What to expect in this blog:
- Everything you need to know about The Ring Road
- Sites you can see on The Ring Road
- Complete 7 to 8-day itinerary guide
Imagine a place with largely untouched, unspoiled, and surreal landscapes. Spend a day in Iceland, where hot springs, glaciers, lava fields, and cascading waterfalls coincide—where imagination and dream destinations come true.
Imagine if this nature lover’s paradise had one of the most convenient roads connecting Iceland’s most precious attractions. The Ring Road allows visitors worldwide to find the perfect spot to park their cozy camper vans, revel in natural wonders, or visit our most popular hotels with unique features.
With unimpeded panoramic views of our beautiful island and the flexibility of our rented camper vans, you’re one step closer to exploring our country’s most iconic landscapes at your own pace. Get the best out of every second with our Ring Road exploration guide.
What is The Ring Road in Iceland?
The Ring Road follows Route 1, or Highway 1, in Iceland. It circles the entire island and is the most critical piece of transportation, connecting nearly all of Iceland’s towns. Many visitors wonder how long the Ring Road is in Iceland. It is approximately 1,332 km or 828 miles long.
The Ring Road can sometimes be mistaken for the Golden Circle Drive. The Golden Circle Drive is a day trip that can be done quickly from Reykjavik; technically, it takes 6-7 days to complete the Ring Road in summer.
What You Can Expect to See on The Ring Road
After renting your camper van, you can exit east or north when ready to leave Reykjavik. We recommend heading toward Egilsstaðir, a 7-hour drive considered the most scenic. The southern area of Iceland is also the flattest, and the road closely follows the coastline, which means thundering waterfalls and glacier-dotted vistas.
What else you might encounter on the Ring Road?
Myvatn Lake
A volcanic lake in northern Iceland, with Reykjahlíð village nestled on the northeastern shore. Many tours are operated and conducted from Reykjahlíð due to its proximity to the lake, Viti, Hverfjall volcano crater, Dimmuborgir lava field, and Krafla fissure.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Iceland’s crown has many crown jewels, and the Glacier Lagoon is one of them. It is called Diamond Beach, a nearly black beach due to the ice chunks that shine like the gemstones, which it’s named after. Thousands of people are drawn to this place year-round for epic boat tours, seal-watching, and iceberg gazing.
Akureyri
This town in western Iceland bypasses Borgarfjörður, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and Westfjords. Yet, Akureyri is the country’s fifth most populated town and most significant city outside of the Capital Region. The town has a robust cultural scene with museums, churches, and Botanical gardens. This may be perfect if you want to visit a city for a night or two to explore everything Iceland offers.
Summer vs. Winter on The Ring Road
Driving during Iceland’s summer may take at least six days. If you are considering taking the Ring Road in winter, it can take up to 12 days. Before booking your dream Icelandic cozy getaway, consider your travel time and the season. Ideally, you’d want at least 10 to two weeks in the summer to fully explore our stunning landscapes and twenty to twenty-five for our harsh yet enchanting winter scenes.
Winter:
- The Ring Road is well-maintained all year round, but in winter, you may encounter the occasional road closure due to hazardous weather conditions. It is important to note that a 4×4 vehicle and understanding how to drive in winter conditions are required to travel on the road during the colder months.
Summer:
- If driving in winter isn’t something you are entirely comfortable with, then summertime may be the ideal time to drive the Ring Road. The driving conditions in June, July, and August are excellent, and summer brings extra daylight for driving and sightseeing.
Is there an Iceland Ring Road Map?
One of the best interactive maps we know of comes from Adventures.com. Their Destination: Iceland maps include many excellent markers.
The Iceland Ring Road Map includes icons for finding everything from camping grounds to ice caves and snorkeling destinations. While that is only a tiny example, in this Ring Road of Iceland map, each mark usually comes with the occasional helpful photo, name, and short description or can be easily found online.
