Driving Iceland's Ring Road Counterclockwise: A Route Plan

A practical, clockwise-avoiding plan for Route 1 that pairs the country's biggest sights with realistic driving days, sensible overnight stops and the months that actually work.

Why counterclockwise works in your favour

Route 1 runs about 1,330 km around Iceland, and doing it counterclockwise puts Reykjavík behind you on the first morning with the bulk of the south coast ahead. From the capital you reach Hveragerði in roughly 45 minutes, then Selfoss, and by mid-afternoon you can be at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss with time to walk both. Most guided coach tours and campervan convoys move the same way, so you are at the popular falls early and at Vík while the light is still good.

The argument for this direction is momentum. The first two days are easy driving on paved road with sights close together, which builds confidence before the longer stretches north and east. Book the south coast nights first — Vík and Höfn sell out earliest in July and August — then fill in the west and north. If you only have seven days, this direction also lets you bail out at Egilsstaðir and fly back to Reykjavík rather than retracing the whole ring.

That flexibility matters on a trip where weather on the east coast can close roads for a day at short notice. A counterclockwise loop means your hardest, most remote driving sits in the second half, by which point you know your car, your pace and how the conditions are behaving.

Days one to four: Reykjavík to the east fjords

Leave Reykjavík on Route 1 through Hellisheiði and stop at Kerið crater before Selfoss. Day one: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, the Skógar folk museum and the black sand at Reynisfjara, sleeping in Vík — a 190 km day, about three hours of driving. Day two runs Vík to Höfn, 270 km and roughly three and a half hours: Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, the lava fields of Eldhraun, Svartifoss in Skaftafell and the Jökulsárlón lagoon with Diamond Beach across the road.

Day three is the long one: Höfn to Egilsstaðir covers 260 km and about three and a half hours over the Öxi pass or the longer coastal route via Djúpivogur and Breiðdalsvík. Take the coast if you have time; the fishing villages are quiet and worth a coffee stop. Day four, Egilsstaðir to Mývatn, is 160 km and two hours, with Dettifoss and the Ásbyrgi canyon as the detour. Mývatn is the natural overnight.

Days five to seven: the north, the west and back

From Mývatn, drive west to Akureyri in about an hour and use it as a two-night base if your schedule allows. The town sits on Eyjafjörður with whale-watching from the harbour and the botanical garden at Lystigarðurinn, and it breaks up the northern stretch comfortably. Akureyri to Snæfellsnes is too far in one day — about 430 km — so split it with a night in Blönduós or Varmahlíð on the way.

Then Snæfellsnes: Stykkishólmur, the Kirkjufell mountain above Grundarfjörður, and the black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur. Two nights here lets you do the peninsula without rushing, and it is 170 km back to Reykjavík, around two hours. Book Snæfellsnes and Akureyri accommodation early for June through August; the west is the second most searched area on this site after Reykjavík, and availability tightens noticeably in July.

Timing, costs and what to skip

June to August gives you near-24-hour daylight and every service open, at the cost of crowds and the highest room rates of the year — expect the upper end of the market in Vík and Mývatn. May and September are the sweet spot: most museums and guesthouses are open, the light is still generous and rooms ease off. October to April is a different trip entirely; the north and east fjords see snow and short days, and I would not recommend the full ring to a first-time driver then.

Budget roughly 250 to 400 km of driving on moving days and build in a spare day. Skip the Blue Lagoon on arrival day if your flight lands in the afternoon — go to your hotel, eat, sleep. Skip the Golden Circle as a separate loop; take it counterclockwise on day one on the way to Selfoss so you see Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss without doubling back.

Questions, answered

How many days do I need for the full Ring Road?

Seven days is the minimum for a counterclockwise loop without rushing, and ten is comfortable. Eight to nine days lets you add Snæfellsnes properly. Fewer than seven and you are driving most of the day with little time at the sights.

Is a 4x4 necessary for Route 1?

No. Route 1 is paved and a standard car is fine from May to September. A 4x4 matters if you plan detours onto F-roads such as those into Landmannalaugar or Askja. Check your rental agreement — many prohibit F-road use in ordinary cars.

Which month is best for driving the ring?

Late May and early to mid-September offer the best balance: open services, long daylight and easier room availability. July and August are warmest and busiest. Winter driving on the north and east sections demands experience and shorter daily distances.

Where should I stay on the south coast?

Vík is the practical first night, roughly 190 km from Reykjavík, and Höfn the second at 270 km. Both have a range of guesthouses and hotels. Book Vík first — it is the tightest availability on the route in summer.

Do I need to book accommodation in advance?

Yes for June through August, particularly Vík, Höfn, Mývatn and Akureyri. Outside those months you have more flexibility, though I would still reserve the first and last nights before you fly in.

Is the counterclockwise direction better than clockwise?

Counterclockwise puts the south coast highlights in your first two days on easy roads and leaves the remote east for later, when you know your pace. It also lets you fly out of Egilsstaðir if you run short of time, which clockwise does not.

How much does fuel cost for the loop?

Fuel is a real line in the budget for roughly 1,400 km plus detours. Prices vary with the market, so check current pump rates rather than relying on older figures. Fill up at Selfoss, Höfn, Egilsstaðir and Akureyri; stations thin out between them.

Can I combine the Golden Circle with the south coast?

Yes, and you should. Drive Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss on day one, then continue east to Selfoss or Vík. Doing the Golden Circle as a separate return trip from Reykjavík wastes a day you could spend in the east fjords.

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