Iceland in winter: a 5-day itinerary by car from Keflavík Airport

Day 1: Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík

Your car waits at our office at Bogatröð 1 in Reykjanesbær, about 10 minutes from the terminal by our free airport shuttle. We are open 04:00–18:00; if you land later, a pickup is possible only on request, agreed in advance, for €75.

• Straight to Reykjavík: 50 km on Route 41, at least 30 min. Spend the night there.
• Via the Blue Lagoon: 71 km in all. It lies near the eruption area on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where volcanic activity can close roads at short notice: check umferdin.is and see Reykjanes Peninsula by car.
• After an overnight flight, keep it short: Safetravel warns of jet lag, drowsiness and fatigue, especially after an overnight flight from America.

Day 2: the Golden Circle to Selfoss

Routes 1 and 36 take you to Þingvellir National Park (50 km), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Routes 365 and 37 continue past Laugarvatn to Geysir (56 km), where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, and Route 35 to Gullfoss (10 km). Then follow Route 35 south through Grímsnes to Selfoss (71 km): 187 km in all, at least 2 h of driving.

• In winter, the trails to the lower viewing platforms at Gullfoss are sometimes closed by ice and snow (Visit Iceland); at Geysir, stand on the upwind side of Strokkur.
• Why Selfoss? It puts Hellisheiði, the pass east of Reykjavík and one of the stretches of Route 1 most exposed to winter closures, behind you. Prefer one base? Return to Reykjavík (57 km) and add that distance to Day 3.

Day 3: the South Coast to Vík

Route 1 runs 129 km east from Selfoss to Vík, at least 1 h 25 min of driving, plus short detours:

• Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind; the path may close when ice makes it unsafe (Visit Iceland).
• Skógafoss, about 60 m high, with a staircase beside it; snow and ice can make the steps slippery.
• Reynisfjara, the black beach 11 km from Vík. Sneaker waves come without warning and can sweep an adult out to sea in seconds: stay well back, never turn your back on the sea and follow the warning lights (orange: at least 25 m from the sea; red: beach closed; Safetravel).
• Vík, the village for the night, with a self-service fuel station open around the clock.

Most stops charge for parking by license plate: pay on the spot or in the app named on the signs (Tolls & parking).

Day 4: Jökulsárlón, or a shorter day

Decide in Vík in the morning, after checking Route 1 on umferdin.is and the warnings on vedur.is.

• If daylight, roads and weather allow: Jökulsárlón and back. Route 1 crosses the open sands of Mýrdalssandur and Skeiðarársandur, 193 km each way: 386 km in all, at least 4 h 15 min of driving. The glacier lagoon and Fellsfjara, the beach across the road often called Diamond Beach, are accessible all year. Never step onto floating ice: it can roll over or break apart without warning (Visit South Iceland). Leave at first light and turn back in time.
• Otherwise: the shorter plan. See what you missed near Vík in daylight, then drive back to Reykjavík (186 km, at least 2 h). Day 5 becomes short, and Day 4 doubles as a buffer day if a storm closes the road.

Day 5: back to Keflavík Airport

• From Reykjavík: 50 km, at least 30 min.
• From Vík: 226 km over Hellisheiði, at least 2 h 30 min, so leave early. If Hellisheiði is closed, check umferdin.is for the paved route via Þrengsli (road 39): 241 km.
• Returning the car: we are open 04:00–18:00. Reach our office at least 30 minutes before you want to be at the terminal (the shuttle takes about 10 minutes). Bring the car back full, refueled within 5 km of our office, or we charge the missing fuel plus the €30 refueling fee (rental terms 11 and 40(j)). Outside opening hours, a return is possible only on request, agreed in advance, for €75.

Distances and driving times, day by day

Vegagerðin's official road distances (distance tables, in Icelandic), all on paved roads. The times are the minimum at 90 km/h, the highest speed limit in Iceland, without stops; in winter, allow more.

In all, about 600 km with the shorter Day 4 or 980 km with Jökulsárlón; distances from Keflavík Airport start at the terminal. More places: Driving times from KEF.

Winter realities: daylight, wind and ice

Twilight adds about an hour of usable light at each end of the day, and the Met Office lists each day's sunrise and sunset for Vík, Selfoss, Þingvellir and Keflavík (in Icelandic). Every morning:

1. Check umferdin.is for your whole route, or call 1777 (06:30–22:00). From October to April the map is updated only from 07:00 to 22:00.
2. Check the warnings on vedur.is: under yellow, allow extra time; under orange, drive only if you must; under red, don't travel.
3. Keep the plan flexible: book rooms with free cancellation, and if conditions get worse, wait somewhere safe (Safetravel).

• Wind is the biggest risk, with gusts far stronger near mountains and on open sands: park facing into the wind and hold the doors firmly (rental terms 18; Wind & car doors).
• Ice: four-wheel drive helps you get going but does not stop a skid on ice, and bridges and shaded stretches are often icier.
• Never stop on the road or its shoulder: use car parks and marked areas.
• Closed means closed (Lokað): driving a closed road breaks our rental terms, no waiver covers the damage, and the €1,000 prohibited-road fee may apply (16 and 40(g)).
• Be prepared: keep the tank above half and carry warm clothes and water. For help with the car, call us day or night on +354 779 9499; in an emergency, call 112.

Northern lights in the evenings

From September to April the northern lights can appear anywhere in Iceland on a dark, clear night, and from Selfoss or Vík a short drive takes you away from the town lights. Check the aurora and cloud forecast on vedur.is, park only in a proper parking area, and never drive off the road: it is illegal and costs €1,000 under our terms (40(f)). More in Northern lights by car.

Which car for a winter road trip

• Winter tires on every car from 1 November to 14 April, at no extra charge (rental terms 1).
• AWD or 4×4, strongly recommended from November to March: Comfort (AWD) is our default winter pick, and 4×4 Adventure adds ground clearance for snow.
• No F-roads: the highland roads are closed in winter, and no rental car may drive them then.
• Cover: every price on our website includes BASIC + SCDW (excess €1,000). For windblown sand and ash on the South Coast, Sand and Ash Protection (€15 a day) or MAX (€40 a day) covers that damage at no excess, except in an area under an orange or red wind warning from the Icelandic Met Office (rental terms 36(i) and 38; cover options).

Christmas and New Year

If your trip includes the holidays: we are closed on 25 December and 1 January (no pickups or returns, not even on request) and open 04:00–12:00 on 24 and 31 December (later that day only on request, for €150); every other day, 26 December included, 04:00–18:00. Landing or flying home on a closed day? Pick up the car the day after, or return it the day before. Grocery stores generally close at noon on 24 and 31 December and stay closed the next day. With about four hours of daylight, take the shorter Day 4. More in Christmas & New Year by car.

Questions about a 5-day winter trip by car