The Best Iceland Ring Road Itinerary with Hotels and Camping
You may not think traveling the ring road in seven, eight, or ten days sounds hectic. But many visitors who took the time to plan an itinerary have said they went on to have one of the best trips they’d ever had.
If you don’t know where to start, let’s inspire your next cozy trip!
Day 1
- Arrival at Reykjavik. Many U.S. flights will arrive early in the morning, and it may take some time to grab your luggage and get through customs.
- Pick up your rental Cozy Camper.
- Stop at a local bakery or grocery store for breakfast and the food you may need for your trip.
Twenty-five miles outside of Reykjavik, the closest attraction and must-see is Thingvellir, or Þingvellir. Attractions include Secret Lagoon, Geysir Geothermal Areas, Gullffoss Waterfall, and Kerid Crater. During summer, one of the best campsites here is Nyrdri-Leirar.
Camp prices are generally collected in person during the evening. In winter, this campsite is closed to vehicles, so it is recommended that you park your campers in the parking lot next to the service center. While there aren’t hotels nearby, there are many cabins, chalets, cottages, and other rental properties to find if you prefer to spend a night inside.
Day 2
- Try to get up early in the morning as you have a bit of a drive ahead of you to reach your next destination: The Blue Lagoon.
- The Blue Lagoon is roughly 109 km or 67 miles from Thingvellir National Park and takes about one hour and twenty-one minutes on good road conditions to get there.
- The Blue Lagoon offers several packages to enjoy and unwind while on the road, including admittance, face masks, luxury massages, floating therapy, and more.
- When cozy camping, one favorite campsite should be included in your itinerary: Grindavik campsite, located only 5 km from The Blue Lagoon.
- For something much closer and those seeking a hotel, visit the Northern Light Inn. It offers Deluxe, Superior, Double, Twin, Triple, and Family rooms to rent, and it also offers a Wellness spa in case you want to experience even more luxurious relaxation after visiting the Blue Lagoon.
Day 3
- Now that your muscles are relaxed, it’s time to take a quick two-hour drive to visit Seljalandsfoss. This iconic waterfall is worth the drive. It is breathtakingly gorgeous, and there is a pathway that allows visitors to walk behind the rushing water—the perfect spot for an incredible photograph.
- Note that you do have to pay to park. However, the parking area is very large, and there are amenities such as public restrooms, a café, and a small gift shop that sells handcrafted local goods.
- If you are already missing The Blue Lagoon, you may want to visit The Hidden Pool or Seljavallalaug. The Hidden Pool is natural and tends to be quiet and peaceful, as hiking generally approaches it.
- Skogarfoss is another waterfall with a long set of steps to climb to stand at the very top.
- After visiting these waterfalls for the day, you may want to spend the night. The Skogar Camping Ground is a campsite located directly beside Skogarfoss, and it is open all year round.
Day 4
- There are several hotels in Vík, a fishing town just 34 km from Skogarfoss. The most popular are Hotel Vík í Mýrdal or Hótel Dyrhólaey.
- On day four, you should head toward Hofn, a delightfully small fishing town in southeast Iceland. On your way to Hofn, there’s the spectacular Svartifoss Waterfall.
- Svartifoss is a short walk into the Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park. Ice-cold meltwater feeds this famous waterfall, which tumbles down 20 meters of a cliff with distinct hexagonal-shaped basalt columns. It’s a 45-minute hike, but you will pass three other beautiful waterfalls along the way.
- For the afternoon and the perfect way to end your day, consider exploring Diamond Beach and visiting & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. There are also many options for sightseeing and activities, such as kayaking, boating, or exploring ice caves in the winter.
- If you would like to stay in Hofn, there are camping and cottage rentals available. If you’re considering a hotel, Hotel Jökull is a popular, affordable, and well-loved place to stay.
Day 5
- If you stayed overnight at Hofn, you’ll want to sleep in a bit for a more extended day of driving ahead of you, because you’re heading to Husavik. It is a five-hour drive, but it is worth it.
