to get better idea on Iceland driving condition during winter.
i noticed you advised to wait out if the road is too slippery or close. Or stop at the road side if one is tired.
Is it really safe to stop anywhere? What if we happen to be stucked at one lane road? Because I’m from Asia and we never stop at roadsides. Its just too dangerous.
Need a little more insights on this because im planning on a trip up with 2 kids; 3 and 1 year old.
Thanks!!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’re right, Janna. I would never even consider stopping on a roadside in Asia. But Iceland is definitely not Asia and the safest country in the world to visit. It is absolutely okay to pull off to the side of the road if the conditions are not good enough to continue driving.
Mary says
Hi Jennifer,
My friend and I who are traveling to Iceland in February have been working on our itinerary. We are going to rent a 4WD and we would like to visit the Westfjords, but I have heard that it is very difficult to drive there in winter from Reykjavik and would take 2 full days each way. We have 10 days total on the trip; do you think it’s worth it to try to visit the Westfjords in winter or would we be better off visiting more sites nearby Solheimajokull (we are going on a glacier hike there)?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Mary,
Yes, at the very minimum you need to plan for 3-4 days of your trip just getting in and out of the Westfjords by car in winter. The weather can just be so unpredictable and the Westfjords experiences the harshest winter of any area of Iceland.
I honestly think that you’d be better off visiting other places. A lot will be closed in winter in the Westfjords and unless you want to do some skiing or extreme winter activities, it will be pretty dead up there.
We highly recommend Myvatn in winter. It’s absolutely stunning and you have a really good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Have you checked out our Iceland Ring Road itinerary for things to do? There is more than enough to keep you busy for 10 days! https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
Allie says
Hi there!
I just finished reading your post about traveling to Iceland in winter. I’m curious: what month did you travel? I just booked a trip from Feb. 23-March 5, and am trying to figure out plans for travel tours vs. driving the ring road vs. buyer’s remorse for getting a nonrefundable ticket.
Let me know what you think!
Beth says
Hi! Really loved this post and your insight; my husband and I are headed to Iceland in a few weeks. We’ll be there for 4 nights, and are really hoping to drive to see Jokulsarlon and take an ice cave tour – staying 1 or 2 nights somewhere nearby. Up to this point in the drive, was there anything you remember being really treacherous? I realize the weather and road conditions won’t be the same. I guess my hope is that since these are some of the more traveled tourist locations, things may be improved from the east coast, which sounds like it was the hardest part of your trip…?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’ve done the drive to Jokulsarlon several times and know it well. It’s not treacherous. It’s a straight and flat road, with one exception coming down in to the town of Hella where the road is a bit windy and has quite a downgrade. The wind is the potential problem, and this really goes for any time of the year. They will close the roads for high winds. So even though this is the most traveled part of the Ring Road, it can still be problematic. Just stay on top of conditions and be sure you’ve rented a 4WD vehicle, preferably with snow studs.
Don’t think that just because this is a well-traveled part of Iceland, that you can’t get stranded. It actually happened to two girls who had rented an unsuitable compact and were trying to drive the Ring Road. Luckily our guest house, Hali Country Hotel, had space for them. They also didn’t have money and the guest house owners let them do some work in exchange for staying.
I would suggest staying at the Hali Country Hotel, which is just a few minutes from Jokulsarlon. It’s a perfect location for your activities in the area and they have an amazing on property restaurant where everything is home cooked. http://www.booking.com/hotel/is/hali-country.html?aid=1143113
Vin says
Nice blog. I was considering going in January 17 and since most car rentals in winter time also rent the smallest sized cars (like a Fiat 500) with 2-wheel drive I thought at least the ring road would be easy accessible in winter as well. But this post really makes me reconsider wether going in January is wise, even when renting a 4×4. Do you know any alternatives to renting your own car for cruising the ring-road but not spending thousands of euro’s on tours?
Jerry says
Excellent post on driving in Iceland in winter, Jennifer. Thank you very much.
My wife and I and our adult son and his wife arrive in Reykjavik on Feb. 12, and we plan to drive to Siglufjordur, in the north, right away. 2 nights there, then drive west to Stykkisholmur. 2 nights there, then drive to Reykjavik for 3 nights. We have a 4×4 with studded tires.
Barring a storm that closes the Ring Road, do you think it’s realistic to drive from Reyjavik to Siglufjordur in, say, 8 hours? Again, thanks for a helpful post.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jerry,
Without stopping, which honestly is impossible because you will want to stop and take photos, yes you could drive from Keflavik to Siglufjordur in 8 hours. Keep in mind that on February 12 you will only have 8 hours of daylight with the sunrise at 9:32am and sunset at 5:53pm. The road between Keflavik and the north is pretty good, but I wouldn’t recommend driving in the dark. There’s not really street lights and it is very, very dark. So depending on what time your flight arrives, you might want to break up the drive and just stay midway or stay in Keflavik and hit the road first thing in the morning.
Paul Malachowski says
Hi
Thus is great!!
