If you are exploring a road trip opportunity in Iceland, the Ring Road will certainly pop up on your radar. The Ring Road in Iceland is a favorite among travelers, and you’ll soon understand why.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this famous road, how to plan a Ring Road road trip, and what you can look forward to along your travels around the island.
What is the Ring Road in Iceland?
As the name suggests, the Ring Road is a road in Iceland. But it’s not just any road. It’s one of our main roads, which means that it is paved and well-maintained throughout the year.
The Ring Road is incredibly popular as a road trip route since the road lays out in the shape of a ring wrapped right round the island.
This means that the Ring Road will give you a taste of almost every region on the island. The entire road is also scattered with some of our most famous tourist attractions and once-in-a-lifetime activities. But the Ring Road is not only important because it caters to tourists’ needs, it is also a crucial piece of infrastructure in Iceland. The Ring Road is the route most used to transport things between cities and towns here on the island.
How Long is Iceland’s Ring Road?
The total Ring Road length is 1322 kilometers. To answer our US readers’ questions of “how many miles is the Ring Road in Iceland?,” it’s 820 miles of paved road through the breathtaking Icelandic scenery that you don’t need a 4x4 vehicle to drive (although this might change depending on the sights you have on your Iceland bucket list).
How Long Does it Take to Drive the Entire Ring Road in Iceland?
You might as well ask, “How long does it take to drive around Iceland?” since the route wraps right around the island. Exactly how long it’ll take will depend on your preference and available time on the island.
If one were to drive the Ring Road in its entirety in one go without stopping, one could complete the entire trip in just 17 hours. Since we’re guessing the entire point of exploring the island is, well, stopping and exploring the island, most would recommend that you allocate between 7-10 days for a Ring Road road trip.
Things to See and Do Along the Ring Road in Iceland
As we mentioned, the Ring Road is credited with having some of Iceland’s most famous attractions and activities along the way. These are just a few to look out for:
Geysir Geothermal Area
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall (the waterfall one can walk behind)
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Diamond Beach (a mere hop, skip, and jump away from Jokulsarlon)
10 Day Iceland, Ring Road Itinerary
If you are considering doing a Ring Road road trip but don’t want to deal with the schlepp of planning it all out, simply check out our 10-day Ring Road itinerary below (which can easily be adapted to a 7-day itinerary if need be):
Day 1
On the Schedule for the Day:
Arrive at Keflavik Airport
Drive past the Blue Lagoon (with a quick stop, if possible)
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 1 hour driving a total of 49km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Blue Lagoon
The Capital city of Reykjavik
Where You Will be Spending the Night: At the Blue Lagoon or accommodation in Reykjavik
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 1:
The Retreat Hotel (at the Blue Lagoon)
Day 2
On the Schedule for the Day:
Kirkjufell and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 4 hours driving a total of 300km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Kirkjufell Mountain
Londrangar Lava Field
Arnarstapi Settlement
Vatnshellir Cave
Glymur Waterfall
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Snæfellsnes Peninsula (Hellnar or Arnarstapi)
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 2:
Day 3
On the Schedule for the Day:
Driving to North Iceland
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 6.5 hours driving a total of 480km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Hvitserkur Rock Formation
Glaumbaer Turf Houses
Akureyri (referred to as the capital city of the north)
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Akureyri
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 3:
Day 4
On the Schedule for the Day:
Godafoss & Husavik
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 2 hours driving a total of 140km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Godafoss Waterfall
Whale Watching Boat Tour in Husavik
The City of Husavik (also referred to as the whale capital of Iceland)
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Myvatn
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 4:
Day 5
On the Schedule for the Day:
Myvatn & Dettifoss
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 3.5 hours driving a total of 225km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Selfoss Waterfall (just upriver from Dettifoss)
Myvatn Nature Baths
Hverfjall Crater
Grjotagja Cave (where Game of Thrones was shot)
Dimmuborgir Lava Field
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Myvatn (either at the same place or you can switch it up)
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 5:
See options above
Day 6
On the Schedule for the Day:
Exploring East Iceland
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 4.8 hours driving a total of 350km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Studlagil Canyon
Rjukandi Waterfall
Spotting the Iceland Puffins at Borgarfjördur (but only when visiting during breeding season - May to August)
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Höfn
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 6:
Day 7
On the Schedule for the Day:
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Other Glacier Experiences
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 2 hours driving a total of 140km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour
Diamond Beach
Fjallsarlong Glacier Lagoon
Svartifoss Waterfall
Vatnajökull Glacier
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Skaftafell
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 7:
Day 8
On the Schedule for the Day:
Exploring the South Coast
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 3.5 hours driving a total of 285km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Reynisfjara Beach
Dyrholaey Lighthouse
Kvernufoss Waterfall
Gljufrabui Waterfall (the Hidden Waterfall)
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Fludir
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 8:
Day 9
On the Schedule for the Day:
The Golden Circle
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 2 hours driving a total of 125km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Geysir Geothermal Area
Where You Will be Spending the Night: Reykjavik
A Few Accommodation Options for Day 9:
Please refer to the accommodation options mentioned on Day 1
Day 10
On the Schedule for the Day:
Reykjavik & Taking a Flight Back Home
Traveling Time: You will spend roughly 1 hour driving a total of 49km
The Main Stops Along the Way:
Today will mostly be spent exploring all the things there is to see in and around the capital city that you didn’t get to see on Day 1 when you first arrived on the island.
