Empty roads that stretch as far as the eye can see, the freedom to stop and explore whenever you wish, traveling abroad accompanied only by your family and friends... A road trip in Iceland sounds magical, doesn’t it?
While there is no arguing with that, driving in Iceland presents certain challenges few anticipate in advance. On top of Iceland’s strict driving laws and regulations you need to learn about before you start your trip, there is a lot more to driving safely in Iceland.
Read this guide to learn about Iceland’s driving laws and types of roads, weather and road conditions to look out for, rental car tips and much more!
Tip: Bookmark this page. You might want to refresh your knowledge right before you hit the road!
The main roads in Iceland are smooth, well-maintained and perfectly safe to drive on. But if you’re looking to venture out into more rural areas, here is some advice that will come in handy when renting a car in Iceland:
Before we get into the details, let’s look over some basic facts that are a must-know for anyone looking to take a road trip in Iceland. All of these points will be covered in more detail later on so stay tuned!
Now let’s look into each of these points in more detail, shall we?
As mentioned, the Icelandic roads can be divided into five main categories.
The primary roads are any driver’s dream come true. They are smooth and well-maintained even during the harshest of winters. They also connect Iceland’s biggest cities and provide convenient access to many landmarks, urban areas and airports in Iceland. One of the more notable examples is the Ring Road, which encircles the country and connects most of its inhabited areas.
Fun fact: Because Iceland has incredible geothermal power resources, some primary roads are heated!
The highlands have their own roads. Primary highland roads connect areas, such as glaciers and mountains, in the interior of the island. You can recognize you’re about to enter one if the letter “F” precedes the road number. Although they provide access to some important natural monuments, they are difficult to maintain and thus the road conditions are less than stellar.
The remaining highland roads have the same marking sign but are even less used as they run across mountains and moors. Both types of highland roads are very likely to be closed during the winter months and should only be driven on using a 4x4 vehicle, regardless of the season.
Iceland has two more types of roads you might encounter if you try to go off the beaten path. Secondary roads connect primary roads with populated areas and natural attractions that are close to the main road. You won’t be able to venture far into the country’s interior on a secondary road and because the access isn’t so limited, their condition is usually reasonably good.
Local access roads will take you from the primary or secondary road to a church, a public building, a farm or other type of privately owned property and similar places. Their maintenance is usually the responsibility of whoever owns or runs the property, so their conditions vary drastically.
Once more, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get gravel insurance if you’re planning to drive on anything but a primary road in Iceland!
There is really nothing exceptional about road signs in Iceland that does not apply to the rest of Europe.
In general, the sign might be a bit more Scandinavian-looking than many travelers are used to. And do note that all text is in Icelandic, so make sure to refresh your memory on the meaning of symbols used in road signs!
Surprise, surprise. The country with “ice” in its name sometimes serves up some challenging road conditions!
All jokes aside, the weather is to be taken extra seriously when driving in Iceland. Here is what you always need to check for and keep in mind:
Parts of Iceland get extremely windy. During stormy days you can encounter gusts of wind as strong as 70 mph (32 m/s)!
If such intense winds catch you by surprise, you can end up on the side of the road in a blink of an eye. And that’s the better scenario.
If you’re driving around Iceland, always check the weather forecast before you hit the road the next day. If you see a storm coming, by all means, postpone your trip and spend an extra day in whatever small and cozy town you’re in!
If you do get caught in a situation where you need to drive on windy roads, keep these tips in mind:
While the primary roads are well maintained, the ever-changing Icelandic weather ensures that driving during the winter is challenging.
The roads get cleaned very regularly, but with cold winter weather and heavy precipitation, patches of ice form in no time. What is worse, they can be hiding under a thin layer of snow and catch you by surprise.
If that happens, don’t panic and try to hold the wheel as firmly as possible to avoid driving off the road.
In Iceland, anything can catch you by surprise! While most of us are comfortable driving in rain and snow, in Iceland that can be taken to a whole new level.
There is no hard rule here, but if you at any point feel like you are uncomfortable driving because the rain is too heavy, pull over (don’t stop in the middle of the road though!) and try to wait it out.
First things first – speed limits. While the roads might seem deserted, especially outside the parameters of the city, speeding in Iceland is illegal and highly frowned upon. Plus, there are traffic enforcement cameras to keep everything in order.
Generally, these are the speed limits in Iceland (remember that everything is in kilometers), but do keep an eye out for signs:
Remember, you can drive as fast as the sign indicates, but you don’t have to. If you’re caught in a heavy blizzard, heavy winds or anything else that might obstruct visibility or interfere with smooth driving, pick a speed you’re comfortable with or stop altogether!
Breaking the rules in Iceland is costly, so it’s better to avoid doing that. Here is what you’re looking at if you misbehave:
You can find a more detailed breakdown of speeding and parking fines in Iceland on this page. But the bottom line is you need to familiarize yourself with driving rules beforehand because breaking them might easily break the bank.
A herd of sheep mindlessly grazing and blocking the road isn’t something you typically think about when you are driving, is it?
Well, in Iceland, it’s not all that uncommon for domestic animals to roam freely during the warm seasons. Even if they’re not blocking the road, the wise thing to do is slow down. Scared sheep are not known as rational decision-makers, and angry rams can do serious damage to your precious rental.
If the sheep are on the road, your best bet is to slowly inch forward while honking.
Sounds frustrating, we know, but just take a look at how cute they are and you’ll realize that this is one of the most adorable road blocks you’ll ever encounter.
Similar rules apply to horses and other domestic or wild animals. Drive past them with caution to make sure both you and the animals stay safe and sound.
If you’re used to seeing gas stations on every corner, think twice when passing one in Iceland. In Reykjavik, getting gas will not be an issue, but the minute you venture out into rural areas, gas stations are sparse. And running out of gas in a foreign country isn’t the most pleasant experience.
To avoid running out of gas in Iceland:
While many gas stations will have automats that operate after closing hours – where you can get gas with a credit card – you must have a PIN number set up on your card. In Iceland, many gas stations don’t accept cards without a PIN, so take care of that before you leave for your trip!
Other than that, don’t forget to enjoy the experience. We’ve done a fair share of road trips in Iceland. Driving there gives a sense of freedom beyond comparison. If you have similar memories to share, please do so!
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