We are going to Iceland I Feb. we are planning to visit various cities and just play it by ear based on weather. Will there be any difficulty getting hotel rooms on a day by day basis?
Any suggestions (beyond what you’ve said above) is appropriated.
Thank you.
Sabrina says
Hi there,
Great post! I’m planning on visiting Iceland this March and will be doing the drive around the ring road. My plan in north Iceland is to:
1) stay in lake myvatn area for one night
2) stop in hvammstagi for one night
3) stop in snaefelness peninsula for one night
4) stop in Reykjavik for one night
My question is: do you think the stop in hvammstagi is needed (as I was thinking it would break up the driving) or is it worth it to just keep driving to snaefelness? Is there much to see between the stretch of lake myvatn (besides akureyi area and the falls) and snaefelness?
Also, where would you say is a good location to stay on snaefelness if I’m only there for one night?
Thank you!
jay says
HELLO,
GREAT INFORMATION. Which month did you take the trip in the winter timeframe???
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jay! We’ve driven the Ring Road in August, September and January.
Denise says
Great blog! I’m a solo female traveler visiting for the first time in mid march. I plan to first drive out to the jokulsaron glacier area for two days, then wonder if it would be safer/easier to go straight to myvatn or go back to the Reykjavik area/golden circle, then head up to myvatn? I’m there for almost 7days. I feel like it would be more driving to double back and forth past the southwest but fear the crazy roads between Hofn and myvatn? Also do you recommend the sand/gravel/ash upgrade for car insurance for this itinerary? Thanks so much!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Denise,
If you go to Jokulsaron, you’d be doing quite a bit of backtracking to drive back to Reykjavik and then up north. It’s really just best at that point to continue around to Myvatn by going north via the East Fjords. The days have already started getting longer, so you’ll have more hours of daylight.
Simone says
Hello Jenifer,
Your website is amazing and extremely informative. My husband and I will be visiting Iceland 20th January onward and have about 9 nights/10 days. Your ring road itinerary fits almost perfectly (10 days Iceland Ring road). We’re from Mumbai with little to none experience driving in snow or harsh weather conditions, therefore do you think its safe to drive this route in January? We have considered renting the 4WD if need be but cant help but feel nervous driving in the dead of water. Also if we do go by this itinerary will be find the Northern lights along our route? Or can you also recommend some place close to the capital for northern light sighting?
Thank you in advance for all your help!
Simone
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Simone,
If you’re not comfortable, then I think driving the Ring Road could end up being a stressful trip. In winter, you should really have 4WD regardless of whether you drive the Ring Road or not.
Another option to visit the North is to fly domestic from Reykjavik and then rent a car in the North. It’s really East Iceland that is of the biggest concern driving in winter, since this part of Iceland isn’t very populated and the roads are less well maintained. You won’t have any issues and the weather is actually better in the North around Myvatn than it is in South.
Your questions about the Northern Lights are best answered with our guide: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/guide-to-northern-lights-in-iceland/. It’s possible to see them in most places in Iceland in the right conditions, but there are certain areas that give you a better possibility for viewing the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, Reykjavik isn’t a great option because of the light pollution.
Marty says
Hello,
My family of 5 (3 adults, 2 children 11/6) are visiting December 16-20. We fly into KEF and have accommodations outside Reykjavik. I think renting a car would be the most affordable, I like prices of SADcars, but aside from yours, the reviews I have read do not look so good. Is it still a dependable company to use, I don’t want to have car trouble on holiday. Also is 4×4 needed? We don’t have any tours planned yet. Our main goal is Northern lights, Golden Circle, and hot springs. Do you have suggestions of “not to miss” locations for our short stay?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Marty,
Yes, we highly recommend 4×4. We even drive 4×4 in summertime. On our last two trips to Iceland, most recently last week, we’ve used Go Iceland Car Rental and they are great. Sadcars is the budget option and their vehicles are definitely older, though in our experience still reliable and they offer roadside assistance.
Have you checked out our guide to all the things to do? https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/destinations/things-to-do-in-iceland/.
For natural hot springs and since you are sticking to along the Golden Circle, you can visit Hrunalaug (see it here: https://www.facebook.com/luxeadventuretraveler/photos/a.152677464843928.27224.151275318317476/1263647000413630/?type=3&theater) located right on the Golden Circle route and the hot river at Reykjadalur (https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/hiking-reykjadalur/).
Here’s our guide to the Northern Lights in Iceland: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/guide-to-northern-lights-in-iceland/ If you’re not going to head to the south, then the Reykjanes Peninsula or Thingvellir are your best bets. We also just did a bus tour and it was terrible – so I wouldn’t waste your money booking on a tour. They literally just drive you out to a spot, which on the night we went was the campsite at Thingvellir.
Mahi says
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for such an informative blog post. My husband and I have planned a trip to Iceland from 17-24 Dec and we were thinking of covering the entire Ring Road that is until we read your post! 🙂 Given your description of the weather/ road conditions and the experiences of a few others who’ve commented here, it seems unwise to try and go all the way to Lake Myvatn and back down to Reykjavik in just 6-7 days. While we are fairly confident drivers, we have very little experience of driving in such conditions.