- Husavik is a coastal town that claims the title of the best whale-watching town in Europe, and the reviews certainly back this up. The waters around Skjálfandi Bay are home to more than twenty different species of whales and dolphins, making it perhaps the best place for whale and dolphin enthusiasts.
- It is called Iceland’s “Diamond Circle” because this area has several natural wonders to behold and requires little to no hiking to see them.
- Dettifoss is Europe’s most powerful waterfall and a must-see in the area. The immensity of this waterfall’s majestic beauty can be captured or watched from several different viewing platforms, and many tourists are left speechless after visiting.
- Husavik’s campsite is located within walking distance of their swimming pool and grocery store and is perfect for staying within reach of Dettifoss and Mývatn Lake if you would like to visit.
- If you wish to stay in one, there are several hotels to check out, with the Fosshotel Húsavík being one of the most popular. If you can, we recommend staying two days here in summer to catch the amazing whale-watching rides.
Day 6
- If you’re not staying for more than one day in Husavik, then it’s on to Akureyri on day six.
- Akureyri is Iceland’s second-largest city, so you can see and do much here. Many restaurants are culinary delights, and attractions abound throughout the town.
- You can visit the Akureyri Church, Botanical Garden, Gasir, a medieval-themed trading place, and many historic structures within the city itself. There are events and festivals, cycle routes and hiking, and an active nightlife.
- After six days on the road, you may want to visit Forest Lagoon, a thermal bath located in Vaðlaskógur forest that rests right outside the city. There’s a sauna, a cold plunge, and a swim-up bar.
- If you are a zipline die-hard, you won’t want to miss Zipline Akureyri as you soar over the clear Glass River Canyon that runs through the city.
- There are many beautiful hotels available in Akureyri, from luxury to hostels. Many travelers have expressed that Centrum Hotel is one of their favorite places. For a peaceful, nature-filled camping spot, Campsite Hamrar in Akureyri is ideal for a lovely night in a camper van.
Day 7
- If you haven’t stayed more than a day at any of the places in the itinerary, it’s time to get ready for one last stop before heading back.
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a four-hour drive from Akureyri and roughly an hour away from Reykjavik, where your adventure began.
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula is another area with scenery and natural wonders that will last a lifetime. As you enter the peninsula, you will see Eldborg Crater, a massive 60-meter-tall crater above a lava field.
- Ytri Tunga beach is along the south coast and is often filled with seals, which makes it a favorite for tourists and visitors alike.
- Snæfellsnes National Park is a protected area encompassing the famous glazier and volcano Snæfellsjökull. Unusual land formations create fields of strange volcanic rocks nestled beside a fantastic coastline worth putting on your best hiking footwear and trekking the trails.
- Last and never least, you may want to find time to visit and enjoy Kirkjufell Mountain, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. It’s instantly recognizable as one of the peaks featured in Game of Thrones, during North of the Wall scenes.
- If you are looking for the best hotel in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, consider Hótel Snaefellsnes. For one last night under the stars, the westernmost lava field in Sandahraun has Hellissandur Campgrounds. Helissandur provides electricity-powered facilities such as a kitchen, toilets, showers, and wash bins.
Day 8
- After a two-hour drive from Snæfellsnes Peninsula, you will be back to where your adventure began in Reykjavik.
- This is your last day in Iceland’s capital city. Depending on when your flight back may be, we recommend spending the morning and early afternoon relaxing. This area has many beautiful restaurants, spas, and thermal baths to help you unwind after your week of exciting discoveries in nature.
If a spa is not on the itinerary for your last day, you can:
- Visit the rainbow road.
- Visit many museums and exhibits, like The Settlement Exhibition, the Sun Voyager statue, Arbaer Open Air Museum or Reykjavik’s Maritime Museum.
- Take a stroll through Laugavegur, one of Reykjavik’s oldest streets. It is brightly colored and filled with shops, restaurants, and bars.
- As you will most likely be returning your rental camper van before you go, we recommend checking into either the Midgardur by Center Hotels, or Hotel Reykjavik Grand
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