The Iceland Ring Road by car
The Ring Road is the grand loop around Iceland: over 1,300 kilometres on Route 1, in seven to twelve days past waterfalls, fjords, glaciers and black beaches. Since you cannot put a route like that into Google Maps in one go, we split it into five day-stages. Each stage has its own Maps link that starts wherever you happen to be, plus a GPX.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Jökulsárlón (stage 4) · Goðafoss (stage 2) · Seljalandsfoss (stage 5).
The five day-stages
Clockwise from Reykjavik. Open your Maps link for each day; it automatically starts from wherever you are at that moment.
Reykjavik to Akureyri
A long day's drive up through the west to the north. Stretch your legs at the Grabrok crater on the way, and by evening you reach Akureyri, the friendly little capital of the north.
Akureyri to Mývatn
A short but rich day. First Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods, and then the volcanic Mývatn area with the lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the steaming mud pots of Hverir.
Mývatn to Höfn
The longest stage, straight through the empty east. Loop up to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, then drive on through the quiet east fjords to the harbour town of Höfn.
Höfn to Vík
The most spectacular day. The glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón with floating icebergs, Diamond Beach beside it, the Skaftafell nature reserve and the black beach of Reynisfjara just before Vík.
Vík to Reykjavik
Back to the city, saving the finest stops for last: the Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, and then the whole Golden Circle (Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir) to round it off.
When to go and which car
You can drive the Ring Road in an ordinary car from May to October; summer (June to August) is finest, with green plains and light deep into the night. Fill up in good time, as petrol stations are far apart in the east and the interior, and mind the wind and the many single-lane bridges (einbreið brú). To head into the highlands as well, you need summer and a 4x4.
The Ring Road in numbers
| Official length of Route 1 | 1,322 km, asphalt all the way round; our curated route with detours comes to approx. 1,330 km |
|---|---|
| Ring closed since | 1974, when the Skeiðará bridge in the southeast opened |
| Pure driving time | approx. 17 to 18 hours in total; over ten days that is 2 to 3 hours a day (guide values) |
| Single-lane bridges | over thirty today, around sixty in 2010; they are being replaced step by step |
| Speed limits | 90 km/h on asphalt, 80 km/h on gravel, 50 km/h in built-up areas; lights on day and night |
| Winter tyres | mandatory from 1 November to 14 April |
| Fuel | approx. 90 to 105 litres at 7 l/100 km |
| Deepest lake in Iceland | lies on the route: the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, over 284 m deep |
Length and bridges: Icelandic road administration; driving times and fuel are guide values (measured July 2026).
Overnight stops on the Ring Road: pacing 7 to 12 days
Seven days means driving the ring at a brisk pace; ten to twelve leaves room for hikes and the odd storm day. Sensible overnight bases clockwise: the Borgarnes side first or straight on to Akureyri, then Mývatn, Egilsstaðir, Höfn and the Vík area, before rolling back into Reykjavik. Beds along Route 1 sell out fast in July and August, so book your summer accommodation well ahead.
Travelling by campervan, you must overnight on campsites; wild camping by the roadside is banned and fines can run up to 500,000 ISK. Nearly every village on the ring has a campsite, though some close outside the season.
Fuel, toll and single-lane bridges on Route 1
Petrol stations sit far apart in the east fjords and the interior, so top up whenever the tank drops below half. Nearly all pumps are unmanned card machines that ask for a PIN. There is exactly one toll: the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel near Akureyri costs approx. 2,150 ISK (2024 indication), paid online as there is no booth, and you can skip it via the Víkurskarð pass. The Hvalfjörður tunnel near Reykjavik has been free since late 2018.
On the single-lane bridges (einbreið brú) the etiquette is simple: slow down, check who is nearly on the bridge, and give way to them.
The four day-routes that make up the ring
Drive the full ring and you are effectively stringing our separate day-routes together. The Golden Circle sits in stage 5, as do the south-coast waterfalls between Vík and Reykjavik. The Snaefellsnes peninsula is a western detour off Route 1, and the Diamond Circle a northern loop from Mývatn. For more ideas, browse all Iceland scenic drives.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the Ring Road?
Seven days is the minimum; ten to twelve makes for a far more relaxed drive with room for side trips. These five day-stages make a comfortable schedule; to stretch it, you simply add nights.
Why is the route split into stages?
Because Google Maps cannot handle a 1,300-kilometre route in one go, and you drive it day by day anyway. So each stage has its own Maps link that starts wherever you are: from A to B, and the next day from B to C.
Clockwise or anticlockwise?
We drive clockwise: north first, then the east fjords, and the south coast with the Golden Circle to finish. Anticlockwise works just as well; you simply reverse the stages.
Can you open the stages in Google Maps?
Yes, free. Every stage opens in Google Maps with the stops already in it, and each stage comes with a GPX for Garmin, Komoot or TomTom.
Is the Ring Road fully paved?
Yes, Route 1 is asphalt for the whole 1,322 kilometres. Some side roads to the sights are gravel, so take those at an easy pace.
How much fuel does the Ring Road take?
Reckon on roughly 90 to 105 litres at 7 l/100 km. Fill up in good time in the east fjords, where stations sit far apart.
Can you drive the Ring Road in a campervan?
Yes, easily. You must overnight on campsites though, as wild camping by the road is banned. Most villages on the ring have one; some close outside the season.
Which day-routes lie along the Ring Road?
Four of our day-routes: the Golden Circle, the south-coast waterfalls, the Snaefellsnes peninsula as a western detour and the Diamond Circle as a northern loop.