Crossing Iceland by Bus in One Direction: A Simple Plan

One-way bus travel along Route 1 works best when you pick a direction, book the long legs early and sleep where the coaches actually stop.

Choose your direction before you choose your stops

Iceland's Ring Road, Route 1, runs about 1,330 km around the island, and the scheduled long-distance coaches mostly run it in one direction at a time rather than as a loop. Companies such as Strætó and the tourist-focused operators serving the Ring Road sell point-to-point tickets, so a one-way crossing means committing: clockwise from Reykjavík through Borgarfjörður, Akureyri and Egilsstaðir, or counter-clockwise through Selfoss, Vík, Höfn and the East Fjords. Counter-clockwise puts the south coast's waterfalls and glacier lagoons in your first two days, when energy is highest.

Clockwise is the quieter choice and, in my view, the better one in July and August, when the south coast at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss is at its busiest. Going clockwise you reach Akureyri, Iceland's second city on Eyjafjörður, on day two or three, then work down the east coast and finish with the south. Whichever way you go, allow at least five to seven days. A two-day crossing exists on paper but leaves no time to leave the bus.

The legs that need booking, and the ones that do not

The Reykjavík to Akureyri stretch is the one to reserve. It is roughly 390 km, four and a half to five hours by road, and the express coaches that run it via the Vaðlaheiði tunnel fill in summer. From Akureyri east to Egilsstaðir is about 260 km and around three and a half hours, with fewer departures — often one a day in each direction outside high season. The Egilsstaðir to Höfn leg through the East Fjords is the most fragile: roughly 260 km, four hours, and services thin out sharply in winter.

On the south coast, Reykjavík to Vík is about 190 km and two and a half hours, with the most frequent departures of the whole ring; Höfn to Reykjavík via Vík is best split over two days. Book the Akureyri and Egilsstaðir legs a few weeks ahead in June to August and check schedules again a fortnight out — seasonal timetables change. For the south coast, turning up is usually fine. Skip any plan that has you changing buses in the same afternoon at Vík or Höfn; buffers there are short.

Where to sleep when the bus stops

Buses stop in towns, not at attractions, so your hotel choice follows the timetable. Akureyri's compact centre around Hafnarstræti and the Glerá river is the natural overnight for the northern crossing, with guesthouses and mid-range hotels within a ten-minute walk of the bus stop by the Hof cultural centre. In the east, Egilsstaðir is a road junction town rather than a beauty spot, but it has the beds, the supermarket and the connections; the harbour village of Seyðisfjörður, 27 km away down Route 93, is prettier but adds a taxi or a sparse local bus.

On the south coast, Vík í Mýrdal sits under Reynisfjall and works well for a night, with the black sand at Reynisfjara a short drive or a half-hour walk from the village. Höfn, 80 km further east, is the practical stop for the Vatnajökull glacier tongue and Jökulsárlón, though the lagoon itself is another 75 km west. If you want one splurge, spend it in Akureyri or Vík rather than Egilsstaðir, where demand is lower and rooms are plainer. Book Vík early in July and August; it is the tightest bed supply on the route.

Timing, weather and what to leave out

June to August gives long daylight, all scheduled services running and the widest choice of rooms. May and September are excellent value — fewer coaches, but the ring is still passable and the south coast is far calmer. October to April, the interior highlands via Kjölur and Sprengisandur are closed to ordinary buses, and east-coast services reduce to a few days a week, so a one-way crossing becomes a winter-specific exercise in checking each operator's site. Never plan a connection tighter than three hours in the east.

Leave out the Westfjords on a one-way ring crossing. They are magnificent, but the buses from Staðarskáli or Brú connect poorly to a clockwise schedule, and you would lose two days to reach Ísafjörður and return. Also skip the Golden Circle by bus if you are already crossing: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss sit north-east of Reykjavík and are easier as a day trip from the city before or after your crossing. Use Reykjavík's BSÍ terminal as the start and finish point for luggage storage and connections.

Questions, answered

How many days do I need for a one-way bus crossing of Iceland?

Plan five to seven days. That allows two nights in the north or east and keeps daily coach rides under five hours. Fewer than four days means you are riding, not stopping, and the eastern timetables leave no room for a missed connection.

Do I need to book Icelandic long-distance buses in advance?

Book the Akureyri and Egilsstaðir legs two to four weeks ahead in summer, and further out around public holidays. South coast services between Reykjavík, Vík and Höfn are frequent enough that buying a day or two before is usually fine.

Which direction is better, clockwise or counter-clockwise?

Counter-clockwise gives you the south coast highlights first. Clockwise keeps you ahead of the busiest south-coast traffic in July and August and puts Akureyri early, when you still have energy for the longer northern ride. I would choose clockwise in high summer.

How much luggage can I bring on the coach?

One suitcase or backpack in the hold plus a day bag is the norm on Ring Road coaches. Cycles and oversized sports bags need a prior reservation and sometimes a surcharge, so confirm with the operator when you book the Akureyri leg.

Can I cross Iceland by bus in winter?

Partly. South-coast services run year-round, but east-coast departures drop to a few days a week and highland routes close. A winter crossing is possible with careful planning around Egilsstaðir, but check each operator's timetable weekly and keep two spare days.

Where should I stay on the south coast with a bus?

Vík í Mýrdal is the best single base, with Reynisfjara beach and Reynisdrangar within walking distance of the village centre. Höfn is the alternative for Vatnajökull and Jökulsárlón, though the lagoon is still 75 km west of town.

Is the Westfjords worth adding to a one-way crossing?

Not on the same trip. The connections from the ring road are infrequent and adding Ísafjörður costs at least two days. Save the Westfjords for a separate visit, or fly into Ísafjörður with a domestic carrier instead.

How far ahead should I book hotels along the route?

For July and August, book Vík and Akureyri two to three months ahead; both have limited rooms for the number of coaches stopping. Egilsstaðir and Höfn can usually be booked a few weeks out, though late August weekends tighten in Höfn.

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