Where You Will be Spending the Night: On the plane (assuming you’ve taken advantage of another full day of exploring the capital and have booked a nighttime flight)
Some Useful Ring Road Information
The below information can be useful when planning a Ring Road road trip:
Budgeting for a Ring Road Road Trip
Although each budget will be customized according to personal preferences and time spent on the island, if you’re planning on having a 10-day itinerary, the following are good guidelines to follow:
Accommodation (if you stick to hostels and campgrounds): $200 pps/$400 for an individual traveling Iceland solo.
Food (if you mostly eat in and cook for yourself): $250 pp.
Transport (if you stick to public transport and budget-friendly rental cars): $350 pps/$700 for an individual traveling solo.
Sights & Activities (if you keep paid sights and activities to a minimum and indulge more in what is free in Iceland, such as the national parks, Iceland’s black sand beaches, waterfalls, etc.): from $50+
Gifts & Souvenirs (if kept to a minimum and costs are managed): from $50+
A Quick Guide to Accommodation Along the Ring Road
If you won’t be following our 10-day Ring Road itinerary but would like to have a quick insight into where to stay along the route, the following should be helpful:
Ring Road Hotels
Ring Road Guesthouses
Ring Road Farmstays
Ring Road Self-catering/Airbnbs
Iceland Hostels on the Ring Road
Ring Road Campsites
A Few Helpful Tips for Driving the Ring Road in Iceland
If this is the first time that you’ll be driving in Iceland or it’s just the first time you’ll be driving the Ring Road, the following tips and advice will be very helpful:
Keep to the Speed Limits
Icelanders do not react kindly to those who don’t adhere to our road laws. And unless you want to end up with a fine that might require you to remortgage your home, you better make sure that you stick to our speed limits (which might not be what you’re used to back home).
Here, you are not allowed to drive more than 90 km/h on the Ring Road (or 55 mph if you’re a US reader). And you’ll also need to keep a close eye on the road signs since smaller off-roads into town or to attractions might have further limiting speed restrictions.
Stick to Designated Parking Spots
It is illegal to park in a non-designated parking spot here in Iceland. This doesn’t just mean that you shouldn’t park horizontally in a parking spot, you are not allowed to park anywhere that is not a designated parking spot – that includes anywhere next to the road.
Suddenly see the Northern Lights? Don’t care. Suddenly spot wild horses running on the horizon that you want to take a snapshot of? Better have a bank account to support that action. It is illegal to park anywhere that is not a legally designated parking spot – it doesn’t matter whether you saw a unicorn running across the sky!
Keep a Close Eye on the Weather & Road Conditions
We have a local saying here on the island that says “you can experience all four seasons in a day in Iceland”. This means that the weather can change at the drop of a hat. Some of these weather changes can also lead to sudden road closures – especially in the northern parts of the island, and especially during the colder months of the year.
So, you‘ll need to ensure that you’re up to date with the status of the Iceland road conditions as well as the Iceland weather forecast.
Plan Your Fill-ups
This is not just because gas stations are few and far between in the more remote parts of the island but because gas prices differ between gas stations here in Iceland. So, if you want to ensure that you get the most bang (or gas) for your buck, you’ll need to plan out exactly where you will be filling up throughout your Ring Road road trip.
The Ring Road in Iceland: Exploring the Highlights of the Island
By road tripping the Ring Road, you’ll experience the ever-changing and contrasting terrain of the Land of Fire and Ice, all the way from the North to the South. You’ll get to take in some of our most famous sights and participate in some of our most unique activities.
If you have any questions about a Ring Road trip in Iceland or would like some local planning expertise, you’re welcome to reach out to us here at Travel to Iceland. We’ll be happy to get you started on your Ring Road adventure.