Our original itinerary was:
Day 1: Keflavik to Vik (arrival in the afternoon)
Day 2: Vik
Day 3: Vik to Hofn
Day 4: Hofn to Myvatn
Day 5: Myvatn
Day 6: Myvatn to Thingvellir / Reykjavik
Day 7: Reykjavik (departure in the afternoon)
(we don’t mind skipping the West Fjords)
Do you think it is too ambitious to go north in the 6-7 days that we have? What would you suggest we do instead?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Mahi,
Yes, honestly it is too ambitious. In December, you’re only going to have a few hours of daylight and that really limits how much you can see. With this itinerary, even during the summertime, you’d mostly be spending your entire 7 days in the car. And in winter, you’re not leaving any wiggle room for road closures or weather.
If this is your first trip to Iceland, we’d recommend spending your time focusing on one area to explore. The South Coast is a good area since there is so much to see and do. You could do this:
Day 1: Arrive in Keflavik and explore Reykjanes Peninsula. Stay in Keflavik or Reykjavik.
Day 2: Golden Circle. Stay another night in Reykjavik or stay around Hella.
Day 3: South Coast from Hella to Vik: Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Seljavallalaug, Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey. Stay in Vik.
Day 4: Svartifoss and Jökulsárlón. Stay at Hali Country Hotel.
Day 5: Ice caves and snowmobile tour on Vatnajökull. Drive back to Vik and stay in Vik.
Day 6: Glacier trekking on Sólheimajökull. Drive back to Reykjavik.
Day 7: Explore Reykjavik in morning and depart.
You’ll find all the information on all of this in our Iceland Guide, plus our recommendations for where to stay: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/destinations/things-to-do-in-iceland/
Marty says
Hello Jennifer! Thank you for the very informative blog! Myself and partner will be traveling to Iceland in a weeks time. I am a confident driver but have little experience when it comes to snow and ice, so a 4WD has been booked. However, my original plan was to arrive at KEF at 18:30 and drive all the way to Hali Country Hotel. Google says this could take 5 hours, but reading you blog looks like this might be a crazy plan?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Marty,
Yes, I wouldn’t really recommend trying to drive from Keflavik all the way to Hali Country Hotel. It’s going to be very dark and you can’t plan for what the road or weather conditions will be like. With the dark and potential winter conditions, I’d estimate closer to about 7 hours drive. You’d be arriving in the middle of the night.
You’re best off staying in either Keflavik or in Reykjavik on your first night. You can arrive, get the car and relax with a good dinner. Then hit the road the next morning.
Joyce says
Hi,
We are planning for a trip in Dec and had no experience driving in snow. Our route starts from Reykjavik to the golden circle with overnight in Laugarvatn. Laugarvath to Vesti Petursey [overnight] via Vik. Vesti Petursey to Kirkbaejarklaustur and overnight at Horgsland. Kirbaejarklaustur to Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon and Diamond beach as day trip then back to Horgsland. The last route will be from Horgsland to Reykjavik. Is there any of the route here considered F road or one we should be extra careful with please.
Thank you.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Joyce,
No, you’re traveling on Route 1, which is the main road that encircles Iceland. You’ll probably have a few turn offs to your guesthouses, but none of these are F roads.
What you need to take care about, especially in December, is that you’ll experience all kinds of weather in the same day. And more so than the snow, high winds can close down roads – including Route 1. So you want to allot time to travel between your accommodations and to ensure you make it back to Keflavik for your flight. Also be aware that the days will be very short in December and you’ll only have 6 hours of daylight at best. So just don’t try to cram too much in to your trip.
Steven Grant says
Hi, Great post! I really like it. I’m planning on visiting Iceland this March and will be doing the drive around the ring road.
kONSTANTINA KARRA says
Hiiii, we are flying to KEF this Saturday morning. We are living he country on March 7th and thinking of doing the ring road… but I am a bit scared of the weather conditions. Do you believe that 7 days is enough? First day we stay on Reik, upon our arrival and then we do it clockwise by heading to Akueryri the 2nd day and so it goes. Please give us your feedback ASAP . *We haven’t booked any hotel!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi, the weather is more stable in March with most of the winter snow storms having come already. Is it your first trip to Iceland? Seven days to do the Ring Road in wintertime is okay, but keep an eye on the weather forecast closely and be a bit flexible. You’ll have around 9-10 hours of daylight each day, and you’ll want to make a lot of stops to see all the beautiful sights. What I would do if it is your first trip to Iceland is to skip East Iceland – you can drive from Jokulslaron to the north to Myvatan (or the other way around) in a day. It’s a long day of driving, but there’s not a ton going on in the East part of Iceland in wintertime and the accommodations in that part of Iceland also tend to operate seasonally. I’d also skip Akureyri and opt for Myvant, which is beautiful with a lot to see and do anytime of the year.
As for hotels and accommodations: here’s our guide to all the ones we recommend: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/where-to-stay-in-iceland/