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I recently spent 5 days roadtripping around Iceland and in summary… you must add a road trip from Reykjavik to Vik along Iceland’s southern coast to your bucket list. This guide is going to cover all the details about this journey, along with what to see along the northwest coast. If you want to read about 8 specific sites to see around Reykjavik during your time in Iceland, check out this post!
Disclaimer: This blog post is written in partnership with Discover Cars & Hotel Hvítserkur. Thank you for working with me! As always, all opinions written here are my own. Also, most photos in this blog post were taken by my talented friend, Matt Mitera.
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Best Time Of Year To Do An Iceland Road Trip
Iceland has four distinct seasons and each offers something different to experience. You should plan your trip accordingly. Here is an abbreviated summary of the highlights of each season:
Spring (April–May)
During these months, the snow melts and feeds powerful waterfalls. Wildflowers start to bloom around the country, and migratory birds (including puffins!) return to the coasts. The roads are mostly clear, offering peaceful travel before the summer crowds. Plus, you’ll start to get upwards of 20 hours of daylight by late May.
Summer (June–August)
Iceland experiences its Midnight Sun, with sunshine lasting almost 24 hours a day. Summer is peak season for whale watching, puffin viewing, and outdoor festivals. The temperatures are warmest during these months and roads are fully open — making this the best time to explore Iceland’s diverse scenery from coast to coast along the Ring Road.
Autumn (September–October)
I just visited Iceland in fall and really recommend it! October can be rainy (it’s the wettest month), but also the countryside is transformed with golden moss, foliage, and fewer visitors. The nights grow darker, bringing the first chances to see the Northern Lights. The temperatures are significantly cooler but there won’t be any snow yet, so you can still roadtrip around the country without worrying about closures / ice.
Winter (November–March)
Winter is quite the adventure in Iceland. Road conditions can be a bit dangerous, so I wouldn’t try to road trip on your own. I think April – October would the best for renting a car and road tripping on your own. If I were to plan a trip to Iceland in winter, I would do day trips from Reykjavik and enjoy the ice caves, glaciers (maybe snowmobiling!), geothermal hot springs, and Northern Lights. Although temperatures can drop below freezing and storms are common, the cozy warmth of Iceland’s culture makes winter an enchanting time to visit.
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Iceland Road Trip Itinerary #1: Reykjavik To Vik
I covered what to see, where to eat, and where to stay in Reykjavik in this blog post, and now it’s time to head south! There are also day tours from Reykjavik that cover the below sites if you prefer to be on a bus with a guide. However, for this portion of the trip, I definitely recommend renting a car! I always recommend Discover Cars to my readers — they make securing a rental car online so convenient.
If you’re visiting in the spring, summer, or autumn seasons the roads will be clear. Driving in Iceland is fairly easy, and having a rental car will allow you to pull over at the scenic overlooks, smaller waterfalls, and loop the entire Ring Road. The Ring Road takes anywhere for 4-10 days to explore, however 4 days is very rushed. The more time you have the better. We were only in Iceland for 5 days on this trip, so opted for a few day trips instead of trying to do the entire loop. One day, I hope to see the full thing!
You can see the south coast of Iceland in just one day from Reykjavik, or opt to stay overnight in Vik and continue east towards the Diamond Beach. Driving from Reykjavik to Vik will take you about 2.5 hours each way, but you’ll want to allocate at least 8 hours for this day trip for all the stops along the way. These are the main sites:
Stop #1: Seljalandasfoss
Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, located on the South Coast along the Seljalandsá River, which drops about 60 meters (197 feet) over a cliff. What makes it especially unique is that visitors can walk behind the cascade for a stunning view. Be prepared to get a little wet (and the path may be slippery!), but it’s WORTH IT! The waterfall is easy to reach directly from Iceland’s Ring Road (Route 1) and is well-marked with a parking lot, restrooms, and small food stands nearby.
Seljalandsfoss is about 129 km (80 miles) from Reykjavik, taking roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to reach. There’s no entrance fee to visit, but parking in the main lot costs around ISK 800–1,000 (about $6–$8 USD), payable at a kiosk. I would plan to stay here for at least 45 minutes to walk the loop and take photos! This was our first stop heading east from Reykjavik.
Stop #2: Skógafoss
Your next stop will be Skógafoss — another waterfall (“foss” means “waterfall”!). This one is only 19 miles further east from Seljalandsfoss — roughly a 25–30 minute drive along the same Route 1 (Ring Road).
Skógafoss is famous for its massive size and power. On sunny days, the constant mist often creates double rainbows, making it one of the most photographed sites in Iceland. You can walk right up to its base to feel the spray or climb a staircase with over 400 steps to the top for a panoramic view of the Skógá River and the coastline beyond. I definitely recommend climbing the steps for these photos…
Pro-tip: You’ll have to pay another few dollars here at a kiosk for parking. There are also restrooms in the parking lot.
Stop #3: Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
As you make your way closer to the village of Vik, your next stop along the Ring Road should be this famous plane wreck! The Sólheimasandur black sand beach is just 6 minutes from Skógafoss (10-12 minutes). There are a few important things to note about this site…
The wreck is of a US Navy transport plane that crash-landed on November 21, 1973 due to severe icing. Miraculously, all 7 crew members survived and the airframe has been left behind / has remained intact as one of Iceland’s most well-known landmarks.
