What You Should Know About Driving in Iceland

You’ve decided to rent a car in the land of fire and ice, here is what you should know about driving in Iceland. This post will detail the basics of driving in Iceland.

I will cover what type of vehicle to rent, the rules of the road in Iceland, how to plan your route, gas station tips, and the best options for directions, and will close with some sample itineraries. Buckle up because we are headed to the Nordic island of Iceland!

What You Should Know About Driving in Iceland - AstonishedAbroad.com — A city street in Reykjavík

Considerations

Firstly, before we discuss renting a car or the rules of the road, we should discuss winter weather. If you read my post A Complete Icelandic Packing Guide, you’d know that the weather in Iceland can change quickly. The winters last longer than most places and it can get incredibly windy.

Therefore, if you have limited experience driving in wintery weather, take caution and definitely continue reading the suggestions in this post. Of course, we take no responsibility for your decision to drive in Iceland or not, just sharing our experience.

My first trip to Iceland was at the end of February into March. It was still winter time however, we had considerably calm weather during our trip. It was icy on only one morning during our stay. While it was windy most days, we didn’t have to contend with blizzard conditions.

I’ve read stories of the wind being so strong that opening the car door facing the wrong direction of the wind could take the door clean off! I don’t want to see that happen to you.

Wow the street names were so difficult to pronounce

Renting a Car

Given what I’ve mentioned about the weather, you’ll want to consider what time of year you visit. Most rental companies will offer only Icelandic-appropriate options for rentals. I reserved a 4-wheel drive SUV for our trip which felt safe throughout our journey.

You’ll also want to specify automatic or manual transmission when selecting your rental car. Also, consider how much baggage you and your travel companions will have. The 5 person SUV I rented was packed to the brim on our ride to and from the airport.

I rented from Europcar and had a pretty good experience. We did have to wait about an hour past our pick-up time before getting the keys. Despite this, it was overall a good experience. There was a cafe near the rental counters where we could grab coffee for the road.

Ready to drive off the lot? Be sure to have your USB cord handy to charge your phone and display directions easily. Waze works great overseas and I love that it updates in real-time taking you alternate routes as needed. While I didn’t experience much traffic at all while in Iceland, it is a nice feature just in case.

Remember, if you are from the United States that your speedometer will be in km/hr. You can also switch the distance units in Waze. To do this, tap My Waze, tap the settings gear in the top left corner, and tap general. You can easily toggle between miles/km if this makes it easier for you to mind your speed and follow the road signs.

The drive along Iceland’s southern coast is absolutely worth it – Reynisfjara Beach

Rules of the Road and Safety

Be sure to check the weather each day before heading out. As mentioned, the weather can change fast, you’ll want to be prepared no matter what conditions you may face. If you are unsure about driving in high winds, icy or snowy then don’t! While you won’t find Uber or Lyft in Iceland, public transportation is safe and affordable. Consider taking the bus if you feel uncertain about driving.

The bus does not take credit cards. It has a drop box for cash so you should be prepared with the exact change. In our experience, this was one of the only times we needed cash during our stay.

Next, there are a lot of roundabouts in Iceland, use caution when approaching them.

Speed limits are clearly marked. Use caution as with most open roads, it can be easy to want to drive faster than the speed limit. Keep an eye on it and consider using the speed limiter if needed.

During the summer months, it is not uncommon for animals to wander onto the roadway so stay alert.

While the landscapes of Iceland are absolutely beautiful, do not stop on the side of the road for photos. There are areas to pull off on some of the major roadways but stopping on the shoulder is very unsafe.

Driving in Reykjavík

When driving in cities such as Reykjavík, take caution and pay attention to the street signs. In the popular city center, you’ll find several streets that are marked as pedestrian zones only. Take note of the signs on the right-hand side of the street to ensure you don’t accidentally enter these zones in your vehicle.

Prior to our visit, I was unsure of what sort of public parking I would find. I was pleasantly surprised that parking was quite easy during our visit. In fact, on four separate days, we drove into the city from our Airbnb set just outside the city. On each trip, I was able to easily find parking near the city center.

Be sure to pay the parking fee that you’ll find in certain areas. The pay-to-park meters take credit cards. Snap a picture of your rental car’s license plate number at the beginning of your trip as it is required when paying for parking.

While my experience with parking was easy, I can imagine with piles of snow on the street may impact the availability of parking spots.

Planning Your Route & Filling Up

Perhaps if you have already begun planning an Icelandic adventure you’ve heard of the Ring Road and the Golden Circle. The Ring Road is over 800 miles long and essentially circles the outer roads of Iceland. While it is said to be easy to drive during the summer months, many roadways close or are inaccessible during the winter months.

If you are planning on traveling the Ring Road, it is recommended to give yourself at least one week. I am hoping to travel to Iceland in the summertime and will report back if I conquer this route.

The Golden Circle on the other hand is a much more accessible option. If you do not have as much time during your visit, this may be a nice option for you. The Golden Circle can be completed in one day as it is less than 200 miles. Not to fear though, it has no lack of gorgeous sights to see! The roads are well maintained and remain passable even during the wintery months.

Of note, the days are much shorter in the wintertime vs summertime when Iceland experiences the so-called midnight sun. If you aren’t a fan of driving in the dark, you’ll want to consider this when planning your trip.

During the time we visited, we were told by the rental company that there was a gas shortage. It was recommended that we fill up at every opportunity, especially when on The Ring Road and/or The Golden Circle.

A note about the gas stations, some of them offer ApplePay which is very convenient. If you come across one that requires a credit card, ensure that you know your PIN. Either that or plan to use a bank card. If not, you may be unable to obtain gas.

Our Driving Itineraries from Reykjavík

Day 1:

Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Sólheimajökull glacier
Reynisfjara
Dinner in Reykjavík

Day 2:

Laugarvatn Fontana
Friðheimar
Geysir
Þingvellir National Park