In recent years, Iceland has become one of the top adventure travel destinations worldwide, and for good reason. Iceland’s beauty is unmatched and this country serves as the perfect adventure-packed getaway for any outdoor enthusiast.

We often joked that the landscape seemed as though a four-year-old was given a blank map, geography from all over the known world, and left unsupervised to create Iceland’s landscapes. A friend of ours also always jokes, “If you don’t like the scenery in front of you, simply turn around.”

Jokes aside, the ability to drive a few hours in any direction and in that short time see black sand beaches, lush mountains, snow capped volcanoes, creeping glaciers, backyard waterfalls, and towering ocean cliffs is a characteristic that is unique to Iceland. We truly believe that road tripping the westernmost country in Europe is something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime.

Logistics: What you need to know when planning your Iceland getaway

When to Visit:

Due to Iceland’s unique geographic location, summer is the ideal time of year to travel using this itinerary. Between late May and the end of July, the sun refuses to set, leaving you free to explore around the clock. During our time in Iceland, we explored well into the wee hours of the morning and only slept when our bodies could no longer escape their inevitable fate of required rest. Do we recommend this method of travel? Not necessarily. But did we enjoy every minute of our trip? Absolutely.

Where to Stay:

Hotels can be a little pricey and sparse depending on where your day ends, but luckily there is an abundance of scenic campsites and cozy little AirBNB’s in the small towns that dot Iceland’s coast.

Getting Around:

During the summer months, roads that are closed during the winter reopened and are known as F roads. They carry the name road, but some of them are far from it, so make sure you’re prepared.

Most, if not all, rental car agencies require that you equip yourself with a 4WD vehicle if you plan on driving the F roads and trust me, you’ll be glad you did. Another driving option for your trip would be to rent a camper van. While they are a little more expensive, you now have a home on wheels and can forget about camping or setting up hotel stays.

Some of the places below can be a little tricky to find at times so I’ve included GPS coordinates for most of the attractions. The farther you get from Reykjavik the more useful they will be. I’ve also added some useful links to the bottom of this page, such as a gas stations map, hot springs map, and the Government updated weather page.

Tips for being a respectful, conservation-minded visitor

As eco-tourism continues to boom in Iceland, so does the need to protect this country’s delicate natural environment and cultural history. Some things to keep in mind as you explore Iceland:
– Refrain from driving off-road or hiking off-trail.
– Avoid walking over moss, and never pick it up. While it’s thick and seemingly hardy, it’s also delicate, and takes hundreds of years to regrow if disturbed.
– Never throw coins into lakes or hot springs, they can clog the springs, promote microbial growth, and lead to other unintended consequences.
– Camp only in designated camping areas.
– Respect private property and the people of Iceland.
– Educate yourself before your visit. This article outlines some of the frustrations voiced by locals and provides further insight on how to be a respectful visitor.

No matter where you are, it is important to always practice the principals of Leave No Trace when exploring the outdoors, and you’re interested in learning more about how to be a sustainable traveler, we’ve compiled a list of our top tips.

Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Driving the Golden Circle

– Before hitting the road, you’ll want to grab yourself some affordable snacks for your road trip at Bonus supermarket. These discount grocery stores are found all over the country and are incredibly easy to spot. Just look for the yellow store with the big round pink pig! LOCATIONS: Bonus Nationwide Map

-Visit Ljósafossstöð Power Plant. Between geothermal and hydro power, Iceland has achieved 100% renewable energy. This location offers free admission and top notch interactive displays that are both educational and fun for all ages. LOCATION: 64.094595, -21.009963

-Explore Kerið Crater. This once cone-shaped volcano likely erupted, and after depleting its magma reserve consequently collapsed in on itself. We were blown away at the vibrant colors of the blue water and surrounding landscape that we were met with here. LOCATION: 64.041964, -20.886584

-Hop in Secret Lagoon. This swimming pool is heated by surrounding geothermal pools and offers a restaurant along with a bar and showers. LOCATION: 64.1371972, -20.3090734

-Check out Gullfoss. This is probably the most popular waterfall in Iceland and consequently one of the busiest, but it’s a must see and worth all of the hype that surrounds it! LOCATION: 64.325260, -20.125182

-Hike and camp at Geysir. This natural water show erupts every couple of minutes and spits water 100’ into the air! LOCATION: 64.310477, -20.302342

Pro tip: There is a hot pot not far from Geysir that, unlike its neighbors, is actually temperate enough to sit in. Just off the side of this dirt road, sits one of natures perfect little hot tubs LOCATION: 64.3267729, -20.2819238

