The best scenic drives in Iceland
Iceland is a place to explore at your own pace with a hire car, and there is not one route but several. The full Ring Road if you have a week or two, the classic Golden Circle for a single day, a drive past the finest waterfalls, the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the Diamond Circle in the north. Pick your route below: the stops are already loaded in Google Maps, and a GPX comes with it.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Jökulsárlón · Seljalandsfoss · Kirkjufell.
One country, five routes
Iceland is big enough for a week or two on the road. We have split it into five routes that don't overlap: each has its own region, length and feel, so you pick exactly what suits the days you have. The Ring Road page links through to these individual routes for the detail.
How many days do you have? How to choose
Take the Golden Circle (the classic with geysers and Gullfoss) or the south coast (waterfalls and the black beach). Both are driven from Reykjavik.
Combine the Golden Circle with the south coast, one day each. Or drive Snaefellsnes at an easy pace, with a night near Grundarfjördur or Stykkishólmur.
The southwest in three days: Golden Circle, south coast and Snaefellsnes. Heading further north, add the Diamond Circle (allow one long driving day north, or a domestic flight to Akureyri).
The full Ring Road: the four day-routes largely lie along it, so you see everything in one loop. Seven days is the minimum; with ten to twelve you drive at a calmer pace.
The five routes compared: choose by length and region
| Route | Length | Distance | Region | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ring Road (Route 1) | 7 to 12 days | approx. 1,330 km | whole island | the full loop |
| The Golden Circle | 1 day | approx. 260 km | southwest | geysers and waterfalls |
| The south coast waterfalls | 1 day | approx. 190 km | south coast | waterfalls and black beaches |
| Snaefellsnes | 1 to 2 days | approx. 200 km loop | west | Iceland in miniature |
| North Iceland: the Diamond Circle | 1 to 2 days | approx. 260 km | north | waterfalls, geothermal areas, whales |
The five routes
Click through to the route that suits you. Each page has the stops, a map and the Google Maps link.
The Ring Road (Route 1)
The full loop around the island, in day-stages past waterfalls, fjords and glaciers.
The Golden Circle
The classic day trip from Reykjavik: Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, with the finest detour.
The south coast waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss and the black beach of Reynisfjara, with two hidden waterfalls.
Snaefellsnes
Iceland in miniature: Kirkjufell, lava fields, cliffs and the Snaefellsjokull volcano, in one loop.
North Iceland: the Diamond Circle
Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss and whale watching at Húsavík in the north.
The five routes on the map
All five routes are drawn here over the actual roads. Click a line to open the route, or filter with the buttons. At a glance you see how the Ring Road circles the island and where the four day-routes sit.
Road lines shown simplified; the exact route with every stop opens on the route page. Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
The best time to go: summer is finest
From June to August Iceland is at its best: green moss and meadows, and almost 24 hours of daylight thanks to the midnight sun. It is also the only season when the highlands and the F-roads (Landmannalaugar, Kjolur) are open. You can drive the Ring Road in an ordinary car from May to October; the highlands call for summer and a 4x4. Outside the season the days get short and the roads icy, so plan on fewer kilometres a day.
Rental car, 4x4 and fuel
An ordinary car is plenty for the Ring Road, the Golden Circle, the south coast, Snaefellsnes and the Diamond Circle. The highlands and F-roads call for a 4x4, sometimes with river crossings. Fill up in good time, as petrol stations are far apart in the interior and the east fjords. Watch the wind when you open a door, and look out for the many single-lane bridges (einbreið brú).
Driving in Iceland: speeds, bridges and tolls
Driving in Iceland is easier than it sounds, as long as you know its quirks. The speed limit is 90 km/h on rural asphalt, 80 km/h on gravel roads and 50 km/h in built-up areas; some tunnels are limited to 70. Headlights are required day and night. The Ring Road still has over thirty single-lane bridges (einbreið brú): slow down, see who arrives first and give way to whoever has nearly reached the bridge.
Tolls barely exist: only the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel (7.4 km, between Akureyri and Húsavík) costs about 2,150 ISK per car (2024 indication). There is no booth: your plate is scanned and you pay online, beforehand or right after; forget it and a pricier invoice follows. The tunnel can be avoided via the old mountain road over the Víkurskarð pass. The Hvalfjörður tunnel near Reykjavik has been free since late 2018. F-roads (highlands) open in summer only and legally require a 4x4; none of our five routes uses one. From 1 November to 14 April winter tyres are mandatory; studded tyres are allowed only in that period.
