09/04/2025 | 12:00 PM
Iceland’s Ring Road, also known as Route 1, is one of the most scenic road trips in the world.
The journey takes you past glaciers, craters, and waterfalls; through tunnels and mountain passes; and alongside wild windswept coastlines and gracefully winding rivers. This is only the tip of the iceberg (or ice cap) when it comes to Iceland’s impressive landscapes and iconic natural wonders along the way.
With so much to see and do, planning is key to help you get the most out of your trip, however long you’re in Iceland for. A great starting point is viewing our handpicked Ring Road itinerary by region, which explains where to go, where to stay, how to get there, and how long it takes to reach each attraction.
However, there are no strict rules for this epic road trip. You can choose to drive the full Ring Road or cherry-pick by region or attraction. Whether you take a detour, extend your stay in certain places, or explore Iceland’s hidden gems – the choice is all yours. Learn more about how to plan your Iceland Ring Road trip in this guide.
Iceland’s Ring Road is a highway that circles the country, transporting you around its perimeter to countless popular geological sites and cultural points of interest. The Ring Road has various names, including its official name: Route 1 or Highway 1. In Icelandic it's known as Þjóðvegur 1 or Hringvegur.
The length of the Ring Road in Iceland is roughly 827 miles (1,332 km), however you’ll veer off at various points to reach each tourist spot so you’ll clock up a few more miles along the way.
Iceland’s Ring Road is considered to be one of the world’s greatest road trips for sheer number and proximity of attractions and diverse natural landscapes. It’s also popular due to its ease of travel, despite serving up some of the most dramatic landscapes and wildest terrains you’ll ever see.
Most travelers start and end their trip in Reykjavík, or upon arrival in Iceland at Keflavík airport, with many heading for the south coast as their first port of call. However, you can start your trip anywhere along the route, and you can opt for a clockwise or counter-clockwise circuit.
Driving the full length of the Ring Road will take around 7 to 10 days if you travel for roughly 3 to 5 hours a day.
However, to avoid rushing your visit or skipping destinations along the route, the Ring Road is better suited to a 10- to 14-day trip.
The north and south of Iceland are such large and rich regions that they easily warrant 2 to 3 days each. From lake Mývatn and the surrounding geothermal marvels of the north, to the glacier-filled stretch of Vatnajökull National Park and other icy highlights in the south – we recommend taking it slower to enjoy all there is to offer.
This Iceland Ring Road trip itinerary takes you from South Iceland, through the east and north, and finally on to West Iceland and back to Reykjavík, with Day 14 as the 'travel home day'.
While we've detailed an itinerary covering most of Iceland’s Ring Road sights, spanning 14 days, it's possible to do the Ring Road in 10. All you’ll need to do is reduce the number of days you spend in certain regions or skip certain attractions you’ve visited before.
Since the southern and northern regions are so large and varied, some people choose to spend fewer days in the east and west, or miss out Reykjavík altogether if they’ve already been to the capital. You might choose to skip some of the touring options we've listed that are off the Ring Road.
However you want to circumnavigate the country, simply use this Iceland Ring Road trip planner to pick out the best stops on the Ring Road for the duration of your stay. Mix things up a little as you need! And explore alternative journeys that lie off the Ring Road with our guide to the best Icelandic road trips.
We've given suggestions of overnight options, and places that are good stops for groceries etc, but these are suggestions only. Many of Iceland's most memorable sleeping and dining choices are tucked away in rural areas, on farms and properties with magical views.
Before you get behind the wheel, here’s some advice to help you prepare and get the most out of your Ring Road trip.
Feeling inspired? Discover Iceland by road with Icelandair’s range of fly and drive vacation packages.
Choose from our classic fly and drive, opt for a fly and drive of an electric vehicle, or rent a campervan or motorhome to take in Iceland’s incredible landscapes as fast or slow as you like.
If you want to start your Ring Road adventure somewhere other than the capital, you might like to check out fly and drive options that fly you from Reykjavik airport to a designated car pick-up location of your choice in regional parts of the country: Akureyri in North Iceland, Egilsstaðir in East Iceland, or Ísafjörður in the Westfjords.