Day 2: More Golden Circle Highlights

–Snorkel Silfa:This fissure, that is actually the divide between two tectonic plates is filled with glacial water and stays a cool 34 degrees Fahrenheit year round and is some of the clearest water you will ever encounter. Not to worry, you’ll be in a dry suit, so you won’t freeze! Book with the link above and meet at the location below at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time in Þingvellir national park. LOCATION: 64.256530, -21.116299

–Hike Þingvellir National Park: Once you finish snorkeling, hike the park for fantastic views of the lake below and waterfalls. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, don’t miss the narrow crevice that leads up to the would be “Bloody Gate” that protects the Vale of Arryn! 64.2709762, -21.1099234

-Drive to Reykjavík and walk around downtown. Eat some food, have some beers, and be sure not to miss the iconic Solfar Sun Voyager. LOCATION: 64.1474997, -21.9222039

-Ascend the clock tower at Hallgrímskirkja for an amazing view of Reykjavik and the Atlantic. LOCATION: 64.1420644, -21.9270563

-While you’re downtown, pick yourself up a hot dog or two at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. We know this is saying a lot, but we can virtually guarantee that this will be the best hot dog you’ll ever consume. LOCATION: 64.148381, -21.937997

–We broke up our road trip with an overnight stay in Reykjavík and spent the evening bopping around to all of the local breweries that have popped up downtown.

Day 3: Reykjavík and Westfjords

–Fill up on coffee and gas as you prepare to head north. You’ll want to get moving decently early because this day will be a long one.

-Drive to Snæfellsnes peninsula and hike Snæfellsjökull which is a 700,000 year old glacier capped volcano that you can quite literally drive up onto. Maybe even have a summer snowball fight.
LOCATION: 64.801008, -23.780629

-Stop at Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, a pathway cut into the side of a cliff wall that you are able to walk back into. Watch your feet, you will be on walking on stepping stones through glacial run off!
LOCATION: 64.799299, -23.646798

-Take off for Stykkishólmur and check out the largest town on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Explore a little before you get on the a ferry that carries you across the Greenland sea to Brjánslækur and the westfjords.
LOCATION: 65.079767, -22.723775

-Start your drive out to Dynjandi waterfall. You can camp in the area and this waterfall is relatively un-busy, especially early in the morning or late at night.
LOCATION: 65.736464, -23.209149

Day 4: Dynjandi and Southern Coast

-Wake up and check out the waterfall some more or hit the road for the southern coast of Iceland. It’s a long way down, so most of this day will be travel. Take your time and stop to get pictures with the horses and sheep, there will be plenty. We ended up taking F35 down through the left-middle side of Iceland. There are pretty cool little places to stop all along the way.

-More waterfall time!!! Snap some awesome pictures at Seljalandsfoss where you can actually walk behind the fall itself. LOCATION: 63.616023, -19.992536

-Go relax in Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool. Built into the side of a mountain in 1928, this geothermal heated pool is still relatively secret so it’s a good chance you wont have to share with many others. LOCATION: 63.565473, -19.608344

-Once you dry off, drive over to Skógafoss to spend the night and take in this beautiful waterfall in the morning. LOCATION: 63.531941, -19.511281

Day 5: Iceland’s Southern Coast

-Drive out to Jökulsárlón and take in the sight of this beautiful glacial lake. These chunks of ice break off the glacier, slowly melt, and make their way out to sea.
LOCATION: 64.047729, -16.179704

-Next, make your way to Falljökul Glacier Tongue. The roads a little rough getting there, but it is a definite must see.
LOCATION: 64.008662, -16.880929

-Hike out to Sólheimasandur plane crash where in 1973 a US Navy plane ran out of gas and was forced to crash land on the beach. The entire crew survived and the wreckage was never cleaned up. You are no longer allowed to drive out to the wreckage so get ready for an 8 mile round trip hike through what looks like a black sand desert. The coordinates below correspond to the parking lot for the trail head.
LOCATION: 63.491010, -19.363189

-Grab an Airbnb or hotel for the night and relax. You’ve camped enough, it’s time for a nice comfortable bed and a good hot shower.

Day 6: Blue Lagoon

-Make a reservation at the infamous Blue Lagoon and relax the day away before your flight home. Drinks, food, and a spa like experience is just as heavenly as it sounds. Book days in advance as reservations fill up quickly and book an early time to beat the crowd.
LOCATION: 63.881698, -22.453453

We’ll leave you with a few additional helpful links to help you prepare for your trip:
Gas Station and Super Market Map | Hot Springs Map | Government Updated Weather Forecasts

Bon Voyage!