Month by month: daylight and roads
Daylight hours are guide values for Reykjavik, mid-month. In winter a storm can close a road for a while; live road status is on umferdin.is.
| Month | Daylight (±) | Roads and advice |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5 hrs | deep winter; southwest only, keep plans flexible |
| February | 8 hrs | wintry; northern-lights season, roads often icy |
| March | 11 hrs | still wintry but more drivable; south coast works well |
| April | 14.5 hrs | spring; the Ring Road becomes realistic again |
| May | 18 hrs | quiet and bright; a fine Ring Road month |
| June | 21 hrs | midnight sun; everything open, high season starts |
| July | 19.5 hrs | high season; F-roads open, busiest month |
| August | 16.5 hrs | high season; late August turns quieter |
| September | 13 hrs | autumn; fewer crowds, first northern lights |
| October | 10 hrs | changeable; the southwest stays doable |
| November | 6.5 hrs | winter tyres mandatory; short driving days |
| December | 4.5 hrs | darkest month; only short routes around Reykjavik |
What does an Iceland road trip cost?
The big items are the rental car and the accommodation; the routes themselves are free. Fuel is easy to estimate yourself: at around 7 l/100 km the full Ring Road (approx. 1,330 km) takes about 90 to 105 litres, and a day-route of 200 to 260 km some 15 to 18 litres. Icelandic fuel is clearly pricier than in most of Europe; fill up at N1, Olís, Orkan or Costco, and bear in mind that nearly all pumps are self-service machines that want a bank card with a PIN.
Entrance fees are the exception: most waterfalls and viewpoints are free, though several of the famous stops charge for parking, and the Kerid crater on the Golden Circle costs about 600 ISK per person (early 2025 indication). Our Maps links and GPX files are free and will stay free.
By campervan: campsites are mandatory
Sleeping wild in a campervan, van or car is not allowed in Iceland: you stay at campsites, also along the Ring Road (nearly every village has one). Parking up wild for the night brings hefty fines. Outside high season some campsites close, so check ahead what is open. Tents enjoy slightly wider rules, but even then: near buildings or on private land only with permission.
Driving safely: wind, weather and warnings
Icelandic weather changes fast and the wind is the trap: hold on to your door when opening it (door damage is often excluded from cover) and do not set off during a storm warning. On the south coast sandstorms can sandblast the paintwork; insurers sell a separate sand-and-ash cover (SAAP) for exactly that. Fording rivers on F-roads is never insured. Before you leave, check safetravel.is (alerts), umferdin.is (road status) and vedur.is (weather and wind), and put the free 112 app on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Which Iceland route is right for me?
With a week or more, the whole Ring Road is the finest choice. With just a day, take the Golden Circle. For waterfalls and black beaches, go for the south coast; if the west appeals, choose Snaefellsnes; for the north, it is the Diamond Circle.
How many days do you need for the Ring Road?
Seven days is the minimum, and ten to twelve makes for a far more relaxed drive. We have split the Ring Road into day-stages, each with its own Google Maps link that starts wherever you happen to be.
Can you open the routes in Google Maps?
Yes, free. Every route and day-stage opens in Google Maps with the stops already in it, and each route comes with a GPX for Garmin, Komoot or TomTom.
When is the best time to drive Iceland?
In summer, from June to August: everything is green, it stays light deep into the night and the highlands are open. May and September are quieter, but with shorter daylight.
Do you need a 4x4 in Iceland?
Not for these five routes: they run on asphalt and the Ring Road is fully paved. A 4x4 is legally required on the F-roads into the highlands and is a nice extra outside summer, but not a condition.
Are there toll roads in Iceland?
Hardly any. Only the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel between Akureyri and Húsavík costs about 2,150 ISK (2024 indication); you pay online, as there is no booth. The Hvalfjörður tunnel near Reykjavik has been free since late 2018, and every other road is toll-free.
Can you drive the Ring Road in winter?
You can, but it is a different kind of trip: around December there are only some four to five hours of daylight, and storms can temporarily close the road in the north and the east fjords. In winter, better stay in the southwest (Golden Circle, south coast) and check umferdin.is and safetravel.is before setting off.
Clockwise or counterclockwise around the Ring Road?
Both work; the road is the same. Our day-stages run clockwise (the north first, the south coast as the finale), so the most famous highlights close the trip. If you want the south coast right away, drive counterclockwise and follow the stages in reverse order.
How does refuelling work in Iceland?
Nearly all pumps are self-service machines from N1, Olís or Orkan: insert your bank card, enter your PIN, fill up. Do it in good time, as stations lie far apart in the east fjords and the interior. The full Ring Road takes about 90 to 105 litres at 7 l/100 km.
Can you wild camp with a campervan in Iceland?
No. Sleeping in a campervan or car is only allowed at campsites; parking up wild for the night brings hefty fines. There are campsites along all five routes, though some close outside high season.
How many single-lane bridges does the Ring Road have?
Still over thirty (around sixty in 2010; they are being replaced step by step). The rule is simple: slow down, see who arrives first and give way to whoever has nearly reached the bridge. On the southeast coast especially they come thick and fast.