Pro-tip: From the parking lot, the wreck is over 2 miles EACH WAY! It takes about an hour to walk one way, so you’ll need to allocate several hours if you choose this option. So many tourists have underestimated this trek, and especially in the freezing cold weather, have suffered due to the exposed landscape and lack of amenities. Be sure you are adequately prepared with layers and maybe some water. To cut down the walking distance, you can also take the shuttle (DO THIS!). It takes about 10 minutes each way and runs on a regular schedule. However, the shuttle is very expensive. For just the 10 minute ride, it will cost you more than $20 USD per person (~ 2,500 ISK per person).
We stayed at the plane for just a few minutes to grab photos… honestly, not sure if it was worth it.
Stop #4: Black Crust Pizzeria
If you left Reykjavik at some point in the early-ish morning, it should be lunchtime by now! We pulled into Vik after 2pm and were starving for a late lunch. Head to Black Crust Pizzeria! It’s located right in the heart of the town, was super quick, had ample seating, and was delicious. They have many pizzas to choose from, and make both sourdough crust and also blackened crust, inspired by the surrounding volcanic landscape.
Pro-tip: Iceland is SO pricey. One pizza was over $33 USD, so my friend Matt and I split. On a positive note, there is also a gas station right at Black Crust Pizzeria if you need to refill your tank along your Iceland road trip.
Stop #5: Vík í Mýrdal Church
Basically right across the street from the pizzeria is Vik’s very photogenic white, red-roofed church. As you pull into the parking lot next to the church, you’ll see a semi-steep dirt road that goes up & behind the church. Drive up here! This is where you’ll get the iconic shot of the church, ocean, and village below. The church itself was closed when we visited due to a private wedding ceremony, but be sure to go inside if you can! This is all free to visit.
Stop #6: Reynisfjara Beach
Stop #7: Dyrhólaey Peninsula
Our last stop on our Iceland road trip along the south coast was to the Dyrhólaey Peninsula, which is just west of Vik. During the summer months, this is one of the best places to see puffins in Iceland. However, no matter the time of year, the coastline views here are amazing! Do the short loop from the parking lot (don’t forget to pay!) and check out the vast black sand beach below, rugged coastline, sea arch, and lighthouse. I would allocate at least 30-45 minutes here for a walk around and photos.
From here, head back to Reykjavik (if you aren’t staying in Vik for the night to continue eastward the next day). The drive back will take you about 2-2.5 hours, but it’s a beautiful Iceland road trip route! If you are staying in Vik, many tourists also opt to visit Sólheimajökull, a nearby glacier that you can hike with a guide.
Iceland Road Trip Itinerary #2: Reykjavik To Northwest Coast
Most people circle the Ring Road by moving counterclockwise, meaning if you start in the capital city you’ll move east towards Vik, eventually covering the very east coast before heading north towards Akureyri, the largest city in northern Iceland. From here, you’ll travel through the northwest of Iceland (the most beautiful and rural part of the country) back down to Reykjavik.
I opted to instead head north from Reykjavik, driving about 2.5 hours up to Hvitserkur for one of the most unique hotel stays I’ve ever had! If you choose to do a similar Iceland road trip, be sure to pitstop in Borganes, Iceland. It’s only about 1 hour north of Reykjavik and was super cute! This small, seaside village has a few cafes, shops, and a beautiful church.
If you drive another 1.5 hours along the Ring Road and a few miles down an unpaved, dirt road you’ll reach Hotel Hvitserkur!
Where To Stay In Hvitserkur: Hotel Hvitserkur
This quaint hotel used to be a boarding school! It’s now owned by a young, sweet German couple who trains horses. Aside from the inn, the property also has a horse farm. Over 20 Icelandic horses call this place their home! If you stay at the hotel, you can sign up for a meet & greet with the horses or take a guided ride.
The property is located about 6 miles from the famous Hvitserkur rock structure and black sand beach. However, since the road is unpaved, it takes about 30 minutes to get to. It is worth it though — especially at low tide when you can walk along the beach! If you visit at high tide, there is still a lookout you can visit with beautiful views of the coast.
There aren’t any restaurants or shops in this area, but the inn serves a lovely a la carte dinner and breakfast! If you’re lucky, you can also catch the Northern Lights while you’re here. This was ABSOLUTELY the highlight of our trip!
Seeing The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are natural light displays in the sky caused by the collision of charged particles from the Sun’s solar wind with atoms and molecules in Earth’s atmosphere. On a clear night, especially up north, you are most illy to see the lights between September – April. Although it’s early in the season, we saw such vibrant lights and feel SO lucky! Especially since it’s so rural… it was so quiet. Truly a travel memory I’ll never forget.
I highly recommend staying here for a night during your Ring Road Iceland road trip.
That brings us to the end of this very detailed Iceland road trip guide! While I didn’t loop the entire Ring Road, I did explore pretty much half the country in just 5 days. Be sure to leave a few days for exploration within the capital, but the south coast and northwest are spectacular too!
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