Driving in Iceland

Road Types Explained

Iceland's road network divides cleanly into three categories. Paved roads — including Route 1 — carry normal traffic and are maintained year-round. Gravel roads branch off to farms, coastal villages, and remote valleys. F-roads are mountain tracks in the interior highlands, open only in summer and legally restricted to high-clearance 4WD vehicles.

The letter F stands for 'fjall' — mountain. F-roads cross glacial rivers, traverse loose volcanic gravel, and climb passes above 1,000 metres. They are not paved, not lit, and not forgiving of mistakes.

F-Roads & Highland Rules

F-road season runs roughly June through September, depending on the year's snowmelt. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration opens and closes individual tracks as conditions allow. Check vegagerdin.is for official F-road status before any highland trip.

River crossings on F-roads are the most serious hazard. There are no bridges — you drive through the river. Always stop, get out, and wade the crossing first. Depth changes after rain. The rental car's coverage explicitly excludes water damage from river crossings.

Key Road Rules

Iceland's road system has rules that are not covered in most travel guides. These five are the ones every driver needs to know before turning the key.

Daily check

safetravel.is alerts

The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue posts real-time alerts on safetravel.is. Subscribe to push notifications before you drive into the highlands.

Weather check

vedur.is wind warnings

Wind warnings above 20 m/s (72 km/h) can make driving physically dangerous, especially in the Reykjanes Peninsula and the Westfjords. Check vedur.is before every highland drive.

Emergency

112 Iceland app

Download the 112 Iceland app before you leave Reykjavík. It sends your GPS location to emergency services with a single tap and works where phone signal is weak.

Highland access

F-road regulations

F-roads are legally restricted to 4WD vehicles with high clearance. Driving a 2WD on an F-road voids your insurance and risks a significant fine. The F designation is not a suggestion.

Winter Driving

Driving in Iceland in winter requires a different mindset. Black ice forms on bridges before road surfaces. Studded tyres are permitted from November 1 to April 15 — many rental agencies include them automatically in winter. Ask before you pick up.

Blizzard conditions can close Route 1 in the south and east. If you see red flags or closed gates at a mountain pass, treat them as mandatory stops — not suggestions. Locals do not drive through closed roads.

• 1

  Check road.is every morning before driving. Road conditions, closures, and F-road statuses are updated daily — sometimes hourly during winter storms.

• 2

  Never cross a glacial river you haven't first waded on foot. The depth and current change after rain. Rental cars are not covered for flood damage.

• 3

  Turn off cruise control on gravel roads. The system cannot react fast enough to loose surface changes and can cause a spin on corners.

• 4

  Sheep own the road in summer. They will step out from behind any rise or corner — slow down in rural areas and always be ready to stop.

• 5

  Fill up whenever you reach a petrol station. In the East Fjords and the highlands, gaps of 50–80 km between stations are common. Running dry here means a long wait.

Road Conditions

Road.is is the definitive source for real-time conditions. The site shows each road segment's status: open, caution, closed. The map updates constantly. Bookmark it on your phone before you leave Reykjavík.

Gravel roads carry a specific risk for rental cars — flying stones crack windscreens. Gravel protection insurance is sold separately by rental agencies. It typically costs €15–25 per day and is worth every króna on gravel roads.